By Larry Tornambe
 
Philadelphia, Pa-  Russell Peltz Boxing/Joe Hand Promotions found a classic Philadelphia matchup to end 2005 boxing.   It’ll be broadcast on CN8 from Maine to Maryland on the Comcast Sports Cable Network, so if you’re watching, save this story for later.  Check your local listings, I’ve heard Sunday at 9pm.  Jose Medina (149 lbs), a bull in the ring, challenged slick boxer, Miguel Figueroa in the main event and current Philly Heavyweight KO King, John Poore looked for another notch against Chris Riley.
 
Figueroa, who has been known for inactivity and sometimes a lax defense returned to the ring after almost 14 months away.  Medina, had problems in and out of the ring in 2005, but salivated while training for this fight.  Medina (12-4; 10 KO’s) forecasted his bull-like hard punching style to be a sure win against the boxer Figueroa.  As expected, Figueroa got the upper hand early, as both fighters started out fresh, the quicker feet of Miguel got to Medina first.  It was a big open for Figueroa (24-5-1) as he flurried on Medina from the opening bell.  Medina was able to use his strength to get himself out of trouble.  Medina was having it more of his way in the 2nd but strayed really really low with a left hook. 

Figueroa wound up in a fetal position as Steve Smoger allowed him to take the 5-minute rest as a result of the foul.  As they restarted boxing the round came to an end.  As we wondered what would happen in Round 3, Figueroa fought off the ropes using his counterpunching skills.   “I was trying to knock him out in the first and second rounds”, Figueroa said later, “but the game plan wasn’t there so I moved to my second game plan, boxing.”  But it was in the 4th that stunned Medina the most.  Figueroa answered Medina’s heavy-handed punches with his own combinations, “I had to sit down on my punches more” Figueroa claimed.  Medina lost his mouthpiece and the round was no doubt Figueroa’s. 

Round 5 was another give and take, all action round. A left hook tilted Medina onto the bottom rope in the 6th, for what could have been ruled a knockdown but wasn’t.      The 7th round is a Round of the Year candidate, both gave it their all with Medina winging and Figueroa flurrying.  Medina admits to “being stunned a little”.  Round 8 started more cautiously and in the 9th Figueroa dislodged Medina’s mouthpiece again.  The 10-round decision was 97-93, 98-92 and 98-91 for Figueroa. BoxingScene scorecard was 98-91 for Figueroa. 
 
Miguel says the layoff  “won’t happen again” so we’ll watch for him on several upcoming Russell Peltz Promotions in the next three months.  Figueroa has been very close to breaking the welterweight top 10, now it’s his opportunity to stay busy, continue to sharpen his skills and get into the elite of boxing’s most exciting division.
 
Medina is being guided by a new, possibly more caring, manager in Nedal Abuhumoud.  Medina feels stronger at 154 pounds; “at 154 I was rocking guys at 175 in sparring.  I was (thinking) ‘no way he was going to stand there and take my punch.  He took it.  He was the best fighter in there tonight.”  Medina puts his career trust in his new management and frankly I believe it is a good move for him.  He’ll continue to provide excitement in the ring.  
 
John Poore seems to have shaken off his only loss and longest layoff.  Chris Riley didn’t provide much offense as Poore looked for his 17th KO from the get-go in the scheduled for 8 Round Heavyweight bout.  Poore (217 lbs) pounded away in the first two rounds but took some time off in the 3rd.  Riley (230 lbs) didn’t use the opportunity to his fullest and Poore rallied near the end.  In the 4th, Poore decided it was time for the finish.  He struck Riley, backing him to the ropes, and came on strong until Steve Smoger saved the inactive Riley at 1:31 of the 4th.  Poore is now 17-1 with 17 KOs.  Riley is 4-3-1 after the stoppage.
 
Lenny DeVictoria and Melvin Cumba provided 8 rounds of activity in a lightweight bout.  Both fighters have now had 10 pro fights and in a majority decision, Cumba remains undefeated at 10-0.  Lenny is now 7-3.  Cumba earned plenty of early round points as DeVictoria fought off the ropes.  Cumba was landing effectively but was the first to show a puffy left eye.  By the 5th round, Lenny was bruised near the left and battled a swollen right eye.  DeVictoria got back in the fight during the mid-rounds by landing the harder punches and even got off a few nice flurries in the final stanza, but it was Cumba getting the nod by scores of 78-74, 79-73 and 76-76.  BoxingScene scorecard tallied 77-76 for Cumba.
 
Undercard:
Light Heavyweights: Charles Cavallo U Dec 6 William Gill
Light Heavyweights: Terrance Johnson TKO 2 Jim Scully
Welterweights:  Kaseem Wilson U Dec 4 Jayson Champion
Welterweights: Mike Jones KO 2 Jason Thompson.