Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna and Gabriel Bracero Draw at AC Saturday

By: Ken Hissner

Rising Star Promotions made their debut at the larger Showboat Hotel in Atlantic City Saturday night. Their President is Debra LaManna and their matchmaker is IBHOF promoter and matchmaker J Russell Peltz.

In the Main Event Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna, 25-2-1 (9), of Millville, NJ, defended his WBC FECARBOX Welterweight title for the second time against tough Gabriel “Tito” Bracero, 24-3-1 (5), of Brooklyn, NY, ending in a 10 round split decision draw.

In the first round Bracero got inside the much taller LaManna who used his reach to jab back. In the second round LaManna continued to be the aggressor following Bracero around the ring. The round had little action. In the third round LaManna was warned by Referee Esteves for a low blow. LaMann landed a lead right to the chin of Bracero. Bracero came back with a combination to the head of LaManna. Bracero makes LaManna miss quite a bit though the aggressor.

In the fourth round Bracero lands a short left hook to the chin of LaManna and they clash heads. Bracero counters a jab from LaManna with a combination to the head. LaManna landed his best punch of the fight with a solid lead straight right to the chin of Bracero rocking him. In the fifth round LaManna lands a jab and gets countered with a left hook from Bracero. LaManna’s lands a double jab while Bracero counters with a combination to the body. LaManna lands a hard right to the chin of Bracero. Bracero lands a 3-punch combination. Both fighters go to the body at the bell and have words.

In the sixth round LaManna misses a jab and Bracero gets inside with three body shots. LaManna lands a left hook to the chin of Bracero. Bracero is standing his ground in the middle of the ring. LaManna lands a left to the body and Bracero counters with a left hook of his own to the body. The shorter Bracero lands a pair of snapping jabs to the chin of LaManna and follows up with a pair of body shots.

In the seventh round LaManna lands a double jab. Bracero lands a combination to the body and head of LaManna. Bracero. This continues. In the eighth round LaManna lands a hard right to othe head of Bracero. Bracero counters a LaManna jab with a solid left hook to the chin. LaManna comes back with a right of his own. Bracero rocks LaManna with a left hook to the chin.

In the ninth round Bracero becomes the aggressor landing a left hook to the chin of LaManna. Bracero drives LaManna into the corner with a combination to the head. Bracero drives LaManna into the ropes with a combination to the head. In the tenth and final round LaManna lands a left hook to the chin of Bracero. LaManna counters with a hard right to the chin of Bracero. LaManna lands the final punch a right to the chin of Bracero.

Judge Joe Pasquale had it 98-92 for LaManna, Pierre Benoist 97-93 for Bracero and Lawrence Layton 95-95. This writer had it 98-92 Bracero. Both had words afterwards to ring commentator Paulie Malignaggi about a rematch. Paulie holds a win over Bracero.

Cruiserweight Larry “The Hit Man” Pryor, 10-17 (5), of Washington, DC, lost to Alvin “Iron Magic” Varmall, Jr., 15-0-1 (12), of Catskill, NY, over 6 rounds.

In the first round Varmall in with head down throwing punches to the body of the taller Pryor. In the second round Pryor drives Varmall across the ring. Varmall comes back with body work. A wicked overhand right on the chin dropping Pryor who beat the count of Referee Murdaugh and got through the round. In the third round Varmall came out with uppercuts and wild overhand punches to the head. Pryor landed a lead right to the chin of Varmall. Varmall continues to work the body breaking down Pryor.

In the fourth round Varmall inside landed a pair of left hooks to the head of Pryor. Pryor came back with a solid left hook backing up Varmall. In the fifth round Pryor put Varmall against the ropes with four unanswered punches. Varmall came back with a left hook and right uppercut to the chin of Pryor. Pryor landed a pair of lead rights to the head of Varmall.

In the sixth and final round Varmall went for the knockout but Pryor would have nothing of it taking Varmall the distance.

Judges Layton and Benoist scored it 60-54 and Pasquale 59-55 with this writer having it 60-54.

The eleventh and final bout had southpaw Middleweight Omar Kabary “They Egyptian Magician” Salem, 2-0 (0), of Brooklyn, NY, shut out Leon DeShields, 0-3 (0), of Philadelphia, PA, over 4 rounds.

In the first round it was all Salem until DeShields landed a straight lead right to the chin of Salem. Salem continued throwing all the punches with DeShields in defensive mode. In the second round Salem rocked DeShields with a left to the head. Salem was warned for a low blow by Referee Dali. Salem countered a DeShields right with a left of his own to the chin. In the third round Salem landed a right uppercut to the chin of DeShields was looking to survive. In the fourth and final round DeShields landed a straight right to the chin of and was countered with a right to the chin.

All three judges Pasquale, Layton and Benoist had it 40-36 as did this writer.

Middleweight Robert Terry, 1-0 (0), of Jersey City, NJ, won his debut shutting out Corey Weekley, 0-1 (0), of Philadelphia, PA, over 4 rounds. Referee was Dali.

All three Judges Pasquale, Benoist and Layton had it 40-36 as did this writer.

This one started “after midnight” of a 11 bout fight card with a half hour intermission Middleweight Corey Weekley, 0-1 (0), of Philadelphia, PA, was shut out by Robert Terry, 1-0 (0), of Jersey City, NJ, over 4 rounds.

