By Mark Vester
Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City - Zsolt Erdei won a unanimous decision over Samson Onyango in his first fight in exactly 52 weeks. Scores were 80-72 (twice) and 79-73 for Erdei (32-0, 17KO), who makes his debut with DiBella Entertainment in returning to the light heavyweight division. Onyango falls to 20-7 (13KO), having now lost five of his last eight.
Erdei vacated his lineal light heavyweight crown to pursue a belt at cruiserweight, which he won in his last fight against Giacobe Fragemoni a year ago. He gave up that belt as well in declaring his intentions to once again campaign at light heavyweight. The bout was just his third in the United States, bringing with him a huge following of enthusiastic fans who bring a soccer-level atmosphere to the Boardwalk Hall.
Heavyweight contender Tony Thompson (35-2, 23KOs) stopped Paul Marinaccio (24-6-3, 11KOs) in four rounds.
Unbeaten middleweight Fernando Guerrero (20-0, 16 KOs) stopped Saul Duran (36-18-3, 29 KOs) in two rounds.
Rising featherweight prospect Luis Orlando Del Valle (11-0, 9KOs) set the record straight by stopping Noe Lopez Jr. (6-7, 5KOs) in three rounds. This was a rematch of last December's bout, won by Del Valle in two after Lopez was unable to continue with a hand injury.
Welterweight prospect Willie Nelson (16-0, 10KOs) knocked out Quinton Whitaker (7-9) in the first round. Nelson is scheduled to fight again on December 1 on the Broadway Boxing card at BB Kings House of Blues in Manhattan, New York.