Alexander Looks Great Proves “Speed Kills,”
Rossy Wins Again, Forbes Upset!
By: Coach “K”
March 6th, Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut: Undefeated light welterweight Devon Alexander won his fifth straight fight via stoppage adding the IBF title to the WBC Belt he won stopping Junior Witter in August dropping then stopping former IBF Welterweight Champion, Columbian Juan “Iron Twin” Urango in the eighth round of their twelve round unification bout.
Coming into the fight Urango, 22-2-1, 17Ko’s had only two losses both decisions the first to Ricky Hatton and then to undefeated WBC Welterweight Champion Andre Berto, 25-0, 19Ko’s.
In a battle of southpaws and styles Alexander the boxer opened fast using his superior speed hand and foot circling to his right peppering the usual slow starting Columbian banger with a sharp jab finding a home for his uppercut early.
The second round continued where the opener started with Alexander working his jab cutting the rugged Columbian over his left eye and keeping him just out of punching range.
Urango looked as if he could change the momentum gaining the momentum in the middle rounds with some winging right hooks and some solid body punching.
The former champion was coming on but he could not successfully cut off the ring on a steady basis or zero in his left hand to stop Alexander’s circling to the right. Then just when it appeared Urango might be on the verge of turning the corner the young skillful champion caught Urango with the first of two uppercuts dropping the bigger stronger Columbian. “The Iron Twin” regained his feet taking nodding acknowledging Alexander’s shot only to walk into a solid left and second right uppercut prompting referee Benjy Esteves to stop the fight at 1:12 of the eighth round.
WBC / IBF champion Alexander stayed perfect advancing to 20-0, 13Ko’s proving his mobile rapid fire no holding style belongs at the top of the division along with the likes of Timothy Bradley, Ricky Hatton, Nate Campbell and Zab Judah who was at ringside calling out Alexander who openly called on all takers, Bradley included. Judah implied he was the real St. Louis Champion having beaten Cory Spinks in but the reigning champion answered Judah replying “that’s the past this is now.” Following the fight like a true champion Urango had nothing but praise for Alexander.
Alexander fighting under the tutelage of the same trainer Kevin Cunningham throughout his entire amateur and pro career once again proved speed is power and “Speed Kills.”
In the co-feature Don King promoted WBC #9 World heavyweight Derric Rossy, 25-2, 14Ko’s won his third fight in six weeks retaining his USNBC title winning a 120-107, 118-109, 117110 unanimous decision over cagey Warren, Ohio veteran Zack Page, 20-28-2, 7Ko’s.
Rossy dominated at times staying behind a good jab and scoring with several solid right hands, one which planted Page firmly on the canvas in the sixth round only to have the slick veteran strategically lose his mouth piece and then without resistance take a knee after being leaned on during a clinch enabling to wobbling Ohioan to survive the round.
Managed by Final Forum’s Sal Musimeci, Rossy a solid athlete and collegiate football standout at Boston College joined the fight game coming in from a limited amateur background but has show tremendous improvement in each step while learning on the job. The rising contenders only slips coming when taking big steps up against the likes of the already proven Alexander Dimitrenko and “Fast Eddie Chambers.” Keep on eye on under a team now combining king and Musimeci the skies the limit.
In the second co-feature: Former IBF Super Featherweight Champion Stevie “Two Pounds” Forbes lost a closely contested 77-75, 78-74, 76-76 majority decision to veteran trial horse Harrison Cuello. Cuello, 19-12-3, 14Ko’s lost four of his last five to albeit to tough competition like DeMarcus Corley, 35-11-1, Ray Robinson, 10-0, Vanes Martirosyan, 23-0-0, Ricardo Williams Jr; 14-2, and a draw with Rashad Holloway, 10-1-0. Cuello at times appeared to inflict his will on Forbes out working the former champion landing clean shots inside grabbing the edge and the W.
On the undercard: Puerto Rican super lightweight Antonio Sanchez and Toledo, Ohio’s Calvin Pritchard fought to a 38-38, 39-37, 37-39 draw. In cruserwight action St. Louis Missouri’s Ryan Coyne won a eight round 77-75, 78-74, 77-75 action packed battle with Greensboro’ North Carolina’s Paul Jeanette. Miami , Florida super lightweight Angelo Santana scored a fourth round Tko over New Orleans Darien Ford. Brooklyn cruiserweight Wayne Braithwaite stopped Worchester, Massachusetts Adam Harris with one second to go of the opening round and Rock Hill, South Carolina Lightweight won a 40-36, times three unanimous decision over Puerto Rican lightweight Andres Navarro.
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Darchinyan Defends Gets Return Shot at Donaire,
Zappavigna Survives earns Title!
By: David Colon
March 6th, Agua Caliente Casino, Rancho Mirage, California: Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan, 34-2-1, 27Ko’s successfully defended his WBA and WBC super-flyweight titles in a brutal, one-sided beating of rugged Mexican southpaw Rodrigo “Gatito” Guerrero (13-2-1, 9Ko’s). Guerrero, pounded and cut early on found himself on the business end of Darchinyan left hands and heavy combinations surviving a brutal eighth round battering and somehow remaining upright for twelve becoming “The Raging Bull’s” 34th victim finding himself on the losing end of a 118-110, 117-111, 120-108 unanimous decision. Reports by Darchinyan’s trainer Angelo Hyder his the WBA and WBC super-flyweight champion injured his left hand during the bout and now after two and a half years has worked his way back to a rematch with Filipino Nonito Donaire tentatively scheduled for this June. “The Raging Bulls only other loss was to Bronx, New York’s Joseph Agbeko, 27-2, 22Ko’s last July.
In the co-feature Sydney, New South Wales, Australia’s Leonardo “Lenny Zappa” Zappavigna, 23-0-, 15Ko’s survived his first big step up in competition, cuts over both eyes and a second half onslaught by former WBA Fedecentro lightweight champion Caracas, Venezuela’s Fernando “La Fiera” Angulo, 22-7, 14Ko’s to win the vacant International Boxing Organization lightweight title via a controversial 114-113, 116-11 times two unanimous decision. Angulo took the fight on two weeks' notice.
