Prospects Matched Tough in “Title Night In Hartford” Undercard

By Peter Yemma





Saturday night’s off television under card for the “Title Night in Hartford” featured hard punching, young, and undefeated up and comers against stiff opposition.

The night kicked off with the evening’s only mismatch when undefeated heavyweight Emad “Magic” Ali upped his record to three wins and three stoppages with no defeats as he scorched 241 lb. Kelsey Arnold (1-4.) Ali began to score with a clubbing right over Arnold’s lazy jab almost immediately, dropping his man when he doubled it up. Ali threw a straight right hand in between his opponent’s guard to score his first eye catching punch and start to damage his man.Overhand rights forced a finish to the fight at 2:39 of the first round. Ali’s relative lack of size might hurt him in today’s heavyweight picture. He’s listed generously at six feet and weighed in at a less than chiseled 207.

Tyrone “The One” Brunson squared off against tough veteran Jose Medina (15-16, 11 KO) in the evening’s second bout, scheduled for ten. The power and physical talent that’s brought Brunson to 21-0-1, 20 KO told the story of the evening. Medina has been in with some of the best in the world, including David Lopez, ranked 5th by the ring at middleweight, Anthony Dirrell, Marcus Johnson, and four additional fighters who were undefeated with at least ten bouts. Brunson came out respectful of his level of opposition, circling and jabbing to gauge his man’s range, and only shooting his right hand to counter the jab. Brunson has only fought 36 rounds in his four year pro career, a testament not only to his power but soft opposition. He seemed willing to go rounds against Medina however; he boxed with his man intelligently until openings presented themselves. A left hook to the body stopped medina dead in his tracks, and would forecast the beginning of the end. Brunson stepped up his offensive output steadily, forcing the trial horse Medina to show his chin and resolve. A perfect left hook to the liver dropped Medina to his knees for a ten count at 1:31 of round three. The two men embraced after the bout. Brunson is 24, hungry, and talented but will need time to simmer and perfect his craft after a long layoff beginning in ’08 and ending in October. With all the tools in his belt, this young man needs rounds.

Up next were contracted bantamweights Chris Avalos (13-0, 10 KO,) and Robert DaLuz (12-22-3, 9 KO.) Brawling prospect Avalos’ style guarantees an exciting fight. DaLuz has fought as high as junior lightweight, and looked every bit the bigger man as he missed the contracted weight by many lbs, weighing in a half pound less than the 122 jr. featherweight limit. The fireworks began right away with both men trading hooks in the center of the ring. Avalos’ hooks were shorter and more effective in the exchanges. As advertised, Avalos poured on his offense with reckless abandon, often leaving his chin up and exposed in the process. In the fourth the California prospect had to hang on as he was caught and hurt in an exchange when DaLuz took advantage of his willingness to trade. Avalos showed a good chin and started working his way back into the fight immediately, pinning his man on the ropes and squaring up to land two fisted flurries punctuated by hard uppercuts to the chest and chin, and right hands over the top. DaLuz stood up to Avalos’ firepower and answered back with combinations of his own throughout the remainder of the bout, eliciting a roar from the crowd. Avalos was awarded a unanimous decision, 79-73 twice, and 80-71.

The crowd began to fill in and make its presence known for Miami based Brazilian Michael Oliveira as he took on Francisco Ruben Osorio (12-7, 10 KO) in a middleweight bout scheduled for eight. The first round was a competitive feeling out process, as the southpaw boxing skills and high guard of Ruben Osorio befuddled the powerful nineteen year old Oliveira. Their feet tangled and heads clashed early and often, with the upright Osorio getting the worst of it. Oliveira picked up momentum in the third after a straight right to his opponent’s chin elicited a cheer of “Brazil, Brazil” from the Connecticut crowd. Oliveira’s offensive output increased in the fourth. His punches became increasingly more crisp and precise. As his confidence grew he began to showboat and Osorio responded by cracking him on mouth, which prompted only a grin. Osorio’s polish started to wear off and he lost his ability to keep the tenacious Brazilian at a comfortable distance with the jab. Oliveira saw blood when his man was unable to keep his lead hand high enough to maintain the guard that had kept him out of trouble early. Oliveira dispensed with jabbing and focused on landing his right straight and down the pipe.

A serious lack of communication in the Osorio camp made for a confusing stretch in between the sixth and seventh rounds. Francisco clearly thought the fight was over and that he’d gone the distance, following his opponent to his corner to congratulate him. He protested briefly when the round card girl climbed through the ropes holding a number seven. When the round began he spat his mouthpiece immediately, allowing for extra time for lobbying from his corner to have the fight called. The spent Osorio was easy prey for Oliveira, who was clearly in shape to go for at least the scheduled eight. Osorio stuck with the slugging Brazilian as best he could but was unable to answer the bell for the 8th upon advice from his corner. Oliveira is a tough and powerful middleweight, but a quicker boxer than the sluggish Osorio who uses angles will give him trouble. At 9-0 with 7 KO to his name and a budding Brazilian fan base, Oliveira is a promising young fighter who can sell tickets.

In the exciting final off-television bout Mexico’s Orlando Lora was awarded an unpopular decision over tough Nicaraguan Octavio Narvaez (7-8-1 4 KO.) Narvaez pressed the action throughout the entirety of the eight rounds and created a fight in a phone booth. Lora was forced to give up his height and fight a shorter man’s fight, countering off the ropes with single shots because he lacked the room to throw combination's. The Mexican prospect Lora (26-0-1 18 KO) was able to outclass Narvaez in spots on the outside, scoring with jabs and an occasional long right hand when it presented itself. A cut over Lora’s left eye opened up in the seventh, and he was again forced to slug it out on the inside with Narvaez. Lora’s size seemed to wear on Narvaez in the latter half of the fight, but his resolve remained sturdy as they slugged it out to a standing ovation from the crowd. Upon the announcement of a unanimous decision in Lora’s favor 77-75 twice and 78-75 they booed. When Narvaez left the ring they cheered.

Posted in: News