By T.K. Stewart at ringside

 

BOSTON - It was a distance night of fights on the corner of Arlington Street and Columbus Ave. in Boston tonight. Inside the steamy brick walls of what used to be an armory and with local favorites Tony DeMarco, 1960 Olympian “Skeeter” McClure and heavyweight Kevin McBride in attendance along with a paid full house of 1,300, boxing returned to Boston.

 

In the main event, Ireland’s John Duddy, 158 ½, 24-0 (17KO) fighting out of Queens, N.Y. met Charlie Howe, 160, 17-4-2 (9KO), from Grelton, OH. The highly ranked Duddy worked behind a steady attack all night and really unloaded his arsenal on Howe who refused to give up or give in.

 

Duddy began quickly and worked behind a patient attack for the first few rounds. The fifth and sixth were all Duddy as he emptied his arsenal on Howe who was so busy concentrating on what was coming at him that he didn’t have a chance to return much of consequence.

 

It was much of the same as the rounds progressed and the fight took on a familiar tone of Duddy marching ahead with left jabs and hooks with an occasional right hand mixed in. Duddy was cut slightly on the side of the right eye in the 8th round due to an accidental clash of heads. He very nearly had Howe out in the tenth but the Ohio fighter managed to hang on until the final bell. To his credit, Howe didn’t show up to lay down and Duddy was given a good workout. All three judges saw it the same at 100-90.

 

In the tedious co-feature, former 2000 Canadian Olympic team member Donny “Boy” Orr, 162, 12-0 (5KO) now fighting of South Boston met Roberto “El Viejo” Valenzuela, 163, 44-37-2 (37KO), Sonora, Mexico in n eight rounder.  In the first round the Mexican was decked with a nice right uppercut left hook combo, but arose at seven, apparently unhurt. The rugged Orr was cut over the left eye in the second from a clash of heads and he was bothered by the blood until his corner stemmed it in the fourth. Orr plodded forward for most of the rounds while landing slow, thudding punches. The pesky Valenzuela, an 85-fight veteran, didn’t offer any offense and his sole intention was to survive and complain to the referee. Judges had it 80-71 all for Orr.

 

In a quick six, 2-time U.S. National Amateur Champion Edwin Rodriguez, 162, 6-0 (5KO) from the Dominican Republic, now fighting out of Worcester, Mass., took on Hector Hernandez, 161 ½, 10-2-2 (4KO), all the way from Phoenix, AZ now fighting out of South Boston. Rodriguez showed much more class and is a busy puncher who throws a variety of power shots and doesn’t neglect the body. Rodriguez benefited from much quicker hands and landed the harder shots on Hernandez, who was extremely game but simply outgunned. Final scores were unanimous for Rodriguez at 59-55 and two scores of 60-54.

 

In a six round Cruiserweight affair, Mark Clancy, 196, 7-0-1 (1KO) fighting out of Boston via County Clare, Ireland squared off against Salah Zabian, 193, 6-10 (4KO) from Lee, Mass. Zabian was described on the bout sheet as a “cagey veteran” but was a theatrical performer who showed up not wearing a protective cup. Zabian spent much of the night with his back in one corner or another as he absorbed Clancy’s stinging body shots. Zabian, who was flabby and at least 20 pounds overweight, began to tire and unravel under Clancy’s measured attack at the midway point. Zabian showed some life in the fourth and began the fifth like a house afire, but he couldn’t keep his flame lit. The sixth was Clancy’s as he continued to come forward but was cut under his left eye. All three judges had it 60-54 Clancy.

 

Opening the night in a spirited four rounder, Anthony Accardi, 140 with a record of 1-0 (1KO) from Burlington, Mass. now fighting out of Howard Beach, N.Y. and trained by Tommy Gallagher, faced off with Broderick “The Real Pretty Boy” Antoine, 141, 2-5 (1KO) from Troy, N.Y. The southpaw Broderick hung in there pretty good and gave as good as he got, but Accardi was stronger and more aggressive. It was a split decision on the official judges scorecards 39-37 Antoine and two scores of 39-37 for Accardi. I saw it 39-37 Accardi.