On Wednesday night DiBella Entertainment, Broadway Boxing presented an exciting night of boxing at BB King Blues Club in Manhattan.

Gabriel Bracero vs Hector Alatorre – Light-welterweight

The main event of the night was crowd favorite Gabriel Bracero (12-0) of Brooklyn, NY, who scored an eight round unanimous decision over tough Hector Alatorre (16-11) of Tulare, CA, this was a Light-welterweight bout. “Tito”, as Bracero is known, brought his usual all action style to the ring and landed with various combination shots throughout the fight, including a good number of right hands which seemed to catch Alatorre`s attention. The rugged Alatorre gave a good account of himself and both fighters showed the marks of a tough battle, with Bracero cut to the left eye, caused by a head butt and Alatorre a nasty gash on the left side of his head.

All three judges scored the fight 80-72 to Bracero  (13-0) and Alatorre drops to 16-12.

Javier Fortuna vs Victor Valenzuela – Super -featherweight

The most exciting fight of the night which didn’t even make it out of the first round was between explosive punching Dominican Republic native Javier Fortuna (12-0) and Victor Valenzuela (8-ll0) of Passaic, NJ at Super-featherweight. From the bell both fighters came out blasting, throwing bombs to the pleasure of the crowd. Southpaw Fortuna managed to back Valenzuela up against the ropes and landed a right hook which had Valenzuela out cold on his feet, Fortuna then followed up with a powerful left hook and Valenzuela crashED to the canvas. Referee Arthur Mercante Jr immediately waved the fight off at 1:10 of the first round.Fortuna now marches to 13-0 and Valenzuela falls to 8-1.

Tor Hamer vs Demetrice King – Heavyweight

In a heavyweight contest, New York’s Tor Hamer (12-1) scored a systematic eight round unanimous decision over game trial horse Demetrice King (14-19) of Flint, MI. Hamer boxed and moved well during the bout, using his jab to set up a variety of combinations. In round three, Hamer appeared to hurt King against the ropes but was unable to get the stoppage. At the end of the contest Kings swollen face showed the amount of punishment he took throughout.

All three judges scored the fight 80-72 to Hamer, now 13-1.

Sonya Lamonakis vs Tiffany Woodard – Heavyweight

New York’s Sonya Lamonakis (2-0) by way of Greece returned to BB Kings once again to excite her fans with a six round unanimous decision over Tiffany Woodward (3-3) of Wilson, North Carolina. Woodard came out boxing and landed some clean jab right hands on the face of Lamonakis, however, it was the overall strength and harder shots of Lamonakis which proved the difference between the two fighters. Woodard was not at all fazed by the stronger Lamonakis and gave all she could to the final bell with some great exchanges and inside work by both. Judges  scored the fight 58-56, and Mc 58-57. Lamonakis now improves to 3-0 and Woodard falls to 3-4.

Alex Perez vs Doel Carrasquillo – Welterweight

Southpaw Alex “The Brick City Bullet” Perez (12-0) of Newark, New Jersey made a hard fought and very entertaining debut under DiBella Entertainment with an eight round unanimous decision over extremely tough and durable Doel Carrasquillo (14-16-1) of Lancaster PA. Perez came out throwing some heavy artillery, landing with numerous straight rights, left hands and hooks. Carrasquillo kept walking forward with a very high guard, soaking up everything Perez had to offer. On many occasions Carrasquillo seemed to mock Perez by lowering his hands and taking deep breathes. This continued up until round five when Perez seemed tired from his own constant movement and the heavy punches he had been throwing. Carrasquillo still marching forward took advantage of the tired Perez and caught him flush with a left hook, Perez went down but arose at around seven and finished the round. From round six onwards Perez regrouped and boxed his way to the final bell. Judges scored the fight 72-78 73-78. Perez now improves to 13-0 and Carrasquillo drops to 14-17-1.

Steven Martinez vs David Lopez – Light-middleweight

Steven Martinez (6-0) of the Bronx, New York had won all of his previous six fights by KO, however, he was extended for the first time in his young career when he won a six round unanimous decision over the crafty and durable David Lopez (3-2-3) of Caldwell, ID. Martinez came out holding the center of the ring throwing an abundant number of left and right hooks to the body of Lopez, which had him clinging on. This pretty much continued up until the end of round five, although round six saw the southpaw Lopez come out firing, throwing clusters of shots to the predictable Martinez having some success. Martinez fought fire with fire and retaliated back with his own shots which brought an end to a decent contest. All three judges scored the fight 55-59 to Martinez. Martinez now goes to 7-0 and Lopez to 3-3-3.

Delen Parsley vs Eberto Medina – Light-middleweight

Delen Parsley (3-0) of Brooklyn, NY, scored a four round unanimous decision over rugged Eberto Medina (5-4) of Newark, NJ. The taller Parsley trying to establish his jab by using his height and reach advantage over his opponent, this was met by strong hooks from Medina as he waded forward under the reach of Parsley forcing him backwards. Parsley figured this out and worked to the body of Medina forcing him to spit/lose his mouth piece twice in the first round. Medina did have some success in the second round as he worked on the inside of Parsley. However, by round three Parsley had found his range and worked well behind the jab, also connecting with solid straight right hands as Medina jumped in. Parsley hurt and staggered Medina into the corner at the end of the fourth and looked on the verge of a stoppage, but Medina hung on and made it to the bell. All three judges scored the fight 39-37 to Parsley. Parsley now improves to 4-0 and Medina falls to 5-5.

