In what was one of the more exciting Heavyweight clashed, Monte Barrett and David Tua fought to a spirited draw in a twelve round Heavyweight bout of former Heavyweight title challeng at The Topicana Hotel and Resort in Atlantic City.
Round two heated up with both guys looking to land hard shots. In round three, Barrett got in a nice counter right and Tua started to breathe heavy from his wild attempta to end the bout with one punch. Barrett continued to stand up to the heavy assault. In the sixth, Tua began the round by landing a thudding right to the body. Barrett landed his punch over the first half of the fight with a crisp over hand right. Tua culminated the frame with a hard left hook along the ropes.
In round nine, Tua came out by landing a vicious three punch combination that had Barrett holding on. Later in the round, Tua came back to land two more explosive rights with the first coming to the body and the latter coming at the end of the round with a flush right on the face. The fight turned in round ten as Barrett started to back up Tua and landed some hard flush shits and even rocking Tua with a big over hand right. Tua rebounded nicely in round eleven as he landed a booming left hook on the ropes that would have put just about anyone down but somehow Barrett stood up to that as well another big left hook late in the round. The last round was a big round for Barrett as he took a big shot early in the round and then was thrown down to canvas by Tua and referee Randy Neumann took a point away from Tua. that lit a fire under Barrett as he landed a flush uppercut that sent Tua down the canvas for the first time in his fifty-six fight career. Tua barely made it to the finish line as Barrett jabbed his way to the bell.
Scores were 115-111 for Tua, while two other judges ruled 113-113 (same as 15rounds.com card) Tua of Auckland, NZ is now 51-3-2. Barrett of Queens, NY is now 34-9-1
Welterweight prospect Raymond “Tito” Serrano scored an eight round majority decision over Ayi Bruce in a nip and tuck battle. Serrano did well by boxing early and then the tough fighter from Ghana came on by making the tussle a dogfight and started getting through with good combinations. Serrano may have sealed the fight with a good eighth round as he landed some good combinations on the ropes. Serrano, 145 lbs of Philadelphia won by scores of 77-76, 78-74 and 76-76 to remain undefeated at 13-0. Bruce, 144 lbs of Accra, Ghana is now 6-3.
In a big upset, perennial spoiler Carlos Vinan scored an eighth round stoppage over IBF #2 Lightweight, Anthony Mezaache in the final round of their Lightweight bout. Mezaache controlled the action by jabbing and moving asnd built ip a lead on the cards. Vinan came out top start round eight like a house of fire and was all over Mezaache and dropped with a furious combination. Vinan ended the fight by jumping on Mezaache and his corner threw in the yowel at thity-seven seconds of round eight. Vinan of Newark, Nj is now 10-8-4 with two knockouts. Mezaache of Clichy, France is now 18-6-3.
In a bit of a upset, undefeated Bayan Jargal had to settle for an eight round draw with James Hope in a Jr. Welterweight bout. Hope landed the cleaner blows while Jargal tried to box more until the later round where he rushed in more and by agression may have won rounds to earn the dubious draw that was scored 76-76 on all cards. Jargal, 138 lbs of Arlinton, VA is now 15-0-3. Hope, 137 1/2 lbs of Rock Hill,SC is now 6-5-1.
In a wild slugfest, Khedafi Djelkhir scored a first round stoppage over Jorge Cordero in a Featherweight bout scheduled for six round. Djekhir dropped Cordero early in the first from a big left hand. Just as soon as Djelkhir thought he had it in the bag, Crodero landed a huge right hook dropped Djelkhir. Djelkhir gathered himself to land a huge right that dropped Cordero into the bottom rope. Cordero got to his fight but stumbled all over the place which prompted the referee to stop the fight at 2:20 0f round one. Djelkhir, 126 lbs of Besancon, France is now 7-0 with six knockouts. Cordero, 126 lbs of San Juan, Pr is now 4-3.
Jason Escalera scored a stoppage over Amador Acevedo at the end of round three in a scheduled six round Light Heavyweight bout. Escalera controlled the action over the first three rounds especially working the body of Acevedo. Acevedo put up one last stand in the third but Escalera’s offense was too much as Acevedo failed to answer the bell for round. Escalera, 173 lbs of Union City, NJ is now 9-0 with eight knockouts. Acevedo, 177 lbs of Moca, Puerto Rico is 3-8-1
Young Prospect Mike Perez scored an explosive first round stoppage over Jorge Ruiz in Lightweight bout schedule for six rounds. Midway through the round Perez dropped Ruiz with a left to the body. Ruiz got to his feet at the count of eight only to each a big right that was followed by a massive left hook. Referee David Francioci began to count but stopped at six as Ruiz had no shot to beat the count. The time was 2:29 of round one for Perez, 135 lbs of Jersey City, NJ and is now 9-0 with four knockouts. Ruiz, 137 lbs of Miami is now 7-13-1.
Photo By Claudia Bocanegra
