Pennsylvania Invades Brooklyn’s Aviator!
Mack Up, Moore Down!
(Judah bows out as Mack is declared winner / all photo's by Bill Doutney SBB)
June 4th, Pennsylvannia invaded Sal Musumeci’s Final Forum and Tommy Gallagher / Winky Wright Promotions exciting Wednesday Night Fights like the 26th Emergency Militia assaulted the Confederates at the battle of Gettysburgh.
In the semi main event before a singing hometown crowd, including celebrities like Darrell “King David” Madison the newly crowned N.Y. State Heavyweight Champion, IBF Light-Welterweight Champion Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi, “The Blade” Iran Barkley, Harold Lederman and Ronald “Winky” Wright undefeated Irish James Moore was upset by Philadelphia’s last minute replacement, rugged “King” Gabriel Rosado.
Rosado working as a sparring partner for Bernard Hopkins wasn’t impressed by the unbeaten Moore. Rosado survived Moore’s early pressure becoming more confident, even cocky at times taunting the Irishman as the crowd sang on. Rosado relaxed and began to land his right regularly while Moore appeared to be struggling loading up on his shots. In a sign of what would come, Rosado caught Moore coming in with a heavy right hand stunning the hometown favorite closing the second round. Moore was hurt.
The fight turned in the fourth round when the young Philadelphia pugilist landed a double right hand stunning Moore again.
Then in the fifth “The King” blasted Moore with a right hand, left uppercut combination planting the undefeated favorite on the deck. Moore would eat several more right hands, a good left hook to the body and a solid uppercut causing him to look for a respite spitting out his mouthpiece.
Moore found his jab in the sixth round but Rosado was feeling his oats, moving even doing the shuffle while firing lead right hands.
The fight was tight with Moore closing well but Rosado hurt Moore several times and won his rounds in a more dramatic fashion. It was a tough one for Moore, actually two in a row as many thought Moore was edged by Juan Carlos Candelo his last time out.
The scorecards were read judge Kevin Morgan 77-74, judge Carlos Ortiz 78-73 and judge Tony Paolillo 76-74 all for Rosado. The gap in the scoring was a surprise the fight could have easily been called a draw. The judges were obviously convinced by the harder punches landed by Rosado hurting Moore several times.
In the main event Philidelphia born light heavyweight Yusef Mack, stopped twice at super middleweight in his last four bouts, first by Alejandro Berrio in May 2006 and then by granite chinned Librado Andrade cemented a spot at light heavyweight grabbing the vacant NABA title with a ten round unanimous decision over Brooklyn’s Daniel Judah.
Judah 20-3-3, 10 Ko’s a southpaw started well behind a pumping jab but was floored by Mack 25-2-2, 15 Ko’s with a straight right hand in the second round. Judah was dropped in the second round with by a Mack overhand right and fought in denial for the remainder. Judah landed some sharp counters but was out worked by Mack who landed more than a kings share of rights to which Judah would just shake his head. Judah was game but his inactivity and Mack’s aggressiveness and accurate right hand scored him a 97-92 victory on all three judge’s cards and the Philly born fighter giving the NABA belt a new home.
On the undercard: Reggie “The Mechanic” Holly, 8-3, 2Ko’s won a closely contested unanimous decision over Stephane Malenov, 4-6-1, by the judges scores 37-39, 36-40 and 37-39.
Reginald LeCrete, 4-0-2, 3Ko’s had to settle for a majority draw 39-37, 38-38 twice after appearing to beat Philadelphia’s Zeferino Albino, 3-5-2 1Ko.
Carlos Garcia, 2-0-1, 2Ko’s and Venezuelan Olympian Carlos Prada, 0-0-1, traded a pair of knockdowns fighting to a majority draw 37-35 and 36-36 twice in an exciting bout screaming rematch.
Howard Beach’s Anthony Accardi made his pro debut with slight of hand slipping a right hand past North Carolina’s Jerome Fairfax still winless at 0-3. Wilson unable to continue claimed to be struck in the throat causing referee Danny Sullivan to call the fight at 1:02 of the first round.
Closing the night, previously undefeated Tommy Rainone slipped to 11-1, 3Ko’s losing a split decision to Lancaster, Pennsylvania’s Manuel Guzman, 6-5-1, 2 Ko’s. Defensive minded Rainone, usually very slick moving picking his spots was relentlessly stalked by Guzman finding himself slipping hitting the deck several times unable to gain momentum. The fight was scored a split decision 37-39, 39-37 |and 39-37 Guzman.
(more photo's and video clips click here)
SBB photog Bill Doutney ringside.
