By Ryan Songalia
When Nate Campbell weighed in the second time at 137, 2 pounds over the lightweight limit, the belts immediately became vacant and the crown he worked hard to attain against Juan Diaz was no longer upon his head.
Still, Campbell had everything to lose against South African Ali Funeka, who after weighing in at 133.5 was still eligible to win the IBF/WBO belts when they met in the main event at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida.
Campbell, of Jacksonville, FL, opened the fight with a violent offensive assault to the head and body of South Africa's Funeka. It appeared the end of the fight was near in the second stanza when Funeka was dropped violently on a right hand by Campbell. Funeka rose on shaky legs but took a vicious pounding to the torso and cranium upon rising.
After that, the impact of faled attemptes to make weight seemed to kick in as Campbell began following Funeka around aimlessly, not letting his punches go. Funeka, a 6'1 freak of nature, used his superior height and reach to boxing Campbell at a distance where he could not land effectively with his counter right hands.
Just as Campbell's right hands to the body thudded throughout the arena, Funeka's right hands to the body start echoing throughout the arena. Campbell does nothing of note from rounds 3 to 5.
In the sixth Campbell's jab debuts in the fight, allowing him to get on the inside and experience his first positive action since the knockdown.
By the ninth Campbell looks done in as Funeka starts to land cleanly to the head and body.
As the championship rounds begin, it is abundantly clear that Campbell needs the last two rounds big. Funeka looks content to just win the rounds with his movement and jab. Out of nowhere Campbell lands a Hail Mary right hand that takes Funeka's legs from underneath him. He crashes to the floor, taking Campbell with him. Funeka is hurt but Campbell cannot muster the energy to finish his wounded man off.
Both combatants enter the fight knowing that they need a big finish, but it is Campbell who takes the best of it in the last round.
The judges returned with a majority decision, with 113-113 being overruled twice at 115-11 and 114-112, awarding the fight to Nate Campbell.
Funeka is inconsolable at the decision. He breaks down in tears at the decision is still crying as the post-fight interviews are taking place.
"It was," Campbell said when asked if the weight issues were a problem. "I felt weak around 5,6,7. After that it hit me that it was a fight. I'm hurt. I worked my whole life to become champion and my body said no more. When I lost them at the scales, it hurt me. All I can do is go up and become champion."
Campbell plans to campaign at 140 pounds, where Kendall Holt, Ricky Hatton and Timothy Bradley hold title belts. Funeka, picking up only his second loss, loses nothing in defeat.
Martinez, Cintron Battle to Draw
They say that there are no second chances in boxing. Kermit Cintron may be proof to the contrary. In round 7 of his fight with WBC 154 pound Interim Champ Sergio Gabriel Martinez, it appeared as if he was counted out after a solid left cross from Martinez stunned and dropped the former welterweght champ.
Cintron ardently protested with vulgar language as Martinez celebrated what he believes to be a one-punch knockout win. After three plus minutes of confusion the referee orders the completely full ring to be emptied and the fight to resume.
"I did not hear the bell, thats why there was confusion," referee Frank Santore Jr. said afterwards. "He got up at 9 and the fight continued."
When the two return to action, they both show a sense of urgency that was absent throughout the entire bout. Martinez, 153.25, continues to land with southpaw crosses while Cintron lands with his own hooks.
For the entire second half of the fight, it is a hotly contested battle of wills, Cintron countering with left hooks and Martinez leading. In the 12th round Martinez is docked a point for a rabbit punch but wins the round on activity.
When the scorecards are read, one judge has it 116-110 for Martinez while the other two score it even at 113-113. Cintron reacts with indignity, angrily protesting the decision. "Maravilla" Martinez coolly reacts with a "What can you Do"? attitude.
"I thought I won the f---ing fight," an angry Cintron yells as he left the showers before trainer Ronnie Shields informs BoxingScene that he will not be available for comment.
"They won't rematch us," Shields says of Martinez's camp. "If they're smart they'll vacate their belt and leave town."
With the draw Martinez remains the mandatory challenger to WBC junior middleweight champion Vernon Forrest. Martinez moves to 44-1-2 (24 KO) while Cintron goes to 30-2-1 (27 KO).
Angulo Batters Rivera
The second Boxing After Dark showcase of Alfredo Angulo was doomed from the outset. First, former welterweight champion Ricardo Mayorga pulled out 10 days before the fight, citing an old rib injury from his loss to Shane Mosley last year.
Then late-replacement Danny Perez was brought in tentatively, only to shun the opportunity. Promoters feared the worse: That Angulo's bout would have to be scrapped.
Luckily, tough veteran and former welterweight title challenger Cosme Rivera was without a commitment. Rivera was game, but ultimately Alfredo Angulo would prove to be too big, too strong and too tough for the Mexican journeyman, forcing a corner stoppage at 2:38 of the fifth round.
Angulo, 153.5, pressed the action early, momentarily stunning Rivera, 151.5, with a left jab. Rivera collected himself and managed to open a serious cut above Angulo's left eye with a left uppercut.
Angulo's pressure started to wear down Rivera in the second, as Rivera began to move to the ropes more frequently. Rivera still lands whenever he throws, encouraged by Angulo's lack of counter-punching.
The third round was a complete washout as Rivera is beaten from pillar to pillar to the head and body, largely with the right. On several occassions referee Tellis Assimenios looks close to stopping the fight but restrains himself, giving the brave Rivera the benefit of the doubt.
