Recap from Sunrise, FL . From the beginning, Don King’s St. Valentine’s Day Massacre looked to have lived up to its name. Starting from the beginning, with less than a month left until the fights, no venue had even been named to host this epic card. Not long after the Bank Atlantic Center was announced as the venue, Alfredo Angulo’s opponent, Ricardo Mayorga, pulled out of the main event with several different rumors floating around as to why he decided not to fight. After a couple changed in opponent for Angulo, former IBF #1 ranked welterweight Cosme Rivera, took the fight on short notice. Since Mayorga had pulled out of the original main event, Nate Campbell- Ali Funeka had been bumped into the headlining spot. Fast forward to this past Friday afternoon, everyone at the weigh-ins was shocked when Campbell weighed in 3 pounds overweight for his first defense of the IBF and WBO Lightweight Championship belts he had won last year against Juan Diaz. After traveling to Bally’s Total Fitness to sweat off the excess weight, a drained Campbell came back two hours later to reweight, yet he only lost a half a pound. A disappointed Campbell had lost his titles, before stepping foot in the ring, at the scales.
Coming into Saturday’s fight, the big question was what kind of shape will Campbell be in at fight time? Early on Campbell pressured Funeka with body shots and staying in close to erase the reach advantage that the 6’1 South African had. In the second round Campbell dropped Funeka with a looping right to the temple that was set up by body shots and it appeared that the fight would not go much longer. In the middle rounds, however, Funeka stayed behind his jab and used his reach and high activity rate to keep Campbell at bay. It appeared that Campbell may have been gassed out, but rallied in round championship rounds, including scoring another knockdown in the 11th. The two knockdowns proved to be pivotal as Campbell had two 10-8 rounds. The final scorecards read 115-111, 114-112 Campbell and 113-113 even. After the fight Campbell said, “I had two knockdowns, of course I thought I won.” He also showed respect to Funeka after the fight by saying that Funeka was a good opponent and,”His day will come.” After failing to make weight, Campbell proclaimed that he plans to campaign at light welterweight in the future.
In the Co feature, the Intern WBC Light Middleweight Champion Sergio Martinez and former IBF Welterweight Champion Kermit Cintron fought two a questionable Majority Draw. Martinez was the aggressor throughout the fight and dropped Cintron in the 7th round. Cintron believed that the knockdown was a result of a head butt, but after viewing the replay it was clear that a straight left hand had done the damage. At ringside, it seemed as if the fight was over and Martinez jumped on the ropes as if he had won. Cintron had barely beaten the count and the bell had rung, which caused confusion. Both sides and photographers had rushed into the ring believing the fight was over as well. Because of this, Cintron was giving extra time in the corner between rounds. From this point on, the action and the excitement of the crowd picked up. In the 12th round, referee Frank Santore took a point away from Martinez, which proved to be costly. While I had the fight 116-110, like judge Tom Kaczmarek, Both judges Ged O’Connor and Peter Trematera scored the fight a 113-113 draw. After the fight both fighters thought they had won. Martinez said, “The fight was over win I knocked him down the first time so I won twice.” Cintron responded by saying,” Hell yea I did enough to win. I clearly won it.”
In the HBO opener, undefeated WBC/WBO #1 ranked contender Alfredo Angulo punished Cosme Rivera for 5 brutal rounds before the fight was stopped. The late replacement Rivera had his moments in the first round and Angulo received a bad cut over his left eye from an apparent head butt. From the second round on, Angulo used his speed and exceptional power and staggered Rivera many times. Throughout the fight, the referee appeared ready to stop the action but never did. Even though there was no knockdowns, all of the judges gave Angulo two 10-8 rounds. Finally after seeing Rivera take too much punishment, an official in Rivera’s corner halted the fight. The official scoring was a TKO at 2:38 in round 5. Alfredo Angulo is the mandatory #1 contender to fight Sergio Martinez for the WBC belt. After the fight Angulo said, “I felt a little slow early”, but then concluded “I felt better as the rounds went on”. Angulo also said, “I’m not afraid to fight anyone in boxing.”
On the undercard, undefeated prospect Andre Dirrell scored a knockdown in the 4th and final round and cruised to a Unanimous Decision 40-35 across the boards to open the night. Dirrell, younger brother of 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Anthony Dirrell recently made his return to the ring in October of 2008 after battling lymphoma and receiving chemotherapy.
Former heavyweight title challenger Ray Austin, recently off his victory over Andrew Golota in China, won a lackluster unanimous decision over durable veteran Julius Long. Long had his moments in the first round, and staggered Austin, but this would be the only round Long would win. In the 8th and final round, Austin dropped Long, but had two points deducted for hitting him while he was down. Scores were 76-73 across the board.
John “Action” Jackson used his blazing speed and power to knockdown rugged veteran Ricardo Medina in round three, but had to settle for a unanimous decision by scores of 79-72,79-72, 80-71. Medina was a good test for Jackson as this was only the second time he has went the distance in his career and received his first decision victory. Jackson showed no signs of tiring and kept a fast pace throughout.
Former Russian champion Ivan Kirpa made an impressive showing in his first fight in the United States against Frankie Santos. Kirpa used his speed and stayed behind his jab most of the night. He showed good power in both hands and kept bringing the pressure until Santos’ corner stopped the fight in round 6.
Anges Adjaho, now fighting at Light Welterweight, moved his record to 25-1, with a workman like decision over Fernando Angulo. Adjaho used an unorthodox style, dancing and leaving his hands low, throughout the fight. Angulo, who had been on a four fight win streak could not figure Adjaho out, lost a point in round five and was stunned late in the fight. Final scores were 78-73,78-73 and 79-72.
Highly touted featherweight prospect Gary Russell Jr. cruised to a unanimous decision over John Wampash. Wampash was down twice in round one and once again in the fourth and final round. Scores were 40-33 across the board.
In a step up fight, knockout artist Bermaine Stiverne went the distance with tough veteran Robert Hawkins. Hawkins, who has fought the top fighters in the heavyweight division, gave Stiverne a hard test throughout the fight. Hawkins was dropped early in the first with a left hook. Throughout the fight both fighters stood toe to toe trading shots. Scores read 77-73,77-73,78-72 all for Stiverne, who went the distance for the first time in his career.
In an unusually scheduled 11 round fight, Francisco Palacios only needed one of those rounds to knock out Lawrence Chapman and retain his WBA Fedelatin Cruiserweight title.
Highly touted Cuban prospect Angelo Santana, now fighting out of Miami, teed off on Mario Garcia. Early in the first, Garcia got nailed through the ropes. The punishment went on until the 1:36 mark of the 2nd round after Garcia hit the canvas again.
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