April 24, 2000
CRANSTON, RI - If this scribe has learned anything from boxing in his 12-year
involvement, it's that one should never agitate a boxer while he is just days
away from a fight. As a fighter whips himself into shape, he must give up
all of the pleasures most adult males enjoy. He must abstain from having sex
to keep strong and he must refrain from eating to make weight. Anyone who
has ever been around a fighter prior to fight time knows how difficult it can
be to engage in a friendly conversation during his final preparations.
That's why it didn't surprise me when Scott Pemberton, a world class
super-middleweight from New Bedford, MA accepted a challenge from an angry
motorist and shattered his face with one shot.
As a result of the incident, Pemberton, who I know to be a genuinely nice
guy, was scratched from last night's main event against veteran Glenwood "The
Real Beast" Brown. Fortunately for matchmaker, Teddy Panagiotis and
promoter, Jimmy Burchfield, finding a suitable, local, main event fighter
wasn't too difficult a task. Pemberton's Fall River P.A.L. stable-mate and
friend, "Sucra" Ray Oliveira was happy to participate in what would prove to
be a two round sparring session.
When last we saw Oliveira, also of New Bedford, he had salvaged his
career with a thrilling unanimous decision over previously unbeaten prospect,
Vivian Harris this past February. The early notice to Oliveira brought in a
safe and overmatched Miguel Rojas of Caracas, Venezuela.
Oliveira, who openly admits that he doesn't hit hard, began digging to Rojas'
body, as he is normally accustomed to. "Everyone knows I don't hit hard to
the head, so I went downstairs and took him out," said Oliveira.
The out process began when Rojas missed with a left hook and yelped from
hyper-extending his elbow. Matters got worse for Rojas when Oliveira went
upstairs with a left hook to the eye bone late in the first round. Rojas
crumbled to the canvas while wincing in agony. Had the bell to end the first
round bell not have sounded, during the referee's mandatory count, Rojas
probably would have stayed there.
Oliveira furthered Rojas' problems in the second round trouncing him one
final time with a succession of hooks and right crosses. Rojas wisely stayed
down as Referee and former Jr. Lightweight Champion, Harold Pones counted
Rojas out at the 1:42 mark.
Oliveira now 39-7-1, with 17 KO's is scheduled for a June 30th date on "The
Deuce" (ESPN2) against an opponent yet to be determined. " (Israel 'Pito')
Cardona turned us down but we're looking for either Reggie Green (who owns a
victory over Oliveira) or David Santos who is rated #5 by the WBO," said
Oliveira's manager Jimbo Isperdulli.
Kathy Rivers of Woonsocket, RI moved closer to a potential match-up with
women boxing's most heralded fighter, Laila Ali by destroying Taquella Hoskin
of Ashtabula, OH. Rivers, 171, jumped on Hoskin who covered up as if she
were being whipped by her elder sister until referee Joey Lopino ended the
contest at :51 of the initial round. Rivers improved to 8-2, with 3 KO's.
Cumberland, RI's Brian "Drop 'Em" Dumas failed to do just that against
Francisco Arroche. Dumas, who had been inactive for over a year showed ring
rust and fatigue in registering a unanimous six round verdict over his fellow
jr. middleweight opponent of Bronx, NY. Dumas is now 7-1-3 with 4 KO's.
Arroche fell to 2-2-1, with 2 KO's.
Also making his long awaited return to the ring was local favorite was Arthur
"The Armenian Assassin" Saribekian, who shut out Orion Sistrunk of
Philadelphia, PA over 4 rounds. Saribekian (204) thrilled his hometown of
Cranston by continuously beating the bigger Sistrunk (239) to the punch.
Saribekian improved to 20-4-1 with 16 KO's.
In a battle of jr. featherweights, Melvin Cumba of Taunton, MA showed again
why he could eventually be considered a top prospect by mercilessly pounding
Jose "Tiger" Anjelez of Lawrence, MA. Though Cumba (126) failed to register
a knockout, he managed to hurt Anjelez throughout the four rounds. All three
judges awarded Cumba the decision by scores of 40-36, improving his record to
4-0 with 3 knockouts.
Roy "House of" Payne (199), of Leominster, MA brought the house down and
turned out the lights out on Greg "The G" McGhee of Hartford, CT. Payne, a
one-time Army roommate of former world champion Keith Mullings, dropped "The
G" (202) face first with two brutal right crosses. No count was necessary as
the fight was waived over at 1:37 of the first round.
In the opener, making his professional debut, Marat Sayuntayez of Catskill,
NY via Russia destroyed Philly's Luis Rodriguez at 2:22 of the second round.
Rodriguez fell into a left hook while missing with his own right and fell
face first. After rising on unsteady legs, Referee Joey Lopino halted the
action.
PS - God bless round-card girls!
Promoter - Jimmy Burchfield's Classic Entertainment & Sports, Inc.
Matchmakers - Teddy Panagiotis & Tiny Ricci
Time Keeper - Al Goodwin
Announcer - Mike Cabral
At Ringside - JD Vena
| 