Philadelphia Boxing Results – Blue Horizon – 5/1/09

Posted on | May 4, 2009 | No Comments

Mtagwa Beats Medina in a Slugfest

By Tony Penecale (Ringside)

This past weekend, the eyes of the boxing world were fixated on Las Vegas to see Philipino sensation Manny Pacquiao solidify his status as the best boxer in the world by beating Ricky Hatton. The main event between Rogers Mtagwa and Ricardo Medina at Philadelphia’s Blue Horizon had a similar quality to the most famous fight in Pacquiao’s native Philippines. In 1975, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier engaged in an epic slugfest known as “The Thrilla in Manilla”. Nearly 24 years later, Mtagwa and Medina tore into each other in such a ferocious manner that their fight could have been called “The Thrilla in North Phila”, capping off an excellent eight-bout Peltz-Promotions card at the legendary boxing venue.

Mtagwa Outslugs Medina

Coming off a “Fight of the Year” candidate against Thomas Villa in November, Rogers Mtagwa, 127, Philadelphia, took part in another thrilling slugfest, scoring a hard-fought unanimous decision over Ricardo Medina, 129, Mazatian Mexico.

Mtagwa started aggressively, pressuring Medina and firing an assortment of hooks to the body, which Medina was happy to oblige with hooks of his own. Mtagwa started to find his rhythm in the 2nd round and was landing the crisper punches throughout the round with Medina responding with a hard right to Mtagwa’s jaw to end the round.

The face-first action produced a head clash early in the 3rd round, with Medina sporting a cut over his left eye. Undeterred, Medina found success backing Mtagwa to the ropes and landing right hands. The action continued in the 4th with Mtagwa targeting Medina’s cut with right hands and both fighters exchanging punches after the bell.

Medina kept smothering Mtagwa throughout the middle rounds and each fighter had moments of success with Mtagwa regularly becoming aggressive in the last 30 seconds of each round. Suffering with another headbutt-induced cut, Medina landed a vicious right hand in the 7th round, briefly stunning Mtagwa who responded with a pair of right hands.

By the 9th round, Mtagwa’s left eye was nearly swollen shut, while Medina was bleeding freely from cuts over both eyes and a nasty gash under his left eye. Another furious exchange late in the round saw Mtagwa taking control and stunning Medina. Mtagwa nearly floored his iron-chinned opponent in the 10th and final round, landing a series of punches that sent Medina staggering across the ring. Mtagwa kept punching but Medina was able to hold on till the final bell.

Judges Benard Bruni and Alan Rubenstein scored the bout 98-92 with Pierre Benoist scoring 97-93, all for Mtagwa. With the win Mtagwa improves to 26-12-2 (18) while Medina falls to a deceiving 31-34-5 (17).

Wilson Blasts Leija

Kaseem Wilson is not universally regarded as much of a puncher, only scoring three knockouts in his previous eleven wins. But don’t tell that to Louie Leija. In a blink-and-you-will-miss-it performance, Wilson, 146, Philadelphia, blasted Leija, 147, San Antonio TX, in just over a minute.

Wilson opened by using his height and reach advantage to keep Leija at bay. Leija made a mistake of lunging in with a right and leaving his hands down, leaving himself open to a counter left from the southpaw, Wilson. Wilson’s left landed flush and after another punch, Leija found himself on the canvas. Upon rising, Leija found himself in a corner with Wilson reigning blows upon him; prompting referee Eddie Claudio to halt the contest in what many feel was a premature stoppage.

Wilson raises his record to 12-1-1 (4), while Leija dips to 21-11-1 (15)

Ellis Gets Split Nod Over Davis

In an interesting bout with some very curious scoring, Jerome Ellis won an 8-round split decision over Jamaal Davis.

After an intense staredown, Davis, 153, Philadelphia opened the bout boxing and using his quickness to offset the physically-stronger Ellis, 152, Irvington NJ. Ellis started imposing his strength in the 2nd through 4th rounds, using his power to win the exchanges and carry the rounds, while Davis was just not busy enough.

Davis finally found success in the 5th round as Ellis appeared to start tiring. “Tyson” Davis began boxing on the outside and leaping in with short hooks, similar in style, if not power, to the man whose namesake he uses. Those hooks finally took their toll in the 6th round, with Ellis stunned and looking on the verge of collapse, saved only by the tape coming loose on his glove on three occasions.

Davis stayed more consistent through the 7th round, like a baseball player hitting singles, while Ellis continually swung for the homerun but continually missed his target. Ellis was able to rebound in the 8th and final round, first by doing a fancy nip up after he slipped on the canvas and then pressing Davis throughout the final minute and landing the harder shots.

In what appeared to be a close fight, two of the judges had very one-sided scores. George Hill scored 79-73 for Davis. Benoist scored 80-72 for Ellis while Benard Bruni was more realistic with a 77-75 score for Ellis, awarding him the decision. Fight News Unlimited scored the fight even 76-76.

