No question about it ... last noche's Pemberton-Sheika showdown for the NABF super-middle bauble was a dandy ... and there was nothing shabby about that Balletto-Lizarraga skirmish they tossed in for good measure.
Was my first ever look at Scott Pemberton ... age 36 and calls himself "The Sandman" ... had seen the 26 year old Sheika before ... pretty much a no-defense banger as I recall ... and then the bell.
Maybe "The Sandman" has an edge with the opening stanza stick and move approach ... but alas, it is now round two and he catches a wicked left-hook on the whiskers ... at first thought sandman was ready for an early nap but he beats the count and finishes the round.
From then on thru number ten it was pretty much one for me and one for you with both battlers having there moments in an action battle ... and then candle eleven and that Sheika hook returns ... Pemberton out on his feet at the bell ... but somehow recovers to wage a flip of the coin finishing round twelve.
Post fite observations: As tough an outing this one was for the fighters, it was no easy chore come the scoring ... my unofficial had it Sheika 114-113 on strength of an 10-8 number two round ... however, I also used the old tried & truer round by round method which had it a 6-6 standoff in rounds won.
Official scoring was 114-113 twice for Pemberton and 116-111 dissenter for Sheika ... was that kinda fight ... "Sandman" goes to 26-3-1 with 21 whacks while Sheika drops to 23-5, 16 stops.
PS: Feelings here is both are where they are at ... very good club fight level battlers ... and them lesser baubles will do just fine thank you.
And that opening welter dandy ... Gary "Tiger" Balletto was just too young, fresh and strong for the 30 year old Lizarraga of 62 prior visits to the water hole ... and so it was Balletto by unanimous decision ... scores went 100-89, 99-91, 98-93. But truth is the old veteran was by far the superior in the skills department ... and had moments over the long haul with neat counters ... were any gunpowder in them mittens this one could have been a different ending.
And Balletto ... smaller version of that Kermit Cintron guy ... the one with the connections ... storms forward behind a measuring stick while loading up with the big right hand. At times followed the right with wild left-hook that usually missed the target. Noticed none of them crackling right hands found Luis in trouble. Hunch here is the exciting Balletto gets himself declawed once moving up and mingling with faster company.
Balletto goes to 29-1-2, 25 KOs while Lizarraga drops to 31-28-4 with 23 stops ... final thought here is who was minding the store early in Luis' career, anyway?
07-26-03
Visit Geo El's "Nostalgic Corner"
