Tanzee Daniel Starts Her Career With a Bang!
By Rich Bergeron
Tanzee Daniel's cruiser weight showdown with Angie Brooks was supposed to go down earlier than it did, and after the struggle Daniel went through just to get this fight signed in the first place, it was tough for her to deal with yet another setback. After warming up to go at the time she was told she'd be fighting, she had to wait three hours and came in a little off her game. Fighting at the very end of the night, just before the crew at The Roxy in Boston began dismantling the ring for the night's dance crowd, Daniel showed that the delay definitely affected her performance in the first round.
Both women were making their professional debut, and Brooks, from New Haven, CT, spent the first few bouts of the night warming up at ringside and then hanging out waiting to be called to the ring. Finally she went backstage again when she realized the schedule change. Still, she came after Daniel with the more aggressive early attack and looked like she might be able to hang with the New York State native. A heavy crowd favorite, the fans were happy to see Brooks come out so strong. Daniel wasn't able to find any real rhythm until the end of the round.
(Carl Sean Tanzee And Victor)
Daniel didn't wait long to take control of the second round. Brooks was reduced to a lazy jab and a 1-2 combo as her only weapons in the round as Daniel continually pursued her and made her back up. Daniel worked her jab expertly and followed up with excellent hooks. Late in the round she bulled forward and really started pouring it on. She tied in her first uppercuts and slugged her opponent with some stellar hooks.
Brooks was absolutely spent by the third round. Daniel landed her best shots of the night with Brooks against the ropes. She fired off a succession of accurate, blazing, well-timed shots as Brooks covered up. Beginning the barrage with a couple quick 1-2 combos to the belly, Daniel knew she'd turned the tide and didn't stop there. All Brooks could fight back with in the fourth was a few hooks and a flurry that was too little and too late. She held on for dear life through most of the round. Though Daniel also seemed to be pretty spent by the end of the final frame, she still managed to win the round and landed some amazing shots. She started early with a straight jab to the body. She went so ballistic so soon in the round that Brooks couldn't even get out of her own corner. Daniel had her confined there, taking shots from every angle. Daniel landed a great uppercut and a fantastic 1-2. For a moment she looked like she might even get the knockout. Instead, Brooks made it through the whole fight and ended up on the losing end of a 40-36 unanimous decision for Daniel.
(Tanzee Daniel and Jeff Mayweather)
"I got that experience," said Daniel after her first fight. "Next time I'll put on a better show." She mentioned that she was originally scheduled to fight second. She said she warmed up and got cold and "would have been better" had she been able to get out into the ring earlier when she was "more relaxed." Still, she maintained, "I'm gonna do better next time."
No matter what she might think about her performance, the judges all gave her every round, and she did win in impressive fashion. She looks forward to rolling on. "I'll just try to get me some more fights and take it day by day," she said about her future. "It wasn't my best out there tonight, but I'm happy I got the opportunity."
