By Jason Sardelis – After reading the line up for Ring Promotions, “Havoc at the Hilton” set for Sept. 26th at the Huntington Hilton, I couldn’t help reflect back to a very interesting and true article by John “IceMan” Scully, “Boxing’s Most Unappreciated Job” ( www.strictlybusinessboxing.com /66.html ). It reminded me that most great fights and certainly all top boxing shows are the creative work of a diligent matchmaker, who most times goes unrecognized.
The matchmakers for this attractive Long Island show are Bob Duffy and Frank Mullen. Duffy has long established himself in the promotion and matchmaking game, where as Mullen a former gym owner and excellent amateur/pro trainer is relatively new to the job.
So far looking at the card they have combined to put together some fine match-ups for this show..
Matching light middleweight Pawel Wolak 21-1, 14 Ko’s with Chad Greenleaf 10-10, 4 Ko’s is a good turn around bout for “The Raging Bull” coming off a close loss to Ishe Smith in August. Despite his five hundred record Greenleaf has been in with some tough opponents like James Moore, Jimmy Lange and Jesse Niklow to name a few.
Matching Plainview, Long Islands welterweight Tommy “The Razor” Rainone with Henry White Jr. in another turn around bout will be interesting to see if Rainone can get back to his winning ways.
Matching New York State Heavyweight Champion Darrell “King David” Madison with fellow Long Islander Elfair “The Wyandanch Warrior” McKnight will be a sure draw. It will give us a peek at Madison’s progression while he looks for a showdown with the popular Patchogue- Medford resident Derrick Rossy or a rematch with tough Zuri Lawrence who just beat previously undefeated Albert Sosnowski, 43-1-0, 26 Ko’s. Both Rossy and Lawrence are former N.Y. State champions.
Setting undefeated Merrick, N.Y. heavyweight Costa Philippou 3-0, 1 Ko against Melville’s tough journeyman Andrew Hutchinson who fought to a draw with Elfair McKnight and has been in with highly regarded Eric Kirkland and Matt Godfrey will set the stage for several future Long Island match-ups.
Also on the card is Garden City’s favorite son Kevin “The Irish Storm” Collins, 8-8, 2 Ko’s absent since June 2006 making a comeback facing Mastic, Long Islands Ray “Boom-Boom” Gonzalez 1-1.
The show’s terrific undercard will also feature four time N.Y. Golden Glove Champion Will Rosinsky 1-0, 1 Ko in his second pro fight against the tough John Milam along with light middleweight Alberto Amaro vs Jorge Lara and light middleweight Jason Collazo vs Lambros Katatadies.
The card features some good regional and skill match-ups as well as showcasing several bouts in like weight classes setting up future match-ups while advancing careers. The place where the Mullen can make his mark quickly is pairing up yet un-matched Mike Ruiz 8-2, 5 Ko’s fighting out of Titans Gym Merrick N.Y. and Mastic-Shirley’s Leon Green 4-1, 1 Ko both scheduled to appear on the card. Mullen is acquainted and familiar with both fighters and the two have met as amateurs while having a common opponent Bryan Mullis.
The show will certainly wreak Havoc on the Long Island boxing scene as well as entertain New York and Long Islands loyal and well-informed boxing fans. See you at the fights.