ALL THE ACTION
In a clash of faded former world champs, Berto pips Alexander to remain in the mix
Some notable names in Uniondale, and a bad night for Merseyside in Cardiff
FLOYD MAYWEATHER, WHO HAS FOUGHT BERTO, NOW PROMOTES HIM
THERE were notable names galore on the Dibella Entertainment bill at the Nassau Coliseum, which featured former world champions, current contenders and young prospects. Some of the fighters on show were trying to recapture past glories, while others took a gentle step towards their dream of making it to the top of the mountain.
In the welterweight main event between two ex-world titlists fighting to remain relevant, Andre Berto rallied late on to win a split 12-round decision over
Devon Alexander. This was a fight that Alexander let slip away, although to me his early cushion was enough to withstand Berto’s late surge. I had it 115-112 to Alexander.
The southpaw from St Louis dropped Berto with a straight left and a couple of looping rights to the back of the head in the third round in what was a largely sloppy affair. Berto was repeatedly warned for holding by referee Ron Lipton.
There were moments in which you could have questioned Berto’s frame of mind, such as when he lifted Alexander up in the air, then yelled at his corner. Then, in the eighth, Berto’s groin protector came out. It landed on the canvas and had to be put in again before the start of the next round.
With Floyd Mayweather, who had previously fought Berto and now promotes him, in attendance, the man from Winter Haven, Florida, battled hard down the stretch and closed the gap enough to impress judges Julie Lederman and Don Trella, both of whom had it 115-112. Tony Paolillo had Alexander in front 114-113.
Inactivity may have robbed former WBO middleweight champ Peter Quillin of some skills, but the Brooklyn man still hits hard. When J’leon Love felt his power in the early going of their supermiddleweight contest, he then fought more to survive than to win. Love, from Las Vegas, moved around the ring all fight, making it difficult for Quillin to catch him.
Quillin scored heavily in the eighth when he finally trapped Love on the ropes, but his opponent’s safety-first strategy made him elusive. As a result, Quillin had to settle for a 10-round unanimous decision – 98-92 for judges Steve Weisfeld and Kevin Morgan, and 99-91 for Glenn Feldman. Danny Schiavone refereed.
Luis Collazo just won’t fade away. The former WBA welterweight boss from Brooklyn has been in with some of the biggest names in his weight class. On this night he got himself into superb condition for his match against Fort Myers’ Bryant Perrella. It is a good thing Collazo did, because the Floridian portsider was primed for an upset.
Collazo’s right eye was cut in the third round, his left in the seventh. Perrella continuously doubled and tripled up on his jabs, scoring points in the process.
Behind on two of the scorecards entering the eighth, Collazo’s non-stop pressure paid off as he started to hurt Perrella with a series of power punches. Collazo’s momentum carried over for the rest of the fight and he was rewarded with a 10-round majority verdict. Judge Allen Nace had it 95-95, but was overruled by Ken Ezzo and John Madfis, who tallied 96-94 and 98-92 respectively. Tony Chiarantano was the third man.
Marcus Browne was originally scheduled to box Sergey Kovalev on this evening, but a domestic abuse issue for Browne put the fight on the backburner. Although Kovalev was knocked out by Browne’s replacement, Eleider Alvarez, based on how the unbeaten Staten Island light-heavyweight looked against Dominican Lenin Castillo, it is doubtful that he would have enjoyed similar success. More to the point, Browne looked dreadful in winning a unanimous 10-round decision from judges James Pierce, Larry Hazzard Jnr (both 98-91) and John Mckaie (97-92). Benjy Esteves Jnr refereed.
Castillo was a puzzle which Browne could not solve. He stayed back, content to make Browne miss, then clinched tightly when Marcus got on the inside. Browne attacked hard in the second, but otherwise was happy to do just enough to win rounds. Castillo’s one moment came in the fifth, when he suddenly lashed out with a pair of lefts, dropping his southpaw opponent. Browne jumped up unhurt, but it cast further questions about his chin. The crowd, who had come to cheer Browne, periodically booed him during the contest.
Mandatory IBF lightweight title contender Richard Commey, from Ghana, is to be commended for how he took care of business in stopping Mexico’s Yardley Cruz after 29 seconds of the second round of a scheduled eight. With a world championship fight on the horizon, he came to make a statement. That he did, decking Yardley late in the first, then forcing him into a corner early in the second and landing with pinpoint accuracy, forcing referee Esteves to step in.
Five months ago, Sergey Lipinets lost his IBF super-lightweight title to Mikey Garcia. The Russian made a successful return to the ring here, claiming a majority 10-round verdict over Ecuador’s Erick
Bone. The judges were all over the place in this one. Robin Taylor had it 95-95, but was overruled by Frank Lombardi (98-92) and John Basile (99-91). I had Lipinets winning 96-94, his pressure finally paying off over the last three rounds against an elusive opponent. Mr Chiarantano refereed.
THE VERDICT Berto may yet secure another big fight, but the future is more unclear for Alexander.