On Wednesday night at the Hilton Rye Town Hotel in Rye Brook, NY, Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing presented an exciting five bout card before a near capacity crowd. Headlining the show was former number one light heavyweight contender, and Westchester County native, David Telesco, taking on former two-time super middleweight champion, Bryon Mitchell, in a match-up of two explosive punchers. Both fighters came out in the first looking to measure each other with their jabs, and find the range to land their power shots..
Near the end of the first a huge counter overhand right from Mitchell caught Telesco flush on the chin while Telesco was looking to exchange, sending him to the canvas just as the bell sounded to end the first. Telesco jumped up immediately, but seemed to be on shaky legs.
In the second Telesco began using his jab to keep Mitchell at bay, and landed a nice left hook midway through the round that seemed to stun the hard pressing Mitchell. With Telesco’s back against the ropes Mitchell landed another huge counter overhand right just as Telesco was unleashing a left hook, dropping Telesco face first to the canvas.
Telesco tried to get to his feet, but was in no condition to continue, forcing the referee to call a halt to the contest at 2:08 of the second round.
With the win, Mitchell improves to 28-5-1, 21KO while Telesco drops to 30-7-1, 25KO.
In the co-feature bout of the evening, former 1996 Guyana Olympian “Big” John Douglas improved to 7-14-3, 3KO with a controversial six round decision over local fan favorite Jon “The Fighting Marine” Schneider, who dropped to 7-4-1, 5KO.
It was evident from the opening bell that both Schneider and Douglas came to fight and were eager to engage at any chance they could.
Schneider was the sharper of the two, but Douglas was effective with his wide looping shots.
In the sixth and final round the two combatants went toe-to-toe not wanting to leave the decision up to the judge’s scorecards.
When the judge’s scorecards were announced declaring Douglas the split decision winner, the pro-Schneider crowd voiced their displeasure as the fight truly could have went either way.
UNDERCARD RESULTS
Eilon Kedem W6 Julio Valadez
Ahmad Mickens D4 Todd Eriksson
Richard Brown W4 Andrew Hutchinson
Gomez rocks Perez in a huge stunner
MANAGUA, NICARGUA (OCTOBER 21, 2009)–After more than a year of inactivity, two time former IBF world champ Luis Perez (25-4, 16 kos) returned to action in his home country of Nicaragua against fellow countryman Sergio Gomez (14-5, 10 kos). What was supposed to be a welcome back party for Perez soon turned into a nightmare as a highly motivated Gomez took the action straight to Perez.
Gomez, a former three time Central American amateur champ, showed signs of his potential by putting on a boxing clinic. Perez had no answer for Gomez jab, straight lead right and left hook combinations. His lateral movement and smart boxing left Perez without any answers.
After losing the first round, Perez came back with fury evening up the score in round two. From then on it was all downhill for Perez as Gomez started connecting sharp combinations to the head. The fight was stopped after four rounds by referee Enrique Portocarrero after witnessing the destruction a series of straight rights hands created over the eyelids of Perez.
It was Perez first fight since his unsuccessful bid to become a champion in three different weight classes when he lost against Panamanian fighter Ricardo Cordoba in an attempt to gain the interim WBA super bantamweight title. Clearly the lack of activity hurt Perez as he was out of distance, had no reflexes and looked clumsy at times, much different than the Perez who made various defenses of his world title.
TELESCO & MITCHELL LOOKING TO FOLLOW IN FOOTSTEPS OF PAST GREATS
When former number one light heavyweight contender David Telesco (30-6-1, 25KO) and former two-time world champion Byron Mitchell (27-5-1, 20KO) step into the ring against on another on October 21st on Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing Promoted card at the Rye Town Hilton Hotel in Rye Brook, NY, there will be no title at stake, or huge payday to cash in on. There will also be no major television coverage such as HBO or Showtime airing the event. And while they will both be years removed from the time the two knockout artists were widely considered to be two of the top fighters in their respective divisions, saying that this fight isn’t one of the most important in their entire careers, would be a huge understatement.
