Angel Hernandez held the NABF Light Middleweight title in 2002 and mounted an unsuccessful bid to unseat IBF Champion Winky Wright in 2003 but the 33 year old Chicago resident has been struggling to regain his foothold in the upper classes of the American boxing scene until upsetting middleweight prospect James McGirt Jr last night at Mallory Square in Key West, FL.

Hernandez was coming off a one-sided loss to light middle contender Vanes Martirosian in June and was to be a step in the rebuilding program of southpaw McGirt Jr, who was coming off a draw against the unheralded Marcus Upshaw in November.

But "El Toro" refused to be a stepping stone and came forward for all ten rounds against McGirt, outworking the 26 year old son of famed trainer and ex-world champion boxer "Buddy" McGirt, in what was a close contest.

Hernandez convinced the judges by marks of 96-94 twice and 96-95 to improve to 29-7 (16) while McGirt has now won just one of his last four outings to drop to 19-2-1 (9).

On the undercard, light middle Ermosele Albert, 22-2-1 (1), posted a ten round UD against Germaine Sanders, 27-7 (17), while welter Damian Frias, 16-1 (7), pulled off a ten round points verdict against Edwin Algarin, 10-6-1 (6).

Heavyweight Darrel Madison, 13-1 (3), defeated Domonic Jenkins, 13-11-1 (6), after six rounds on points.

Yusaf Mack, 26-2-2 (16), continued his comeback as a light heavyweight last night as the NABA Champ retained his title for the first time with a six round TKO of crosstown rival Omar Pittman, 15-5-1 (8), at the National Guard Armory in Philadelphia, PA.

Also on the bill, light middle Derek Ennis, 16-2-1 (12) , won his fourth in a row by posting a wide points decision after ten rounds against 40 year old southpaw Troy Browning, 20-3-1 (8).

At the Morongo Casino in Cabazon, CA, lightweight prospect Vincente Escobedo, 19-1 (12), sparked out previously unbeaten Dominic Salcido, 16-1 (8), at 0:42 of the sixth in a scheduled ten rounder.

Another California prospect was in the victory column at the Morongo as super bantam Nestor Rocha, 20-1 (7), won his third bout on the bounce by stopping 37 year old Puerto Rican veteran Javier Cintron, 14-11-2 (10), in the second frame. More...

Pawel Wolak: 155.5 lb
Chad Greenleaf: 154.75 lb

Darrel Madison: 249 lb
Elfair McKnight: 240 lb More...

A more ring savvy, experienced Polish power puncher Pawel "Raging Bull" Wolak, 21-1 (14), returns to the ring Friday night, September 26 headlining "Havoc At The Hilton" at the Huntington Hilton Hotel.

"Havoc At The Hilton," promoted by Bob Duffy's Ring Promotions, features some of New York's finest, most entertaining pro boxers. More...

Promoter Bob Duffy today announced that his Ring Promotions will present “Havoc At The Hilton,” featuring Polish power puncher Pawel “Raging Bull” Wolak, 21-1 (14), Friday night, September 26 at the Huntington Hilton Hotel.

Wolak, originally from Poland and now living and training in Brooklyn, is coming off his first pro loss August 21 to Ishe Smith, 20-3 (9), star of The Contender Season 1, by a close 10-round decision.

The 26-year-old Wolak is the reigning WBC Interim USNBC and Polish International light middleweight champion. He faces Chad Greenleaf, 10-10-1 (4), in the eight round main event on September 26. More...

**With Slideshow**

© Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing

Sweet Science Events hosted a great evening of boxing at Monticello Raceway, in Monticello, New York, on Friday night entitled “Catch a Rising Fist”. In the main event, Darrel “King David” Madison took a big step up in competition and defeated Zuri Lawrence for the vacant New York State Heavyweight Title.

In facing Lawrence, 23-14-4, in his first eight-round main event, Madison, 10-1 (3), faced a veteran that had five times the professional ring experience of any of his previous opponents. The resume of Lawrence includes names such as former champions Hasim Rahman and Sultan Ibragimov as well as top contenders Calvin Brock, Jameel McCline, Tony Thompson and Ray Austin.

If Madison was impressed by the ring experience of Lawrence, he didn’t show it as he entered the ring staring down his opponent looking confident and relaxed, a demeanor he was able to carry throughout the fight.

Early into the bout, the southpaw Madison outboxed Lawrence and moved around the ring well. Lawrence and Madison both trying to work on the inside clinched on several occasions forcing the referee to separate them and warn both combatants to stop holding. More...

© Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing

Sweet Science Events will be hosting an exciting night of boxing tonight, May 30 at Moticello Raceway, Monticello, NY. In the main attraction, Darrel “King David” Madison, 9-1 (3), will face veteran Zuri Lawrence, 23-13-4, for the vacant New York State Heavyweight Title.

After a good amateur career, Madison had his first professional fight in November of 2006 and did what any new prospect should do, he fought four and six round fights facing other new prospects. Over the last year and a half, he stayed busy and fought ten times, facing opponents that had up to eight professional fights.

While some fighters talk about stepping up their level of competition, Madison means what he says. When he steps into the ring tonight, he will face a veteran that has five times the professional ring experience of anyone he has ever faced and who has also been in the ring with past heavyweight champions, contenders and Olympians.

SaddoBoxing had the pleasure of speaking with Madison to talk about his big opportunity and what he has been doing to prepare for his first eight-round main event title fight. More...