By: Ken Hissner
Rising Star Promotions returned once again to the Claridge Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, NJ, with an 11 bout card featuring their headliner Millville, NJ, Welterweight Thomas “Cornflake” Lamanna.
In the Main Event welterweight Thomas “Cornflake” Lamanna, 24-2 (9), of Millville, NJ, defeated George “El Terrible” Sosa, 15-10 (15), of Reading, PA, for the WBC Silver Latino Welterweight title. He immediately announced his retirement from boxing afterwards with a tear restrained short speech. His parents were in the ring to support him. It was a shock to many I’m sure as it was to this writer.
In the first round Sosa landed half a dozen unanswered punches having Lamanna against the ropes. Lamanna used an effective jab. Sosa landed a left hook to the chin of Lamanna getting his attention. In the second round Sosa continues landing punches without return until Lamanna lands a solid right hand causing swelling under the left eye of Sosa. In the third round a power punching right from Lamanna on the chin rocked Sosa. In the fourth it was a big round for Lamanna and the fifth he drew blood from the nose of Sosa.
In the sixth Lamanna scored a pair of knockdowns starting with a left hook to the body. This was followed by another body shot from a right for the second knockdown. In the seventh through the ninth Sosa fought in spurts looking to go the distance possibly but still dangerous. In the tenth and final round Lamanna he would hurt Sosa once.
Judge’s scores were Pierre Benoit 99-88, Ron McNair 98-90 along with Joe Pasquale and this writer.
“I went to the body and kept my distance and this will be my last fight,” said Lamanna.
In the co-feature former the IBF Cruiserweight champion Imamu Mayfield, 26-10-3 (19), of Perth Amboy, NJ, and Lamont “Too Smooth” Capers, 7-10-3 (0), of Mt. Pocono, PA, ended in a draw.
The first 2 rounds were sloppy on both parts and by the end of the second round Mayfield had swelling under his left eye. In the third and fourth rounds the lack of accuracy continued in an evenly fought bout.
In the fifth round Capers suffered a cut by his left eye. Mayfield used an effective jab. In the sixth round it was Mayfield who suffered a cut by his left eye. Top cut-man Joey Eye closed the cut quite well. In the seventh and eighth rounds the sloppiness went right to the end.
Judge Lawrence Layton 77-75 Mayfield, James Kinney 77-75 Capers and Henry Grant 76-76 as did this writer.
Welterweight Anthony “Juice” Young, 17-2 (6), of Atlantic City, NJ, Carlos Winston Velasquez, 24-29-2 (14), of Managua, NIC,
Russian welterweight Yurik “Don’t Be Sorry Be Careful” Mamedov, 7-0 (3), of NY, won a decision over southpaw Ariel Vasquez, 13-19-2 (9), of NIC, over 6 rounds.
In the first 2 round’s Mamedov kept coming forward outworking Vasquez. In the third round and fourth rounds the body work of Mamedov is hurting Vasquez. In the fifth round a near exhausted Vasquez takes too many punches than comes back to infrequently. In the sixth and final round
Cruiserweight Alvin “Iron Majik” Varmall, Jr, 13-0-1 (12), of Catskill, NY, stopped late sub Lemarcus “The Freight Train” Tucker, 4-3-1 (2), Forrest City, ARK, at 2:18 of the second round.
In the first round out of that “Mike Tyson” style Varmall took it to taller late sub Tucker. Varmall almost put Tucker through the ropes with a left hook but Tucker came right back with a one-two to the head of Varmall. Varmall ended the round with a good combination and having a big lopsided round. In round two it was Tucker driving Varmall into his own corner landing a flurry of unreturned punches. Varmall came right back rocking Tucker with a left hook to the chin. He instantly jumped on Tucker all but knocking him down into the ropes when referee Alan Huggins wisely jumped in to halt the bout.
Super featherweight Vidal “Suave” Rivera, 7-0 (4), of Camden, NJ, defeated Weusi “The Truth” Johnson, 2-5 (0), of Wilmington, DE, over 4 rounds.
