Boxing In New York: Lopez KO’s Martinez For State Title

It was a terrific night of boxing that saw explosive knockouts and bizarre finishes at the Aviator Sports Complex in Brooklyn that was capped off by former world title challenger, Reynaldo Lopez dropping for Bantamweight champion Mauricio Martinez three times in eighty-one seconds to capture the New York State Bantamweight championship.

After a slight delay before the main event, Lopez made up for last time as he dropped Martinez just seconds into the bout. Martinez was never in the bout as he was on wobbly legs before being dropped for a second time.

Lopez finished the deal off with a booming over left that had Martinez plummet to the canvas as he banged his head on the canvas. Martinez was down for several minutes before regaining his feet and being helped to the stool.

Lopez of Miami will now look for some of the top 122 pounder in the world as he is now 30-9-2 with twenty-two knockouts.

It was a successful return to the ring for Staten Island’s Gary “Kid” Stark as he won a majority decision over Leopoldo Arocha in a six round Jr. Lightweight bout.

Fighting for the first time in almost sixteen months, Stark landed some pinpoint shots while trying to avoid low blows and tactics from Arocha that tried to get under Stark’s skin

In a bout that was supposed to be a crossroads bout, undefeated Lennox Allen and veteran upset specialist Darnell Boone fought to a draw over eight rounds.

Most ringsiders thought Allen pressed the fight enough to gain the victory but two of the three judges saw the fight even as Boone, who was coming off a knockout over undefeated Adonis Stevenson, countered nicely and fought well off the ropes.

In the night’s most bizarre ending, previously undefeated Joe Smith Jr. of Long Island mysteriously stopped fighting in round four of a scheduled six round Light Heavyweight bout with Eddie Caminero.

It was later found out that Smith suffered injuries to his jaw and tongue that forced him to not be able to continue in the bout.