BBQ Box-Off At Lion's Den

By Derek Bonnett: On Saturday, September 19, John Scully and the Lion’s Den staff organized a remarkable afternoon of amateur boxing underneath the clear blue skies of Middletown, CT, USA.

The 13 bouts scheduled featured match-ups in the Junior Olympic, Novice, and Open classes and saw action from heavyweight all the way down to 60 pounds. With a live band performing off to the side and some fine grilling on the grounds, the two provided and excellent backdrop to the pugilistic action and exceptional sportsmanship going on inside of the ring.

"It’s good to see the kids having their fun and competing. This means a lot to them," James "Buddy" McGirt said. McGirt was in town assisting with the training of newly crowned NABF featherweight champion Matt Remillard, who claimed his title later in the evening in nearby South Windsor, CT.

SecondsOut received its second invitation this summer to sit ringside at the Lion’s Den for a live amateur show and couldn’t pass up the offer.

Among the day’s many highlights, Nick Walden put on a gutsy effort in front of the Middletown faithful, but came up just short against Cyprian Dante Longwa of the Bridgeport Police Athletic League (PAL). The two Novice 152 pounders were evenly matched, but the physical gifts of Longwa, who possessed a tremendous reach advantage, made the difference in the outcome.

The first round was closely contested as Longwa punched from a distance and controlled the early action with his jab. Walden worked his way inside like a buzz saw, but he paid for it in full to claim a few clean shots of his own. Longwa landed with lefts and a hard right, but he couldn’t discourage his stubborn foe.

Longwa was clearly the more athletic boxer, but Walden more than compensated for his lack of natural ability with his aggression and never say die attitude which brought the audience to their feet for most of the six minutes of action. Longwa continued to land one-twos from the outside. Walden missed wildly in spots to try and close the distance and finally connected with a beautiful straight right at the bell.

The third and final two minute round saw Longwa landing the cleaner shots, but every now and then Walden would break through to land some good combos on the inside. Longwa knocked Walden’s mouth piece out with a clean blow to the chin and stung Walden with a quick one-two. Longwa deserved the verdict he received from the three judges scoring, but he had to work for it.

"It wasn’t my best showing, but I just made do with what I had to offer," Walden said afterward. "I’ll be back in the gym Monday and will need to work on my hand placement. I could get around his jab when I circled to the right, but when he threw the overhand right, I would walk into the left hooks. When I got inside, I felt like I did my damage."

Walden’s assessment was pretty accurate and for a young fighter he showed tremendous honesty and maintained the attitude that there was plenty for him to learn to get better. Among the amateur fighters in action at the Lion’s Den, Walden possessed the greatest maturity and will no doubt be back to entertain his hometown fans with plenty of victories to come. In fact, one couldn’t rule him out in a rematch with Longwa.

In one of the most action-packed bouts of the afternoon Deane Matta of Hamden, CT made his amateur debut for Hamden Boxing Club at sixty pounds. He took on the game Anthony Rizzuto, representing Champions of Life, and won a clear decision. The eleven year old Matta sported a finely trimmed faux hawk and a pair of lightning fast hands, that with the right training, could lead him to a promising amateur career.

Matta pressured Rizzuto with quick one-twos to start the first of three one minute rounds. The right hand landed cleanly to back Rizzuto up to the ropes. Body-head combos from Matta scored and raised some cheers from the crowd. He controlled the action and smothered Rizzuto’s shots with his own activity. The referee administered an eight count to Rizzuto late in the bout. Rizzuto finished on his feet, but was clearly tired while Matta fresh enough, and cantankerous enough, to challenge Longwa or Walden! Even as the judges declared him the winner, Matta maintained a very serious countenance.

"I only had one fight and I think I did good," Matta said afterward. "When I’m in the ring, it’s just me and my opponent. Nothing else. I just listen for my trainer and that’s all."

Matta became shy speaking into a digital recorder, but he was quite the opposite inside of the ring. His sportsmanship was refreshing as he respected his opponent’s coach and shook hands with Rizzuto’s entire team.

David James put on an impressive showing in Secondout’s first show at the Lion’s Den and it was a great pleasure to see him in action again in his eighth amateur bout. The 70 pounder from Middletown, CT met a very difficult opponent in Jaquis Pullen of Ring One from New Haven, CT.

James circled Pullen and darted in and out with quick right-left combos. James landed more cleanly in the first one minute round. Pullen stalked patiently, but was not throwing enough to win the round.

James showed exceptional movement in the second and was very quick on his feet. After every combination, he was back on his bicycle using every inch of the outdoor ring. Never standing still to be a target, James frustrated Pullen. Pullen took some chances and tried to corner James, but was met with quick left lands.

James and Pullen both dug deep in the third to claim victory. Pullen landed more punches during their exchanges for the first time and James moved along ropes unable to throw as comfortably as he had the previous two rounds. James held on to claim the victory, but Pullen showed his mettle and could have probably acquitted himself better in two to three minute rounds, but the bout was contest in the Junior Olympic class.

Other results from the BBQ Box-Off:

Randy Wade of Bridgeport PAL stopped Keenan Humble from Waling City in a 165 pound Novice match-up. The bout came to an end at 1:27 of the third after the fourth standing eight count of the match.

Brandon Lawler of Champions of Life outpointed John Ladisia of Morris Park Gym out of New York. The fighters scaled 75 pounds in the Junior Olympic class.

Julio Nieves of Ortiz Boxing won a very competitive decision over the energetic Roberto Romero also from Morris Park. The bout could have gone to either fighter in this 70 pound clash.

Ray Perez of the San Juan Center in Hartford, CT also won a close encounter over Anthony Gonzalez of Morris Park. The momentum changed hands each round and truly could have been awarded to either fighter as well. The two competed at heavyweight in the Novice class.

Solomon "Solo" Maye and Sal Puglieres put on the fight of the afternoon in three action packed two minute rounds in the Junior Olympic class. The boxers represented Boxing in Faith and Sweet Science respectfully and received trophies for Most Exciting Bout.

Jonathon Cordero, Morris Park, scored his team’s only victory on the card with 95 pound victory over the gritty Hunter Belzo of Champions of Life. The bout was contested in the Junior Olympic class.

Marco Ortiz, San Juan Center, outpointed Dayton Romano in an 85 pound match-up. Romano represented Champions of Life in the Junior Olympic bout.

Christian Lao won an exciting decision over Laverne Washington in an Open class bout contested at 152 pounds. Lao represented Silver City and Washington hailed from Whaling City.

Luis Rosas Jr. brutalized a very tough Frankie Garriga in a 125 Open class bout to win a decision. Garriga fought out of Morris Park, but was overmatched against the nationally ranked Rosas Jr. of Boxing in Faith.