Boxing Returns to Vineland, New Jersey
By Ken Hissner at ringside (July 8, 2010) Doghouse Boxing  
After a twelve year absence boxing returned to Vineland, New Jersey, as “Friday Night Fireworks” were presented by Mike Indri’s Dignity Promotions in Association with Merighi’s Savoy Inn, Coor’s Lite and Jim Kurtz Boxing!

It had been a real dry spell in south Jersey’s city known for its amateur boxing as outside promoters came in and put local fighters to work. Unfortunately the headliner Vineland’s Bryne Green, 5-3 (3), and nearby Millville’s Ismael Garcia’s, 1-0 (0), opponents were no shows per matchmaker Nick Tiberi.

The nine bout card was reduced to seven four rounder’s with light heavyweights Charles Hayward, 5-2 (1), of Philadelphia and Mazur Ali, 6-7 (3), of Egypt now fighting out of Brooklyn, moving their bout to a six round main event.

Hayward started well but Ali pulled away by the end of the round landing a right to the head getting Hayward’s attention. He then followed up with a left hook to the head. Trainer Rev Thompson switched plans for Hayward who came out in the second round going to the body of the taller Ali with left hooks. Both fighters seemed to take the next two rounds off before fireworks started in the fifth round after a clash of heads. Ali eventually lost a point after several warnings by referee David Fields for hitting behind the head. In the sixth and last round Ali seemed to have an edge but it was too little too late. Judges Julie Lederman and Waleska Roldan had it 60-53 while Shafeeq Rashada had it 57-56 as did this writer all for Hayward. It was his second victory in two weeks.

Puerto Rico’s Joel DeLaPaz, 5-0 (4), now out of Atlantic City dropped Randy “Rattler” Campbell, 3-3 (2), of Bowerston, OH, three times with left hooks to the head causing Campbell’s corner to throw in the towel even though he beat the count. Before each knockdown Campbell was throwing punches. Referee Earl Brown waved off this super middleweight four rounder at 0:44 of the first round.

“The tradition carries on” as another Delaware Tiberi turned professional. As he made his entrance three small boy’s wearing sun glasses walked ahead of him. I have a feeling they were future Tiberi’s. Hard hitting Joe Tiberi’s son Joey, 1-0 (1), out of Newark, DE, knocked out Javier Dennis, 1-4 (1), out of North Carolina at 2:23 of the first round. Tiberi took his licks before a combination spun Dennis down for the count by referee Fields. This was a scheduled four round lightweight match. The latest Tiberi is the nephew of the “uncrowned champion” Dave “TNT” Tiberi.

Former WBA heavyweight champion Bruce “Atlantic City Express” Seldon’s son Isiah, 1-0 (0), of Atlantic City, had his hands full in the first round as southpaw Damion Reed, 0-3 (0), of Danville, VA, landed combinations with his back to the ropes quite well. With Seldon’s dad in the corner giving instructions his son came out more aggressive driving Reed to the ropes and landing wild punches in the next two rounds. In the fourth and final round with Reed knowing he was falling behind he got desperate leaving himself open when a wild right hand knocked him into the ropes. Seldon jumped on him and had referee Brown close to stopping it until Reed grabbed Seldon. He was able to last out the round giving Seldon his first win by scores of 40-36 by all judges. This writer had it 39-37 Seldon. This was a super middleweight four rounder.

Nearby Pleasantville’s Carlos Perez, 0-0-1 (0), came out with a Costa Rica headband and some sharp trunks. He landed a left hook that knocked Union City’s Hector Collado, 0-1-1 (0), off balance. The more aggressive Collado seemed to take over the rest of the round and the next two rounds of this welterweight bout. In the fourth and final round Perez had Collado holding on. All three judges had it 38-38 as referee David Fields raised both boxers hands. This writer had it 39-37 for Collado.

In another close fight Vineland’s Joshua Arocho, 0-1 (0), making his debut used his jab against Joseliz Cepeda, 1-0 (0), of Santo Domingo, DR, to take the first round. Cepeda started mixing it more in the next two rounds until a clash of heads. In the fourth round they clashed heads twice due to infighting. Cepeda was the faster of the two and pulled out a split decision with Lederman having it 40-36 and Roldan 39-37 (as did this writer) for Cepeda while Rashada had it 39-37 for Arocho. Brown was the referee in this four round super featherweight match.

In the opening bout Raul Lopez, 4-1-1 (3), of the Bronx seemed to have his way over Giraldo Rosas, 0-1 (0), of Union City in a four round super bantamweight match. Rosas never stopped trying but the more experienced Lopez kept gunning for the knockout with many left hooks to the rib section. All the judges had it 40-36. Fields was the referee.

The crowd really seemed to get into the matches which may be encouraging for the promoters to come back to the Savoy Inn. You had to consider how much better it would have been if the two locals fought.

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