PHILLY BOXING HISTORY                                                                     September 16, 2011

  

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Rogers Mtagwa went down swinging in what has to be his final world title shot. WBC featherweight champion Jhonny Gonzalez defended his belt by TKO in the second round of their scheduled twelve rounder in El Paso, Texas. Mtagwa started out boxing in round one, and had some early success, but Gonzalez started landing heavy blows by the end of the round. The punches were significant, and although Mtagwa wasn't hurt, the blows appeared to move the little warrior as he absorbed them. In round two the punches came more frequently. Gonzalez hurt Mtagwa with a vicious left hook to the head and went downstairs for a devastating shot to the body. The punch hurt Mtagwa and moved him back to the ropes. A few solid blows later, the fight was stopped by referee Guadalupe Garcia. Mtagwa never went down and could have probably fought on, but why? This fight was clearly over and the stoppage was right on point. After a breathtaking career filled with thrilling wars, Mtagwa will probably hang up his gloves with a record of 27-15-2 (19 KO). He fought for a title in three of his last four bouts (vs. Lopez, Gamboa & Gonzalez). Rogers won the African Boxing Union Super Bantamweight title in 1999, the USBA featherweight title in 2005, and the NABF featherweight title in 2007 before that belt-winning bout was declared a No Contest and the title was vacated. Mtagwa also won the Briscoe Award as the 2009 Philly Fighter of the  Year. It was a great run, and hopefully this classic Philly fighter (by way of Tanzania) takes the long rest he now deserves.

 

Heavyweight Joey Dawejko won a first round TKO over John Lennox in a scheduled four round preliminary bout at the Robert Treat Hotel in  Newark, NJ on Wednesday night (09/14/11). The win made Dawejko 5-0 with 2 KOs. Lennox lost for the first time in  seven bouts (6-1 / 3 KOs). Dawejko now has four fights tentatively scheduled before the end of the year, all in North Bergen, NJ. I couldn't think of a better schedule for the young prospect who has had a rather inactive 2011 thus far, after a couple of late cancellations slowed  his year. If he can log even just one of those four proposed bouts, it will turn 2011 into the busiest year of his career (2009 - 1 fight, 2010 - 2 fights, 2011 - 2 fights so far).

Also on the Newark card, Thomas Lamanna beat Josh Williams by unanimous decision over four rounds. Tyyab Beale decisioned Taffo Asongwed in  four (unanimous). Carlos Vinan and Wanzell Ellison fought to a six round split decision draw, and Michael Torres won the eight round main event with a unanimous decision over Mark Alexander.

 

Super middleweight Dhafir "No Fear" Smith (24-21-7 / 4 KO) fights Marco Antonio Periban 14-0 / 10 KO) on the undercard of this weekend's Floyd Mayweather vs. Victor Ortiz mega show in Las Vegas. So it's another killer for road warrior Smith, who scored the Philly Upset of the Year last December when he beat former champ Jeff Lacy in his own backyard. Smith should have his hands full on Saturday, but to him it's just another day at  the office. Fights like this are what his career has been all about. They are "no sweat" for "No Fear".

   
 

 

 
 


John DiSanto - News & Notes - September 16, 2011
 

 
     
 

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