By Ryan Maquiñana
Moments after Kevin Rooney Jr. dropped a unanimous decision to Danny Lugo on the Sergio Martinez-Darren Barker undercard last Saturday in Atlantic City, he briefly voiced his displeasure with the judges’ verdict, believing he had undoubtedly won.
The words did not go unnoticed with Lugo (1-1), who has since responded with his own shots toward Rooney (2-1, 1 KO), the son of famed trainer Kevin Rooney Sr. and publicist for DiBella Entertainment, who promoted the card in Atlantic City.
BoxingScene.com got both fighters’ reactions, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see a rematch on the horizon.
"If that’s how [Rooney] feels, that’s how he feels, but I know I went in there and I worked for what I got,” Lugo, a native of Harrisburg, Pa., jabbed.
“[Lugo] was tough, but other than that, that was it,” Rooney, a New Yorker, countered. “He was awkward, he fought dirty, and just wanted to push me to the ropes and wrestle. He used his elbows he used his head. It took me out of my game plan in the beginning but still, everyone there I spoke with thought I won the fight.
Lugo insisted he was just too physical for Rooney.
"I had control in all four rounds,” Lugo argued. “Go back and look at the tape. He got all this press because of his name, but all the guys they put in front of him before, I guess they don’t have the toughness like I have it. He knew what he was getting into [once we touched gloves]."
Rooney begged to differ.
“The fight was made tough because of me, [and] nothing he did,” Rooney mused. “I fought a bad fight. I wasn't prepared for a southpaw, [and] had no idea he was going to fight southpaw, so that surprised me. After the first round I adjusted and controlled the fight.
“All he did was lunge in, look to clinch, and make it a dirty fight. In the fourth round I had him hurt really bad and should have stopped him, but after I rocked him, he literally tackled me to the ground, which bought him valuable time.”
Lugo and his promoter Nick Payton then made it clear what they were after.
"I wish him the best. One loss doesn’t ruin your career,” Lugo said. “But he can’t beat me. If he wants it again, that's something he'll have to talk to my promoter about."
"I think it was one of the most entertaining fights on the card, and that includes both television bouts,” Payton observed. “I'm sure a warrior like Kevin, with the family pedigree he comes from, is looking to even the score, just as long as they are aware that Danny is coming to knock him out next time. Be careful what you wish for."
After being made aware of Team Lugo’s comments, Rooney got the last word.
“I'm not going to sit here and make excuses or talk bad about the guy, but I had a lot of things going against me in the fight,” Rooney said. “I got cut Sunday in sparring and had to deal with that, and in my eyes and everyone else’s eyes I still won the fight.
“His team collapsed in the ring after they were announced the winner; they were so shocked. The kid was tough, and I'm not going to talk sh*t about him. He was respectful before and after the fight. But he's not even in my league.”
The fighting publicist promised things would be different if they met in the ring in a rematch.
“If we fight again I will knock him out like I was on my way to in the fourth,” Rooney vowed. “He never hurt me once in the fight. If we fought again, things would be completely different, and if he tried the dirty tactics again, I won't be Mr. Nice Guy this time.
Ryan Maquiñana is the boxing correspondent at Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. He’s a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and Ring Magazine’s Ratings Advisory Panel. E-mail him at rmaquinana@gmail.com , check out his blog at www.maqdown.com or follow him on Twitter: @RMaq28.
