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BIG NIGHT IN NEWARK Philly prospects Gabriel Rosado and Hank Lundy scored the biggest wins of their young careers on Friday night (4/24) at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.
Gabe Rosado faced a rejuvenated and peppy Kassim Ouma, and had to rally down the stretch to claim the close split decision. But given the vast disparity of their experience, it was a great win for the up and coming Rosado.
With the action deadlocked on the official cards after eight rounds, and with trainer Billy Briscoe urging Gabby to go out turn the fight around, Rosado entered the no-man's land of his first ten rounder like a champ, sweeping the final two sessions in a big way. In round nine, Ouma was just about to clinch the decision when Rosado nailed him with a big right hand along the ropes. But Rosado didn't stop there. He pinned Ouma in the former champ's corner and delivered a series of looping rights. The rally lasted for the remainder of the round and earned Rosado the round. The gritty effort also won over the pro-Ouma crowd. Rosado closed the show in round ten with more effective punching and another dose of real resolve, and a refusal to lose.
The win improved Gabriel's record to 12-3 with 7 KOs. Ouma lost for the fourth time in five fights, and fell to 26-5-1, with 16 KOs and 1 No Contest. Although it was a big night for Philly fighters, they were not necessarily the focus of the promotion. In the main event, middleweight Billy Lyell punished star attraction John Duddy over ten rounds to take the split decision in the entertaining brawl. However, the fact one of the judges had Duddy on top (96-94) baffled most observers. Luckily for Lyell the two other judges got the decision right (97-93 & 98-92). The shocker left Duddy with his first career blemish (26-1, 17 KOs). Lyell raised his slate to 19-7 (3 KOs). Also on the card, Patrick Majewski (10-0 / 6 KOs) looked strong stopping Jimmy Lubash (13-2 / 6 KOs) in round seven of their 8-rounder. Cruiserweight Patrick Farrell halted Doug Bowling at 1:06 of round one of a scheduled four round bout. The wins by Rosado and Lundy certainly set them up for bigger and better things and it will be interesting to watch what happens next for them. |
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Lundy
opened the show with a stunning 5th round KO over tough
Jason Citron, and looked like a million dollars in the
process. Lundy's pre-fight prediction of a third round
stoppage almost came true when he hurt his foe with about a
minute left in the round. But Citron weathered Hammerin'
Hank's withering storm until a frightful barrage dropped him
for the count in the fifth. The time was 1:36. Lundy
improved to 13-0-1 (7 KO). It was Cintron's first loss in 11
bouts. The jr. welterweight bout was scheduled for eight
rounds. 
The
two took turns serving out the punches as the fight
progressed. Rosado pressed the action all the way, but Ouma
was able to land often enough to establish a solid lead. But
just when it looked like Rosado's big opportunity was
slipping away, he buckled down and made an all-out effort to
win the contest. He did exactly what he need to do, exactly
when he needed to do it. His determination paid off. 
Waiting
for the official verdict must have been nerve-racking for
both jr. middleweights. The decision really could have gone
either way, given some very close middle rounds. Opinions
around the ring were all over the place. But the three cards
that counted saw it 96-94 for Rosado, 96-94 for Ouma, and a
surprisingly comfortable 97-93 for Rosado.