Last nite's ESPN FNF featured Jesse Brinkley in with Curtis Stevens in a battle for the s/middleweight number two slot in its rankings - going in the guess was celebrated power punching Stevens of Brownsville Brooklyn fame would take care of business in one or two candles.

 

Brinkley of Reno, Nevada suburb, the crowd favorite enters 34-5, 22 by KO while the favored Stevens arrives at 21-2, 15 short of distance - and then the opening bell.

 

Teddy Atlas working ringside with Joe Tessitore looked good in the Stevens pick in one or two stanzas, as the Brooklyn muscle man easily grabs the opening stanza on aggression alone - and Brinkley returns to his corner with a sizable swelling under the right eye.

 

Round two Brinkley has himself a good round while boxing nicely as Stevens misses the target with impressive, but errant left hooks and right hands - again in numero tres it's another Brinkley round. 

By now Atlas admits the pre-fight prediction of Stevens in two was a bad one - and from an even action round four the look was Brinkley in this one to win - then round five goes to the local, courtesy of a furious finish to a stanza filled with hot exchanges. 

Then a shocker, the better skilled Brinkley, seen as the far lighter puncher of the two, drops Stevens late in round six with a barrage of punches - the Brownsville brawler is saved by the bell. 

It would go one for you and one for me over rounds eight thru eleven - and it appeared Stevens' only prayer was the proverbial puncher's chance. 

All hopes vanished during the final three minutes when Stevens was given a standing eight count against the ring ropes while not returning fire - to his credit, he would survive the round as it went to the scoring judges. 

Official voting went unanimous Brinkley 119-107; 118-108;117-109 - my unofficial saw it Brinkley 118-109 in points and 9-2-1 under round by round method. 

Post Scripts: Brinkley (35-5, 22 KOs) ~ age 33 - decent skills - handled the Stevens power punches with no visible distress. Still, is more a solid club fighter than a serious title threat.               

 Stevens ( 21-3, 15 KOs) ~ age 24,  at 5' 7" gives up height while working at super-middle - too big a handicap if not improving the skills. Needs more of a Smokin' Joe Frazier bob-weave while tossing punches in bunches. The load up single power punch not enough. May have cheated on conditioning believing Brinkley a soft touch.  

Closing comments: Studio report: A pleasure seeing Bernard Osuna as guest with Brian Kenny. His take on Mayweather - Shane Mosley if it passes muster, is Mosley a legit opponent. Has always arrived prepared in condition department, and the Margarito fight showed him a legit threat to Mayweather. 

Kenny showing clips of prime Mosley at lightweight nice flashback, but don't look for anything near the super quickness today at AARP age qualification.

 

GEL  -