Global ‘Fistic Knockout Fest’ in Madison Square Garden
BoxingGlove Notes
Distinio Lois, Jr.
Just like a winning poker hand Madison Square Garden’s Theatre was a “full-house”, of approximately 6,000 fans enjoying an 8 bout card of super talented fighters from all over the world.
Bob Arum’s Top Rank Promotions lived up to it’s promise of presenting the most exciting fighters-world champs and future contenders-in one exciting night on the eve of the celebration of the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade festivities.
Saturday night, June 11, 2016 an almost United Nations type of boxers displayed their fistic talents resulting in 6 resounding knockouts, as the other remaining 2 fights were punch for punch middle of the ring phone booth caliber fights resulting in decisions.
Jean Carlos Rivera 6-0, 3 knockouts , Orlando Florida, T.K.O.’d Heriberto Delgado, 11-4-1, 6 k.o.’s Mexico, in a torrid fistic war at 49 seconds of the 6th round in a Featherweight fight. Maryland’s Walter Reed 19-0, 11 knockouts stopped veteran fighter from Guadalajara, Mexico, Abraham Cordero 13-2-1, 7 k.o.’s , 2:29 seconds of the 6th round.
The knockouts continued when vicious body punching Junior Welterweight, Julian “Hammer Time” Rodriguez, 13-0, 10 knockouts, Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, made short work of Adam Mate 18-9, 11 k.o.’s from Hungary, knocking him out in just 2:27 seconds of the very 1st . round, and undefeated 126 pound Christopher “Pitufo” Diaz, 17-0, 11 k.o.’s , severly battered Neftali Campos, 11-1, 9 knockouts obligating the referee to finally stop the contest at 2:33 seconds of the 8th round.
The 5th and 6th fights went the distance when Sean Acosta fought Jose “Chocolatito” Gonzalez to a majority draw, while 2 time Olympian Gold Medalist from China, Zou Shiming, 7-1, 2 k.o.’s won the Vacant W.B.O. International Flyweight Championship by a unanimous decision over outclassed contender from Hungary, Jozsef Ajtai, 15-2, 10 knockouts.
The knockouts resumed when the pride of Puerto Rico Felix “El Diamante” Verdejo 22-0, 15 knockouts successfully defended and retained his W.B.O. Latino Lightweight Championship knocking out number 1 contender from Mexico, Juan Jose “Piquet” Martinez, 25-2, 17 k.o.’s at 2:40 seconds of the 5th round.
In the main event also a world title fight Vasyl “Hi-Tech” Lomachenko from Odessa, Ukraine, 5-1, 3 knockouts and current W.B.O. 126 Pound Champ, and also 2 time Olympic Gold Medalist moved up in weight to challenge Roman “Rocky” Martinez, 29-2-2, 17 k.o.’s and current W.B.O. 130 Pound Champ.
The speedy south paw Lomachenko who continuously predicted a victory over Martinez lived up to his boasting when from the very first bell he began to give Martinez a boxing lesson staggering him in rounds 3 & 4.Martinez did fight back throughout the fight hurting Lomachenko in the 2nd round.
As the fight seemed to become very competitive, Lomachenko suddenly hit Martinez with a left upper-cut and a right hook in round 5 knocking Martinez down and flat on his back as the referee Danny Schiavone counted the mandatory 10 over an unconscious Martinez.
He waved the fight over at 1:09 of the 5th round, and summoned the ring Doctors to attend to Martinez.
The new W.B.O. 130 Pound Champion Lomachenko celebrated his victory with somersaults around the ring to the delight of the crowd which included former 130 pound champ Orlando “Siri” Salido who immediately demanded a title fight since he was the only fighter who had defeated Lomachenko previously.
In the post-fight ring interview Lomachenko stated emphatically that he wanted to fight all of the 130 pound contenders, especially Salido.“I want to be a fighting champ just like the ‘Greatest’ Muhammad Ali, and I dedicate this victory to him”, stated Lomachenko.
A happy and very relieved Verdejo because people began to doubt his talent and title contention, stated that “I now feel that I can get rid of the people who doubted me and I hope that I get a title shot at a world crown very soon.”
Verdejo further stated that he was not worried about his previously injured hands because after the last surgery all of the bone problems were corrected and he was ready to move ahead in his boxing career non-stop.
As for now ex-champ Rocky Martinez 33 years of age, a former 3-time world champ, it is a long rest with his family after that devastating knockout loss and then to contemplate his future in boxing.
The over-flow fight crowd at Madison Square Garden, N.Y. on Saturday night, June 11, 2016 were treated to a bombs away fight card, thanks to Bob Arum’s Top Rank Promotions.
Additionally Mr. Arum was celebrating his 50th Anniversary in boxing promotions globally and throughout the United States which includes the 2 Yankee Stadiums, and of course Madison Square Garden.
The international flavor of his boxing promotions such as Felix Verdejo, Puerto Rico—Zou Shiming, China —Vasyl Lomachenko, Ukraine, and other parts of the world would no doubt be a very attractive fight card because it creates a very positive ethnic mode of fight fans cheering for their own in any fight arena such as the mecca of boxing Madison Square Garden, New York City.