In the first 2 rounds it was close on both parts with jabs controlling and Rivera’s a bit better. In the third round Rivera continued to control. In the fourth and final round Rivera tried ending the show but it never came.
All 3 judge’s Layton, Kinney and Grant along with this writer had it 40-36.
Light heavyweight southpaw Frederick Julian, 6-0 (3), from Paris, FR, now out of Brooklyn, NY, stopped Tahlik “Mayhem” Taylor, 2-8 (1), of Freeport, NY, at 1:15 of the sixth round.
In the first round it was Julian the aggressor controlling with his jab. Just prior to the bell Taylor rocked Julian with a lead right to the chin. In the second round Julian controlled the round with his jab and rocking Taylor near the end of the round with a lead left to the chin. In the third round Taylor takes a combination from Julian and comes right back throwing wild punches from his unorthodox style landing but one.
In the fourth round Julian walks down Taylor who looks like he has ran out of gas. Suddenly out of nowhere Taylor landed a 3-punch combination after taking a beating for most of the round. At the end of the round it was Julian rocking Taylor with a combination to the head. In the fifth round Taylor seemed to take the round off as Julian had his way throughout. In the sixth and final round Taylor’s nose was bleeding. A right hook from Julian rocked Taylor causing referee Ronald Bashir to step in and halt the bout.
Bantamweight from Puerto Rico Manny Rodriguez, 2-0 (0), now out of Newark, NJ, won a sloppy decision over Willie Anderson, 0-1 (0), of Paulsboro, NJ, over 4 rounds.
In the first round Anderson rushed out and stopped without throwing a punch. He was outworked punch wise by Rodriguez bug got his punches in. Both looked amateurish style wise. In the second round Anderson’s left eye was almost all red. Rodriguez landed a low punch giving Anderson several minutes to recover from referee Alan Huggins. Anderson came back well to fight even the rest of the round. In the third round the there were as many misses as hits. In the fourth and final round Anderson looked exhausted and Rodriguez couldn’t take advantage of it like he could have but landing enough to take the round. It wasn’t pretty.
All 3 judges Layton, Kinney and Grant had it 40-36 as did this writer.
Lightweight Joshafat Ortiz, 2-0 (1), of Reading, PA, won a lopsided decision over Sidell Blocker, 1-9-1 (0), of Pleasantville, NJ, over 4 rounds.
Lightweight Tomas Romain, 4-1 (0), of Brooklyn, NY, won a majority decision over southpaw Marcos Israel Lugo, 0-1 (0), of Vineland, NJ, over 4 rounds in an all action bout.
In a good opening round both boxers mixed it up well. Lugo was the aggressor and Romain the counter puncher. In the second round both continued mixing it up with Romain the aggressor. Lugo landed a right hook at the timekeepers 10 second warning that knocked Romain several steps to his right. Just prior to the bell Lugo rocked Romain with a straight left to the chin. In between rounds the ring physician came into check Romain.
In the third round the action continued with Romain landing a double left hook to the body and head of Lugo. Midway in the round a Romain left hook rocked Lugo. At the 10 second warning Romain again rocked Lugo with a lead right to the chin. In the fourth and final round both boxers landed well in an exchange. Romain is doing the chasing with Lugo warned for holding twice. Romain flurried with half a dozen unanswered punches on Lugo. Just prior to the bell Romain landed a lead right to the chin of Lugo who countered with a counter left to the chin.
Judge’s Lawrence Layton 39-37, Harold Grant 40-36 and James Kinney 38-38 as did this writer score it.
In the opening bout light welterweight Ronald “Lugar” Logan, 0-2 (0), of NY, NY, was knocked out by Nahir Albright, 2-1 (1), of Philadelphia now a resident of Sicklersville, NJ, at 1:17 of the first round. Then Albright sang the National Anthem.
In the opening round both boxers were feeling each other out when a left hook from Albright put Logan on his back for the full count of referee Ronald Bashir.