April 29, 2000
MASHANTUCKET PEQUOT RESERVATION, CT - There was a time when many boxing
critics felt that Dana Rosenblatt didn't belong in the sport of boxing. That
belief hit its summit when his bitter, Rhode Island rival, Vinny Pazienza
knocked him senseless in August of '96.
Since his earth severing loss to Pazienza, Rosenblatt has remained
unbeaten and has bounced back from more career setbacks than most fighters
have in two careers. He shattered his right hand in winning a ten-rounder
over Glenwood Brown. He survived dehydration in defeating Terry Norris over
12 rounds. And he has been cut in nearly every square inch of his face in
all of his other fights. In his last bout this past November, the Malden
(MA) middleweight overcame a knockdown and two vicious over-the-eye cuts to
avenge his lone defeat to Pazienza.
Despite his heroics, his critics continue to knock Rosenblatt for his
failure to end fights within the distance. Prior to his first bout with
Pazienza, Rosenblatt developed a reputation as a puncher. Since before his
first bout with the Pazmanian Devil, Rosenblatt has not knocked out an
opponent
Last night at Foxwoods Resort Casino (the largest of its kind) Rosenblatt
(167 lbs.) was attempting to end a fight inside the distance and got his
wish. Although his wish wasn't what he and his corner had wanted. During
the second round of his scheduled 12-round fight with Jimmy Crawford,
Rosenblatt suffered a severe laceration at the hairline from an accidental
clash of heads. Ringside physician, Dr. Michael Schwartz saw that the cut
was too deep for the bout to continue and the fight was stopped at 2:15 of
the second round. Since the fight was stopped inside four rounds, the bout
was declared a technical draw by referee Steve Smoger.
Crawford of Grinnell, IA was also making a bold attempt in his bout with
Rosenblatt. Rated # 9 at light heavyweight by the IBF, a slimmed down
Crawford (164 lbs.) has never won a fight outside of his hometown state
despite compiling a 32-2-2 record with 13 KO's. Crawford who is also prone
to cuts was fortunate to leave the ring unscathed in picking up his second
draw.
For "Dangerous" Dana Rosenblatt (36-1-1, 23 KO's), another setback will need
to be overcome soon especially if he is to secure a big money bout with Tony
Ayala Jr. this summer. It was a disappointing end to a fight card that was
very exciting.
In the co-feature of ESPN2's Friday Night Fights, John "The Eastern Beast"
Brown returned to the winners bracket in decisioning Juan Carlos Suarez (135
lbs.), a Cuban defector over ten thrilling rounds. Brown of Atlantic City,
(136-½ lbs.) who has been in with every world-beater in the 130 & 35 pound
divisions was still matched with a tough opponent. Both fighters landed some
big shots despite the fight being controlled by the aggressive Eastern Beast.
Brown won by scores of 98-92 twice and 97-93 (the CBZ's score) as his record
improves to 21-7, with 10 KO's. Suarez falls to 16-5-2, with 16 stops.
Last night's jr. middleweight bout between Marcus Davis of Lewiston, ME and
Tommy Attardo of South Boston (Southie), MA was a rematch of a fight
previously won by Davis a year ago. After the 6 round contest was over, you
would understand why they were meeting each other again. In perhaps the best
fight of the night, Davis (150 lbs.) won a split decision over Attardo (also
150). Though one judge tallied a ridiculous score of 60-54 for Davis, the
other two judges had reasonable cards, which read 58-56 a piece. The judge
who had it a shut out for Davis should have scored it a 57-57 tie (as I had
it. But what do I know?). Both combatants really whaled on each other.
Attardo now falls to 8-2-1, with 1 KO. Davis improved to 16-0-1, 11 KO's.
Liz Mueller of Quaker City, CT could be one of the most impressive young
women boxers this scribe has ever seen. In only her third pro fight, Mueller
used relentless pressure and excellent head movement in out-pointing Carla
Witherspoon of Philadelphia, PA over four rounds. Mueller, now 3-0 with 2
KO's fought as if she were a seasoned veteran in beating the body of Tim
Witherspoon's sister-in-law who fell to 8-16-1, with 4 KO's.
In another fight that ended in a draw, Philadelphia's Leo Edwards ended the
9-0 win streak of Chris Smith, Queens, NY by absorbing and delivering some
brutal left hooks and right crosses. Edwards (149 lbs.) who had not fought
in 4 years, was awarded a 60-54 score but was overruled by scores of 57-57
and 58-56 for Smith. Edwards' record now stands at 11-7-1, 5 KO's while
Smith (150 lbs.) is now 9-0-1, 4 KO's.
If tonight's heavyweight championship fight between Lennox Lewis and Michael
Grant doesn't combine to have the greatest combined height and tonnage in
boxing history (help me out IBRO), then last night's final bout between
heavyweights Tye Fields of Des Moines, IA and Kevin Rosier of Hollywood, FL
did. At a towering 6'8, and scaling 285 pounds of granite mass, Tye was
faced with the svelte 283 pound Rosier who stands 6'4. That's a combined
height of 13 feet, 568 lbs., which beats out the Lewis-Grant title fight in
the weight category (Lewis and Grant are also a combined 13 feet). Hopefully
the Lewis-Grant fight will be more competitive than the one-sided pounding
Tye Fields issued to the hapless Rosier. Fields who stopped Rosier at 1:37
of the 1st round has won all 11 of his bouts by that same verdict. Rosier
who was officially dropped twice during their exhibition falls to 8-13, 6
KO's.
Promoter - Explosion Promotions
Your Ring Announcer - Maaark Beiro!!
At Ringside - JD Vena
|