by Bill Calogero, at ringside
Uncasville, CT – Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey stopped Felix Cora Jr. in the second round of their scheduled twelve-round Cruiserweight bout claiming the vacant NABF & NABA Titles as the Main Event of CES’s “Collision Course” broadcast live from the Mohegan Sun Resort & Casino on ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights.
The first round was a feel-out round for both fighters. As the second round began, Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey began to throw three and four punch left-right-left-right combinations mixing in sharply thrown uppercuts. By the time two minutes had elapsed, Cora found himself retreating against the ropes as Godfrey continued to press his attack.
Matt landed a paralyzing right to Cora’s jaw followed by and hard left and another devastating right which sent Felix to the canvas. He was up at nine and was permitted to continue, only to find himself at the wrong end of a barrage of punches thrown and landed by Godfrey finally causing the referee to jump in and stop the fight.
Matt “Too Smooth” Godfrey officially scores a TKO at 2:45 of the second round keeping his undefeated record in tact as well as becoming the new NABF & NABA Cruiserweight Champion. He improves 15-0 (9 KOs).
Felix Cora, Jr. suffers his second defeat of his professional career, dropping to 18-2-1 (9 KOs).
In the Co-Main Event, Juan Manuel Buendia upset hometown favorite and former World Champion, Israel “Pito” Cardona by winning a unanimous eight-round decision in their Light Welterweight bout.
Buendia was the busier and more aggressive fighter throughout the fight. Cardona seemed to be in a trance, keeping his hands below his chin, unable to defend himself against the constant assortment of punches administered by Buendia.
All three judges at ringside scored the fight 79-73 in favor of Juan Manuel Buendia who improves to 13-1-1 (8 KOs) while Israel “Pito” Cardona drops to 36-7 (28 KOs).
TheDailySports.com scored the fight 78-74 also in favor of Buendia.
In an exciting female bout, Hartford’s Addy Irizarry made her pro debut against the tough Ella Nunez, losing a four-round decision of their lightweight bout. Addy stayed busy landing solid left-right combinations to the face of Irizarry throughout the four round battle. All three judges at ringside scored the fight 40-36 in favor of Addy Irizarry who got on the winning track with her first professional win, improving to 1-2.
Heavyweight Jason “Big Six” Estrada used a very impressive looking jab, followed by two and three punch combinations en route to a unanimous six-round decision over tough Zach Page of Warren, Ohio. Estrada improves to 8-1 (1 KO), while Page drops to 13-12-1 (4 KOs).
In the Cruiserweight division, Chris Traietti won a unanimous four-round decision over Randall Pogue, improving to 7-0 (4 KOs). Pogue drops to 8-7-1 (2 KOs).
In other action Manuel Antonio Lopes won a unanimous four-round decision over Brandon Burke in their Light Heavyweight bout. Lopes improves to 2-0 (1 KO) while Burke remains winless at 0-2-1.
Angel Camacho, Jr. remains unbeaten now at 5-0 (3 KOs) after wining a majority decision over Lewis Robinson in their four-round Super Middleweight bout. Robinson drops to 2-2-1 (1 KO).