Ali in attendance at hard-hitting title bouts
By BRIAN BURKE
Sports Writer
As if the finalists in the 70th Annual Bengal Bouts needed any added motivation, they received an extra jolt of adrenaline Friday night upon learning they would be going for a title in the presence of the greatest fighter of all time. With Muhammed Ali in attendance, the boxers lived up to their end of the bargain, providing several hard hitting contests in search of a championship.
120 Pounds
In a minor upset, Shawn "Knockout The Old And Bring In The" Newberg took the first title of the night, earning the split decision over top seeded James "Pirahna" Fishburne. Although both fighters started tentatively, Newberg settled in and employed the same effective strategy he used in the semifinals.
As in his previous fight, Newberg allowed his opponent to chase him around the ring and swing at his hands, then countered with combinations when Fishburne wore down. The tactic appeared to frustrate Fishburne as he was unable to land open shots while scrambling after Newberg.
"That's the strategy I use a lot: block and go, block and go," Newberg said. "I think I was able to get up early and sustain [the lead]."
Newberg plans to move up a weight class for next year.
130 Pounds
At 130 pounds Matt "The Don" Fumagalli knocked off another high seed to secure the title. Having already defeated the No. 1-ranked fighter, Fumagalli took a split decision over second-seeded Camilo "Rollin'" Rueda.
Overall it was a sloppy contest with plenty of holding and errant elbows, but Fumagalli was most successful when he backed Rueda into the ropes and traded punches. Rueda tried to stick and move, which worked at times, but both fighters tired by the third round, and Fumagalli was able to grind out the win.
"I had to keep him in. I just knew when he came in, I had to get my hits." Fumagalli said.
The championship was especially satisfying for Fumagalli considering the competition he faced on the way.
"Jason [McMahon] was the man to beat in my bracket, and Camilo in the other," Fumagalli said. "It was a real accomplishment to fight such good boxers as those guys."
140 Pounds
As expected, both top ranked Kurt Wilson and Mike "The Motor City Madman" Waldo came out swinging away in the finals of the 140-pound card. While they stood toe-to-toe for much of the opening round, Waldo was able to land a good straight right that gave him an early lead. Wilson came back as the pace slowed in the second, staying low and landing jabs to the body.
What made the difference was the third round, where Waldo simply outlasted Wilson. Waldo managed to get Wilson against the ropes where he connected on enough hooks and straight rights for Wilson to be assessed a standing-eight. In the end, it was Waldo coming away with a unanimous decision.
"Kurt was the first guy I sparred with, and he killed me, so I knew what he was like coming in." Waldo said. "I knew whoever won that third round would win it."
150 Pounds
Senior captain J.R. "Maddog" Mellin capped off an excellent four years in Bengal Bouts with a unanimous decision over Dennis "The Natural Disaster" Abdelnour for the 150-pound title.
While Abdelnour came into the title bout with two knockouts, what may have been overlooked was Mellin's ability to also stand in and trade punches. After a closely fought first round, Mellin broke it open in the second by knocking down Abdelnour with combinations to the head. Abdelnour came back swinging furiously, and he did land some damaging hooks that bloodied Mellin.
"At first I felt pretty good, especially after the knockdown, but he came back after that. He's a really hard hitter," Mellin said.
Mellin avoided getting into trouble in the third, fighting more conservatively to earn the decision.
"At the advice of my corner, I was up on points, and with the cut above my eye I needed to dance some."
This is Mellin's second title in four finals appearances.
155 Pounds
In the 155-pound card, Jeff "The Pittsburgh Kid" Dobosh took the title with a unanimous decision over Paul "He-Man" Mehan.
Both fighters struggled to land combinations early, but the second round turned into a slugfest where the momentum swayed back and forth. By the third round, Dobosh was in control, countering Mehan with jabs and straight rights that almost knocked off the helmet of his foe, leading to a standing-eight.
"I love the counterpunch, but he didn't charge so I had to be the aggressor, and that's not my style," Dobosh said. "In the third [round], he felt he had to come to me, so that worked well."
Dobosh was especially thrilled to meet Muhammed Ali after his victory.
"I met [President] Clinton, and that was nothing, but [after meeting Ali] I was in total awe," he said.
160 Pounds
In a battle of surprise finalists, Chris "My Nickname Was Excised" Matassa needed just over a round to take the title in a technical knockout of P.J. "Downtown" Duwors.
What became apparent early on was the significant reach advantage of Matassa, which he used to land several damaging hooks and capitalize with uppercuts when Duwors put his head down.
The second round began with more of the same, as Matassa landed jabs and hooks at will. The fight was stopped 29 seconds into the round for what appeared to be only an interruption for bleeding, but Matassa was soon declared the winner.
All Sports Stories for Monday, March 6, 2000
