The latest installment of Lou DiBella’s popular Broadway
Boxing series provided a little of everything for Boxing fans on Thursday night
at the B.B. King Blues Club and Grill in New York City, NY. The ten bout card was headlined by rising Jr.
Featherweight prospect Rafael Vazquez who scored a fourth round stoppage of a
“Game”, but over matched Joseph Rios.
After a relatively uneventful opening round, Vazquez dropped
Rios with a left hook in round two. Rios showed his mettle by getting up though
he appeared hurt. Vazquez scored a second knockdown of Rios before the end of
the round with another left hook. Rios
survived the round, but was unable to keep Vazquez off of him as Vazquez
continued to dish out punishment in round three and seemed to hurt Rios with
every punch he was able to land. Vazquez
dropped Rios for a third time in round four with a right hand. Although Rios
was able to get up and survived the round, the fight was stopped at the
conclusion of the fourth round by a ringside physician.
Rafael Vazquez advances to 13-1, with 11 Knockouts. Joseph Rios falls to 13-12-2, with 4
Knockouts. For the thirty-seven year old Vazquez who is currently rated number
six in the world in the World Boxing Association’s (WBA) Jr. Featherweight
ratings, this fight likely served the purpose of being able stay busy while
awaiting a fight against someone in the top ten. What impressed me about Vazquez’ performance
was how well he placed his punches and although it was clear that Rios was hurt
and in survival mode after the second round, Vazquez was not reckless and was
able to score the victory. Even though
some might say this fight was a mismatch, Rios showed heart and deserves credit
for being able to hang in there against a fighter who is heading towards world
title contention, in my opinion.
In a Featherweight bout rising undefeated prospect Luis Rosa
scored a first round knockout over Noel Echevarria. Rosa scored on Echevarria with a barrage of
punches to the body that sent Echevarria down on one knee. Another barrage of
punches highlighted by a left hook followed by a flush right hand dropped
Echeverria later in the round and the fight was immediately stopped. Official time of the stoppage was 2:32 of
round one. Luis Rosa advances to 18-0,
with 8 Knockouts. Noel Echevarria falls to 11-5, with 6 Knockouts. Rosa simply did not allow Echevarria much
room to breathe in this fight and quickly scored the knockout.
In one of the most competitive fights of the evening
undefeated Super-Middleweight Steed Woodall fought to a six round majority draw
with Jas Phipps. This was a contest where there are likely varying opinions of
who won the bout. A tactical battle where both fighters had periods of
effectiveness. Although Woodall was the
more active fighter of the two, it was Phipps’ counter punching and ability to
make the most of what he threw when he let his hand go that made this a close
fight. Phipps’ ability to counter Woodall
did at times seem to make Woodall hesitant to let his hands go.
Unofficially I scored this fight 58-56 for Phipps based on
how well he was able to time his counter punches, make Woodall miss, and how he
seemed to land the cleaner more effective punches of the two. This was however, a fight where there were
several “Swing” rounds that could have gone either way. Official scores were 58-56 (Phipps) and 57-57
on two scorecards resulting in a majority draw.
Steed Woodall advances to 6-0-1, with 4 Knockouts. Jas
Phipps advances to 5-5-2, with 2 Knockouts.
I would like to see a rematch between these two fighters, perhaps on a
future Broadway Boxing card. It was one
of the best fights on this card and I believe a rematch could benefit both
fighters at this stage of their respective careers.
In a Cruiserweight bout undefeated prospect Travis Peterkin
scored a first round stoppage of Julio Garcia. Garcia retired on his stool at
the conclusion of the first round. Although it appeared confusing as there were
no knockdowns in the round and neither fighter seemed hurt during the round,
the official reason for the stoppage was that a ringside physician stopped the
fight. Travis Peterkin advances to 14-0,
with 6 Knockouts. Julio Garcia falls to
6-8, with 3 Knockouts.
In a Light-Heavyweight bout undefeated prospect Lennox Allen
scored a second round knockout over Kojo Issah.
Allen brought an end to the fight with a three punch right hand
combination to Issah’s body that sent Issah down to the canvas. Official time
of the stoppage was :51 of round two.
