By Coach “K” – August 1st, Sal Musumeci’s Final Forum together with Cedric Cushners Gotham Boxing out brought many stars like Bernard Hopkins, Paulie Malignaggi, Joey Gamache, Brian Adams, NYS Heavy Weight Champion Darrell Madison, Larry Stanton, Albert Sosnowski and Elvir Muriqi to witness an exciting action packed SHO BOX the “Next Generation”at Aviator Sports Arena, Brooklyn, New York..
The main event featured light middleweight Ishe “Sugar Shay” Smith 20-3, 9 Ko’s of “Contender” fame with new trainer Eddie Mustapha Muhammad doing more than just contend. Smith counter-punched and beat undefeated 26-year old Pawel “Raging Bull” Wolak 21-1, 14 Ko’s in his own back yard.
In a rugged ten round unanimous decision Ishe Smith used Pavel Wolak’s aggression to his advantage. Smith used slight angles landing hard clean counter-punches underneath on the charging Polish “Raging Bull.” The only question was could Smith withstand Wolak’s relentless pressure.
Smith appeared at times to be falling to Wolak’s swarming attack but he skillfully turned his punches under ripping sharp uppercuts and counter hooks from both sides.
The two very courageous combatants put it all on the line trading at times, seemingly taking turns with closing volleys. It was Wolak who forced the fight but after four it was even at two apiece Wolak pressed forward throwing in numbers while Smith countered picking his shots.
In round five Wolak kept up the attack and it looked as if Smith may tire. Round six saw “Sugar Shay” repeatedly bounce uppercuts and hooks off the “Polish rock.”
Round seven saw the “Raging Bull” like he was running the streets of Pamplona, Spain with Smith wearing the “Bull” like underarmour.
In the eighth Wolak remained on the hunt as Smith appeared to tire but he moved and jabbed keeping his space firing uppercuts when Wolak closed the gap.
In round nine there was no quit in either fighter. Wolak stalked the circling Smith, who opened up when the “Bull” squared up.
In the final two rounds Smith continued to circle to his right, baiting Wolak while grabbing a breath. Wolak lead and Smith countered, the two warriors poured it all out as the home crowd chanted Pavel, Pavel! Smith would strategically push Wolak off out of punching range and begin to circle again. With about a minute left in the tenth and final round, Wolak charged as Smith was now firing from all angles. The two traded shots closing the round as if the fight would be won by who landed the last shot.
In a moment of disbelief the partisan New York audience gasped as the judges scores were announced; judge Julie Lederman 97-93, judges John McKaie and Steve Weisfeld called it 96-94 all for Smith.
I scored it with Miss Lederman 97-93. Smith scored the harder, cleaner punches and I’m sure Wolak’s aggression scored him some rounds on some peoples cards. Wolk’s pressure made the fight but it was the absence of a true power punch that enabled Smith to counter the assault.
Final Forum featured a great semi main event showcasing New York’s rising star, 6’0” lightweight Jorge “The Truth” Teron, 21-0-1, 15 Ko’s. Teron stepping up in class took on Mexico’s knockout puncher Michael Lozado 29-5-1, 22 Ko’s. Teron trained by Olympic gold medalist and world champion Mark Breland would remain undefeated defending his NABO lightweight championship and winning the vacant WBO lightweight stopping Lozado in six.
Lozada came out swinging, landing with both hands, scoring to the head and body. Lozado started attacking the body, eating Teron jabs on the way in. Lozado banged to the New Yorker’s body landing a sweeping left hook to the head and an overhand right that stunned the “Truth.” Teron began to find his distance and used his four inch height and noticeable reach advantage peppering Lozado coming in and tagging him with straight right hands.
Round two started with Lozado charging out, winging wide shots catching Teron to the body with a left and to the head with a solid overhand right. Teron immediately fired back a straight combination backing up the tough Mexican. Teron seemed to be falling into a familiar weakness, his willingness to brawl. About a minute into the round Teron switched up and began to stick and move, popping Lozado at will. Then about midway through the round “the Truth” began to stop and trade with the shorter Lozado landing a double left hook and a heavy straight right stopping Lozado in his tracks. Lozado turned it rough with about forty five seconds to go adding some strategic low shots with referee Santiago on the opposite side. Lozado closed the round throwing wide power shots with Teron moving in and out of range using his speed and combination punching.
