Mike “No Joke” Stewart and David “El Torrito” Torres Battle to Draw By Ken Hissner and David Ruff at ringside, Doghouse Boxing (Feb 28, 2011) Doghouse Boxing - Tweet
Before a sold out house at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, in Dover, DE, Mike “No Joke” Stewart, 46-7-3 (24, of New Castle, DE, and David “El Torrito” Torres, 21-2-2 (13), of Othello, WA, battled to a 10 round draw Friday night for the still vacant NABA Junior Welterweight championship. Nick Tiberi served as matchmaker.
Stewart brought in a record of 17-0 in DE rings and 10-0 at Dover Downs and knew as early as the first round it was going to be a long night against Torres came to fight. Torres jumped off to a good start taking the first 2 rounds before Stewart started landing in the third.
In the fourth round both fighters were landing hard and effective punches. Torres landing several right hands rocking Stewart but before the round was over Stewart landed a 5 punch combination to the body ending it with a left hook to the head. In the sixth Stewart would land an effective punch but fail to follow up but seemed to even the score.
Stewart’s last 3 fights were all scheduled for 6 rounds and it seemed like he may have thought this was another 6 because from the seventh on it was all Torres. When Stewart would make Torres miss he didn’t make him pay. His corner was urging him on round after round but it wasn’t the same Stewart who they’ve seen in the past who had been in with some of the best in the world. Top referee Steve Smoger handled the fight with his usual excellence.
Ring announcer Larry Tornambe read off Bob Grasso’s score at 96-94 Torres. “When we heard that score we felt we got a well deserved decision,” said one of Torre’s cornerman. Then he announced Dave Greer and Joe Pasquale’s scores of 95-95 to the shock of the pro Stewart crowd. DHB had it 97-93 Torres. “We’d like a rematch but not here,” they added. Stewart went directly to his dressing room without comment.
Middleweights “Mighty” Mike Tiberi, 16-1 (7), of Smyrna, DE, and Eloy “El Prieto” Suarez, 11-10-1 (5), of San Antonio, battled it out over 8 rounds. Tiberi used an effective jab taking the first 2 rounds. Sanchez was the aggressor throughout as both exchanged good body shots in the third with Suarez getting the best of it. In the fourth Tiberi was back using his jab back pedaling with few rights landing but still taking the round. In the fifth Suarez was controlling the round with little jabbing from Tiberi.
In the sixth round Suarez opened up with left hooks to the body and overhand rights to the head. In the seventh Tiberi opened up more with right hands and a 5 punch combination 4 to the body and a final left hook to the head. He seemed to have a slight edge going into the eighth and final round. This was the best round of the fight with Suarez going for the knockout. With 30 seconds in the round Tiberi was scoring well only to lose control prior to the bell. This seemed like Suarez did enough to earn a draw.
All 3 judges had it 77-75 for Tiberi which was received with a mixed reaction from the fans. Benji Esteves, Jr. was the referee. DHB had it 76-76. “We would have taken a draw but felt we won,” said a cornerman of Suarez. “When I failed to stop moving I let him score too much,” said Tiberi. He is a very likeable and popular boxer who may be the heir to Stewart as a main eventer. In order to take that next step up he’s got to be more than one dementional with his offense. This was his first 8 rounder and definitely the best fight of the night. His dad Mario and brother Mario worked the corner along with cut man Joey Eye.
Though short it was the most exciting fight of the night as Alexis Mejias, 11-7 (5), of Paterson, NJ, seemed to land half a dozen lead rights to frustrate southpaw Amir “Hardcore” Mansour, 12-0 (9), of Penns Grove, NJ, fighting out of Wilmington, DE.
In the second round Mansour landed a straight left hand that drove Mejias side ways before he fell backwards toward the canvas. Before landing Mansour landed another crushing left hand. The crowd went wild. It’s been 3 straight knockouts since his 10 year lay-off and it’s like the fans now expect it.
Referee Smoger immediately signaled the end and called for the paramedics. Mejias lay very still for what seemed like over 5 minutes. He never knew what hit him. The end came at 0:35 of the second round. Manager Keith Stoffer has a real attraction in Mansour.
Anthony “Caputo” Smith, 9-0 (7), of Kennett Square, PA, rocked Shawn “the Cannon” Kirk, 4-9 (2), of Lexington, KY, early in the first round with a left hook leaving him with a “shocked” look to his face. Near the end of the round another left hook rocked Kirk.
In the second round both fighters threw left hooks with Smith’s landing to the ribcage and dropping Kirk to a knee. Another left hook to the rib’s caused Kirk to take another knee. A border-line punch gave Kirk a breather. He fought back with a “do or die” attack until a right hook to the body dropped him for a third time. Referee Vic deWysocki counted him out with Kirk taking the count on a knee. It ended at 2:16 of the second round. This was a cruiser bout.
In the lone female bout ”Queen” Ronica Jeffrey, 5-0 (1), of Brooklyn, NY, easily defeated Carla “Mega Baby” Torres, 1-1 (0), of Cleveland, OH, in a featherweight 4 by scores of 40-36 twice and 39-37 by judge Greer. Seemed like a clear shut-out for Jeffrey.
In the opening bout Dan “Bada-Bing” Biddle, 6-1 (4), of Hockessin, DE, had a “glorified workout” defeating Ken Farr, 0-5 of Rocky Mount, NC, in a cruiserweight 4. Farr was there to go the distance, suffering a bloody nose in the second. DeWysocki was the referee. Opponents like this have got to come to an end for Biddle or he’s going to be considered another “Butterbean”. Scores of 40-36, 40-35 and 40-34 tell it all.
