Berchelt-Sosa: Many reasons why this should be a classic

By Luis A. Cortes III

While the bright lights of the strip in Sin City may be the focal point for most of the boxing world tonight, 275 miles southwest of the strip (about a 4-hour drive), a battle will take place that has all boxing fans salivating.  Jason Sosa (23-3-4) (16 KO’s) a former WBA super featherweight champion of the world reaches for a type of glory that has seemed to slip away from him in recent years, against Mexico’s Miguel Berchelt (36-1) (32 KO’s).  These two warriors are set to go to war over the WBC super featherweight title at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California (live on ESPN at 10pm ET), a site that over the past generation of championship boxers has become synonyms with some of the most memorable fights.

Future Hall of Famers over the past generation have left ounces of both blood and sweat on the canvas inside of the ring in that stadium. In some cases, like in the first and third fight of the brutal classic four fight series between Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez, fighters have left pieces of their souls.  Timothy Bradley, who will be calling the fight as part of the ESPN broadcast team had one of his most memorable victories of his future Hall of Fame career against Ruslan Provodnikov at that venue.  A fight in which, Bradley the more superior athlete and boxer, elected to trade power punches with the heavy fisted Russian.  The result proved to be Bradley suffering concussions during the fight in such a brutal manner that he admitted that there are portions of that fight he doesn’t remember.

Fighters with the type of temperament of a Sosa or Berchelt are aware of the venue and the recent history that has been made there.  Venues like this with the type of history that it has created, at times, inspire fighters making their first venture into its confines to reach deep within themselves to allow for their names to create new history.  Fight fans are hoping that’s what takes place tonight between Sosa and Berchelt, and it seems as though both fighters are in the perfect position in their careers when they are finally meeting not to disappoint.

Yes, the venue does inspire and can bring out a vicious competitive streak from the fighters calling it their office on any given fight night.  However, what does get overlooked at times is the reason why the fighters give fans so many classic performances.  When Bradly faced Provodnikov, he had just defeated Manny Pacquaio in a fight that most had felt he lost.  It was a disputed decision that left a bad taste in the mouth and mind of the prideful champion.

After suffering from depression and even contemplating suicide, he took on the tough Russian in his next fight.  Bradley gave the many of the undeserving fight fans who were critical of his previous victory a classic performance by risking his life, and by going toe-to-toe and blow-for-blow with the stronger challenger that night.  He did it in many ways because maybe he needed to prove to himself that he was the warrior and champion who he thought he was.  Or maybe it was his way of showing the world what he already had no doubt of.  Either way, his legacy was cemented on that night.

In the case of Sosa and Berchelt, both men, regardless of challenger or champion status see this as the type of fight that with a victory can position their career for a different level of financial possibilities.  As the WBC champion, Berchelt is on the cusp of getting bigger pay days against some of the other champions in the loaded super featherweight division.  One of those other champions is the IBF titlist, whom also happens to be a stablemate of Sosa, Philadelphia’s Tevin Farmer.  Fights with the other champions such as Jamel Herring, should he retain his title, and Andrew Cancio, should not be difficult to make.  For Berchelt, should he get by Sosa, the road for the Mexican champion,who is in his physical prime, to becoming undisputed champion at super featherweight is open.  There is also the chance for him to move up in weight into the talent rich lightweight division and try his luck at wining a world title in another weight class, which also has the types of names that would equal life changing money if he were to fight them.

As for the challenger Jason Sosa, unlike his younger opponent, at the age of 31, he is coming to the point in his career where the well of opportunities for that life altering money may be starting to run dry.  One thing can never be said about Sosa and his career, and that is that anything was handed to him.  Everything that he has earned has been through a determination level that few fighters possess.  Unfortunately, the success that he has gained inside of the ring, which offered him new financial opportunities, didn’t translate into business ventures away from the sport.  Part of it was due to the devastating path of destruction laid out across his native Puerto Rico by Hurricane Maria.  Other personal reasons have also played their role in him finding himself back in the position he was before he won his first world championship.

Both fighters have the incentive of an even bigger set of brass rings available to them if they come out victorious tonight.  Add the extra spice to this fight that both fighters represent one side of one of the best and most historic ethnic rivalries in the history of boxing.  Mexico vs. Puerto Rico.  All these reasons: financial reward, glory, and national pride, are just added gas to the fire that burns internally of both fighters.  Again, Berchelt and Sosa are two fighters that always come to fight no matter what.  With those added pieces, fight fans should have felt no shame for having to wipe the dribble off their chin when this fight was signed.

Support The Weigh-In: Your Home for Combat Sports by Shopping World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Products!

PELTZ BOXING: A LIFE-LONG LOVE STORY

J Russell Peltz Celebrates Half Century in Boxing

By Emily Pandelakis

PHILADELPHIA -- For 50 years, J Russell Peltz has lived and breathed boxing.  On October 4, he will celebrate his Golden Anniversary as a Philadelphia promoter with an eight-bout card titled “Blood, Sweat & 50 Years,” at the 2300 Arena.  Since Sept. 30, 1969, he’s been an institution in the city, providing a platform for hundreds, if not thousands of Philadelphia fighters to showcase their talent. He’s promoted over a thousand boxing events and over 40 world title bouts. For half a century, Peltz has ridden the roller coaster of small- and big-time boxing, with stops all over the world. 

