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02/24/2005 Archived Entry: "New England Chatta"
New England Chatta
By J.D. Vena
The fight game is all about timing. I know, so is just about everything else. But boxing or prizefighting is so dependent on precise timing. Like a perfectly timed counter left hook or a fan turning his head away from the action as a knockout punch being delivered, things can change drastically in a blink of an eye.
Timing couldn’t have been any worse for Somerville’s Frankie Tejada, a hardworking amateur who saw his dreams of winning the New England Golden Gloves 141-pound title over the last two nights shattered due to bad timing. On Tuesday night, Tejada couldn’t make weight for the semi-final held at the Lowell Auditorium, which was hosting the 59th annual tournament of champions.
Tejada, unexpectedly to some, had been enjoying quite a run prior to Tuesday night. On January 25th, Tejada sent shockwaves through the amateur ranks when he utterly destroyed nationally ranked and heavy favorite, Simeon Dunwell of Peabody, a decorated champion who not only wins tournaments, but is often voted the most outstanding boxer of each tournament he competes in. In their bout, Tejada scored what appeared to be a flash knockdown from a right hand in the opening round. But the fall was more of a sight of things to come. In the second round, Tejada unleashed a furious combination and knocked Dunwell to the mat. The bout was immediately stopped as Dunwell was spread out on the canvas with his arms held up in the air.
Tejada won impressively two weeks ago to advance to Tuesday’s semi-final but keeping the weight off for over a month proved to be too taxing for him. Instead, the final was fought on Tuesday night and won by Freddy Sanchez of Holyoke, MA, who may or may not have beaten Tejada, but I’m sure he’s happier that he only had to fight once, let alone it not having to come against the fury of Tejada.
Though he doesn't have to do it for over a month period, one boxer who knows about the struggles of keeping his body in fighting shape is NABA light heavyweight champion, George Khalid Jones of Paterson, NJ. Jones, who tomorrow night will be carrying his well-chiseled 175-pound frame into a ring at the Lowell Auditorium has become accustomed to some of boxing’s various hardships.
“Some boxers have had a problem making weight but I’ve never had a problem,” Jones told listeners of New England Ringside, a weekly boxing show, which airs every Thursday from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. on 1510 AM The Zone. “When you’re training, you have to be able to take care of your body so that it can take care of you. I’m always taking vitamins to replenish my body because when you’re training for a long time, it’s going to wear you out.”
Whether his body has ever let him down or not, Jones has amassed an impressive record of 20-2-1 with 13 KO’s and looks poised for a title shot, being rated by all major sanctioning bodies and as high as 4th by the WBA. But like a consummate professional, Jones knows that an opponent like Thomas Reid of Jackson, TN, a veteran of 47 professional bouts and the one he faces tomorrow night, you have to be at your very best.
“I’ve seen (Reid) fight before and he beat (one-time contender) James Butler very easily,” said Jones. “I know he’s going to be giving his all tomorrow night and that’s what I’ve prepared for.”
With a little more seasoning, young Frankie Tejada will probably be prepared for what lies ahead when his time comes.
As you may have read or heard, tomorrow night’s exciting show which is being promoted by New England Ringside’s Rick Brutti and staff marks the first time a professional boxing event is held in the fighting city of Lowell, MA since 1994, when the city’s favorite son, “Irish” Micky Ward stopped Genaro Andujar during Ward’s first semi-retirement. Another intriguing bout will feature 2000 Brazillian Olympian Agnaldo Nunez (9-1-1 with 5 KO’s), who now makes his home in Revere, Ma against Freddy “The Rabbit” Castro of San Pedro, CA. Former NABA welterweight champion Luis Hernandez, who is looking to bounce back from two consecutive defeats to unbeaten prospects Christopher Smith (17-0-1 at the time) and Paul Williams (now 25-0) when he takes on tough Uganda native Robert “Doctor” Kamya (12-4). Other bouts include local favorites Chris Tillman, a light heavyweight of South Boston and Denise “Mighty” Moses of Lawrence, MA in separate bouts. Both Tillman and Moses are 3-0 all by KO. Lowell’s Jose Abel Ayala (8-3, 2 KO’s) will take on Wilmington’s Castulo “El Pobeioso” (Powerful) Gonzalez, a former national amateur champion of Guatemala.
Tickets are priced at $100.00 for VIP (ringside or stage seating plus tickets to the pre and post-fight parties), $65.00 floor, $40.00 balcony and $25.00 general admission. Tickets go on sale Monday (Jan. 31) at Lowell Memorial Auditorium's box office 978.454.2299). Doors open at 6 pm., first bout at 7:30 pm. If you missed out on the Golden Gloves at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium this year or you want to see more boxing at the historic venue, the Lowell Memorial Auditorium is the very best place to see a live boxing event, no bones about it.
In a special addition of the New England Ringside Radio Show will broadcast live the night of the fight from 7-8 pm on The Zone (WWZN 1510AM) with hosts Anthony Pepe, Ted Bodenrader and Joe Bills.
In an unrelated note, Norman Stone or "Stoney" to most, the manager/trainer of John "The Quietman" Ruiz is resting and recovering at Lahey Clinic in Burlington, MA (my old stomping grounds) where he's recovering from hip replacement surgery. Whether or not this will impact the training or negotiations of the proposed Ruiz-Toney clash being discussed, the CBZ hopes the wiley Stoney recovers soon.
Lastly, you may have heard a rumor that the "Pride of Providence," Peter Manfredo, Jr. has or had advanced to the finals of Sylvester Stallone’s The Contender, which will air next month. Whether it’s a rumor or not, you have to like Manfredo’s chances to win it all. Of all the participants, there is no one with more talent for a young fighter, nor a boxer with more experience. If it comes down to the two very best on the show, expect Manfredo to face Ishe Smith in the finals and to win it all. You heard it here first!
