‘Middleweights Scoring’

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A most patient Maurice 'Mo Bettah' Harris, fighting a slow paced punch and hold war with Derric Rossy, finally dropped Rossy to the canvas midway through the 12th round and battered Rossy senseless on the ropes to score a TKO at 1:35 of the 12th and final round to retain the USBA heavyweight title.

The bout was the main event of a four bout card Saturday at Resorts Hotel Casino Superstar Theatre, Atlantic City, New Jersey. The card was the first promotion for Carla Hill, wife of former world light heavyweight and cruiserweight champion Virgil Hill. Bouts were broadcast live on gofightlive with top notch commentary by Marc Abrams.

Harris, 26-15-2 (12), East Orange, New Jersey, who knocked out future champion 16-0 Siarhei Liakhovich in the ninth round in 2002, went into the 12th round for the second time in his last three fights, and scored the latest stoppage in his 42 bout career stretching back to 1992. More...

Last Wednesday, welterweight Dmitry 'Star of David' Salita an eight round decision over trial horse Ronnie Warrior Jr. in the main event of the EXODUS boxing card at The Oceana Club in Brighton Beach Brooklyn. The five bout card was broadcast live on The Jewish Channel and Gocastlive.net.

Salita, now 33-1-1 (17), Brooklyn, New York via the Ukraine, won his third consecutive bout since losing his WBA Light Welterweight title bid against Amir Khan in December 2009. His opponent, southpaw Ronnie Warrior Jr., now 13-5-1 (4), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, appeared in great physical condition, but fought a mostly defensive bout while looking for counterpunching opportunities.

The ring was never cut off, so Warrior came forward in the earlier rounds, with Salita moving side to side. Salita came forward in the later rounds, with Warrior on his bicycle. More...

In the preliminary to the main event Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing at Bally's Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, hot welterweight prospect Raymond 'Tito' Serrano moved closer to world title contention status with an impressive fifth round knockout of Geoffery Spruiell. Since Serrano weighed 147.7 and Spruiell 148.5, the eight rounder went off at junior middleweight. A good contingency of young flag waving Latino fans cheered Serrano on during his bout.

Serrano's 14-0 (7) record includes a majority decision win over Ayi Bruce of Ghana, who won the vacant IBA welterweight title by decision over Shamone Alvarez in the main event which followed Serrano's bout.

Serrano dropped Spruiell with a short left early in round one, and then dropped him again with an overhand right in the first for a 10-7 round. Serrano then carried Spruiell. Serrano threw a lot of straight left jabs, and some right jabs. Spruiell appeared muscular, but could not fight, or possibly came into this bout with absolutely no game plan.

Spruiell spent the bout sitting on the ropes waiting for Serrano to come in and throw jabs, and then tried to counter with a flurry. Spruiell kept his guard low, however, and such a poor defense left the opening for Serrano to finish the showcase. Tito was patient with his straight left, just scoring and torturing the clueless Spruiell. In round three, Tito changed tactics and began working the body of Spruiell on the ropes, breaking him down further for two rounds and setting up the grand finale. More...

Last Wednesday at B.B. King's Blues Club & Grill in New York City in a card promoted by DiBella Promotions, Gabriel 'Tito' Bracero pounded out an eight round unanimous decision over rough tough Hector Alatorre in a junior welterweight matchup. Bracero, now 13-0 (1), won every round, but the bout was closer than the scoring indicated. Alatorre presented danger at every turn, and as promoter Lou DiBella noted "The kid (Alatorre) is a true professional. He came to fight."

Bracero threw mostly straight left and right jabs, but lacked the power to hurt the rugged Alatorre, who had a solid chin and gave a solid effort. Alatorre missed with most of his counter punches. He leaned with his head and elbows, and hit off the break for most of the bout.

Alatorre tried to counterpunch coming forward, but Bracero was moving side to side with as fast jab, making sure not to offer Alatorre a target he could find. Alatorre continued swinging aggressively in the final round, but he missed, and could not match Bracero's consistent aggressive punch output by volume in every round.

Alatorre 16-13 (5), has now fought in nineteen consecutive decisions, but has won only two of his last fourteen bouts on the scorecards, due to top quality junior welterweight opposition.

"I'm chasing my dream (to be world champion). I need to learn to stick and move better. I need more on power punches. We need to work on that," explained Bracero afterwards.

Gabriel Tito Bracero W8 Hector Alatorre

Scoring: 80-72 from all three judges

Argentinian trainer Gabriel Sarmiento of Argentina is at it again. Less than ten days after guiding world middleweight champion Sergio Gabriel Martinez to an impressive second round knockout over Paul Williams at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, Sarmiento reappeared in dramatic fashion at BB King Blues Club & Grill with another fighter he trains, junior lightweight Javier Fortuna of La Romana, Dominican Republic. More...

On Friday night at Harrah's Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, heavyweight Chazz Witherspoon scored a fourth round stoppage over Alexis Mejias, who failed to get off his stool for the fifth round bell of the scheduled ten rounder. Witherspoon, now 28-2 (20), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, had no trouble finding and hitting Mejias, now 11-6 (5), Humacao, Puerto Rico, winning the first round and turning the face of Mejias cherry red.

Witherspoon came forward at the opening bell throwing big overhand rights, and a lot of cautious jabs. Mejias threw wildly trying unsuccessfully to counter. However, Mejias did land two nice overhand rights to Witherspoon's head late in the round, without effect, just scoring.

In round two, Mejias style became more evident, moving his arms up and down constantly, leaving wide open holes. The fighters went around the ring in circles, neither cutting off the ring. The story was pretty much the same. Witherspoon came forward throwing cautious jabs, Mejias countering, mostly missing wildly. More...