The Telefutura Boxeo series continued the magic in its selective viewing - maybe not major title level in skills, but last night’s Mtagwa - Valtierra battle for the NABF trinket was clearly a yesterday club fight throwback in action department.

It was Mtagwa nipping Valtierra by split decision to claim the prize in a judges nightmare with most rounds decided by a flip of the coin - both came prepared in a sloppy but gutsy outing - surprise here was seeing Valtierra holding up at a now age 36 over twelve busy stamina testing stanzas.

Mtagwa looked the bigger puncher and physically stronger, but in style swaps poise for anxiety - result is more than a few lost opportunities - and his Mexican adversary while busier, comes up woefully short in finesse.

Translation, both paying clientele and cable viewers were treated to 12 stanzas of entertainment - scoring went Mtagwa 116-112, 116-112 and Valtierra 115-113 - this unofficial saw it 6-6 in rounds and 114-114 in points.

Post Scripts: Rogers Mtagwa (23-11-2, 17 KO’s) ~ age 28 has reached the pinnacle with this NABF featherweight strap. The old "ring generalship" is out of his reach but is worth the peek at ESPN-Sho-Box levels.
                       Aldo Valtierra (24-9, 13 KO’s) ~ age 36 on paper, but well preserved body saw him up to the task of waging battle over 12 active candles. He too deserves more work at the small club TV circuit.
                      Referee Gary Rosato ~ if the pre-fight ring instructions are a carved in stone thing, when finished, this hack should then be gagged prior to the opening bell. Then again, could be a Rosato cloaked auditioning for kiddie channel commentary fill in gig for Teddie-Tessitore.

GEL - 

7-20-07