by Rocco the intern
I entered the majestic Paramount in Huntington knowing I was in for a great night of boxing. It was the first of hopefully many fight nights at this theater as it's the perfect stage for some of the up and coming fighters from this talent-rich region. Thirty minutes before the opening bout of a six-fight card promoted by Star Boxing, I went backstage to see the young boxers prepare for their big night. Each seemed to have his own routine -- some rested and relaxed while others paced with a nervous energy but all 12 were ready to rumble. Nothing was going to hinder them from giving it everything they had to achieve victory before a sell-out crowd.
In the main event, Chris Algieri (11-0), the undefeated welterweight from Huntington, was stepping up in class to face the tough and experienced Bayan Jargal (15-2-3), fighting out of Arlington, Virginia. Most members of the media at ringside, including Jack Hirsch, president, Boxing Writers Association of America, felt this was the big test for Algieri. "This is what I call the measuring stick match-up for Algieri," said Hirsch. "If he wins tonight he will be considered a true prospect."
Raul Nuncio (Pro Debut) vs. Elmer Vera (0-2) 4 Rounds - Middleweight
Vera, who entered the night winless in his first two attempts as a pro, came in wild, trying to get in as many punches as he could on Nuncio, who was making his pro debut. At that pace it appeared Vera wasn't looking to go the distance but the inexperienced Nuncio managed to keep his composure and found his target with precise shots to the head and chest. Following some viscous hooks to the body and head, referee Arthur Mercante Jr. stepped in at 2:29 of the first round to stop the fight and award Nuncio his first victory as a pro.
Steven Tyner (1-2-1) vs. Michael Ocasio (2-0) 4 Rounds - Light Heavyweight
Tyner came out looking to make it an early night. With pure aggression, he threw accurate punches from every angle, and soon enough, one of his left hooks found the mark and dropped Ocasio. Dazed after the referee's eight-count, Ocasio tried dancing and holding, but Tyner was relentless. Showing no mercy, Tyner started mixing shots, throwing combinations targeting the head and body and finished Ocasio with several blows to the head that dropped Ocasio for the second and final time. Referee Tony Chiarantano stopped the contest at 1:55 of the first round. Tyner improves to 2-2-1.
Jacques Louis (2-0) vs. Aaron Kinch (Pro Debut) 4 Rounds - Heavyweight
Early in the fight it was clear we had two super-heavyweights with very different styles -- a slugger and a boxer -- and tonight it was Kinch of Jersey City who remained composed and boxed his way to a majority decision in his pro debut. His opponent, Jacques Louis, of Brentwood, came in undefeated at 2-0 but didn't have any answers for Kinch's counter-punching style. As Louis tired late in round two, Kinch applied the pressure and dictated the pace. His combinations often found the mark as he avoided the wild, overhand rights that seemed to be Louis' only chance. In the end, it was the more talented Kinch who outclassed Louis and deserved, at least in my opinion, a unanimous decision: 37-37, 39-37, 38-37.
Cletus Seldin (4-0) vs. Rashad Bogar (3-2-1) 6 Rounds – Welterweight
This was a fast-paced welterweight bout from the start with both fighters throwing clean, crisp but heavy blows to the chin and body. Cletus Seldin of Long Island entered the evening at 4-0 against another Jersey fighter, Rashad Bogar, 3-2, of Newark. Bogar came in swinging and Seldin composed keeping a nice guard, elbows tight to the body. Half way through the fight, Seldin found the weak spots and started throwing blows to the head and body and wearing bogar down. Soon, Bogar was trying to keep pace with the undefeated welterweight. After a head-rattling shot to Bogar, the fight came to an end with a TKO for Bogar in the 3rd round at 1:35.
CHRIS ALGIERI (11-0) VS. BAYAN JARGAL (15-2-3) 10 Rounds - Welterweight
In the first round, both fighters appeared a bit tight and cautious, kept their distance, and seemed content feeling each other out. Algieri continued to circle Jargal, trying to land his right jab, which he did from time to time to win the round. Jargal was the first to press the action in Round Two, firing shots to the body, but Algieri's defense helped him evade most of the heavy blows while managing to score with his jab and some body shots of his own. Algieri started the third with accurate shots to the mid-section that took some wind out of Jargal, but in the fourth, the Mongolian Mongoose picked up the pace by launching a body attack of his own (that had the Algieri fans concerned for the first time), but Algieri closed the round with a flurry. The first half of the 10-rounder finished with Jargal picking up where he left off in the previous round, landing some solid shots and pressing his less experienced opponent. Algieri's left hook to the head started to find its mark for the first time, but I gave the fifth round to Jargal. We have a fight.
Jargal starts the round very determined as he continues to throw smooth punches, especially the right hook to the body, but Algieri keeps up with Jargal and continues to land hard punches of his own. The round was even, but Algieri was timing Jargal's right hooks and finding success with his left hook. More of the same came in Round Seven: Jargal started fast with a body attack, while Algieri kept his distance and covered up well when Jargal got inside. Algieri did come back strong to close the round, carried the momentum into the eighth, and appeared to finally slow down his more aggressive Jargal.
I had the fight close going into the final two rounds, but the first significant turning point took place in the ninth when an Algieri straight right opened a cut above Jargal's left eye. Wiping away the blood, Jargal continued to throw heavy shots, but Algieri maintained his composure and landed some clean shots to the head. Both warriors came out for the final round swinging, but the blood rushing from the cut just above Jargal's left eye was a big disadvantage. Algieri showed Jargal and the crowd that he was going home the way he came in -- undefeated. He finished with strong blows to the body and head, especially a powerful left hook that shook Jargal; it was Algieri's most effective weapon throughout the night. He sent the sell-out crowd home with much to cheer about and earned the judges’ favor over a tough and determined opponent (97-93, 97-93, 97-93, 98-92).
Richard Neves (0-0-1) vs. Hector Rivera (2-9-0) 4 Rounds - Welterweight
Both men came out slowly feeling each other out, but it wasn't long before Neves became the aggressor. Rivera, who appeared much smaller despite only a three-pound difference, was in a shell and struggled to keep pace with Neves. Eventually, Rivera's guard failed him as Neves wore him down with hard, clearn shots to the chin that finally stopped Rivera at 2:27 of Round 2. Neves was stronger, faster, and too skilled for the now 2-10 Rivera.
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