Ellis ups his record to 12-9-2 (10) with Davis falling to 9-5 (6)

Ferrante “Boom Booms” Pietrantonio

At first alert, you might have thought it was 1982 with a pair of Italian fighters, the hometown of Youngstown, OH, and the nickname “Boom Boom” all in one fight. But it is 2009, and the “Boom Boom” belonged to Tony Ferrante, not Ray Mancini, as he scored an exciting 5th round stoppage over Anthony Pietrantonio.

Ferrante, 174, Philadelphia, was quicker and crisper early, using his speed to outmaneuver the slower Pietrantonio, 172, Youngstown. After a slow opening round, Pietrantonio began to apply steady pressure in the 2nd round, and although Ferrante was landing the better punches, he was breathing hard.

Pietrantonio had a successful 3rd round landing a number of left hooks, causing a nasty welt under Ferrante’s right eye. Ferrante regained control in the 4th round, landing right hands and uppercuts, hurting Pietrantonio late in the round and sending him back to his corner on shaky legs.

Stunned and tiring, Pietrantonio landed a punch on the break early in the 5th round, drawing a warning from referee Shawn Clark. A fired-up Ferrante offered more than a warning, blasting Pietrantonio with several right hands, leaving him helpless on the ropes, where Clark stopped the bout 45 seconds into the round.

Ferrante remains undefeated at 7-0 (4) while Pietrantonio suffers his second defeat and is now 6-2-1 (5).

Vasquez Rocks Hurd

Victor Vasquez had a tougher-than-expected time against Linwood Hurd, surviving some rough moments and winning a hard-fought unanimous decision.

Vasquez started fast, stunning Hurd in the 1st round with a left hook and unloading punches with both hands. Vasquez continued the onslaught in the 2nd round and Hurd was faced with the decision of succumbing or firing back, choosing the latter and landing several hard punches against the defensively-challenged Vasquez.

The 3rd round was an offensive trade off with both fighters punching until and after the bell. The momentum seemed to be shifting in Hurd’s favor as he controlled the 4th round, with Vasquez tiring and showing severe swelling over his right eye.

Hurd continued to pressure Vasquez in the 5th round and the fighters freely exchanged power punches with Vasquez showing damage over his left eye. With the momentum seemingly in Hurd’s favor going into the final round, Vasquez found the strength to land a monster left hook and floor Hurd in a neutral corner. Hurd rose on unsteady legs and went into pure survival mode, even tackling Vasquez to the canvas, and was able to survive the round.

All three judges scored 59-54 in favor of Vasquez who improves to 9-3 (5), while Hurd falls to 2-2-3.

Flores Destroys Diaz

Anthony Flores came, saw and conquered in a short night against Carlos Diaz, scoring a knockout in 2:54 of the opening round and leaving Diaz on the canvas longer than the fight’s duration.

Flores, 128, Philadelphia, fought extremely aggressive, coming forward despite his five-inch height advantage, backing Diaz, 128, Tampa, with jabs and right hands. Diaz was able to throw only one meaningful punch, a left hook, before a steady diet of punching backed him into a neutral corner. Shortly after that, a right hand to the body and uppercut, left Diaz face-first on the canvas, where he was counted out.

Flores stays unbeaten at 8-0 (5) while Diaz falls to 10-19-4 (7).

Trader Workmanlike Over Esquilin

Frankie Trader kept his undefeated record intact with a comprehensive majority decision win over Luis Esquilin.

Trader, 130, Philadelphia, was tentative early, trying to figure out Esquilin’s southpaw style. Trader was able to win the first two rounds using lead rights, but was unable to get his punches off in combination, while Esquilin, 128, Philadelphia, threw only clubbing blows on the inside, but was otherwise inactive.

Trader had his best round in the 3rd round, briefly causing Esquilin’s knees to buckle with a right hand. After being relatively passive and giving up the first three rounds, Esquilin became very aggressive in the 4th, irking Trader with a punch on the break, and initiating the bout’s best two-way action.

George Hill scored the bout even 38-38 but was outvoted by Pierre Benoist and Alan Rubenstein, who both scored 39-37 in favor of Trader. Trader is still undefeated at 4-0 (1) while Esquilin falls below .500 at 1-2-1.

Butler Defeats King

In the evening’s final bout, Adrick Butler won a four-round majority decision over Dontre King.

Butler, 148, Philadelphia used his height early, keeping King, 147, Cambridge MD at the end of his jab and not allowing him to land counter punches. King was showing frustration as early as the 2nd round as he rushed in but was able to land no serious punches.

Butler landed his best punches in the 3 rd round with a solid left hook and body shots that put King on the defensive and forced him into retreat mode. King spent the entire 4th round moving in circles while Butler followed him around but failed to cut him off and land any significant punches.

George Hill curiously scored a draw at 38-38 but was vetoed by Bernard Bruni and Alan Rubenstein who scored 40-36 and 40-37 respectively for Butler.

Butler now resides at 2-1 while King falls to 1-4-1.