“You have a former number one contender fighting a former two-time world champion in what is most likely their last opportunity to do something big for their career’s in this sport,” stated Joe DeGuardia, CEO and founder of Star Boxing. “This is a do or die fight for both of these guys, and they know it. At this stage of their careers neither of these guys can afford a loss, so you know they are going to give it all they have come October 21st.”
Both Telesco and Mitchell are looking to follow in the footsteps of past greats such as George Foremen, and most recently Bernard Hopkins, who have shocked the world and won world championships while in their 40’s. At 41-years of age Telesco is the older of the two (Mitchell will turn 36 on the 31st of this month). Both guys also recently were on four and a half year hiatus’s from the ring. Mitchell returned in 2008 and has fought three times since, while this will only be Telesco’s second fight since returning in July with a sensational 2nd round TKO over extremely durable, William Gill.
TELESCO (R) LOOKED TREMENDOUS IN DISMANTLING GILL (L) IN HIS LAST FIGHT
Sometimes when a fighter takes an extended period of time away from the ring, for one reason or another they never come back the same as they were before they left. As for Telesco, he feels the time away could produce complete opposite results.
“Everything’s been great. I have been having great training camps, my sparring has been terrific, and most importantly my body feels very good, and very strong,” says Telesco.
“I have been boxing since I was 15 years old, so the time away helped me rest my body. I have a great team of personal trainers at The Club @ 1133 that I have been working with for the past eight weeks or so, and they really are taking my strength training to a different level. We are working on a lot of different explosive exercises to not only build power, but to build speed, and I think you will once again see that when I step into the ring on the 21st.”
At 41-year years of age though, there are certainly times when maybe the five days of boxing, four days of hard road work, and three days of intensive strength training a week; all while holding down three jobs; do start to take a toll on your body. For Telesco though, his training partner won’t allow him to slow down, that is not if Telesco hopes to save face at home.
“I train with my 21-year-old son David Jr. He plays in the newly formed CDFL (Collegiate Development Football League). It gives players a chance to continue playing football at a very high level and also an opportunity to be noticed by both college and professional scouts. We both push each other hard in training. As much as he always tells everyone I am inspiration to him, he is just as much inspiration for me.”
While Mitchell, the former two-time WBA super middleweight champion is focused on his current bout against Telesco, he can’t help to look at the bigger picture on the horizon.
“This is an exciting fight for me, because Telesco’s name carries credibility. He was a former number one contender, and he fought some big names in his career, including going twelve rounds with Roy Jones Jr,” stated Mitchell. “Beating a guy like this will be a big positive for my career.”
While some fighters may be wary of having to fight in their opponent’s back yard, it’s something that Mitchell has become accustomed to over his 23 plus year career.
“Even when I was the champion of the world, I was still traveling into guy’s hometowns to defend my championship belt, so fighting Telesco in Rye doesn’t make any difference to me. Once we get in that ring, it’s just him and I, his fans can’t fight for him. I have had a great training camp for this fight and I am in great shape, and just ready to go. I am really looking forward to getting in the ring on the 21st and coming out with a spectacular victory.”
And that spectacular victory Mitchell eludes to isn’t just a good winning performance from him, it’s a knockout.
“If you ask my trainer he will tell you we never go looking for the knockout and if it comes it comes. A lot of fighters say that too, that they don’t look for the knockout, but if they have the opportunity they will go for it. Every single round I am in that ring, I am looking for the knockout. Of course it’s not always going to happen, but I am constantly looking for it. Maybe it’s a certain punch I see can land, or a certain angle I need to be in to throw that punch, whatever it is though I am always looking for it. I have power as you can see by my record, and I like to bang, as does David. You have two guys coming straight forward at each other looking to knock the other guy out. These are the type of fights as a fan you won’t want to miss, because there are going to be plenty of fireworks, that I can promise you.”