Ringside Boxing Report: Billy Lyell vs. John Duddy
Friday Night at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ was indeed a very green night.
Fans were urged to take mass transit to help decrease emissions and preserve our planet. The fans not only created awareness about helping our Earth, they clearly indicated being loyal followers of John Duddy.
The ring card girls went green by announcing the rounds and ditching the paper signs. I realized, I am always green by using my BlackBerry, never pen and paper.
The co-main event was a 10 rounder between junior middleweights. Kassim Ouma, currently, 26-6 (16), and Gabriel Rosado currently 12-3 (7).
In the first two rounds, Ouma’s southpaw stance clearly caused a challenge for Rosado and by the third round Ouma had Rosado in a hold, seizing his punches.
By the fifth round Ouma was consistent as he released and landed his right jab, and Rosado appeared hungry to dominate.
As the sixth round approached, Rosado was more resistant, and by the ending of the ninth, his left hook shook Ouma.
Rosado then had Ouma on the ropes and took advantage that he was open. Rosado then used three right hands that ultimately set him in the lead into the tenth round.
Ringside judges returned scores of 96-94 for Ouma and 96-94 and 97-93 for Rosado, who won by split decision.
The beautiful Irish anthem was sang before the main event, a ten rounder between middleweights, the previously undefeated and popular John Duddy 26-1 (17) and Youngstown, Ohio’s Billy Lyell, currently 19-7 (3).
Lyell couldn’t find his rhythm at first as Duddy displayed his skills, but at the closing of round one, Duddy caught a few shots during the last seconds from Lyell.
In round two, Duddy appeared to have no defense against Lyell’s right hands. Duddy was bleeding from above his eye at the third round, and Lyell tried to land some body shots.
In the fourth round, it was Duddy who landed a left hook. They kept exchanging combination throughout rounds five and six, and by the seventh round, Lyell had his nose hurt.
Duddy missed a few capable shots during the eighth round. In round nine, Lyell began using his left hand, however, it was his right hand that ultimately provided victory by split decision.
Judges scored 96-94 for Duddy and 98-92 and 97-93 for Lyell.
Undercard results:
Super lightweight Henry Lundy, 13-0-1 (7), knocked out Jason Cintron, 10-1 (3), in the fifth round of their scheduled eight round clash.
Middleweight Patrick Majewski, 10-0 (7), stopped Jimmy Lubash, 13-2 (6), in the seventh round of a scheduled eight.
Cruiserweight Patrick Farrell, 2-0 (2), knocked out Doug Bowling, 0-2 (0), in the first during their scheduled four rounder.
SaddoBoxing would like to express appreciation and acknowledgment to Goran Vasic, Assistant Coach and player of the NJ Ironmen along with the team’s General Manager Tony Novo, for their cordiality.
© Ginamarie Russo / Saddo Boxing
The NJ Ironmen are a Major League Indoor Soccer team. For more information on their upcoming season visit
http://www.njironmen.com/