Victor Vasquez Loses Disputed Decision to Carlos Vinan in South Philly! By Ken Hissner at ringside (Feb 27, 2010) Doghouse Boxing
Andre Kut’s KEA Boxing made their promotional debut at South Philly’s Arena Friday night that had the Philly fans buzzing until the final decision. A stunned audience heard ring announcer Henry Hascup say those two dreaded words after what seemed an easy win for local favorite Victor Vasquez, 11-4 (6), of North Philly, “split decision,”. Judge Dewey LaRosa saw it like this writer, 60-54, Vasquez. Judge Peter Benoist 58-56, Vinan. What do you expect from a judge who gave Sergio Martinez one round against Paul Williams recently in Atlantic City? Judge Alan Rubenstein 59-55 for the winner by split decision from Ecuador Carlos Vinan, 9-8-3 (1)! I think Vinan has found a new place to fight out of.
Vasquez sat speechless in his dressing room after the fight. Either out of shock or from taking so many punches in the back of the head from Vinan that referee Blair Talmadge gave only one warning for in the 6th and last round of this super featherweight main event. Vinan’s game plan was to attack low, hold and rabbit punch Vasquez as soon as he turned his head in fear of a head butt. It took away a lot from a really good card of seven previous fights. The working press was divided about the outcome. Vasquez showed the toughness of the fight on his face while Vinan suffered a bloody nose. Vasquez made what could have been an easy fight a tough fight. He did not utilize his jab until the 6th round. He countered well ending the 1st round the stronger of the two fighters. A straight right hand ended the 2nd round stunning Vinan. In the 3rd round both fighters rocked one another. In the 4th round Vinan’s nose started bleeding. In the 5th round Vasquez again rocked Vinan with a straight right hand. In the 6th and final round Vasquez started setting Vinan up with a stiff jab followed by a straight right hand that he had no problem landing all night. Vasquez had shown remarkable improvement with his defense since trainer Chris Rotella took over several fights ago. He is being assisted by Philly favorite Brian McGinley with cut man Joey “I” rounding out the corner. Tonight Vasquez forgot defense and turned his head in clinches and took a pounding to the back of the head without retaliating and it cost him on two of the judge’s cards.
With the co-event 6 rounder cancelled in mid week due to a car accident, Adrick Butler was unable to fight Norman Allen in which looked like a sure fired good fight between light middleweights. Pennsylvania state Golden Gloves heavyweight champion Brian Jennings, 1-0 (0), opened the card with a workmanlike 4 round decision over late substitute Zeferino Albino, 3-10-2 (1), both of Philadelphia. “I was satisfied with Jennings going 4 rounds so we have something to look at on tape to work on instead of some 1st round knockout that you can tell little,” said trainer Fred Jenkins. Jenkins is one of the most underated trainers in the business having produced many a good fighter out of the ABC Gym in North Philly.
In the most competitive fight of the night West Virginia’s Francisco Portilla, 0-2, started fast but faded in the 4th and final round losing on all scorecards to Anthony “TJ” Yoder, 1-0 (0), of Vineland, NJ, in a 4 round super bantamweight match. Portilla found a home inside with uppercuts but was outworked by Yoder in a close fight. Eddie Cotton was the referee.
Philly prospect Angel Ocasio, 2-0 (0), gave his fans something to cheer about in the 2nd round when a straight right hand dropped his opponent Osnel Charles, 0-2, of Atlantic City. Two more times before the round was over Ocasio landed overhand rights to rock Charles. In the 3rd round Charles seemed to come back and outwork Ocasio. In the 4th and final round Ocasio opened up with a full arsenal of left hook uppercuts to the mid-section and several double right hands to the head of Charles. Ocasio won by scores of 39-36 (2x) and 38-37 in this lightweight match on the scorecards and even got the applause from his opponent Charles who showed good sportsmanship.
Prospect Lavarn “Baby Bowe” Harvell, 5-0 (2), remained unbeaten with an easy 1st round stoppage of Randy Campbell, 3-1 (2), who brought in a beefed up record from Bowerston, O, before referee Talmadge wisely stopped it at 1:52, of a light heavyweight 4 rounder.
In a good 4 round featherweight match, Liz Sherman, 2-0 (1), Raritan, NJ, won all 4 rounds over Karen Dulin, 1-5 (1), Mystic, CN, who had her moments when she used her jab. Sherman’s punching power overshadows her inexperience in the ring.
Southpaw Juan “The Beast” Rodriguez, 2-0 (1), Union City, NJ, showed too much respect to Dontre King, 1-6-1, of Cumberland, MD, in making it a harder fight than necessary. He dropped his opponent in the 3rd round when he took a knee and hit him again while down. Referee Talmadge explained he didn’t think Rodriguez could see the knee touch the canvas and excused him. All judge’s had it 40-35 for Rodriguez in this welterweight match.
Philly’s Kareem “Cool Breeze”, Cooley, seemed to take a couple of rounds to warm-up, against Sidell Blocker, 0-2, of Pleasantville, NJ, until a left uppercut dropped his opponent. An overanxious Cooley, followed up with a punch after Blocker hit the canvas. Blocker got to his feet but Cooley swarmed all over him until the referee Cotton waved it off this super featherweight bout. It was a competitive fight up until then. Cooley comes from a fighting family, with grandfather, Roland Cooley, Sr., in the corner.
Matchmaker Nick Tiberi helped put together three fights Friday night, with another in New York, and the one he attended in Dover, DE. It seems like he performed a “hat trick”. Promoter Kut plans to return to the Arena in April in the second of six planned shows this year per his PR man Kurt Wolfheimer.
