Perez defeats Figueroa; Boyd Melson Upset; Badou Jack & Will Rosinsky Win
Earlier tonight from BB King Blues Club and Grill in mid town Manhattan, DiBella Entertainment presented a thrilling nine bout card, that left the sold-out crowd in attendance begging for more.
Headlining the card was an intriguing welterweight match-up between Newark’s up-and-coming prospect Alex Perez, who was stepping way up in class as he took on former NABF light welterweight champion, the Bronx’s always entertaining, Francisco “El Gato” Figueroa in a 10-round welterweight showdown.
Fresh off his impressive showing on the last Broadway Boxing card in January, Perez was very impressive as he was able to pass a major test winning a well-deserved unanimous decision over Figueroa.
In the early going Perez seemed to be too big and too strong for the much shorter Figueroa. Midway through the fourth a big right hook sent Figueroa to the canvas. Figueroa was able to beat the count though and made it through the round.
As the fight wore on Perez continued to press the action while Figueroa had his moments countering effectively from the outside, which made for a highly entertaining scrap. The fight turned more and more into a war as each round progressed with the tenth and final round seeing both combatants stand toe-to-toe, guns glazing.
In the end the judges scored the bout 99-90, 98-91, 96-93 all in the favor of Perez. Perez who improved to a perfect 16-0, 9KO’s stated after the fight that he broke his hand.
“I broke my hand in the fourth round,” said Perez. I respect Gato, he is a tough fighter, but the only problem for me tonight was my hand. I know I would have knocked him out if I didn’t suffer the injury.”
While Perez was have to have his hand checked out by a specialist, he doesn’t anticipate being out long, and is hoping to be back in the ring as soon as possible.
“Hopefully I don’t have to take too much time off. My plan is God’s plan and that is to go straight to the top.”
PARSLEY EDGES MELSON IN A WAR!
In the fight of the night, fellow undefeated junior middleweight prospects Delen “The Sniper” Parsley and Boyd “Rainmaker” Melson engaged in an all-out war.
Melson set a furious pace in the first, rushing the much taller Parsley, looking to stay inside his long range.
In the second a short overhand left from the southpaw Melson hurt Parsley, and moments later the same shot dropped him. Melson jumped all over his opponent when the fight continued, but Parsley was able to survive the round.
In the third Parsley began boxing, turning the tide of the fight as he was able to land hard shots from long range.
It was more of the same in the fourth and fifth from Parsley as Melson seemed to be looking for his second wind. Parsley was able to box beautifully from the outside against the hard-charging Melson.
Sensing he was falling behind on the cards Melson came out furiously in the sixth with the pro Melson crowd chanting, “Boyd, Boyd.” Early in the round Melson caught Parsley flush on the chin with another overhand left, sending him down for the second time in the fight.
The 7th was a tough round to score with both fighters having their moments and landing hard shots.
Entering the 8th it seemed to be anybody’s fight and both fighters came out with a sense of urgency. With both fighters exchanging, Parsley landed a huge right hook that dropped Melson hard. Melson beat the count but was on very wobbly legs. Just when it looked as though Parsley was going to put Melson away, Melson rocked Parsley, sending him to the canvas. The referee called it a slip though, and as the fight presumed the war was back on with both fighters throwing caution to the wind and exchanging bombs for the remainder of the round.
After eight incredible rounds the fate of the fight was left in the judges’ hands. With the crowd on edge, the scores were announced, 75-74, 76-73, 76-73, all for the winner by unanimous decision, Delen Parsley. With the win Parsley improved to 7-0, 2KO’s while Melson suffered his first professional defeat, dropping to 8-1, 5KO’s.
After the fight both fighters commented on their performance.
“Boyd showed me that he is a real fighter,” said Parsley. “When he knocked me down in the second round, I was definitely hurt. He also showed me things that I learned about myself as a fighter. I regrouped and began to box him to get myself back into the fight. Boyd is like a brother to me and no matter what he will always be.”
Melson, bitterly disappointed with the loss briefly said, “I was doing what coach told me. When that stopped working I changed it up. I feel like I won the fight.”
ROSINSKY RETURNS IN IMPRESSIVE FASHION
Entering the ring for the first time since suffering his first professional defeat, super middleweight contender Will Rosinsky returned in impressive fashion, with a third round TKO over Zane Marks.
In a hellacious first round that saw both fighters absorb absolute bombs, Rosinsky sent Marks to the canvas twice from crunching left hooks to the body.
The war continued in the second with both fighters exchanging heavy blows with Rosinsky getting the better of the exchanges. Both of Marks’ eyes began to show swelling while blood poured from Rosinsky’s mouth.
In the third Rosinsky really poured it on, pinning Marks against the ropes and opening up with both hands. With Marks taking heavy punishment, the referee jumped in calling a halt to the contest at 1:26 of round number three. With the win Rosinsky improves to 15-1, 9KO’s while Marks dropped to 17-7, 10KO’s. After the fight Rosinsky commented on his victory.
“The body shots were part of the game plan from the start. We trained for that in the gym. He was a very tough customer and he forced me to fight at a very fast pace. I know a big fight is coming my way but I just want to get into the ring again as soon as possible. I would like the winner of Rodriguez-George next week on HBO.”
UNDERCARD RESULTS: CLEAN SWEEP FOR DBE PROSPECTS
In a light heavyweight/cruiserweight match-up, Badou Jack “The Ripper” showed why many boxing insiders are raving about his ability as he used quick combination punching, and a vicious body assault to outwork a very game but outgunned Grover Young. Jack also showed that he can take a pretty good shot as he walked through a couple of heavy shots from his opponent who outweighed him by 10 lbs. at yesterdays weigh-in. It was a good action-packed fight throughout with Jack ultimately winning a unanimous decision by scores of 60-54, 59-55, 58-56. With the win Jack improved his record to 10-0, 8KO’s while Young dropped to 6-6-1, 3KO’s.
Undefeated junior featherweight prospect Luis Rosa improved to a perfect 10-0, 5KO’s with a hard fought six round unanimous decision over Jonathan Alcantara. The New Haven native Rosa was in control from the onset, switching from orthodox to southpaw, continuously landing vicious left hooks to the body of Alcantara. The later sounds saw the two fighters fight at very close quarters, much to the sold out crowd’s delight. In the end Rosa was awarded the decision by scores of 60-65, 59-55, 59-55.
Heavyweight Tor Hamer, made his much anticipated return to the ring with second-round annihilation of Dieuly Aristelde.
Hamer needed a round to shake off the rust before exploding in the second. Mid-way through the round a short right hand from Hamer dropped Aristelde hard. Aristelde was able to beat the count but rose on very wobbly legs. Sensing his opponent was hurt badly, Hamer jumped all over Aristelde, battering him around the ring and sending him to the canvas two more times, the second coming just as the bell sounded to end the round. Official time of the stoppage was 2:59 of round number two. With the victory Hamer improved his record to 14-1, 10KO’s.
In a battle of local female junior lightweights, Keisher McLeod-Wells and undefeated Patricia Alcivar went to war for their entire six round contest with Wells winning a hard-fought split decision.
The rounds were extremely close and competitive with Wells and Alcivar trading knockdowns and bringing the crowd to a standing ovation at the end the sixth. The judges were split, with two giving it to Wells 57-55, and the third scoring it the same for Alcivar. With how close the fight was, a rematch is certainly in order, something that both fighters agreed to after the fight, much to the crowd’s delight.
