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Last
update: 10/23/2011
Read more by
Jake Donovan
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| Raymond Serrano Decisions Angel Rios in Atlantic City
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By Jake Donovan
More boxing on television is supposed to be a good thing. But the formula to a successful product is simple: fan-friendly fights, some semblance of relevance, and a reason to ignore the televised competition.
With that in mind, Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing didn’t exactly begin with a bang in their first televised fight card on Azteca America.
In the main event of a show that was tape-delayed by at least an hour, Raymond Serrano coasted to a unanimous decision over Angel Rios in their 10-round super lightweight bout Saturday evening at the Tropicana in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Hailing from the other side of the Atlantic City Expressway in Philadelphia, Serrano was steady and thorough in outclassing Rios in a fight that took place at close quarters but never quite shifted gears.
At no point did either fighter back up, nor did Rios ever offer a hint of laying down against the heavily favored Serrano. The problem was that he just had nothing to make the house favorite respect him or give him any reason to change up his attack.
Sensing that a knockout was never going to come against his Nuyorican opponent, Serrano was content in swinging away at an inviting target, with little coming back in return. Whenever Rios attempted to mount an attack, Serrano offered just enough lateral movement to ensure that he wouldn’t get clipped with anything fight-altering.
Serrano’s dominance was reflected in the scorecards, taking the fight by tallies of 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92 as he advances his record to 17-0 (8KO).
Rios falls to 9-8 (6KO), having now lost six straight in a streak that extends all the way back to 2001. The Bronx native has taken two separate breaks in his career, including an eight-year hiatus from the ring after dropping a decision to then-unbeaten Mike Anchondo in 2003. Rios has managed one loss in each of the past four months since returning to the ring this past July.
The life of the “Box Latino” series will largely depend on whether or not more relevant shows will surface than what was presented on Saturday.
In addition to being presented via tape-delay, the show went up against a far more relevant card on HBO featuring pound-for-pound entrant Nonito Donaire just two hours away in New York City as well as the third game of the 2011 Major League Baseball World Series.
Every series requires a starting point, and perhaps this series will use this show upon which to improve. Too much boxing on television is never a bad thing, but needs a greater reason to gain attention than airing a show just for the sake of airing a show.
TELEVISED UNDERCARD
Shamone Alvarez never figured to enjoy a career beyond the fringe contender level. Even those days are now long gone, after suffering a humiliating fifth round knockout loss in his Atlantic City hometown at the hands of journeyman Doel Carasquillo.
The whiff of an upset was evident mere seconds into the fight, when Carasquillo floored Alvarez with a right hook for the first of three knockdowns in the bout. Alvarez kept getting up, but looked badly faded and not even in his normally peak physical condition as he never stood a chance in this fight.
Carasquillo scored another knockdown in the second round then finished him off for good with a third knockdown midway through the fifth round that left Alvarez face first on the canvas.
The win is by far the biggest of Carasquillo’s up-and-down career as he improves to 16-18-1 (14KO). The 38-year old has reached a point where wins come almost by accident, though this is the second upset he’s scored in his past three bouts, having upended previously unbeaten Denis Douglin earlier this year.
Meanwhile, the losses continue to pile up for Alvarez. He has now dropped three in a row and five of his last seven as he falls to 21-5 (12KO). This particular occasion marked the first knockout loss of his career, having previously lasted the distance against the likes of Joshua Clottey and Delvin Rodriguez.
Unbeaten light heavyweight prospect Jason Escalera continues to build up his record against made-to-order opposition, scoring an eye-catching second round stoppage of Mickey Scarborough in their televised swing bout.
Escalera scored three knockdowns in just over three minutes of action, twice flooring Scarborough in the opening round before putting him away for good at 0:32 of the second round.
The win is Escalera’s fifth straight knockout as he improves to 12-0 (11KO). All of his knockouts have come within the first three rounds, having been extended four rounds just once in his young career.
Scarborough drops his second straight as he falls to 6-4 (6KO). None of his six victories have come against opponents boasting a single win.
OFF CAMERA
With a potential HBO-televised fight waiting in the wings, resurging heavyweight Chazz Witherspoon plead his case with a third round knockout of Ty Cobb.
Cobb boasts the same name as the dead baseball legend, fitting as he resembles the typical heavyweight corpse who serves his purpose for struggling heavyweights in need of a flashy win. Witherspoon – whose cousin is former heavyweight titlist “Terrible” Tim Witherspoon – took full advantage of the opportunity, scoring four knockdowns before bringing a halt to the bout at 1:07 of the fourth round.
Witherspoon picks up his third straight win as he improves to 29-2 (21KO). The genius-level college graduate has been mentioned as the frontrunner to land a December 10 co-feature slot against unbeaten heavyweight prospect Seth Mitchell. The fight would be his first on HBO since suffering a third round disqualification loss against Chris Arreola back when both were unbeaten.
Cobb heads back to Kansas with his farcical seven-fight win streak halted as he falls to 14-3 (8KO). His 17 pro fights have come against just 11 different opponents, with his record 9-1 against repeat opposition.
Fan-friendly and always classy, Vinny Maddalone (34-7, 25KO) returned to the ring after suffering a knockout loss at the hands of Tomasz Adamek nearly a year ago. His welcome back party didn’t last very long, blasting out Mike Sheppard (20-13-1, 9KO).
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com. Follow Jake on Twitter at twitter.com/JakeNDaBox or submit questions/comments to JakeNDaBox@gmail.com.
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comment by richardt, on 10-23-2011 |
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Look forward to someday seeing punk a$$ Serrano get ktfo. He pushes, shoves, elbows, holds fouling the entire fight and no warnings. He struggled with a near sub 500 fighter and has a weak chin. He gets carved up by a world class fighter. That will be a pleasure to see happen to that prick. |
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