Patrick Majewski, Heart of Poland, Wins NABF Middleweight Title

ByRobert Brizel

Fighting from the heart, in the best physical condition of his career, the pride of Poland, Patrick Majewski, won the vacant NABF Middleweight title in his second try with a fifth round stoppage of Chris ‘The Irish Ghost’ Fitzpatrick. While the two fighters appeared evenly matched in physique, height, reach and even weight (both fighters weighed in at 160), it was Majewski who came forward and cut off the ring, backing up Fitzpatrick and using left-right combinations to the head and body to win every exchange and every round.

Fitzpatrick tried his best to counter Majewski, and was game to win. In the end, Fitzpatrick wanted to continue, but the bout ended due to a strange cut controversy. The NABF title bout was the main event of an eight bout card promoted by Peltz Boxing and Global Boxing at Bally’s Hotel and Casino on Saturday, July 7, 2012, in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Majewski, now 19-1 (12), Atlantic City, New Jersey by way of Radom, Poland, entered the ring with a knockout win over Antwun Echols in Mississippi in April 2012. Fitzpatrick, now 15-2 (6), Cleveland, Ohio, entered the ring with a stoppage win over Ken Durham in South Carolina this past February 2012.

According to referee Earl Morton, an accidental clash of heads caused a deep gash in the left eyebrow of Fitzpatrick. According to press at ringside, it appeared a powerful right hand lead by Majewski to the face of Fitzpatrick caused the gash in Fitzpatrick’s left eyebrow. In any case, once the bout reaches round four, an accidental butt can no longer result in a no contest.

Fitzpatrick’s manager and cut man, Gunther Fishgold, did a masterful job preventing the cut from bleeding till near the end of each round. The problem was the size of the cut was getting worse. Majewski was landing pinpoint straight right hand leads targeting the cut, till the gash on Fitzpatrick’s eyebrow was more than two inches long. The ringside doctor, Eric Wurmser M.D., a board certified plastic surgeon, determined the bout needed to be stopped before the start of round six. Fishgold protested the stoppage at ringside, starting a controversy, as he wanted the bout to continue.

New Jersey State Athletic Control Board Deputy Commissioner Sylvester Cuyler told Fishgold at ringside “You are not a qualified ringside doctor or qualified medical personnel.”

Fishgold replied, “This is crazy! That’s what you have a cut man for! I have adrenaline! We have the cut under control! This is an old cut. We have the cut under control. John Duddy cuts like this all the time! You don’t wait till after the fourth round to rob the kid of his title! That’s a major blow to the kid’s career!” At some point, Fishgold had to be physically restrained by security at ringside.

In contrast to his corner, Fitzpatrick took the loss in the ring like a gentleman. “I’m sorry they stopped the bout. I want to fight. We’re warriors,” noted Fitzpatrick.

The Majewski corner remains open to the possibility of defending the NABF title on the undercard of the upcoming bout between Tomas Adamek and James Toney at Prudential Center in Newark on September 8, 2012. “Anything’s possible,” explained Majewski’s trainer Arnold Robbins.

“This would be for the Polish public, Polish television, and thousands of Polish fans. I’m sexy and I know it! It would be exciting to have the opportunity to fight before Adamek in Prudential Center!” Majewski added with enthusiasm.

Undercard Results

Lavarn Harvell TKO 1 Mojeed Okedara, Light Heavyweights (2:27)
Jessie Hart TKO 1 Steven Chadwick, Super Middleweights (2:38)
Anthony Prescott (debut) KO 2 DeAndre Phillips (debut), Welterweights (0:21)
Mark Rideout Win 4 Randy Easton, Heavyweights
Osnel Charles Draw 6 Raphael Luna Jr., Lightweights
Naim Nelson Win 6 Esteban Rodriguez, Junior Welterweights
Dan Biddle Win 6 Pedro Martinez, Heavyweights