Peltz’ love for boxing has outlived mentors, parents, a sister, a son and a marriage. It’s been the constant throughout the entirety of his adult life, and a refuge from guilt, sadness and loss.  It was the cane he used when he couldn’t stand, and the mountain from which he screamed his successes.  It has been an enduring passion and a safe, faceless pool where he could pour out an immense amount of love, out loud, and without guilt or fear of judgement. 

He has a savant-like ability to recall dates of fights, who was on every card, and what happened in every round.  He remembers detailed 40-year-old stories, fights, conversations and events like they happened yesterday.  

For his 14th birthday, his dad took him to his first fight and it was love at first bell. He knew he was going to be a part of the beautiful brutality of boxing. His mom refused to allow him to go to more fights; she didn’t want him to be part of “that element.”  He would lie and say he was out with friends or at parties, then go to the fights.  Eventually she relented, and his father took him to more fights.  He would abandon a burgeoning sports journalism career and promote his first event on Sept. 30, 1969. 

J Russell Peltz grew up in an upper middle-class family, moving from Philadelphia to the wealthy community of Bala Cynwyd on Philadelphia's Main Line when he entered third grade.  His father, Bernard Peltz, a plumber like his own dad, had expanded Peltz Plumbing to include heating and air-conditioning. By all measurements, his business was successful, catering to both residential repairs and large company and government installations. His father was beloved by his employees.

Peltz had a taste of the plumbing life over two summers in 1963 and '64 and was decidedly bad at it.  It was a disastrous endeavor for teenage Peltz, who was not mechanically inclined.  One error resulted in the destruction of several oil paintings belonging to a wealthy client, and a large bill for his father to foot. 

His father wasn’t much of a sports fan outside of boxing.  His father, Peltz’ grandfather, was an avid fan and worked for Western Union.  On fight nights, including during the Jack Dempsey vs. Gene Tunney fight in 1926 in Philadelphia, he would be ringside, gathering updates and copy and communicating them to the wire services.  

As Peltz tells it, his father, like many parents of kids who came of age in the 50s and 60s, was not expressive with his emotions.  “He was just not the kind of person,” Peltz began, then paused.  “Any more than I am, that could show it. My mom was the emotional, loving one.”

What shines through when conversing with Peltz, is how much his parents loved each other.  In a time where men were not supposed to cry, Peltz’s father, who he described as a “man’s man,” took care of his wife while she was sick for years with emphysema. “They were passionately in love,” said Peltz.  “Things became rocky later, especially when my mother became sick, but he always loved her.

“She was so weak he would have to cut her meat and pre-chew it, so she would be strong enough to chew the rest of it,” remembers Peltz. “He would do those things and you could see that he loved her.” 

After his mother passed away in 1975, Peltz found a box among her belongings: “When my mom died, I found a box of newspaper clippings of stories about me, some of which I’d never seen before. I knew she loved me.”

His father gave him an office to work from, and twice lent him money when Peltz needed a boost to get through a show or a bad year. If Peltz hadn’t been weighed down with remorse, he might have seen these gestures and support of his son’s boxing promoter career, of which he outwardly didn’t approve, as his father’s way of saying I love you. 

A rift developed in the family when Peltz married his first wife, a non-Jewish girl, in 1969, against the wishes of his parents.  This disagreement would color the remainder of their years together. 

At 72 years old, Peltz looks back over those years and sees a selfish, immature version of himself, who didn’t treat his parents all that well. “I never had a mature relationship with my parents,” Peltz would say more than once. “I have terrible regrets about that.” His uncle had told him that his decision to marry his first wife was killing his mother, and Peltz believed him.   The guilt is palpable as he describes his mother’s final days.  

The bitterness he had felt at his parents’ reaction to his marriage and their nagging “get a real job” attitude toward his chosen profession put space in between them. After both had passed, pride and resentment quickly gave way to guilt and regret.  

In the end, it was his sister's home and then his parents’ home he’d go to when his first marriage fell apart.  Every day he’d stop in and say hello to his father, who had built him an office over his plumbing company.  His family’s foundation, which had been built on silent love and commitment, proved unyielding throughout the years.

It wasn’t long after his mother’s death that he met the woman who would become his current wife--a former classmate at Lower Merion High School.  Peltz knew from their first date that he would marry Linda Sablosky. All the nagging feelings of doubt he had going into his first marriage were nowhere to be found.  For someone who sees himself as unemotional and unexpressive, the enormity of his love and devotion to Linda from that first date until this day is evident.  In four hours of interviews, it was when he spoke about Linda that he sounded the most fulfilled and uplifted. 

“Family is everything to Linda,” said Peltz.  "She brought together estranged cousins and other family members and she became very close to my father, calling him every day.

“If my mom had met Linda,” he continued, weeping softly, “she would have had a reason to live.”  

Linda fit effortlessly into his boxing world.  She would often attend events, traveling with Peltz.  “Linda is the kind of person who can exist in any world, in any atmosphere, and everybody loves her." Peltz said.  "It helped me in boxing.  People say, ‘How bad can he be? She married him!’

“Linda is never idle.  She can fill up 24 hours a day.  She’s the Queen of the Dollar Store.  She can’t stand sitting around doing nothing.  If Linda has 400 things to do and I only want to do 200 of them, she says I’m boring.”

