The ESPN FNF tour dropped by the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut Yankee territory with heavyweights Sam Peter and Julius Long enjoying top billing - and come the 2:35 seconds mark of stanza uno, it was nap time for Tall Julie.

This one was predestined - power punching Peter still only a kid of age 25, albeit a big one at 6’ 1 and 256, did what comes naturally in the role of predator as he drops his prey late in the opening candle - and then quickly closes the show with two more right hands that saw Long down and out.

So what does this one do for the plodding, ponderous one with the heavy hands you ask - in one word, "exposure." The Klitschko loss was not physically damaging but more of an ego wound - is now at 26-1 with 22 by knockout.

Long drops to 14-8 with 12 whacks and realistically had no biz sharing the squared circle with the still very marketable Nigerian - the seven-footer performed as if copping a plea by showing zero offense, with hopes of merely losing a decision.

Post Scripts: Peter ~ Plenty to choose from among the heavyweight elite - but is still in need of polishing - will always have the proverbial puncher’s chance. Would help if he skipped a few of them between meal snacks.

Studio guest Calvin Brock ~ much like Joe Mesi in like role couple weeks back, is a very enjoyable listen. When asked by "No-Clue"Kenny his thoughts on the sudden finish to Peter-Long, he scored points here with a quick, "Looked like Long was searching for a soft spot on the canvas to fall on." Fact is Peter doesn’t need the help of Long quality types, for now simply needs smart selections among the mid level members of the top-10 clientele.   

Underneath scheduled 8-rounder had heavyweights Brian Minto ( 24-1, 14) besting a hapless Billy Zumbrun (19-7-1, 11) by decision to the tune of Minto 79-72, 79-73, 78-74.

Minto had recently earned brawler distinction in wars with Vinnie Maddalone, but abandoned the wham-bam style as he opened with a stick, stick, stick and move approach. Zumbrun mostly moved forward, albeit cautiously, until much too late to earn the verdict.

Bottom line is neither has a prayer if graduating to next rung of the ladder - Minto at age 31, is club fight variety that can please the paying customers if returning to the warrior style. As for Zumbrun - game enough, but at a now age 33 with unlucky sevens on the debit side should call it a career.

A third heavyweight offering pitted Lou Duva "find" Mike Marrone (14-0, 11 KO) in with age 34 Dan Wetzel of 7-6-1 with 4 KO’s - no surprise the Duva kid at age 20 has himself a field day as he halts Wetzel at one minute of opening candle.
Closing Comments: Mike Marrone ~ guess here is the kid’s pro-boxing happy days will quickly convert to unhappy daze off of what he has shown me in a now two outings. Under the mis-guidance of Lou the maniac he will surely be rushed into oblivion. Wetzel was a prop at best … no skills to mention, and arrived for no better reason than the stipend. Marrone read the road map and quickly went on the offense with assorted volleys - in style, it returned me to my young Brooklyn teen days when watching kid sister Maureen doing battle on the corner. One difference is little Mo’ incorporated biting into the fray.

GEL

4-29-2006