by Eric Duran
ESPN Friday Night Fights this week were live the Paramount Theater in Huntington, NY. Joe DeGardia and Star Promotions put together a good mixture of prospects, veterans and up and comers for fight fans.
Jr. Welterweight prospect Cletus Seldin stopped Johnny Garcia in the fifth round of the main event of ESPN’s Friday Night Fights. Although a rising prospect, Seldin isn’t much after his power. He had the perfect opponent in front of him as Garcia was tailor-made for a power-punching fighter. Garcia showed little head movement as he tired, trading power shots the big-punching Seldin.
Prospects Daniel Gonzalez and Ken Alvarez battled over six exciting rounds. It was a back-and-forth fight but two knockdowns from Gonzalez sealed the deal on the scorecards as Gonzales remains undefeated.
In the opening bout of the night, Philadelphian Raymond Serrano decisioned Jeremy Bryan over 10 rounds. It was a fight that saw two knockdowns but relatively little action throughout.
Cletus Seldin vs Johnny Garcia
Seldin overcomes a shaky start, starches Garcia.
Garcia looks to take away the hometown crowd of Seldin early in round one. Garcia is pressuring and stalking Seldin along the ropes. Seldin is finding is footing and losing the nerves caused from the bright lights. Seldin catches him with a right hook at the end of round one.
Both fighters are trying to land big right hands at the start of round two. Seldin slips and catches Garcia with a overhand right. Solid round for Seldin as he continues to catch Garcia with overhand rights.
Seldin catches Garcia with another right hand. Garcia is game as he continues to bring the fight to Seldin. Good action in round three as both fighters looking to establish the upper hand in the fight. Seldin with some dirty tactics on the inside during round three.
Seldin pumping the jab in round four. Nice overhand right by Seldin rocks Garcia. Seldin with a big left hooks as Garcia wobbles around the ring. Seldin picking up steam as Garcia is fading.
A big right hand from Seldin crushes Garcia but somehow, Garcia stays on his feet. It’s target practice for Seldin in round five. The referee stops the bout at 2:29 of the round.
Seldin improves to 16-0, 13 KOs while Garcia drops to 19-3-1, 11 KOs.
Daniel Gonzalez vs Ken Alvarez
Gonzalez overcomes a cut and slow start to down Alvarez over six, competitive rounds in the Jr. Welterweight division.
Alvarez with a sweeping right hook to the body. Alvarez is banging away at the body here in round one. Gonzalez catches Alvarez with a left hook. Good action in round one as both fighters are eager to exchange combinations. Gonzalez wobbles Alvarez with a chopping right hand near the end of the round.
Alvarez lands a nice uppercut during an exchange. Gonzalez is coming forward with combinations but Alvarez is catching him with clean counters. A cut over the right eye of Gonzalez has opened. Solid action as Gonzalez catches Alvarez with straight right hand to end round two.
Good back and forth action from these Jr. welterweight prospects action in round three. Gonzalez pressing the action along the ropes. Alvarez seems to have lost some steam as Gonzalez steps on the gas to end round three.
Gonzalez continuing to walk down Alvarez in the later rounds of this scheduled six-rounder. Alvarez still doing some good counter-punching but not with the activity he did on the early rounds. Gonzalez drops Alvarez with a left hook during a exchange. Both fighters exchanging bombs as round four comes to an end.
Round five hasn’t been as exciting as the previous four rounds. Alvarez seems tired as Gonzalez tags him a left hook at the end of the round.
It’s a close contest as the fight heads to the sixth and final round. A phone booth battle breaks out as both fighters are trying to make a statement. A counter right hook from Gonzalez drops Alvarez for the second time in the fight.
The judges score the bout, 59-53, 58-54 (twice) for the winner by unanimous decision, Daniel Gonzalez.
Gonzalez improves to 8-0-1 (3 KOs) while Alvarez drops to 6-1-2 (3 KOs).
Raymond Serrano vs Jeremy Bryan
Serrano outclasses Bryan over 10 rounds. Both fighters score knockdowns in a snooze fest.
Serrano lands a strong left hook to start the action. Serrano looking to land one big punch, not much action in round one.
Bryan is jabbing while Serrano is still loading up on his punches. Bryan catches Serrano with a short shot on the inside causing Serrano to fall off balance into the ropes. Bryan ends round two with a stiff jab.
A whole lot posturing and feinting to begin round three. Serrano catches Bryan with a left hook leaning in. Serrano is starting to establish a strong jab in round three. Bryan drops Serrano with a picture perfect 1-2 at bell to end the round.
Bryan is gaining confidence in round four, turning Serrano around on the inside. Serrano is still trying to land one punch and one punch only. Bryan doesn’t capitalize on a big third round.
Serrano connects with a straight right hand behind two jabs. The fighters trade right hands on the inside. Serrano wobbles Bryan with a overhand right, dropping him with a follow up left hook at the end of round five.
Bryan is fighting cautious in round six, catching Serrano walking in. A clash of heads brings blood from the left side of Serrano’s forehead. Both fighters are throwing combinations but leaving their punches well short of the target.
Serrano with an accidental low blow to open round seven. Serrano sends Bryan’s mouthpiece flying in the crowd with a sweeping left hook. Bryan with a straight right hand to end the round.
Bryan coming forward as Serrano tries to catch him with a counter left hook. Serrano keeping a lot of space between him and Bryan, leaping to catch Bryan. Serrano counters Bryan with a left hook to end round eight.
Bryan is being more aggressive in round nine, maybe sensing he is down on the scorecards. Another accidental low blow by Serrano.
Bryan fighting urgently, but it may be to late as Serrano catches him a straight right hand. The fighters trade straight right hands towards the end of the final round.
John McKay scores the bout 94-94. He is overruled by judges Dontrella and Feldman with scores 97-91 and 96-92 for the winner by spilt decision, Raymond Serrano.
Serrano improves to 21-2 (9 KOs) while Bryan drops to 17-6 (7 KOs).