The two would have two sons, Matthew and Daniel.   Matthew, the oldest, was interested in music and girls.  He was a ‘Deadhead,’ the moniker bestowed upon Grateful Dead fans, and traveled with them for a summer.  He eventually moved to Israel and became a Rabbi.  He  married and had four children.  

Daniel was the athlete, participating in various sports, including a short amateur boxing career that Peltz hid from Daniel’s mother for a short period of time. 

Peltz did his best to never miss a game.  “He was always there for me,” said Daniel.  “He traveled a lot, but he always made time for my sporting events. He didn’t miss a milestone.” 

Peltz and his wife lost Matthew to a drug overdose in 2017. He was only 38.  The pain in Peltz’ voice when he talks about the years they tried to save their son is heart-wrenching. Countless trips to rehab, broken promises and relapses litter the last years of their time together. He loved Matthew as hard and as completely as any parent could have, but the thief that is drug addiction took Matthew away from his parents, his brother and his children. 

At his son’s funeral Peltz told the story of a bidding scandal that rocked the plumbing industry in Philadelphia when he was a kid. The story had hit the newspapers, and when he was able to get his hands on the article, he read every word, looking for his dad’s name among those involved, hoping and praying it wasn’t there.  His voice cracks again as he retells it.  “When I got to the bottom of the story, it listed all those companies involved in the fix… and his name wasn’t in there. I felt so proud.of him.

“So it’s just that I knew that Bernie Peltz provided a hard day's work for a fair day's wage. Thirty years later, I came home from work one day and Linda hands me the phone.  Your son wants to talk to you.  I said ‘What’s up Matt.’  He said ‘Dad, how come when the sports writers write about boxing promoters, they always write bad things like they cheat the fighters, they steal their money, they pay off the judges and the referees, they fix the rankings… but whenever they write about you,” he paused and sniffed heavily as tears fell, "they always write nice things.  He finished by saying 'that’s so cool.' I didn’t realize it at the time but as the years went by I realized that my son felt the same way about me that I felt about my dad.” 

Peltz carries the weight of his Linda’s pain in addition to his own at the loss of their son.  “All Linda ever wanted was to be a mother. To be there when the kids came home from school,” Peltz recalled.  “That’s what made losing Matthew so devastating for her.  She questioned her ability as a mother.

“If Matthew had had any other mother,” Peltz said, his voice cracking with emotion, “he wouldn’t have made it to even 20.”  

Peltz finds comfort in his grandchildren.  “Pop Pop is very affectionate with the kids,” said Daniel, who has two daughters. “He has six grandchildren -- he loves them and they adore him.” 

Over the years, Peltz has brought many boxers into his inner circle, many of them becoming family.  Osnel Charles, who fights on October 4, asked Peltz to be the co-best man in his wedding. He spoke at many hall-of-fame inductions, weddings and funerals over the past half century. 

He talks about one of his more recent charges, Jason Sosa, with affection.  One of the highest points in his long career was witnessing underdog Sosa stop Javier Fortuna to win a world title in 2016 in Beijing, China.  

“When that fight was over we walked back to the hotel,” he remembered.  “Linda went up to the room because she was tired.  I went into a bar in the hotel. One of these really modern neon lit bars. I sat at that empty bar and I felt so on top of the world.  People back in the states are just getting the news and here I am in Beijing having a beer by myself and I felt so good.  You know why?  Mostly because at the time of my career that it happened.  To win a world title like that, in a foreign land, coming from behind off the canvas, with no shot to win except by knockout...with Linda screaming and crying and she jumped up because she loves Jason. It was just like so great. Such a wonderful feeling. One of the highlights of my career. It’s not number one but it’s like 1A.”

Number one, he added, was when his first charge, Bennie Briscoe, knocked out Tony Mundine in Paris in 1974: “That will always be number one. It was an eliminator. We were underdogs. It was my first trip to Europe and it was the biggest fight you could have without it being for the title. It was just such a wonderful night.” 

His protege, Raging Babe Michelle Rosado, who is promoting “Love, Sweat & 50 Years,” is one of many who see Peltz as a father figure.  His seven-year mentorship of Rosado will culminate in his passing the torch to his hardworking mentee.   “Leaders build leaders.  Because he doesn’t have an ego, and wasn’t inclined to protect his secrets at all costs like so many of his peers, he was able to mentor BAM [Brittany Rogers] and I and teach us the ropes.  I’m honored that he trusts me to continue his legacy.”  Peltz is known to brag about Rosado to his colleagues in the business.  When he talks about her, his tone alternates between that of a proud father and professional respect and admiration.  They may fight and scream but will always eventually reconcile like family so often does.

Peltz is ready to slow down after his 50th anniversary celebration.  The changes to the sport have worn thin his desire to keep going. “It’s not the sport I fell in love with,” he says.  “It’s not like it used to be.  Guys just wanted to fight.  If guys were within 10 pounds we had a fight.”  

On October 4, he will wind down his matchmaking career with the kind of card that he’s become known for in Philadelphia over the last 50 years.  Tough, Philly versus Philly toss-up matches.  The kind of card that drew him to boxing and kept him there for half a century. 

