Sean Sullivan reporting from ringside: Headlining a boxing card promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing, at the Times Union Center in Albany, New York, IBA Americas heavyweight belt holder Joe “The Future” Hanks, 250, 19-0 (13), Newark, NJ, defended his title via TKO, after Rafael “The Cajun Cuban Connection” Pedro, 279, 21-10-1 (15), Golden Meadow, LA, was unable to continue following 48 seconds of round two, having suffered an injury to his right shoulder. Not much occurred in the opening round, but Pedro did feel the power of Hanks’ straight right hand. In round two, “The Cajun Cuban Connection” overextended on a right hook then collapsed to the canvas in obvious pain. After an interrogation by the referee, Pedro declined to fight on, citing a dislocated right shoulder.
In an ugly, tactical, and slow-paced battle of southpaws, Sahib Usarov, 117, 18-0 (6), Moscow, Russia, chased and former Cuban amateur star Yan Barthelemy, 118, 12-3 (4), Miami, FL, backpedaled. This fight was all about distance. First, with each fighter’s lack of knockout power, it was presumed by most that this contest would reach 10 full frames, which, 39 minutes later, proved to be an accurate assumption. When it came to the action—or lack thereof—either these two boxers were circling with a telephone pole’s length between them or they were locked together by the arms and grappling. Following a takedown in round 10 and additional roughhousing, including rabbit punches, the referee deducted a point from Usarov. The judges deduced that Usarov deserved the victory based on his aggression, with tallies of 98-91, and 96-93 twice, to earn the Russian the WBO Intercontinental bantamweight title.
Son of famed trainer Kevin Rooney, Kevin “Kid” Rooney Jr., 160, 3-1 (1), Catskill, NY, returned to the ring for the first time since his controversial decision loss back on October 1. After weathering an early barrage from Stanley “Chin Checker” Harvey, 163, 1-2 (1), San Diego, CA, Rooney began to turn the tide, nearly flooring his foe with a series of rights. In rounds two and three, Rooney had success backing Harvey to the ropes and banging away, but the “Chin Checker” was not deterred, throwing occasional yet forceful combinations in return. In the fourth and final frame, Rooney trapped Harvey in the blue corner and hurt him with several rights, one of which sent the Californian’s mouthpiece flying. Scorecards read 40-36 across the board, awarding Rooney the victory by way of unanimous decision.
While Marcus Brooks, 165, 7-9 (3), Columbia, SC, did most of the work in round one, it was not all that effective, as Jason Escalera, 165, 13-0 (12), Union City, NJ, patiently stalked and pressed forward looking for openings. Escalera found an opening in round two, hurting Brooks with a left hook upstairs and dropping him with a right hook to the body. Brooks beat the count and elected to trade with
Escalera for the remainder of the round, to the delight of the crowd. The excitement continued in round three until a short right hook to Brooks’ ear dropped him a second time. Again Brooks made it to his feet and survived to hear the bell. Escalera finished the job in round four, flooring Brooks once more with a shot to the body, then finally stopping him with a left hook upstairs, at 1:09 of the stanza.
With a loud cheering section, local fan favorite Bryan “The Brick” Abraham, 143, 6-10-2 (6), Schenectady, NY, scored an upset by stopping slick southpaw Darnell Jiles, 139, 8-3-1 (3), Rochester, NY, at 2:59 of round one. However, early on, Jiles demonstrated superior technique, controlling Abraham with his crafty counter shots and speed. Abraham persevered, sporadically landing thudding right hooks and inching closer and closer on the inside. At the sound of the 10-second clap, the two began to trade shots, with Abraham striking with three debilitating right hooks to the body followed by an overhand right to the temple dropping his adversary. Jiles arose but on wobbly legs, forcing the referee to call a halt to the bout.
In a four-rounder between two debuting boxers, Mike Seitz, 176, Albany, NY, earned his first victory by way of KO at 2:00 of round one over Karim Richardson, 178, now 0-1, Brooklyn, NY. Richardson came out wild and aggressive at the opening bell, but Seitz quickly subdued him and established a distance with his jab. With one minute remaining in the first frame, Seitz landed a left hook to the body that dropped Richardson for the full count.
