Ringside Report: Maddalone Overpowers Alexander
© Robert Brizel / Saddo Boxing
Queens native Vincent “Vinnie†Maddalone, coming off a disputed decision loss to former cruiserweight champion Jean Marc Mormeck in Paris, France, overpowered “Diamond†Dominique Alexander of Topeka, Kansas, in seven lopsided rounds of a scheduled heavyweight ten rounder at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on Saturday.
Maddalone, now 33-6 (24) began the first round by coming forward and landing power shots to the body. Alexander quickly reduced himself to a sparring partner’s mentality by getting on his bicycle, running and holding. Alexander set a pattern by throwing punches only when trapped by Maddalone on the ropes to get out of trouble.
In the second, Maddalone dropped Alexander with a body shot that appeared to be a border punch. The count reached two, with Alexander holding his crotch, claiming a low blow. Referee Sammy Vera gave Alexander the benefit of the doubt and recovery time.
In the third, Maddalone was warned for throwing another low blow, this time with Alexander still standing. Late in the third, the tide of the bout became clear when Maddalone landed a powerful overhand right that sent Alexander to the canvas on one knee for a nine count.
Maddlaone’s style is such that he is a slow but sure plotter. Maddalone is not fast on his feet, and as such cannot chase his foes. He does cut off the ring well enough, and is a master of the art of doing damage to his opponents once he traps them on the ropes.
If Alexander had the talent to stick and move on the go, that would have been fine. If Alexander ran for ten rounds, he could have survived without winning a round (like Bonecrusher Smith did when he ran from Mike Tyson for 15 ridiculous rounds). Alexander was not in shape for a track meet, though, and by round four, he was off his bicycle and settled in along the ropes. For any Maddalone challenger, this spells doom.
Maddalone pounds on them like Rocky Balboa pounding on meat at the meat market.
In the fourth, Maddalone did just that, punching on ‘Alexander the not so great’ covering on the ropes doing next to nothing. The slaughter was horrific to watch, with Maddalone mauling his punching bag like a pit bull Jack Dempsey style on the ropes, dropping Alexander twice with power shots for counts of nine.
Alexander continued to complain to referee Sammy Vera that Maddalone was hitting him behind the head. Vera correctly replied to Alexander to stop turning his head to one side when Maddalone was hitting him.
At 1:09 of round five, Maddalone dropped the defenseless punching bag Alexander a fourth time, prompting the referee to put a merciful end to the slaughter. In retrospect, perhaps Alexander thought Maddalone would punch himself out. Alexander, now 19-8-1 (9), showed the ability to punch, but didn’t try, and his corner was mostly silent.
© Robert Brizel / Saddo Boxing