These relationships, the ones that Peltz has with Linda, Daniel and his grandchildren, with Michelle, with Osnel Charles, Bennie Briscoe, Jason Sosa and countless other boxers--these relationships don’t happen by accident.  They’re built on respect and on love. Love that isn’t screamed out loud, but is felt by actions.  Love that is disguised as feeling proud, or as the weight of guilt and regret.  A love that’s equal to or perhaps even more than that of his love for boxing.  Boxing will always be the place where Peltz can love out loud, but his legacy will forever be the quiet way he loved those he touched over the past 50 years.

Support The Weigh-In: Your Home for Combat Sports by Shopping World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Products!

\

Sosa Impressive; Adan Gonzales Spoils Cuban Prospect Ramirez's Debut

By Matt Ward, Ringside

Top Rank professional boxing on ESPN+ returned to the Liacouras Center on the campus of Temple University in North Philadelphia on Saturday night. The main event of this action-packed card pitted super featherweights Jason Sosa (23-3-4, 16 KOs) and Lydell Rhodes (27-4-1, 13 KOs) against one another in a ten round contest. Sosa, a former WBA Super Featherweight World Champion, made a big step on the trail to reclaim a world title by stopping tough veteran Rhodes at the 1:08 mark of the seventh round.

The two gladiators fought a close fight through the opening two frames. In the third round, Sosa opened up on Rhodes with a barrage of effective punches to the head and body. This offensive onslaught was highlighted by hard upper cuts that made Rhodes cringe under the pressure. Sosa again went on the attack in the fourth round when he connected with a left hand to the face of Rhodes. Rhodes rallied at the end of the round, landing a multi-punch combo that let Sosa know he was still in the fight.

In the fifth round, Sosa sent Rhodes crashing to the canvas with a left hook to the head. Rhodes managed to pull himself up from the mat, and fight on until the final 30 seconds of the round when Rhodes was punished with a series of Sosa punches to the head that again sent him down to the canvas. An accidental headbutt in the sixth round opened up a cut near Sosa's left eye. Fortunately, the location of this wound had little impact on the Camden native's fight plan and momentum going forward.

The third and final knockdown came in the seventh round when a well-placed Sosa right hand to Rhodes' head sent him crashing to the canvas. Rhodes recovered from the knockdown, but his corner had seen enough of the beat down, and threw in the towel. Referee Benjy Esteves honored the request by waiving off the fight. 

Gonzales Spoils Olympian's Debut

Denver's Adan Gonzales (5-2-2, 2 KOs) spoiled the long anticipated professional debut of Cuban Olympian Robeisy Ramirez (0-1) in a four round featherweight bout. Gonzales, fighting like a man looking for the upset, introduced Ramirez to a pro boxing canvas in the first round with a hard right hand to the head. Ramirez appeared to struggle with Gonzales in the second round, as he continued to apply pressure to the highly successful former amateur fighter. Ramirez, hoping to salvage his night, unloaded on Gonzales at the end of the third round, having to be pulled off of Gonzales after the bell rang. Ramirez fought hard in the fourth and final round, but it was not enough to salvage a win or draw. The judges scored the bout 39-36 for Gonzales, 38-37 for Ramirez, and 40-35 for the winner by split decision, Adan Gonzales. 

Berlanga Extends Kayo Streak to 12

"Knockout Artist" Edgar Berlanga (12-0, 12 KOs) won his twelfth straight fight by way of knockout over Gregory Trenel (11-5-2, 3 KOs) in the first round of a middleweight contest scheduled for eight. Berlanga answered the bell by landing crushing shots on his French opponent. Trenel hit the canvas after Berlanga, a native of New York, connected with a left hook to the head. Trenel hesitantly pulled himself up from the canvas only to be beaten into submission seconds later. Berlanga landed numerous left hands, at will, on the defenseless Trenel. Referee Benjy Esteves saw enough of the massacre at the 2:24 mark of the opening frame.

Philadelphia's Kroll Wins by UD 

Undefeated welterweights Paul Kroll (5-0, 4 KOs) and Shinard Bunch (2-1, 2 KOs) battled through a six round bout. The two men put on a display of speed throughout the opening frame of the contest in front of a crowd that roared with approval. As the first round ended, the referee had to pull Kroll away from the dogfight that was highlighted by great exchanges of multi-punch combos. In the second round, the two men slowed down the pace of the bout.

Bunch unloaded a three punch combo on Kroll in the third. The fourth round kicked off with a exchange of big shots near the center of the ring. Later in this round, Kroll put the pedal to the metal as he aggressively nailed Bunch with a series of multi-punch combos to the head and body, shots that made Bunch slump into the ropes. At this point of the fight, the advantage was seized by Kroll who landed big shots that were responded to by Bunch clinches and wrap-ups. This was especially the case in the fifth round when Kroll connected with a right hook to Bunch's head. Seconds later, Kroll tee'd off on Bunch with a series of shots, but Bunch managed to dance out of the trap on shaky legs. 

In the sixth round, Kroll went into knockout mode chasing Bunch around the ring and swinging wildly at his opponent, missing more than connecting. To the crowd's dismay, Bunch, clearly beat up from rounds of taking damage, managed to stay on his feet. Referee Gary Rosato had to pull Kroll off of Bunch as the bell marking the end of the round rang. The judges scored the bout 58-56 twice and 59-55 for Kroll. 