Rivera steadied the ship in the fourth but by the fifth Rivera seems to be all but out on his feet. A right hand high rocks Rivera as his right foot lifts off the canvas and seems to be suspended a few inches off the ground. You worry for his safety as Angulo bangs away with impunity. The end came 30 seconds too late.
"I felt a little slow," Angulo, now 15-0 (12 KO), said through an interpretator. "But I was good. I felt better as the rounds went on. I'm ready for anyone. I'm not afraid of anyone in boxing."
Angulo is still rated number 1 by both the WBO and WBA at junior-middleweight.
Austin Tops Long Over 8
Fresh off of his career-resurrecting knockout of Andrew Golota, heavyweight Ray Austin picked up his third consecutive win at the expense of Julius Long. Austin raised his record to 27-4-4 (17 KO) with the performance, while Long continued his journeyman ways, dropping to 15-11 (13 KO). Scores were 76-73, 76-73 and 76-73.
None of the explosiveness Austin exhibited in stopping Golota was present until the eighth round, when a right hand toppled the 7'1" Long. Two points were eventually deducted from Austin for a late hit. They proved inconsequential.
Kirpa Prevails Over Santos With Sixth Round Cut
Fighting for only the second time since 2004, Russian welterweight Ivan Kirpa scored a dominant sixth-round TKO over Frankie Santos. The fight was halted at 1:51 due to a cut over Santos' right eye.
Kirpa, 23-1 (15 KO), was in control the whole way, using his aggressive jab and body work to set the tone. Kirpa opened up a deep gash under Santos' left eye in the first round that progressively got worse. Santos drops to 16-7-4 (8 KO) with the loss.
Stiverne Wins UD Over Brave Hawkins
Bermane "B-Ware" Stiverne was taken the distance for the first time in his career by Robert Hawkins, walking away with an eight-round unanimous decision. Stiverne of Las Vegas by way of Laval, Canada raised his record to 17-1 (16 KO), while Hawkins of Philadelphia, PA drops to 23-13 (7 KO). Scores were 77-73, 77-73, 78-72.
Stiverne started strongly, stunning Hawkins with an assortment of right hands. Against the odds Hawkins survived the first round as Stiverne seemed to lose a little steam with his opening assault. Hawkins started backing Stiverne up in the second round as Stiverne collected himself. An abrasion around Hawkins' right eye appeared in this stanza.
After a brisk start the fight slowed down until a Stiverne left body shot dropped Hawkins in the 6th. Hawkins rose Stiverne didn't show much of an urgency to finish him. A 7th round head clash had Hawkins wincing from intense pain to his jaw. No points were deducted.
Stiverne continued to stalk looking for the knockout in the 8th while Hawkins looked content to absobr a beating and hear the final bell. A final flurry by Hawkins seemed to get Stiverne's attention but it was too little, too late.
"I knew he was awkward from being in camp with him," said Stiverne of Hawkins. "He kept his head down so it was hard to catch him clean."
As an amateur, Stiverne was a six-time Quebec Golden Gloves champion and four-time Canadian National champion.
Adjaho Cruises to Easy Decision Over Angulo
Junior Welterweight Anges Adjaho - left hand low with his chin tied to his shoulder - danced, juked and shuffled his way to a one-sided decision win over former lightweight title challenger Fernando Angulo. Scores were 78-73, 79-72 and 78-73. Adjaho raised his mark to 25-1 (14 KO) while Angulo ends a four fight win streak and drops to 22-5 (14 KO).
Adjaho exhibited a lot of stylish showmanship as his awkward style countered Angulo everytime he exhibited any aggression, usually with the left hook. Whenever Angulo got on the inside where he wanted to do his work, the opening just were not there.
It was becoming more and more one-sided as Adjaho became more accurate with the right hand leads. Angulo began to make an impression with rough tactics in the sixth, detracting from Adjaho's growing comfort level slightly. The inconvenience was only temporary as he had Angulo stunned at the end of the round.
2008 Olympian Russell Jr. Dominates Wampash
2008 US Olympian Gary Russell Jr. took a shut-out win in his second pro fight, wiping out John Wampash on the cards. Russell moves his record to 2-0 (1 KO) while Wampash loses his first and drops to 1-1 (1 KO).
Russell immediately dropped Wampash with the first southpaw left hand he landed in a furious exchange. Another knockdown was counted against Wampash, this time off of a less-definitive shot.
Wampash's punch resistance improved down the stretch but still Russell was too fast, too skilled and too elusive. Russell scored another questionable knockdown at the final bell, though no punch was apparent.
Russell was slated to perform in Beijing at the 2008 Olympics but was disqualified after collapsing in an attempt to make weight.
Anthony Dirrell Decisions Medina in 4
Anthony Dirrell, brother of top contender Andre Dirrell, scored an easy four-round decision over Jose Medina. Medina was dropped in the final round. Dirrell raises to 15-0 (12 KO) while Medina dropped to 14-13. It was Dirrell's third win since overcoming non-Hodgkin's lymphona.
Palacios Destroys Lawrence in First
Unbeaten cruiserweight contender Francisco Palacios wasted no time in blasting out overmatched Lawrence Chapman at 2:58 of the first round. Palacios improves to 17-0 (10 KO) with the win while Lawrence goes to 19-6-2.
Santana Sparks Garcia in 2
Lightweight Angelo Santana dominated a malnourished looking Mario Garcia en route to a second round KO. Santana, who had an amateur record of 180-3 in his native Cuba, rises to 5-0 (4 KO) while Garcia drops to 7-9 (4 KO). Time was 1:36.
Ryan Songalia is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at songaliaboxing@aol.com .