Lennox Allen advances to 18-0-1, with 11 Knockouts. Kojo Issah falls to 14-2-1, with 7
Knockouts.
In a Lightweight bout Wesley Ferrer scored his seventh
victory as a professional in as many fights as he scored a one-sided six round
unanimous decision over Helario Medina.
Ferrer had his way from the opening bell and dominated the action with
his combination punching. Unofficially I scored this fight the same as the
three official judges 60-54 for Ferrer.
Wesley Ferrer advances to 7-0, with 4 Knockouts. Helario Medina falls to
2-5, with 0 Knockouts.
In a Middleweight bout Ivan Golub remained undefeated
scoring his fifth victory in as many fights as he stopped Rashawn McCain in the
first round. A left hook from Golub
dropped McCain in the closing seconds of the round and the fight was stopped
immediately. Official time of the
stoppage was 2:58 of round one. Ivan Golub advances to 5-0, with 4
Knockouts. Rashawn McCain falls to 2-3,
with 0 Knockouts.
Also in the Middleweight division Chris Galeano scored six
round unanimous decision over Alexander Mancera. This fight tied with the Woodall-Phipps bout,
in my opinion as the most competitive bout of the evening. Mancera was able to give Galeano trouble
periodically with his elusiveness and ability to counter punch. Much
like the Woodall-Phipps bout, this bout was a question of one fighter’s greater
activity versus another fighter’s ability to be effective and make the most out
of what he threw. Both fighters
sustained cuts over the course of the fight and there were several close rounds
in this observer’s eyes. Unofficially, I
scored this fight 58-56 for Alexander Mancera based on his aggressiveness,
ability to be an elusive target, ring
generalship, and counter punching. This however, differed with the official
judges who scored this fight 59-55, on two scorecards and 58-56 all for Chris
Galeano.
Although I felt Mancera was able to execute his offense a
little better than Galeano, Galeano seemed to have an edge in the power of his
punches and it is understandable how this fight could be scored in his favor
based on his ability to land the harder punches. Chris Galeano advances to 6-0, with 0
Knockouts. Alexander Mancera falls to 8-6-1, with 5 Knockouts.
In contrast to the the Woodall-Phipps bout, where I felt Jas
Phipps was the more effective fighter, despite not being the more active of the
two, I felt differently in regard to the Chris Galeano-Alexander Mancera bout
where I felt Mancera’s aggression and overall ring generalship were enough to
win him the decision over Galeano, who landed the more effective punches of the
two. It is a good example of how
opinions can differ significantly in regard to close fights that some may feel
were similar in how they were fought.
Either way, much as is the case with regard to the Steed
Woodall-Jas Phipps fight, I would like to see a rematch between Chris Galeano
and Alexander Mancera. Both fights were
very competitive and I feel rematches of these two fights are warranted.
In a Jr. Welterweight bout Ivan Baranchyk scored a first
round knockout over Ian James. Baranchyk battered James’ body from the outset
before a left hook to the head ended the night for James. Official time of the
stoppage was 1:55 of round one. Ivan
Baranchyk advances to 4-0, with 3 Knockouts.
Ian James falls to 3-11, 1, with 1 Knockout.
In the Jr. Middleweight division Shawn Cameron scored his
eighth victory in as many fights as a professional as he scored a six round
unanimous decision over Daniel Calzada.
Both fighters had periods of effectiveness throughout the fight, but it
was Cameron’s well-balanced attack to the head and body of Calzada as well as
landing the cleaner punches of the two that earned him the decision in what was
a competitive fight. Unofficially I
scored this fight the same as the three official judges 58-56 for Cameron.
All and all, this card produced a healthy mix of knockouts,
competitive fights, and a look at fighters who range from developing into
prospects to knocking on the door of world title contention. This card also
produced a couple of fights that could see a rematch down the line. Lou DiBella’s Broadway Boxing series
continues to give Boxing fans a look at fighters who could very well develop
into future stars of the sport.
“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”
This card was promoted by Lou DiBella’s DiBella
Entertainment and broadcast worldwide by GFL Combat Sports. www.GFL.TV
The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison
All Rights Reserved.
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