Conto Sweeps "Game" Del Rio 

Philadelphia's Sonny Conto (4-0, 3 KOs) defeated a tough opponent in Mexico's Guillermo Del Rio (2-3-1, 2 KOs) to the hometown crowd's delight on Saturday night. Conto went on the attack early in the first of this four rounder as he punished Del Rio with straight left and right hands to the head and body. Del Rio was rocked with a big overhand right to the head in the final 30 seconds of the first round, but showed his grit by staying on his feet and surviving the opening the frame. Conto had to deal with Del Rio's clinching and wrapping throughout the second round. As the round neared its end, this strategy turned into wild swinging at Conto that failed to hit its mark. A Conto left hook made Del Rio drop into the ropes, but the Mexican heavyweight again made it to the end of the round.

Sonny landed shots at will on Del Rio in the third which appeared to have a damaging effect on him. Again, to the frustration of Conto and the audience, Del Rio's body did not hit the canvas. The crowd roared "Sonny! Sonny!" in the final round as the Philly heavyweight clubbed Del Rio. Del Rio deaf to the chants of the Liacouras Center, valiantly fought on. As the round neared its end, Conto finally sent Del Rio crashing to the canvas with a left hand to the head. Del Rio, on wobbly legs, pulled himself up for the unanimous decision defeat. All three judges scored the bout 40-35 for the heavyweight prospect Conto.

Smith Dominates Abdullah in Six 

Philly's Donald Smith (10-0, 6 KOs) won his tenth fight as a professional over Colorado's Raheem Abdullah (3-3). Smith controlled the momentum of the featherweight contest throughout the bout, and answered all of Abdullah's attacks with effective multi-punch combos of his own. Smith closed out his dominant performance by hammering Abdullah with right hands to the body as the fight came to a conclusion. The judges scored the fight 59-53 twice and 60-52 for Smith.

Adorno Wins by Kayo

Jeremy Adorno (2-0, 1 KO) defeated Fernando Robles (2-2) by knockout victory in a super bantamweight bout that was scheduled for four rounds. The knockout shot came at the 2:01 mark of the third round when Adorno dropped Robles with a right hook to the body.

Support The Weigh-In: Your Home for Combat Sports by Shopping World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Products!

Top Rank Boxing Featuring Bryant Jennings vs. Alexander Dimitrenko Recap

Top Rank boxing returned to New Jersey's entertainment capital last night, as a heavyweight bout between Bryant Jennings and Alexander Dimitrenko headlined an eight bout card at the Ocean Resort Casino.

The Main Event 

Bryant Jennings (24-2, 14 KOs) defeated Alexander Dimitrenko (41-4, 26 KOs) by way of ninth round technical knockout. The two men squared off for the IBF International and NABO Heavyweight Titles. In the early rounds, Jennings appeared to have problems adjusting to Dimitrenko's 6'7 frame.

In the opening round, Dimitrenko was the far more active fighter. In the second and third rounds, Dimitrenko punished Jennings with big right hands to the body. Jennings responded to one of these shots in the third round by shoving Dimitrenko into the red corner. Jennings backed his opponent up in the third with his jab, landing several shots to Dimitrenko's head.

In the fourth round, Jennings was knocked down with a big Dimitrenko right hand to the head. The fifth round was competitive, and saw both men land big shots that each fighter responded to with clinches.

As the seventh round approached its end, the two fighters exchanged good shots in the center of the ring. Jennings and Dimitrenko were back at it in the eighth round, as they traded big shots in the opening seconds of the round. Later in the round, Jennings knocked Dimitrenko down with a big left hand to the head. Dimitrenko recovered from this knockdown only to be sent to the canvas again during the round with what appeared to be more of a wrestling move than a punch. The veteran Russian heavyweight survived the round despite Jennings throwing everything at Dimitrenko besides the kitchen sink.

In the ninth round, Jennings finished off Dimitrenko with a right uppercut to the jaw. To the crowd's delight, which included boxing royalty Bernard Hopkins and Lennox Lewis, the referee stopped the bout at the 1:56 mark of the ninth round. Jennings has now won five straight fights.

The Co-Main Event 

The co-main event of the card featured super middleweights, Jesse Hart (25-1, 21 KOs) and Mike Gavronski (24-3-1, 15 KOs). Hart, who defended his NABF Title, landed two big right hands to Gavronski's head in the opening frame. These shots appeared to hurt the fighter, who was later forced to clinch Hart, holding on for dear life, as the Philadelphian continued to hammer him with multi-punch combos as the round neared its end.

In the second round, Hart clubbed Gavronski with straight left hands and left hooks, forcing Gavronski to enter survival mode. In the final ten seconds of this round, Hart unleashed a barrage of punches that connected with his opponent's head and body.

Gavronski was knocked down in the third round with a right hand off of a jab. Gavronski pulled himself up from the canvas only to be finished off moments later with a brutal combo, highlighted by a hard right hand to the head. The referee stopped the fight at the 52 second mark of the third round. In the post fight interviews, Hart told ESPN that he wants a rematch with Gilberto Ramirez, the fighter who dealt Hart his one and only career loss.

