Highly touted lightweight Julio Diaz went to 31-3, 23 KOs following opening round 1:06 seconds stoppage of a carefully selected confidence builder in Marco Angel Perez.

Classify this one a gimme, what with Perez armed with nothing more potent than a toy cap gun that made little noise and zero impact, facing a decent puncher with good skills in Diaz.

Worse yet, was the Perez ludicrous choice of leaving the stick and move approach in the dressing room, while opting for the banzai mode normally reserved for those that can bang a little.

Bad move - took Diaz less than a full minute to realize this was no Valenzuela or Castillo, and not the slightest hint of a threat. Nearing the one minute mark a big right uppercut greeted a bull-like Perez charge, and down he went.

Perez beats the count, but referee Tony Crebs wisely call it off - and for the rest of the story:

Julio Diaz ~ The three debits on the otherwise sparkling resumé pretty much sums it up. Decision loss to Angel Manfredy, stopped in opening candle by Juan Valenzuela and by Castillo in stanza ten. Says the brain trust should choose carefully while using the today system, as in four straps up for grabs. The Kid can box and punch a little, but the key is in working from relaxed style as he did with last noche's harmless threat.

Marco Angel Perez ~ Nothing wrong with the ticker - brave enough, but judging by  what we saw in 1:06 seconds work with Diaz, one must question those 14 victims he starched in building a questionable resumé of a now 21-7, 14 stoppages. Marco might consider saving a peso or two by firing those doing the matchmaking and become his own manager.

………………………………..........................................................................

A featured lightweight prelim bout never went much further than the main event, but during its three minutes and 44 seconds of stanza two, there was enough heated exchanges to have those in the cheap seats searching for a fire exit.     

The pairing was Delvin Rodriguez ( 14-1-1, 7KO) in with one day notice Christopher Henry 19-10, 14KO) - and the stage was set for the Tessitore-Atlas duo to point to the assets of the returning age 25, Rodriguez as if he was there on a solo flight. And Henry, at age 32 and a pretty much ugly resume` arriving on short notice the feelings went the pigeon came for a pay check.

Then the opening bell ~ Henry cuts off the Tessitore rhetoric in mid-sentence with a short circuit of a left-hook that drops Rodriguez and has him looking ready to be hung up and dried.

Now its Henry moving for the finisher … and with both tossing bombs it’s Rodriguez connecting to the soft spot and now Henry’s on the canvas courtesy of a left hook.

Prior to the close of the opening stanza it was Henry once again being dropped  - this one from a right hand. Round two it’s Rodriguez quickly on the offense, and a right uppercut rocks the game Henry, before a second right hand has him down for the third time in the fight.

Finally, a Rodriguez left hook would close the show at the 0:44 seconds mark of number two.

Rodriguez goes to 15-1-1, 8 and Henry drops to 19-11, 14.

Closing Comments: Rodriguez ~ Still a novice in technique, but at age 25 is young enough to smooth out. Fires away with both hands but the hook looks the more explosive. Should use the jab more. Good height at 5-11. Chin highly suspect for future consideration.
                                  Henry ~ Nothing much changes at a now age 32 … questionable chin, plus a now 11 losses hints of retirement considerations. To have a no questions asked veteran taking fights on a single day phone call borders on the criminal.

GEL          

6-7-2005