Salita, Codrington, Stevens, and Figueroa victorious at the Manhattan Center!

Salita, Codrington, Stevens, and Figueroa victorious at the Manhattan Center!

By Matt Yanofsky {Ringside}

In front of a live crowd at the Manhattan Center Welterweight Prospect Dmitriy Salita improved his undefeated record to 27-0-1 {15 Ko’s} by earning a victory over tough veteran Grover Wiley 30-9-1 {14 Ko’s}. In the first few rounds, the fighters traded blows well. Most of Wiley’s blows came with close uppercuts out of clinches while Salita preferred to use his height and reach advantage, landing his power shots from a distance. Salita was able to refocus his game plan and almost exclusively feature a stick and move on the smaller Wiley. Salita was able to earn a wide unanimous decision by the scores of 99-90 twice and 99-91. Salita is the latest name rumored to be in the running to face Arturo Gatti this July on HBO.

Super Middleweight Curtis “Showtime” Stevens 17-1 {12 Ko’s} was able to defeat upset specialist Darnell Boone 14-9-2 {5 Ko’s}. Stevens was the aggressor for most of the fight, but Boone kept coming forward and fighting, landing some effective blows on Stevens. Boone was out on his feet during the seventh round and received a standing 8 count. Stevens continued to dominate the rest of the fight and earned a unanimous decision of 100-90 from all three judges. After the fight, Boone said “I won the fight and the fans know it, His power didn’t phase me at all”. Boone claimed he will be moving back down to 160 and he will fight anyone willing to challenge him.

Super Middleweight Jaidon “Tha Don” Codrington improved his record to 15-1 {11 Ko’s} after defeating crafty veteran Marlon Hayes 23-6 {11 Ko’s}. Codrington started off immediately on the right track by landing heavy shots and forcing a standing 8 count on Hayes. Codrington went right back to work in the second and third while continuing to outland Haynes. Haynes was able to effectively stick and move in the fourth and fifth round, landing jabs on Codrington (who elected to drop his hands, perhaps to make Hayes attempt to trade shots).

Codrington was able to refocus himself and dominate Hayes—who was dangerously close to being stopped during the last few rounds. Hayes finished the fight on his feet but left with a closed eye ala Fernando Vargas. He fell to Codrington by the scores of 99-89, 98-90, and 97-91. After the fight Codrington’s trainer Nirmal Lorrick said that Jaidon had a B- performance and can improve by clowning around less and throwing more body punches.

Popular Bronx Junior Welterweight Francisco “El Gato” Figueroa improved to 15-2 {11 Ko’s} after scoring a TKO victory over veteran Antonio Ramirez. Figueroa dominated Ramirez from the bell. During the second round, Figueroa dropped Ramirez with a left hook. Figueroa continued his onslaught during the third round dropping Ramirez twice more and forcing a halt to the contest. Figueroa is next scheduled to fight in April in Florida.

Light Heavyweight Ronson Frank improved to 8-0 {4 Ko’s} after defeating Dan Mouton 2-1 {2 KO’s}. Frank used his range the entire night and was able to land most of the shots during the contest.

Heavyweight Sean McClain won his pro debut over Clifton Adams 0-3. After a sloppy first two minutes, McClain landed a 4 punch combo that put Adams on the deck for the count.

Pro Debutant Harvey Murray drew with Francisco Palacios 0-1-3. Both fighters had their moments, and it was a close fight the entire time. One judge scored the contest 39-37 Murray, another scored it 39-37 for Palacios. A third judge scored the contest 38-38 forcing the draw.