Isra Girgrah is pretty, personable and provocative. She can also punch.
The International Boxing Federation lightweight champion from Hyattsville impressed a crowd of 2,500 with her consummate boxing skills in winning a unanimous six-round decision over gritty Melinda Robinson of Austin, Texas, in a non-title bout at Martin's West in Woodlawn last night.
All three judges gave Girgrah (13-3-2) perfect 60-54 scores as she pummeled the taller Texan from the opening bell with a variety of punches, featuring a head-jarring uppercut. Only Robinson's sturdy chin and strong heart kept her standing.
Girgrah had been scheduled to fight an eight-rounder against Carla Witherspoon, the sister of former heavyweight king Tim Witherspoon. But Robinson (9-12-1) was signed as a late substitute after Witherspoon was charged with a parole violation.
"It really didn't matter who I fought," Girgrah said. "I was prepared to go as many as 10 rounds. I was wondering what was keeping Robinson up, but I needed the work after being off five months."
In a co-feature, flashy lightweight Lamont Pearson (13-0-1) of Capitol Heights remained unbeaten by punishing journeyman Daryl Pinckney (24-37-3) of Pembroke Pines, Fla., in a lopsided eight-round bout. Pearson, who plans to fight for the NABF title next month, was given an 80-71 edge on all three cards.
On the undercard, super-middleweight Derrick Whitley (10-14-1) furthered his reputation as the scourge of Maryland fighters by stopping Alan "Boogaloo" Watts (12-8-1) at 1:56 of the second round in their scheduled eight-rounder. Whitley, who previously knocked out Baltimore's Dana Rucker, stunned Watts with a left hand and followed with six solid punches before referee Malik Waleed intervened.
Narcino Aleman (5-2-0) of Lanham won a controversial majority decision over Charles Clark (11-7-1) of Baltimore in a torrid six-round junior middleweight bout. Aleman seemed to benefit from a lengthy rest period in the fifth round when the ring doctor examined a cut over his eye. Clark (11-7-1) also suffered an eye injury.