For two rounds Terry chased and battered Weekley. In the third round

In the first round Terry chased Weekley scoring at will until the ten second warning when Weekly landed his first punch a right to the chin. In the second round and third rounds it was Terry all over Weekley but couldn’t drop him after chasing him down. In the fourth and final round Terry still couldn’t put away Terry winning every round.

Heavyweight Darius Taylor, 0-3 (0), of Wilson, NC, was brought in as a sacrificial lamb for 40 year-old body builder Mike Rashid King, 1-0 (1), of Tucson, AZ, who won in 0:59 of the first round.

In the first round King lands a wild left hook. A right hand from King and Taylor took a knee and quit. Even the winner was disgusted with the set-up opponent.

Junior Lightweight southpaw Andrew “Sweet Pea” Bentley, 3-3 (0), of Jersey City, NJ, was shut out by southpaw Donald “No Love” Smith, 5-0 (3), of Philadelphia, PA, over 4 rounds.

In the first round with a pair of southpaws Smith used an effective jab on Bentley’s chin. Bentley came back with a lead left to the chin of Smith. In the second round Bentley rocked Smith with a lead left to the chin. Smith came back with an overhand left to the chin of Bentley. Smith was warned by Referee Esteves for hitting behind the head in a clinch. In the third round Smith tossed Bentley to the canvas and got a warning from Referee Esteves. Shortly later Smith got another warning from Referee Esteves. Smith landed a good combination to the chin of Bentley. Smith ended the round with a lead left to the chin of Bentley. In the fourth and final round Smith caught Bentley with a left uppercut to the chin. The round was full of clinches on both parts of the boxers.

Judge’s Pasquale, Layton and Benoist had it 40-36 as did this writer.

Light Heavyweight southpaw Frederic “The Soul” Julan, of Paris, FR and Brooklyn, NY, 9-0 (7), won a lopsided stoppage over Edgar “The Boxing Swag” Perez, 7-24 (3), of Erie, PA, at the end of the third.

In the first round Julan landed punch after punch to the obvious out of shape Perez. In the second round Perez kept his hands held high leaving his mid-section wide open as Julan had target practice to the body. In the third round it was more of the same. This was a mismatch before the fight started Down went Perez from a left to the body followed by a right to the head. In the third round Perez had a bloody nose from a fight that should have been stopped by Referee Murdaugh. The corner of Perez finally wouldn’t let him out for the fourth round.

Junior Welterweight Laquan “Lightning” Lewis, 2-9 (2), of Brooklyn, NY, was stopped at 0:33 of the fourth and final round by Osnel “Prince” Charles, 12-18-1 (1), of Atlantic City, NJ.

In the first round Charles was chasing but was caught several times with punches from Lewis. In the second round Charles landed an overhand right to the chin of Lewis dropping him. Referee Dali administered the 8 count. Lewis got up and went after Charles. Charles landed a combination hurting Lewis. Lewis came back to land a right dropping Charles. In the third round Lewis landed a low blow giving Charles a minute to re-coop. Charles landed an overhand lead right to the chin of Lewis. In the fourth and final round Charles went on the attack having Lewis out on his feet when Referee Dali called a halt.

Welterweight southpaw Tommy “The Razor” Rainone, 26-8-3 (6), of Farmingdale, NY, was held to a disputed draw with Eduardo “El Cheito” Flores, 23-29-4 (14), over 8 rounds.

In the first round Flores was the aggressor but was being countered by a Rainone jab and an occasional left uppercut. In the second round referee Dali warned Flores for dirty tactics but he continued it. In the third round Rainone landed a solid lead left to the chin of Flores as he came rushing in. Flores continued hitting Rainone in the back with another warning from referee Dali. In the fourth round Rainone rocked Flores with a solid left to the chin. Flores kept missing for the most part when he wasn’t fouling.

In the fifth round Rainone landed several lead uppercuts as Flores was quite frustrated not able to land anything solid. In the sixth round Rainone moves away picking Flores apart with his jab. Rainone landed a triple jab to the chin of Flores who keeps talking and catching lead lefts to the chin by Rainone. In the seventh round Rainone continues using his feet to stay out of danger while Flores is hitting “air!” Referee Dali gives him yet another warning without taking a point away. In the eighth and final round Referee Dali warns Flores for hitting behind the head for the umpteenth time. In the final minute of the fight Flores and Rainone exchange punches as Flores continues to make a fool of himself.

Judge Pasquale somehow gave it to Flores 78-74 while Layton had it 77-75 for Rainone while Benoist scored it 76-76. This writer had it 80-72 Rainone. “I thought I won the first 6 rounds and gave away the last two,” said Rainone.

Welterweight Steve Moore, 0-3 (0), of Orange, NJ, lost to southpaw Ernesto “Tito” Perez, 1-0 (0), of Vineland, NJ, over 4 rounds.

In the first round there was little to choose from but Perez forced the action. In the second round it was more of the same until Perez rocked Moore in the final minute with an overhand left to the chin. In the third round both fighters mixed it up well with little to choose from who won the round. In the fourth and final round Perez was nailing Moore with lead overhand rights for the most part of the round though Moore was otherwise having his best round but not good enough.

Judge’s Pasquale and Layton had it 39-37 while Benoist had it 40-36 as did this writer.

Welterweight Jahmal Dyer, 4-1- (2), of Baltimore, MD, was stopped by Venderley Miranda, 1-3 (0) Marselle, FR, at 2:14 of the fourth and final round. Benjey Esteves, Jr. was the referee.