Punchin Fast and Furious at The Paradise Theater
By: Anthony Genovese May 14th, Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing together with Golden Boy Promotions brought another night of “Punch-in to Bronx, NY’s Paradise Theater. The action was fast and furious when the card started with to outstanding jr. feather weight prospects Bronx, NY’s Raul Lopez, 3-0-1, 3Ko’s took on Meridian, Connecticut’s Daniel Aquino, 3-0.
Neither fighter gun shy both came on fast and furious reminding me off the two wars between Danny “Little Red” Lopez and the great Salvador Sanchez. Aquino landed some big right hands up top rocking Lopez who turned his attack to the body scoring with some ripping left hooks and heavy rights. The fight became a battle of wills and the crowd loved every second but it was the visitor Aquino grabbing a close 38-38, 39-37, 39- 37 majority decision. Not exactly sure why these two met this early on in there careers but it certainly gave the rest of the card a tough act to follow. Aquino remains unbeaten at 4-0, while Lopez slips to 3-1-1, 3Ko’s.
Yonkers, New York super middleweight, Shriprim “White Tiger” Muriqi used the buzz in the crowd following Lopez and Aquino and his large fan following to give Brooklyn’s Rondu Campbell his fifth straight loss. Muriqi the much higher skilled fighter controlled the action from the opening bell earning him a 40-36 times three shutout and an unblemished record of 4-0, 2Ko’s while Campbell falls to 2-5-1.
Due to a same night tape delayed showing of the card on Telefutura the main event matching Cincinnati, Ohio’s undefeated Adrien "The Problem” Broner, 14-0, 11Ko’s and the Dominican Republic’s Rafeal “The Dominican Man” Lora, 11-2, 5Ko’s was next. Following the flow set by Aquino and Lopez Golden Boy’s Broner came out quick and deliberate giving Lora all kinds of “problems.” Broner using a solid jab to set up the three minute destruction of Lora banged away with both hands stalking Lora like a serial killer. Lora appearing in survival mode was backed to the corner with a concentrated body assault then pounced on like a cheetah catching his prey. Broner ripped two left hooks to the body opening up “The Dominican Man” for a vicious three punch combination dropping him a hair before the bell. Lora made it upright but was swaying like a bridge in “Tornado Alley” prompting the referee to call the fight.
Broner now 15-0, 12Ko’s was asked whats next and the confident lightweight responded “I’m ready line em’ up it don’t matta.” Broner certainly displayed his wares and under the guidance of Golden Boy will make his mark on the lightweight division. Lora suffering his third straight loss dips to 11-3, 5Ko’s.
In the semi main attraction New Jersey’s lightweight Mike “The Artist “Perez remained unbeaten painting a tough picture for the game Seattle, Washington lightweight Francisco “El Elegante” Reyes. Perez used some straight punching to measure the distance then after finding his range floored the resilient Reyes with a crunching right. Perez would continue the attack cutting Reyes over his left eye in the third creating a temporary halt in the action but Reyes came to fight. Perez was more than happy to oblige controlling the action flooring Reyes again in the in the final minute of the bout.
“The Artist” caught Reyes with a stroke from underneath opening him up for a left hook right hand combination earning him the second eight count. Reyes toughness made it competitive but Perez and his large mass following would be rewarded with a well earned 60-52, 59-53 times two unanimous decision. Perez advances to 8-0-1, 3Ko’s while Reyes suffers his first loss dipping to 5-1, 2Ko’s.
In female action jr. lightweight "The Real Million Dollar Baby" Maureen Shea returned to action outworking, outscoring a game but out classed Norma Faris. Shea sticking to the script stated fast attacking Faris body breaking her down for an unanswered volley of punches halting the action at the end of the third round. Shea returned to her winning ways climbing to 14- 2, 8Ko’s, while Faris fell to 3-3.
In the evenings closer New York’s cruiserweight Amir "The Prince of Egypt" Samir and Brooklyn’s “Big” John Douglas squared off but Douglas didn’t come with the fight that got him an upset win over “The Fighting Marine” Jon Schnieder in October. The two combatants filled their end providing six rounds of what can only be described as a bar room brawl. Samir appeared to want to box but fell into the wild swinging grabbing hitting to the back of the head slugfest that kept you there because it was wild enough that anything could happen. Except it didn’t and the two clawed and tango’ed to a skill less 60-54, 59-55, 59-55 unanimous decision for Samir as he demonstrated the actions closet resembling a boxer. Samir improved to 9-0, 2Ko’s while "Big" John Douglas falls to 7-14-3, 3Ko’s.
All in all it was a very exciting night of action and I am looking forward to returning to the next night of “Punch-in at The Paradise” as well as following Adrien Broner, Danny Aquino, Mike Perez, Raul Lopez and of course Maureen Shea.
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