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Philly fight fans
were treated to an action packed professional boxing card
Friday night at the Sugar House Casino. With several fan
favorites on the six bout card, the show presented by Hard
Hitting Promotions was completely sold out.
DAWEJKO WINS BY DECISION
In the main event, Philly heavyweight Joey "The Tank"
Dawejko, 19-4-4, 11 KOs, continued his winning ways, taking
an eight round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten
Kelvin Nunez of Puerto Rico, 15-1, 13 KOs, and claiming the
WBC FECARBOX Heavyweight Championship in the process. It was
a good bout with some nice exchanges, but Dawejko's cleaner
crisper punches appeared to be the difference on the
scorecards. All three official judges scored the bout for
Dawejko, 76-75 and 77-74 twice.
A former World
Amateur Champion, Dawejko got his start in boxing under
Charlie Sgrillo at Philly's famed Harrowgate Boxing Club.
Still residing in Philly, Dawejko now is working with world
renowned trainer Freddie Roach and holds his training camp
at Roach's Wildcard Gym in California. Dawejko has shown
continued improvement in his recent bouts and appears to be
on the verge of making a move in the heavyweight division.
CARTO GOES DISTANCE
In the co-feature of the evening, South Philly bantamweight
Christian Carto took on Mexico's Luis Saavedra in an eight
rounder. With fellow South Philadelphian and Hall of Fame
cut man Joey "Eye" Intrieri and former national amateur
champion Mickey Rosati, Jr. of South Philly's legendary
Rosati's Gym in his corner, Carto entered the ring to a
standing ovation by his increasingly growing fan base.
Carto, a former
national amateur champion like Rosati, his trainer, extended
his undefeated streak to 13-0, with 11 KO's taking an eight
round unanimous decision. Saavedra, 7-4, 3 KOs, was game,
but just couldn't match the hand speed of Carto, who
repeatedly landed blazing combinations. This writer scored
the bout 80-71 for Carto, but admittedly, like Carto, I also
hail from South Philly. However, my score apparently wasn't
too biased, as all three ringside judges scored the bout
exactly the same at 80-71.
CUEVAS SCORES TKO
In the opening bout of the night, Philly lightweight Jeremy
Cuevas, 6-0, 5 KOs, took on Jose Castro of Puerto Rico in a
six rounder. Over the first four rounds, Cuevas outworked
Castro by landing some quick combinations. Preventing their
fighter from taking any further punishment, Castro's corner
threw in the towel in the fifth, causing the referee to stop
the bout. The stoppage gave Cuevas the TKO win at 2:05 of
Round five to remain undefeated. Castro slid to 5-10, 3 KOs.
ROCK WINS TENTH STRAIGHT
In the second bout, Philly heavyweight Darmani Rock,
remained undefeated (10-0, 6 KOs) by making short work of
Puerto Rico's Carlos Cotto. Rock dropped Cotto with a left
hook near the end of round. Cotto rose by the count of nine,
but was in no condition to continue causing the referee to
halt the bout at 2:59 of the first round. Cotto left 8-2-1,
5 KOs.
TEAH TOPS ALLISON
Bout three was an all Philly war between Sammy Teah, 12-1-1,
5 KOs, (above right) and Maynard Allison, 9-3, 6 KOs, over
six rounds in the lightweight division. Both fighters had
their moments, landing nice combinations in an exciting
bout, but in the end, it was Teah who got the victory by
scores of 60-54 on all three judges’ card.
PIZARRO UPSET BY RIVERA
The fourth fight of the night was a real shocker. In a bout
where somebody's "O" had to go, popular North Philly
lightweight Branden Pizarro, who was 8-0 going in, took on
Puerto Rico's Christian Rivera, who was 6-0 in a scheduled
six round lightweight bout. This was another action packed
bout with both fighters trading hard shots.
Pizarro suffered two
knockdowns in the bout, but rose each time and came right
back. He closed the six round super strong and landed some
hard shots. However, in the end of this crowd pleasing
fight, Rivera won a unanimous decision, by scores of 58-55,
58-54, and 57-56. Pizarro, 8-1, 4 KOs, suffered his first
lost as a pro, but at only 18 years old, look for this
former national amateur star to bounce back shortly. Upset
winner, Rivera remained undefeated, 7-0, 5 KOs.
At ringside enjoying
the action where Hank Lundy, Jason Sosa, and Tevin Farmer
who fights for the World Championship next Saturday on HBO.
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