Philadelphia lightweight Victor Vasquez, 14-5-1 (7), didn’t disappoint his man fans Friday night at Harrah’s Casino, in Chester, PA! Angel Rios, 9-6 (6), of the Bronx, NY, didn’t come in to lay down either in losing a majority decision over 8 rounds in the “Round 4” main event.
Joey Eye Boxing Promotions with matchmaker Nick Tiberi came close to calling off the show with a medical failed boxer and another turned down by the commission resulting in 3 exhibitions and 3 fights. The main vent was one better than the one on ESPN2 this writer watched when he got home.
In a feeling out first round Rios seemed to have the edge. In the second round with the action picking up from Vasquez in what seemed like a chess match he started on the body work which is his trademark. Rios only having one fight after a long lay-off wasn’t ready for this kind of war it seemed in the beginning of this fight. By the end of the round his “sneaky” overhand right found its mark just prior to the bell.
In the third round it was a big round for Vasquez who dominated Rios with body shots to the rib sections with Rios doing his best to try to block these shots. In the fourth Vasquez was still controlling the actions and now going to the body and head while Rios was landing a very good left hook and an occasional overhand right and always looking dangerous with a smile on his face.
The fifth round was action packed having the crowd on its feet with Rios gaining respect coming out early with Vasquez coming on late in the round. In the sixth it returned to a chess match with Vasquez being the busier of the two until Rios trapped him in the corner and Vasquez slipped on some ice from his cornermen and looked like he was rock if you didn’t see the canvas from where you were sitting.
In the seventh it was total war with Vasquez landing wicked body shots and Rios landing great single shots to the head. Just prior to the end of the round Rios hurt Vasquez. In the eighth and final round it was like rock-em-sock-em robots in there with Rios gaining the advantage. With 10 seconds to go in the fight Vasquez opened up to go toe to toe with Rios to the delight of the fans as they were standing and cheering both fighters. Referee Blair Talmadge had an easy night because both fighters fought a clean respectful fight though trying to take each others heads off.
Joe Pasquale had it 76-76 while Rich Hopkins and Dewy LaRosa had it 77-75 for the winner Victor Vasquez. “I thought I won but he has a heavy right hand. I had to back him up or he would be the aggressor,” said Vasquez. “I would fight a rematch but only in New York. The worst I thought I should have gotten is a draw,” said Rios. This writer had Vasquez up 78-74 with 2 of his winning rounds close enough to be called even. Co-writer Dave Ruff had Rios ahead though a draw would not have disappointed him.
Philaldelphia’s Angel Ocasio, 6-0 (1), looked his career best in defeating Rasool Shakoor, 3-9-1 (1), of Jackson, MI, over 6 rounds by scores of 59-55 twice and 60-54 by LaRosa, in this lightweight match-up. In the second round Ocasio drove Shakoor halfway across the ring into the ropes. “I was confused when he came out southpaw. My amateur experience paid off in dealing with it,” said Ocasio.
Ocasio had him hurt several times but didn’t seem to have the finishing touches. Hopefully it will all come in time. This writer feels the better the competition the better Ocasio will box.
North Philadelphia’s Tony Ferrante, 12-2 (7), had his 6 round light heavyweight match reduced to 4 rounds with William Prieto, 5-6-1 (2), of Lorain, OH, by the commission. Seems Prieto was 24 pounds heavier than his last fight 4 months ago and a career high in weight.
What looked like hitting on the break Ferrante dropped Prieto to the canvas. Referee Benjy Esteves, Jr. didn’t see it that way. Shortly later it wasn’t as blatant during a break as Prieto went down again. The punch did not seem to have that kind of impact to drop him.
Seems he was looking for an early night with the wrong result. Prieto refused to come out for the second round giving Ferrante the win. It wasn’t pretty and Ferrante wasn’t happy with the ending. He had much too much power for Prieto.
Philadelphia heavyweight Joey Polish Thunder” Dawejko, left without an opponent due to a medical failure may have had a tougher opponent in taller Teneal Goyco. It got rough in this 3 round exhibition as Dawejko unloaded with his left hooks as Goyco kept the jab in his face as much as possible until a low punch dropped Goyco. They finished out the 3 rounds. This may be a future match-up.
Light heavyweight Chuckie “the Professor” Mussachio, of Wildwood, NJ, and former IBF light middleweight champion Buster Drayton filled in the void in a spirited 3 round exhibition. Mussachio and Drayton are two of the “nice” guys in the boxing business and for someone who likes both it was enjoyable. When ring announcer Larry Tournabe asked Mussachio if had been born yet when Drayton took the title he laughed and said he was. Tournabe does a great job.
In the opening exhibition Melissa “Hurricane” Hernandez and Ronica “Queen” Jeffrey put on quite a show. They know each other well being stablemates for Brian Cohen and did not hold back in going at one another. Jeffrey will be back in action in one week at Dover Downs, DE.
Joey Eye will return to Harrah’s going outdoors on September 24.
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