Ringside Boxing Report: Lajuan Simon – Don Labbe

Simon Delivers In Wildwood

For the first time ever, the sleepy coastal city of Wildwood, NJ hosted professional boxing on Friday night. Diane Fischer of Dee Lee Promotions and Al Mussachio of A.M. Boxing presented the first card at the new Wildwoods Convention Center, just a short thirty minute drive from Atlantic City. The event featured four amateur bouts and five pro bouts in front of nearly 700 fans.

In the main event, Lajuan “Simply Marvelous” Simon, 177, of Philadelphia, PA had a tougher time than expected with journeyman Don Labbe, 179, of Lewiston, ME. It was evident Labbe was overmatched early and it looked like Simon would make quick work of him but Labbe showed surprising strength, a solid left-hook and a competent chin. In the end talent won out when Simon stopped Labbe at 2:51 of the third round in the scheduled eight rounder.

Labbe, 3-6, (2), pressed Simon early and at least made him feel uncomfortable at times. But, Labbe couldn’t keep up his overly aggressive attack and when he stopped going forward, Simon, 11-0-1(7) struck and punished Labbe with a right that sent him to the canvas. A quick set of combinations had Labbe down again and the official asking him if he wanted to fight. There was no hesitation in the hard-nosed Labbe who finished the round like he started, coming forward.

To most it looked like Simon would make quick work of Labbe in the second but the rest between rounds freshened Labbe and he came out throwing his left hook early and often.

Simon weathered the storm and coolly waited for Labbe to gas out or make a mistake. Late in the round, Simon again starting making hay, nailing Labbe with a series of rights that seemed to weaken the toughman’s resolve.

Simon dominated round three and had Labbe in serious trouble throughout until referee Randy Neumann finally stopped it at 2:51 of the round when Labbe could not defend himself.

In the real main event, at least to those in attendance, local favorite Chuck Mussachio, 175, of Wildwood, NJ dominated the winless Cameron Bright, 179, of Philadelphia, PA.

From the moment Mussachio headed to the ring with the dulcet tones of Frank Sinatra in the background, the fans were on their feet. Mussachio was like a rock star in his hometown and his every move was met with a series of cheers.

Mussachio, 4-0 (2), rushed Bright , 0-7-1 (0), with a quick, vicious combination that likely broke Bright’s nose and quickly ended the fight at: 56 seconds of round three.

In other bouts Lenny “Hitman” DeVictoria, 139, of Philadelphia and Lorenzo “The Rock” Bethea, 138.5, of Atlantic City, NJ had the most evenly matched bout of the night. DeVictoria, 7-2, (1), put Bethea, 4-1 (0), on the canvas twice and scored a majority decision from the judges that seemed to have a bit of a “Hometown” bias throughout the night. One even scored the bout even despite the two knockdowns.

Former amateur star Fidel Carter, 178, of Vineland, NJ won his debut, a four round decision over David Hamilton, 179, of Philadelphia but looked pedestrian in doing so. Carter, 1-0 (0), and Hamilton, 2-1 (0), engaged in more of a holding and pushing match than boxing.

In the pro opener, Tyrell Samuel, 135.5, of Baltimore, MD, outclassed Carlos Vinas in a four round majority decision.

The amateur bouts included:

Marvin Johnson, of Vineland, NJ defeating Ricky Sanabria of Salisbury, MD in a very close 90 pound bout in which a hometown perspective may have again played a role.

Alex Flores, of Vineland, NJ won a decision over Anthony Hidsley, of Wildwood, NJ in the 135 pound weight class.

John Michael Varallo Jr., of Atlantic City, NJ overwhelmed Kevin Donnelly, of Vineland, NJ in the second round of a 165 pound bout..

Fernando Gallaro, of Salisbury, MD won a decision over Pat Majewski, of Vineland NJ in the 165 pound weight class.