Shakur Stevenson Victorious 

2016 Olympic Silver Medalist, Shakur Stevenson (8-0, 4 KOs) defeated Carlos Ruiz (16-5-2, 6 KOs) by unanimous decision in an eight round, featherweight contest. Stevenson fought cautiously in the opening stanza. In the second round, the Newark native caught Ruiz with a left hand that got his opponent's attention. Ruiz showed his toughness and solid chin by taking a big left hand to the head. Stevenson snapped the head of Ruiz back with a big left hand in the final 30 seconds of the round.

In the fourth round, Stevenson nailed Ruiz with a left to the head, the sound of which echoed through the arena. Stevenson controlled the tempo of the fifth through seventh rounds, doing enough to win the rounds.

In the eighth and final round, Ruiz, who realized he was behind on the cards, decided to put his foot on the gas offensively in the final minute of the round. This offensive spark proved to be too little, too late as Stevenson won on all three judges' scorecards by a score of 80-72.

Carto Wins #16 

Local fan favorite, Christian Carto (16-0, 11 KOs) entered the ring for his sixteenth professional bout to the roar of the crowd. Philadelphia's Carto fought Mexico's Javier Gallo (25-16-1, 13 KOs) in an eight round, bantamweight bout. Carto, who had the clear height and speed advantage, controlled the early rounds of the contest.

In the fourth round, Carto punished Gallo with a series of big punches, but the veteran kept fighting back. Carto connected with a big right to Gallo's head in the fifth round. Gallo's face showed the damage from the battle through five rounds. Both men exchanged big shots with one another in the sixth round. Carto controlled the final two rounds by landing bigger shots and being far more active than his opponent. The judges scored the bout 80-71, 80-72, and 79-73 for the winner by unanimous decision, Christian Carto.

LaManna Defeats Strode 

Thomas LaManna (26-2-1, 9 KOs) defeated Matthew Strode (25-6, 9 KOs) by unanimous decision in an eight round, super welterweight contest. In the first round, Strode landed a series of low blows on the Pride of Millville, New Jersey. Strode was the far more aggressive fighter in the first round as he attempted to lure LaManna into a brawl. LaManna came alive in the second round with a big multi-punch combo that was highlighted with a right hand to the head.

Strode pinned LaManna up against the ropes in the opening seconds of the third round, but LaManna, utilizing his speed, took control of the round. In the fourth round, LaManna snapped Strode's head back with a big right hand. LaManna broke down Strode in the fifth round, when the South Carolina native threw his hands up in disgust towards what he perceived as repeated low blows by LaManna. LaManna took advantage of his opponent's loss of focus by landing several shots to Strode's head that caused the fighter to stumble back to his corner as the round ended.

Strode continued to complain to the referee through the sixth and seventh rounds as LaManna cruised towards victory. In the eighth round, Strode was deducted a point for rabbit punches. During this round, Strode's corner, realizing their fighter was behind on the cards, yelled for him to "dig deep." Strode failed to do so as he lost on all three judges' scorecards by a score of 79-71.

Adorno Makes Quick Work of Mauras

By the end of his bout on Saturday night, Agustine Mauras (6-5-3, 3 KOs) looked like he didn't know what hit him. In the six round bout in the lightweight division, Allentown, Pennsylvania prospect, Joseph Adorno (9-0, 9 KOs) destroyed his opponent via a first round technical knockout. Mauras was sent crashing to the canvas after Adorno viciously beat his opponent with a series of big shots to the head and body. Mauras recovered from the knockdown only to be beaten up against the ropes with a barrage of punches. The referee saw enough of the massacre at the 1:39 mark of the opening round.

The Opening Bout 

Toronto's Oleksandr Teslenko (14-0, 11 KOs) defeated Avery Gibson (9-9-4, 3 KOs) in a six round, heavyweight contest. Gibson was down in the first round from a Teslenko multi-punch combo. The judges scored the bout 58-55, 59-54, and 60-53 for Teslenko.

The Bout No One Should Have Missed

To describe the lightweight bout between Jason Sosa (21-3-4, 15 KOs) and Reynaldo Blanco (14-5, 8 KOs) as a "battle" would be an understatement. In the walkout bout, both fighters left everything in the ring after eight rounds of action. The high quality of this bout can also be accredited to the Hall of Fame matchmaking of J. Russell Peltz.

Sosa went on the attack as soon as the opening bell rang. He connected with an overhand right that stunned Blanco, and opened the door for the Camden native to hunt for a knockout in the opening frame. To Blanco's credit, the tough fighter stayed on his feet and survived the round. Blanco, who was shaken up in the first round, got his second wind in the second round. The two men fought aggressively all the way up to the bell marking the end of the third round, forcing the referee to pull the two warriors apart.

In the fourth round, Sosa unloaded a multi-punch combo on Blanco in the blue corner, forcing the Puerto Rican to clinch Sosa to stay on his feet. Blanco was later deducted a point in this round. As the round neared its end, Blanco unloaded on Sosa with big uppercuts. Sosa, shaken up from the shots, battled back valiantly as the round ended. The two men went on to have a competitive and entertaining fifth round, in which both men beat the crap out of one another. By the sixth round, Blanco's face showed the damage of five violent rounds.

