The outdoors battle at Fort Worth, Texas over ESPN2 (Tuesday) introduced still another promising jr. welter to an already talent-laden division ... name is Kelson Pinto ... hails from Brazil and has the look of one tough nut.

The tall, lean punching machine passed his first serious test in besting career trial horse Emmanuel Augustus who accepted the challenge on six days notice ... bout was action affair from start to finish.

Kid has a young Tommy Hearns look about him ... can bang big time with both hands ... the sneak lead right is a bomb and a bonus is good lateral movement while on defense or when readying to counter ... only negative on display is Kelson baby carries both hands dangerously low at times.

Augustus was excellent tester for the Pinto kid ... came to fight and even on short notice never once took a round off ... scored with hooks and right hands but lacks punching power ... thus the short end of unanimous decision.

Main event had Mexico's Juan Valenzuela of Julio Diaz, Ricardo Williams spankings fame having himself pretty much a gimme in smaller and fragile-fisted Brian Adams ... bout was halted between candles six and seven by the Adams brain trust due to suspected broken right hand.

This one was all Valenzuela from the opening gong ... enroute to the stoppage was no less than three knockdowns, with Adams hitting the canvas in stanzas two, three and five in a physical mismatch that saw Juan failing to make contracted weight.

Valenzuela goes to 17-6 and seven stops ... just how effective he’ll be at welter is another story ... but if able to make jr. welter and at age 23, he could well become a force down that proverbial pike.

Post Scripts:

Kelson Pinto: Guess here is, if not rushed too quickly in a loaded jr. welter division should develop into star status ... is now undefeated with 18 wins and 16 stops.

Juan Valenzuela: More than worth the price of admission ... kid is a warrior ... but without some very needed polish in the boxing skills department, the current glitter could dull come the more serious competition.

Semper fi,

GEL

06-18-03

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