Judah and Guerrero Win at Newark Saturday
By Ken Hissner at ringside (Nov 8, 2010) Doghouse Boxing  
Zab “Super” Judah, 40-6 (27), of Brooklyn, won a split decision over Lucas Matthysse, 27-1 (25), of Argentina, for the NABO Junior Welterweight title/IBF Eliminator for #2 ranking over 12 rounds. The co-feature had Robert “Ghost” Guerrero, 28-1-1 (18), Gilroy, CA, defeating Vicente Escobedo, 22-3 (14), Woodland, CA, in a fight a lot closer than the scores showed.

Main Events, Golden Boy and Super Judah Promotions joined together for the HBO Boxing After Dark show at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, Saturday night! It took over 6 hours to show 10 fights due to the HBO coverage finishing after midnight and almost running into “setting the clocks back time”.

Judges Waleska Roldan and Joe Pasquale gave Judah the first 5 rounds while Hilton Whitaker gave him all but the fourth round. They all gave him the eighth round. The scores were announced Roldan having Matthysse ahead due to a tenth round knockdown scored over Judah for a 114-113. Pasquale and Whitaker both had it 114-113 for Judah.

The fans were not happy with the decision but in all honesty there were quite a few Latino’s due to Guerrero, Matthysse, Escobedo, Mike Perez and Angel Concepcion on the card. Due to the fact Matthysse came on to sweep the last 3 rounds may have influenced the fans. If it were not for the knockdown a draw would have been a possibility and I don’t think they want to see a rematch.

Referee Earl Brown gave his share of warnings to Matthysse but no points were deducted. Matthysse caused a head butt in the eighth round opening a cut on the outside of Judah’s left eye brow. In the tenth round Matthysse landed a straight right that came off the gloves to the jaw of Judah who took a count.

Judah was not super sharp as he was in his last appearance at the Prudential Center. Matthysse is limited outside of a straight right hand. Judah was his first legitimate opponent.

In the co-feature the fans let Guerrero and Escobedo know early they wanted more action and that they got over 10 rounds for the vacant WBO Intercontinental lightweight title. In California where both are from it would have easily been a man event worthy of HBO coverage.

Guerrero scored knockdowns in the third, fifth and sixth rounds. The southpaw former IBF super featherweight champion had his “A” game and though he won convincingly the scores were no reflection on the fight itself.

Escobedo received a nasty cut along the left side of his head that bleed throughout. A straight left to the jaw in the third dropped Escobedo. To his credit he came fighting back. In the fifth a clash of heads caused a cut on the right eye of Escobedo. He was dropped again in the fifth and by a left uppercut in the sixth. The seventh round was possibly the best round of the fight with both throwing a lot of leather. Ricardo Rivera was the referee.

All scores for Guerrero were 100-88, 98-90 and 96-92. This writer had it 99-88. Guerrero should be in a world title fight soon. Escobedo is definitely skilled enough to be a contender at least.

The most impressive fighter on the card was Adrien "The Problem” Broner, 18-0 (15), of Cincinnati, OH, who looks like the best prospect out of that town since Aaron “The Hawk” Pryor. Every move he makes before, during and after the fight plays to the crowd. He easily stopped Julio Ilido, 40-20-1 (35), of Miami via Colombia, scoring 2 quick knockdowns in the first round before referee Lindsay Page stepped in at 1:34. This was scheduled for 8. Broner is going to be a “problem” for the contenders shortly.

Welterweight Olympian Sadam Ali, 10-0 (6), of Brooklyn, NY, had Gary Bergeron, 12-7 (6), of New Orleans, LA, for target practice. Ali had Bergeron down in the first and second round. The only thing Bergeron did was put up a bad peek-a-boo defense. He was finally rescued by referee Page after a 3 punch combo had him out on his feet. This was scheduled for 8.

Newark’s Mike “the Artist Angelo” Perez, 10-0-1 (5), made a very impressive local debut. He stalked Hevinson Herrera, 14-7-1 (12), of Miami via Colombia, and dropped him with two left hooks to the body. Perez had a real nice flurry prior to this setting up the knock down. He was in complete charge stopping his inferior opponent at 1:02 of the first round. Randy Neumann was the referee in this lightweight 6.

In one of the most exciting matches of the night Newark’s Tyrone Luckey, 2-0 (1), found himself on the canvas early from a left hook from Alex Montes, 1-2 (0), of Puerto Rico in a junior lightweight 4. The taller Luckey came back in the third round scoring a pair of knockdowns. He followed this with a flurry before referee Page stepped in to stop it at 2:55. Montes to his credit, was a game fighter to the end.

Canada’s Mikael Zewski, 5-0 (3), came in with a good amateur background but failed to impress though he easily defeated the taller Ardrick Butler, 5-3 (2), of Philadelphia 40-36 in a welterweight 4. Neumann was the referee.

Newark’s Angel Concepcion, 3-0, (0), easily defeated Maurice Amaro, 1-3 (0), of Philadelphia in a 4 round light heavyweight match 40-36. He had Amaro on the verge of a knockdown at the final bell. Page was the referee.

Mike “Lefty” Brooks, 3-0 (1), of Long Island, NY, had his hand’s full with Kwayne Hill, 1-6 (1), of Philadelphia over 4 rounds in a junior lightweight match, winning on all score cards 40-36. Neumman was the referee.

Poland’s Mariusz Wach, 22-0 (10), did not fight in a heavyweight 8 due to opponent scratching. In attendance was former IBF cruiserweight champion and now heavyweight top contender Tomasz Adamek of Newark and 3 division champion Roy Jones, Jr. The latter worked some color for HBO. Matchmaker was Philadelphia’s J Russell Peltz.

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