A Blanco low blow in the seventh round temporarily stopped the action. Sosa recovered from the low blow and went on the attack, pushing Blanco into the ropes with a series of big shots. In the final round, Sosa knocked Blanco down with a right hand to the head. Blanco recovered from the knockdown, but found himself swarmed by Sosa, who by this point of the brawl, was looking to end his evening a little early. Sosa secured a second knockdown in the round just as the final bell rang, but Blanco again recovered from the knockdown. The judges scored the bout 78-70, 77-72, and 79-69 in favor of Sosa.

MW

Fighter Stats provided by BoxStat.co

December 1st, Philadelphia

Speaking of the future, on Friday, December 1st, two fight cards took place in Philadelphia at the same time, one at the 2300 Arena and the other at the SugarHouse Casino.  Both cards featured current, local talent pushing towards title contention level as well as young prospects. Honestly, there was some discussion that the shows may hurt each other. However, this was far from the truth since both cards played to sold out, standing room only crowds, a testament to the matchmaking and promotional skills of both Hard Hitting and King’s Promotions.

Philadelphia is rich with talent on both of the aforementioned levels. Fighters like Ray Serrano and Joey Dawejko, who train in Los Angeles at the Wild Card Gym, continue to try and reinsert their names among the welterweight and heavyweight contender discussion, a status that after Serrano's last victory in Atlantic City and Dawejko's win at the SugarHouse seems to be just around the corner.

Welterweight Jaron "Boots" Ennis continues as a super prospect that is as active as any young fighter in the world. It seems like we are getting closer to the types of fights that may ask real questions from this super talent. Christian Carto, who is also a supreme prospect at bantamweight, finished his busy 2017 with his second decision victory, after posting his first eleven wins by knockout. His opposition continues to increase in terms of quality as this boxer-puncher continues to mature.  Lightweights Steve Ortiz, T.J. Velasquez, and Damon Allen Jr. are another set of supreme talents.

Hard Hitting Promotions has a young stable of talent with exciting fighters like super lightweights Samuel Teah, Jeremy Cuevas, and Branden Pizarro. Pizarro suffered his first loss at the SugarHouse after a great fight against another prospect Christian Rivera who is signed to Cotto Promotions. Despite the loss, Pizarro has the sky as his limit in terms of talent and desire. It will be fun to watch his return and future.

Of course there is the level of fighters like Jason Sosa, welterweight Ray Robinson (most ignored boxer in the sport), and Tevin Farmer. Farmer challenges for the vacant IBF Super Lightweight Championship this Saturday on HBO. These are fighters who are at the level that all of the aforementioned names and I'm sure I missed a few who are trying to reach for stardom. Jesse Hart will also return soon and be back in discussions for another super middleweight title shot.  

It is going to be my pleasure to continue to follow all of these local fighters. Some as they continue their progression from local fan favorite into serious contender and eventual world champion. Others as they continue to try and break through the tough ceiling in the sport, and gain opportunities to display their talents in front of the world. For that I have to say thank you to Miguel Cotto for not just the memories, but for the opportunity to be part of the sport, which will allow me to follow these talents up close and personal.                                

-Luis A. Cortes III

Support your healthy lifestyle and The Weigh-In by shopping Bulletproof products! CLICK below for more information -

Jason Sosa Reacts to his 11/25 Defeat to Yuriorkis Gamboa (Interview)

Luis Cortes caught up with Camden super featherweight, Jason Sosa (20-3-4, 15 KOs) just days after his controversial majority decision defeat to Yuriorkis Gamboa (28-2, 17 KOs) at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Check out their Bonus Round interview on SoundCloud and iTunes:

Bonus Round - Jason Sosa Reacts to his 11/25 Defeat to Yuriorkis Gamboa on SoundCloud 

Bonus Round - Jason Sosa Reacts to his 11/25 Defeat to Yuriorkis Gamboa on iTunes

-Luis A. Cortes III

Support your healthy lifestyle and The Weigh-In Boxing Blog and Podcast by shopping Bulletproof products! CLICK below for more information - 

Kovalev Destroys Shabranskyy to Regain Championship

Barrera wins clear decision in a grueling fight and Gamboa gets decision over Sosa

Sergey Kovalev started out with a fast pace by throwing straight punches that made Vyacheslav Shabranskyy's face red. Shabranskyy landed a nice jab that pushed Kovalev back, but ever the veteran and more experienced fighter. Kovalev patiently set up an over hand right that floored Shabranskyy.  Although Shabranskyy was able to get back to his feet, he was dropped again by a combination from Kovalev.

Shabranskyy was clearly dazed and confused even as the two fighters came out for the second round. Kovalev showed a new wrinkle in his arsenal by establishing a hard jab to the body of Shabranskyy.

This once again opened up the upstairs straight shots that were crisp and crushing as they bounced off his foes skull and chin. Shabranskyy went down from the onslaught of punches and was also clearly hurt. The end was near as Kovalev closed in to end the night.

Another combination which started with an over hand right was the end. The fight was rightly stopped at the 2:33 mark of the second round when Kovalev landed one more combination.  With the victory Kovalev regained the WBO championship and stated that he is looking for big fights to clear out the division.

In the co-feature, Sullivan Barrera outboxed Felix Valera to a unanimous decision (98-88, 97-90, 97-89) victory to solidify his contention for a light heavyweight title shot.

