Litzau wins, Johnsen disappoints, while Crawford and Julio shine.
By Mike Indri
Retired Boxers Foundation
Walking into the jam-packed Schuetzen Park ballroom this past Wednesday night closely resembled the feel that area boxing fans enjoyed over thirty years ago.
North Bergen, made more popular by producer Ron Howard’s movie, "Cinderella Man", for being the home of the late world heavyweight champion James J. Braddock , also served as a hotbed for club show boxing during the 1970’s. The no longer standing Embassy Theatre was to boxing then, what Philadelphia’s legendary Blue Horizon means to the art and science of pugilism today.
Main Events, the respected and successful Bloomfield, NJ based boxing promotional company, hopes their "Back To The Future" series at the northern NJ venue will restore the excitement and bring boxing fans back to the sport which has waned in the eyes of the current day major sports fan.
This fight card was a definite step in the right direction!
Headlining the event was the colorful and likeable Jason Litzau. Twice featured on ESPN2’s "Friday Night Fights", Litzau had to pull himself up off the canvas to earn a dramatic split decision win in his last fight. Tabbing himself "the next Arturo Gatti", as much for his respect of the popular NJ fighter, who now calls Hoboken his home; as for their similar fighting styles. Taking on a seasoned Miguel Munguia (now 15-5-1, 13 KO’s), Litzau fought a very "un-Gatti like" fight, which went the ten round distance. While controlling the bout from early on, Litzau managed to keep his record perfect (now 16-0 with 14 KO’s) with his rather listless performance. Munguia, fighting out of Mexico, never threatened and appeared content to survive the final round’s closing bell.
On the Main Event "Back to the Future" undercard…..
The night’s opening bout saw Danny McDermott, born in North Bergen and now residing in nearby Jersey City, on the receiving end of many hard shots by New York’s Edward Valdez. While McDermott appeared to be the better skilled fighter, Valdez was relentless throughout the four round contest and became very upset upon hearing the bout being declared a majority draw. The scores of 39-37, and two judges seeing it at 38-38, enabled McDermott to remain undefeated (3-0-1, 1KO) while Valdez is now 2-3-2 (1 KO).
Talented welterweight Henry Crawford pleased the capacity crowd with a blistering knockout win against an immediately overwhelmed Tony Grygelko (5-2, 3 KO’s). Crawford ensured that his opponent’s long trip back home to Anoka, MN. would be a painful one by landing several picture perfect right hands which dropped his hurt foe early in round one. Valiantly beating referee Eddie Cotton’s count, Grygelko was up at the count of nine but in no condition to continue. Crawford, now 8-0-1, took less than two minutes (1:58) to register his third professional knockout. Look for Henry Crawford to return to Schuezten Park for Main Event’s next boxing show, which is now scheduled for February 10th, 2006.
Bayonne’s Bobby Rooney, a local favorite, came up on the short end of a four round unanimous decision against Edward Hemphill, who fights out of our nation’s Capitol. Hemphill, improved to 3-1 (1 KO), and appeared in good hands with Greg Robinson, Philadelphia’s perennial "Promoter of the Year", giving instructions to the slick fighting light heavyweight. Rooney, who bore the fighter’s badges of honor (two bruised eyes), showed his toughness and heart while falling to 5-2, with 3 knockouts. All three judges saw it the same; 39-37 in favor of Hemphill.
The "fighter of the night" honors went to mega-talented Colombian welterweight Joel Julio. Julio, a bona-fide prospect, has drawn comparisons to Puerto Rico’s newest superstar Miguel Cotto. Julio exhibited a solid body attack and by the second round had crafty veteran Hicklet Lau (now 19-15-2, 9 KO’s) in deep trouble with his tenacious assault. After punishing the taller Lau throughout round three, Julio brought the frenzied crowd to their feet by crumpling Lau to the canvas midway thru the fourth round with bombs from both hands. As referee Eddie Cotton is closely looking on, Lau is allowed to fight on. Julio pounces on the still stunned Lau, driving the Miami native into the corner and unleashes several dangerous shots as Lau drops to the deck a second time and the carnage is waved off at 2:11 of round four. Next up for the very promising Julio (now 24-0 with 21 KO’s) may be a televised fight on Showtime’s "ShoBox series".
The majority of the 900+ fans in attendance where there for the night’s co-feature. The popular super middleweight Wayne Johnsen, from nearby Lyndhurst, brought his loyal legion of fans, appropriately called "Wayniacs". Unfortunately, Joe Hill from Detroit had other intentions.
Hill, unfazed fighting in the role as the opponent, used his 6’4’’ height and reach to his advantage and established a good, solid jab against the stronger Johnsen. Johnsen, for whatever reason turned a deaf ear on the pleas from manager/trainer Mike Skowronski for working Hill’s body, and relegated his offensive output to ineffective headhunting. While Johnsen missed most of his head shots, Hill was peppering away with a smart jab and had Johnsen bloodied and befuddled by round three. Round four saw much of the same as Johnsen missed 4-5 straights shots at Hill’s head while the ever more confident Hill, who supposedly turned southpaw for this fight, scored often and built a commanding lead.
Realizing this was only a six round fight Johnsen began to show signs of concern and desperation into round five, but Hill, fighting in just his sixth pro bout displayed poise and patience of a seasoned ring veteran. As the sixth and final round began Johnsen jolted out of his corner and began throwing bombs, from his heels! A couple of Johnsen’s punches finally land - which gave the crowd some reason to get excited - but, most miss. As the bell signals the end of the fight, the judges tallies of 57-57 even, as well as 59-55 and 58-56 for Hill signify that Johnsen has lost for the first time (9-1, 5 KO’s) while Hill improved to 4-2 (2 KOs). Johnsen may get the chance to redeem himself soon, on the undercard of the Main Events promoted Arturo Gatti vs. Thomas Damgaard IBA Welterweight Championship fight January 28, 2006 in Atlantic City.
All in all, a great night of boxing. The six bout fight card sent the sold-out crowd home happy and looking forward to the next event in the "Back to the Future" boxing series, which is scheduled for February 10th.
Also in attendance were former champions Pernell Whitaker, Mark Breland, Buddy McGirt, Jersey City native Mark Medal, as well as NJ boxing legends "Irish" Pat Murphy and Chuck Wepner, and one of the sweet science’s greatest ambassadors, HBO’s Harold Lederman.
Tickets for the Feb. 10th show, which will go on sale soon, can be purchased by contacting: Main Events Promotions at (973) 893-9100.