In round three Teron began to concentrate on Lozado’s body the Mexican fired back landing low again, earning a warning from referee Santiago. Lozado offers his glove as an apology and Teron ignores it, remaining focused and all business. About a minute in Lozado begins to circle looking to draw Teron in. Teron chases jabbing to the body and firing the right hand upstairs. The New Yorker controls the action from the outside then pins Lozado on the ropes peppering him with the left and scoring with a big right hand. With 30 to go Teron bangs to the body of the tough Mexican from both sides pinning him to the ropes. Lozado runs and holds to close the round.
Round four begins with the Teron back on the body attack until the rugged Mexican traps him on the ropes landing a good hook and two overhand rights to the head. Teron employs a little rope a dope and just shakes it off. Teron shows a little bit of a chin. Teron now begins to punch and move hooking his way out of the corner. Teron is punching and turning Lozado when with thirty to go and opens up with his superior speed causing Lozado to hold on.
In round five Teron goes back to the jab with Lozado digging a hook to the Bronx natives body.
Teron measures Lozado backing him to the ropes but lets him out keeping his desired space.
Lozado begins fighting off his back foot, moving again like in round three. Teron doesn’t fall for the trap, moves laterally peppering the short Mexican. About halfway through the round the two exchange body shots with Teron firing a heavy triple left hook working up the body of Lozado.
Teron follows Lozado then cuts him off, cornering him where the two trade power shots and Lozado bangs his way out. Teron is beginning to land more solid and more often now with his heavy artillery. Teron switches it up and now is banging Lozado coming in.
Round six starts with Lozado rushing in and Teron sitting down on his punches. Teron begins fainting and throwing lead right hands, Lozado looks off balance. A minute into the round Teron lands a double hook to the body followed by a straight right upstairs backing the game Mexican to the ropes. Teron rips off a two handed combination bottom and top, then leans in dipping left, recoiling a thunderous left hook just under and behind Lozados forward right elbow, dropping him along the ropes. Lozado looks to the corner from his knees then rises at the count of seven, nodding to referee Santiago he’s ok. When the action resumes Lozado attempts a left hook of his own as Teron answers with a double hook, upstairs then down stairs flooring Lozado again. Referee Santiago reaches the count of eight calling it at 1:23 round six as Lozado stays down and his corner enters the ring.
Teron looked strong, he used his height well but still gave into the desire to bang away at times. Although Lozado’s height and reach had him made to order, the tough Mexican gave Teron the opportunity to excel and move another step forward in what appears to be a very promising career.
The well matched undercard provided some tremendous action: Super-middleweight George Walton, 18-3, 12ko’s, Jamaica, NY, rocked and rolled William Santiago, 5-6-1, 1Ko of Sabana Seca, Puerto Rico, lifting him with a right and dropping him on his rear causing referee Tony Chiarantano to stop the action immediately at :13 of the second round of their scheduled six rounder.
Welterweight Chris Algieri, 3-0, 2 Ko’s of Greenlawn, NY, fought off frustration chasing the awkward winless Rakeem Carter, 0-4-3, Albany, New York. Algieri dropped Carter to his knees with a powerful right hand to the body ending the bout at 1:50 of the final round of their scheduled four rounder.
Welterweight Mike Ruiz, 8-2, 5Ko’s fighting out of Titans Fitness, Merrick, NY caught Brooklyn’s, Jason Thompson, 4-3, 3Ko’s, with a counter right hand on the chin flooring the him in the opening round of their scheduled six rounder. Ruiz hurt Thompson and controlled most of the early action. Thompson regrouped and the two began to trade in the fourth. In the fifth Thompson discarded the uppercut which was coming from to far out and doubled his hook turning the fight into a pier six brawl. Thompson began to land his right rocking Ruiz on several occasions but the tough Puerto Rican fighter fired back moving and holding at times securing a 57-55, 58-54, 58-54 unanimous decision.
Welterweight Martin Wright, 7-0-2, 3Ko’s from Brooklyn, NY. fought to a crowd infuriating majority draw with Joshua “Poison” Onyango, 13-15-1, 11 Ko’s of Edison, New Jersey. Wright a southpaw controlled the action picking his shots pivoting out usually keeping the pressing Onyango at bay. Wright scored the cleaner shots landing the left to the body at will. Somehow the judges saw it 58-56, Wright and 57-57 twice making it a majority draw.
Super Middleweight Hajro Sujak, Bronx, NY made his pro debut winning a unanimous decision over Terak Rached, 1-3-1, 0 Ko’s of Ronkonkoma, NY.
Once again Sal Musumeci’s Final Forum joined with another local promoter using top shelf matchmaking to provide another night of action packed “Fists-A-Flying” Boxing.
Attention: Musumeci’s Final Forum and Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing have joined together to bring to you another great show of boxing “Fists-A-Flying V,” August 6th, again at the Aviator Sports Complex.