Barrera, 21-1 (14), may have ended up winning on the cards convincingly, but there was a hurdle in the opening round. A left hand from Valera sent Barrera on his back midway through the first, leaving a gasp for those rooting for the Cuban defector in a fight he was matched to win. Once getting up, however, it seemed as though the 35-year old woke up and he ended up repaying Valera with a knockdown of his own by round's end.

Valera, 15-2 (13), who couldn't hide his emotions during a tearful ring walk, wore his emotions on his sleeve for the entire fight, and his gutsiness to try and produce a game changing shot created some intense exchanges in the second. Barrera ended up with a small cut above the left eye in the second, but low blows starting in the third were having a more serious effect on the fight. Valera continued to stray low throughout the rest of the fight, and referee Michael Ortega deducted a point from him on three separate occasions in rounds three, six, and eight. Meanwhile, Barrera was outboxing Valera with creative combinations that always ended with the cleanest punch to either the head or body of Valera. Eventually, Barrera strayed low himself and was deducted a point from Ortega in the final round, but the fight was way out of his grasp by then.

With the victory, Barrera remains a number one contender in the eyes of the WBA, and a mandotory shot with their light heavyweight title holder - Dmitry Bivol - is imminent.

Yuriorkis Gamboa (28-2, 17 KO's) was content to hold and try to land pot shot combinations in order to score and avoid exchanges where the heavier punching Jason Sosa (20-3-4, 15 KO's) could land combinations. It worked throughout the course of the fight, because despite being dropped and having a point taken away for excessive holding, Gamboa was awarded a ten round unanimous decision.  

The action started out slowly as both fighters continued to try and figure their foe out while trying to establish their game plan. Sosa pressed forward, while Gamboa used lateral movement in order to make Sosa reach and miss at times. Once Sosa was able to establish his jab, he consistently pushed Gamboa back and forced him to return to retreating. Several times Sosa was able to land a hard punch that seemed to have Gamboa visibly shaky at moments. His glove even touched the canvas, but both times that occurred it was ruled a slip.

That was until the seventh round when Sosa caught Gamboa and this time his gloves touching was ruled properly as a knockdown. Both fighters were determined to impose their will as the fight moved towards the final rounds. Gamboa was deducted a point during the final round for his holding and both fighters fought hard to finish out the fight. After all ten rounds one judge scored the fight 94-94 a draw, while the other two judges scored the fight 96-92 and 95-93 in favor of Gamboa.

Bakhram Murtazalien (11-0, 9 KO's) stopped Carlos Galvan (16-6-1, 15 KO's) in the fifth round after blitzing Galvan from the start. Both fighters were throwing powerful shots, however it was the better technique of Murtazalien that let his punches land first during their exchanges. Galvan was hurt to start the fifth and the referee stopped the contest after he was dropped mid way through the round.

Brooklyn native Frank Galarza (18-2-2)(11 KO's) had a tough test in going eight back and forth rounds with Jaime Herrera (15-5-1)(8 KO's). Galarza came out the fresher of the two fighters to start and was feeding off of the crowd, which had a large section of supporters. After both fighters exchanged and provided constant action throughout the eight rounds. Galarza benefited from the better experience in earning the unanimous decision by the scores of 80-72, 79-73, 80-72. With the victory Galarza could be back in the running for a bigger fight with one or two wins.

Middleweight Eric Moon (7-1, 6 KO's) succumbed to Meiirim Nursultanov (5-0, 4 KO's) of Kazakhstan 's best GGG impression. Nursultanov is clearly a prospect with power in both hands and a calm stalking style behind a technical jab. Moon was stopped while getting pummeled on the ropes at 1:54 of the second round.  

LeShawn Rodriguez (8-0, 7 KO's) looked good against Alex Duarte (7-3, 5 KO's). Using his jab to land thudding body shots that dropped Duarte in the second. Continued body work with a right hook upstairs ended the fight at 1:48 of the third round.

Enriko Gogokhia (6-0, 3 KO's) did his best Lomachenko impression by out boxing, hurting and dropping Jose Abreu (13-3, 8 KO's), during his dominate six round decision. Scores were 60-53 and 59-54 twice.

Ismael Villarreal (1-0) of the Bronx defeated Race Sawyer (0-5) by four round unanimous decision 40-35, and 40-36 twice in his pro debut.  

- Luis A. Cortes III

Support your healthy lifestyle and The Weigh-In Boxing Blog and Podcast by shopping Bulletproof products! CLICK below for more information - 

Jason Sosa Interview

Luis Cortes caught up with super featherweight, Jason Sosa (20-2-4, 15 KOs), leading up to his November 25, 2017 bout against Yuriorkis Gamboa (27-2, 17 KOs) at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York City. This fight is part of the Sergey Kovalev vs. Vyacheslav Shabranskyy, WBO Light Heavyweight Title fight card that will air on HBO.

Check out their Bonus Round interview on both SoundCloud and iTunes:

Bonus Round - Jason Sosa Interview with Luis Cortes on SoundCloud

Bonus Round - Jason Sosa Interview with Luis Cortes on iTunes

For more information on Jason Sosa and the November 25th bout at MSG, please check out the following sites:

Jason Sosa's BoxRec Page

Main Events Official Website

- Luis A. Cortes III

Support your healthy lifestyle and The Weigh-In Boxing Blog and Podcast by shopping Bulletproof products! CLICK below for more information -