Angel Gonzalez vs Borngod Washington – Light-heavyweight

Angel Gonzalez (1-2) of Yonkers, NY, disposed of Borngod Washington (0-6) in 43 seconds of the first round. Washington came out swinging for the fences, hitting and backing up Gonzalez. Gonzalez furiously retaliated with a series of wild punches, he then backed Washington up against the ropes and landed a left hook which sent Borngod numb on the ropes, forcing referee Arthur Mercante Jr to stop the contest. Gonzalez moves to 2-2 and Washington sinks to 0-7.



Though one question was answered, as it seems Cotto, (34-1, 27KO’s) has overcome his loss to Antonio Margarito last year that left him battered after 11 rounds/ It was a rough fight from the beginning, as expected, with the only knockdown coming from a Cotto punch late in the first round.

Clottey, (35,3, 21 KO’s) who gave Cotto the cut in the third round, attributed to a head butt, may have indeed been the winner if it weren’t for that 10-8 first round that went to Cotto  that caused Clottey to briefly hit the canvas.. And the final two rounds went to Cotto with one judge at ringside having 114-113 for Clottey, two others 115-112 and 116-111 for Cotto. This writer gave the fight to Clottey 114-113.

After the nasty cut continued to pour blood from the left eye, Cotto had to resort to another strategy. He continued to punch well, landing 723 punches to the 622 of Clottey, but the challenger in the ropes many times was able to take the punishment and land a few power punches of his own.

It was the onslaught of punches from Cotto that continued to show how resilient of a fighter Clottey is.  The native of Ghana, now residing in the Bronx, also had to overcome a pro Cotto crowd at the Garden. Most of the 17,734 were Cotto fans waving the Puerto Rican flag, screaming for their fighter throughout the fight, though this was the first time a Cotto fight at the Garden failed to sell out.

And if Top Rank promoter Bob Arum hadn’t consoled Clottey immediately after the fight, then perhaps this could have been the last fight for Clottey. Disappointed and annoyed about the final decision Clottey immediately said, “That’s it, I’m done with boxing, I can’t take it anymore.”

To which Arum, who promotes both Clottey and Cotto, embraced Clottey and said to him, “a magnificent fight and you have to continue.”  By all means Clottey deserves a return bout, and after listening to Arum and getting over the disappointment, Cottey asked for one.

But Clottey may have to wait as Arum is looking to put Cotto in the ring next, possibly with Manny Pacquio considered the best pound-for pound fighter at 147.  Said Clottey, “They robbed me. He was running and I was chasing. I threw the hardest punches.”

Hand it to Cotto though, because after the cut he fought like a champion.. Even in the ninth and tenth rounds the cut got worse, of which Cotto said, “The cut made me fight harder but I felt like that I was winning all the way”

But there were some tactics from Cotto that haven’t been seen. Perhaps his new trainer, Joe Santiago, who replaced Cotto’s uncle Evangelista, was a reason why Cotto in the fifth round was a different fighter. In the corner with Clottey he spun his opponent around and Clottey, fell face first on the canvas.

The result was some time for Clottey to recover after hurting his right knee but he was able to recover by continuing to fight at his pace. “The referee had to do something,” said Clottey who also complained that Cotto used low blows many times, also Cotto hit Clottey in the back of his head late in the fight which also got no warning from referee Arthur Mercante Jr.

Now Arum has to look at the future for Cotto.  The Pacquiao fight is what he would like to do and Cotto will evaluate the options.  There is also a possible return bout with WBA welterweight champion Shane Mosley, and Cotto, from what has been often heard would like that chance again against Margarito..

But Margarito is still serving a one-year suspension for fighting with tainted hand wraps under his gloves which now appears to have been responsible for Cotto’s only loss. “I will see what the company says,” was the response from Cotto about getting Margarito again.

Clottey deserves a return bout and it may have to wait, and his courageous effort showed he is indeed one of the top three welterweights.  As for Cotto,: who admitted that Clottey was a tough opponent, it is time for some rest and maybe some readjustments with his new trainer and without cut man Miguel Diaz who he also dismissed.

“We made a few mistakes,” admitted Cotto who may still have to prove that he is in the company of other great Puerto Rican boxing champions such as Wilfredo Gomez and Felix Trinidad.  “Everybody will get better,” he said.

CALDERON GETS A DRAW: The co-feature on the Garden card saw junior flyweight champion Ivan Calderon (32-0-1, 6KO’s) of Guaynabo Puerto Rico earn a split decision of his 12-round fight that went to the judges scorecard after six rounds because of an accidental head butt. Challenger and opponent Rodel Mayol (25-3, 1, 19KO’s) of the Philippines caused the nasty cut on the forehead of Calderon.

As a result of the fight being halted after six rounds the technical rule of the championship bout becomes a decision for the judges. One judge had it even, one for Calderon and the other to Mayol and as a result Calderon retained his title.

“I was coming in and he would go down low and that’s when I got hit in the head,” said Calderon/. The butt came in the fourth round and another one moments later. It was the fourth defense of his title.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com