Fan favorite taken the distance in hard-fought main event win.

By Mike Indri (Photo by Dave Selwyn)

Retired Boxers Foundation

(New Jersey State representative)

With last night’s Northeast Promotions scheduled main event bout featuring Delvin Rodriguez getting scratched for unspecified reasons, local favorite Joey Rios stepped up to take over the fight card’s top billing.

 

Rios, fighting out of the Bronx, took on the tougher than expected Derrick Moon (now 10-8 with 2 KO’s) and had to earn his "W" against the Fort Worth, TX. native.

 

Going the full eight rounds, Rios and Moon excited the good-sized crowd at the Westchester County Center; as both fighters never took a backward step and fought their hearts out - to the delight of the appreciative fight crowd.

 

While appearing a closer fight than the judges scorecards reflect (79-73, 78-74 and 80-72; all for Rios), the popular Rios used a disciplined body attack along with his aggressive fighting style to stay perfect; improving to 11-0 with 5 knockouts.

 

Afterwards a bruised, but happy, Rios spoke about his win "He (Moon) was tough and knows the tricks.  I’d hurt him and he’d hang on, like he should," stated the talented jr. welterweight prospect, who added "I’m happy with the win and I will do better".

 

On the Northeast Promotions undercard…

Fellow Bronx jr. welterweight prospect Francisco "El Gato" Figuero looked impressive with his 3rd round TKO victory over Jadaschi Green (11-6-1, 9 KO’s) from East Orange, NJ.  Figuero crushed Green with a Joe Frazier-like left hook which hurt the usually resilient Green, who valiantly beat the ref’s count; only to absorb more punishment from "El Gato" before referee Ezzo’s late stoppage.

 

James Hope, traveling from Columbia, SC, stunned the White Plains fight crowd with his vicious 3rd round TKO win over former two-time NY Golden Gloves finalist Angel Torres, from nearby Yonkers.  Torres still looking for his first pro victory (now 0-1-1), fought courageously against the hard punching Hope (1-1, 1KO) and is learning the hard way about the differences between the amateur and professional fight game.

 

A female bout featured White Plains resident Ann Maria Saccurato (now 9-0-2, 4 KO’s) against Martha Ceitchman-Oorzoo (2-5-1, 1 KO).

Saccurato had her way against her over-matched opponent and dominated the fight until the referee mercifully stopped the contest in the third round.

 

West New York, NJ light heavyweight  Edwin "Gino" Ranquillo escaped with a razor-close four round split-decision victory over Brooklyn’s Jameson Bostic.  Ranquillo, aided by a late knockdown in round one, improved to 2-1 (1 KO) while Bostic fell to 1-2 (1KO).  Ranquillo, trained by the legendary Al Certo, is the son of former NJ light heavyweight champion Ramon Ranquillo-who knocked out former world champion Mike Rossman for his state title.

 

The "Nuts & Guts" award of the night went to Danny Rivera.  Rivera, fighting in the night’s opening bout came up off the deck in round one of his fight against Eric Simmons (2-2, 1 KO).  Enjoying a big reach advantage the taller Simmons, fighting out of NY’s Spanish Harlem, hurt Rivera early with several big shots.  Rivera battled back and showed his warrior heart.  With both middleweights throwing power shots, Rivera caught Simmons with a crippling left which rendered his foe in no condition to continue.  The "no quit" Rivera improved to 4-1, with Simmons becoming his 2nd KO victim.

 

A good night of action packed fights brought by Northeast Promotions at the fan friendly Westchester County Center, a perfect boxing venue where there isn’t a bad seat in the house.

Among those in attendance were former world champion and hall-of-famer Iran Barkley and former heavyweight contender Renaldo Snipes, the always dangerous "Mr. Snipes" put Larry Holmes on the deck in his quest for the heavyweight title and gave the champ all he could handle. 

Also in the crowd was 60’s light heavyweight Herschel Jacobs.  Jacobs fought during a talent-laden era and beat the rugged Rubin Carter.  Jacobs gave the "Hurricane" his first professional loss and also battled against the likes of world champion Harold Johnson, Jimmy Dupree and Kenny Norton.   

 

For information on future Northeast Promotions boxing shows go to www.nepboxing.com or call (845) 255-4900.