MADDALONE STOPS POLLEY IN THREE

QUEENS, NY – The Resorts World Casino hosted another successful night of fights on Saturday night as they featured Vinny Maddalone (35-8, 26 KO’s, 231 1/2lbs) up against Byron Polley 25-13-1, 11KO’s, 268 1/2lbs). The event was promoted by Ole World, New Legend, and Won Promotions in association with Joe Deguardia’s Star Boxing.

Maddalone, as usual, came out swinging. Polley was horribly overweight, and Maddalone zeroed in on his soft midsection. Maddalone scored a knockdown in the first, maintained control of the second, and stormed out of his corner in the third, gunning for the KO. A knockdown came early in the round, and Maddalone pounced, landing a hook upstairs. After a delayed reaction, Polley hit the canvas, and the referee waved the fight off. Maddalone won the fight by way of technical knockout victory at the 1:11 point of the third round.

The co-feature showcased Juan Dominguez (11-0, 7 KO’s, 121lbs) against Jhon Alberto Molina (30-21-3, 19 KO’s, 120lbs). Dominguez started the fight imposing his considerable size advantage with long and straight punches from a safe distance. Molina made attempts at getting inside behind a looping overhand right, but Dominguez seemed prepared for that by only using his jab when absolutely necessary. After three rounds, Dominguez was in control, but still hadn’t established himself as completely dominant. Both fighters seemed fresh as they made it to their corners before the fourth round, but Molina began complaining about an injury to his left thigh. He was unable to continue and was forced to retire, giving Dominguez a technical knockout victory at the :00 mark of the fourth round officially. Dominguez and his fans were glad for the win, but appeared disappointed in the fact that he couldn’t win the old fashioned way.

Frank Galarza (7-0-1, 4 KO’s, 152lbs) made his return to Resorts World hoping for a big performance against Roberto Lopez (4-3-2, 1 KO, 152lbs). Both fighters quickly established stiff jabs and followed up with hard rights, but it was Galarza who landed the cleaner blows. Galarza utilized the ring much better, which was something he hasn’t shown in past fights. Lopez wanted a brawl, but Galarza’s movement kept him in check. As the bout progressed, Lopez was able to continue his pressure and pin a seemingly tired Galarza. The fifth round saw Lopez strafe Galarza along the ropes. Galarza responded in the sixth by fighting like a completely different fighter; ripping huge punches on Lopez. The bout ended to rising applause. The judges all saw it the same, scoring it 59-55 for Galarza for the unanimous decision victory.

Angel Garcia (3-1, 2 KO’s, 134 lbs) showcased his fancy footwork against Victor Galindo (1-0, 1 KO, 133lbs). The first two rounds saw Garcia utilize an excess of movement while pot shotting. Galindo was more traditional, hoping to work behind a 1-2 combination. Landing a clean jab against a left handed fighter is a difficult task, and Garcia began to take advantage in the final two rounds of the fight, throwing numerous from multiple angles. The bout ended and the scores read 39-37, 39-37, and 38-38 in favor of Garcia, giving him a majority decision victory.

In front of a throng of supporters, Bryant Cruz (129 1/2lbs) made his professional debut against Jonathan Caban (0-3, 130lbs). Caban, despite being the taller of the two, was unable to keep Cruz off of him. The first two rounds saw Cruz maul Caban from pillar to post. It was more of the same in the third until the referee had no choice but to step in and call a stop to the onslaught, giving Cruz a technical knockout victory at the 1:20 mark.

About tewnty-seven years ago, Robert Garris was a star amateur with sixty-seven wins and only three losses. After suffering an injury, his professional hopes came to an end. That was until Saturday night. He came in at 171lbs and faced Abdellah Smith (1-4, 1KO, 174lbs) in a bout scheduled for four rounds. Abdellah, at 38 years of age, was no spring chicken himself. The first round saw both fighters size each other up. Neither one of them were steady on their feet. At the 1:08 point in the second, with Garris backing into a corner, Smith unleashed a powerful right hand that landed flush on Garris’ chin. Garris was knocked out cold; face down on the canvas. The crowd, whom he had won over with his story, was in shock. Then word spread out that his entire purse was to be donated to disadvantaged and orphaned children. It was then that Garris sat up, and then stood up to the roar of the fans in attendance. He might have lost, but he won over the hearts of everyone in attendance. Smith was credited with a 2nd round technical knockout.

The very talented Heather Hardy (2-0, 122lbs) made easy work of Ivana Coleman (0-3, 123 1/2lbs) over the course of four one sided rounds. Hardy was just simply too good and landed nonstop combinations throughout the fight. Coleman was able to stay on her feet and attempt to slip in some counter punches, but Hardy barely flinched. The final scores were unanimous in Hardy’s favor, all reading 40-36.

The opening bout of the evening featured a very entertaining for round scrap between Neuky Santelises (1-0, 1KO, 131lbs) and Micah Branch (1-2, 132lbs). From start to finish, both fighters attempted to finish eachother off with hard counter punching. The difference between the two was that Branch focused entirely on blows to the head, while Santelises’ punch selection was much more well rounded. After four spirited rounds, the final scores read 39-37, 40-36, and 39-37 in favor of Santelises, giving him a unanimous decision victory