Last noche’s Showtime Special from Bridgeport, Connecticut saw both favorites losing respective baubles to its challengers - Nonito Donaire via KO over IBF flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan - then the main event it’s Joachin Alcine besting Travis Simms for the WBA jr. middle title.

While the flyweight contest was fan friendly, the Simms-Alcine affair saw the paying clientele a bit restless - even with the favored defending champion Simms something of a hometown product.

The problem, a combination of both being counter punchers in style and coupled with the usual sloppiness when one fights from port side and other orthodox.

Bad enough this one is frustrating for the fighters battling through a style that didn’t mesh - but we get a third man in charge that becomes affected by the inaction and decides to cure what ails - in his own alleged mind.

Normally I’m big on referee Michael Ortega - but he surely blew this assignment - after five boring eventless stanzas the man in charge deducts Alcine a point for hitting on the break. Really? How about if Ortega properly and physically broke the fighters - unlikely there would be opportunity for "hitting on the break."

Then, two stanzas later in round eight, surprise, it’s Ortega playing catch up with a point taken from Simms for holding - wake up Mr. Ortega, the awkward incompatible lefty-righty thing is a natural for awkward, unorthodox clutching and clinching - is a mutual thing of taking two to tangle.

Finally, a round nine scenario with Simms somehow falling to the canvas - zero damage done and more slipping on wet prettily decorated canvas than from a solid shot to the sweet spot - still, a 10-8 Alcine round.

Goes to the judges after 12 frustrating stanzas with Alcine grabbing the WBA bauble 116-109, 115-110, 114-111 - my unofficial saw it Alcine 116-110 in points and 7-3-2 in rounds.

Post Scripts: Joachin Alcine (29-0, 18 KO) ~ age 31 - good size at jr. middle and is likely much better in style and technique than he showed against southpaw Simms. At this writing the 154 division on the weak side in talent. Deserves another shot to show the wares that failed to surface last nite.
                       Travis Simms ( 25-1, 19 KO) ~ age 36 -  rap sheet more impressive than the performance - has zero name scalps taken and primarily a counter puncher in style. Switch from port to starboard late in fight didn’t help.

Closing comments: With Mayweather jr. dropping back down to welter the super middle register void of talent. For most part a roster of retreads.

GEL