Last nite’s ESPN offering came to us from Kansas City, MO with undefeated 24 year-old local Marcos Ramirez facing age 36 Priest Tiger Smalls in the main event - up for grabs was some ludicrous NABO strap, that translated to a scheduled 12 -round affair.

But up first on the menu was a lightweight  ten rounder that clearly stole the show from the headliners -  a scorcher that could have been held in the proverbial street corner phone booth.

In one corner, Daniel Seda (20-1-1, 16KO) coming off a November 2004 decision loss to celebrated Cuban star Joel Casamayor, in the other corner, one carefully selected Silverio Ortiz of 10-7, 5 KO infamy.

More sinister on paper, the expected pigeon Ortiz had been spanked in six of his most recent seven outings - and then the opening bell.

No sooner they meet at center stage it’s the 22 year-old Ortiz on the attack … seconds later it is Seda down from a series of power punches. A surprised looking Seda easily beats the count and rides out a losing stanza with no further damage.

Now round two, and Ortiz scoring with a big right hand and Seda once again hitting the canvas - a second knockdown arrives when after a Ortiz barrage it is Seda "taking a knee" - and with it we hear a tearful sounding commentator Tessie, shouting something of a huge upset in the making.  

Surprising, at that point, that this one would go the entire 10 rounds - but that it did, with Seda coming back to snare stanzas three thru five, before Ortiz would grab number six when it had looked he may have prematurely emptied the batteries.

Not the case, as we were treated to a run to the finish line, with both gladiators swapping rounds and leather - a big candle ten saw Ortiz closing the show with a furious flurry.

Scoring went Ortiz 95-92, 95-92, 94-93 - my unofficial saw it Ortiz 96-92 ( courtesy 10-8, 10-7 rounds one and two) and in the less tainted round by round system it was Ortiz 5-4-1.

Closing Comments ~ While Seda is clearly the better in technique and style, and the pairing made sense on paper, the long hiatus could have played a part in this one. Ortiz showed true grit when needing it after the initial adrenalin rush slowed - but needs more polish in skills department. Both fighters earned a curtsy. Tessitore earned a fresh box of tissues. Surprising outcome, but not "upset" of the year credits Tessie offered up.   

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Main event paled in comparison to the co-feature … undefeated Marcos Ramirez (21 with 15 by KO) decisions a pre-fite talkative impostor in Priest "Tiger" Smalls over ten yawn provoking stanzas of pugilistic slo-mo.

The Smalls promise of taking the local favorite Ramirez to deep water never materialized - one reason is the Smalls "Tiger" sobriquet is more "Tabby" than tiger.

Enjoyed the height and reach … looks fine as wine while in posing stance … but when the fightin’ starts the guy is quickly in survival mode - and with undefeated albeit home cooked mid-America prior opposition in Ramirez, there was no logical reason for it.

Following 12 rounds of repetitious inaction it was all Ramirez to the tune of 119-109, 116-112, 115-113 - my unofficial saw it Ramirez 118-110 in points and under the rounds method 10-2.

Closing Comments ~ Marcos Ramirez : Best advice is to stay with what works … as in Kansas City there you is competition. More importantly, keep the firefighting job.
                                    Priest "Tiger" Smalls: Age 36 and a now 17-8-1, 6 job application speaks for itself. So too the strange boxing shorts and haircut and magic-marker scribbling on the back. Don’t call us … we’ll remember not to call you.

GEL    

Questions? Comments? Write George Elsasser