Peeked into last nite’s ESPN, Friday offering
from tank town Miami, Oklahoma … saw it as something of a pugilistic
appetizer to the Saturday HBO, Cotto-Corley anticipated barn burner.
Opens with welterweights Carlos Quintana and Nurhan Suleyman in 10-round
semi final affair that, surprisingly, would steal the show from the
heavyweight main event between Terry Smith and Fernely Felix - but that one
is a whole different story.
Had seen Suleyman before … a tough and willing club fight level performer
that entered at respectable 15-2 with seven KO’s on the résumé. Quintana was
new to me … a smaller in size welter, that looked more jr. welter than full
’47 pounder, and sporting a somewhat glittering 18-0 with 14 stoppages on
the work sheet.
And then the opening bell … Suleyman in pursuit, but doing the catching from
his quick, elusive southpaw opponent. Nothing changes thru stanza two with
Quintana scoring with power left hands behind stinging right jabs.
And then number three, and Suleyman reading from a different road map to
destination Quintana. Was late in the candle that Nurhan closes the gap and
manages to engage Quintana in some serious exchanges.
Appeared at start of number four that Quintana had used them closing third
round exchanges to test the punching power of Suleyman, and now opted to
bring the action up close and personal - and stanza four would drop the
curtain.
Beginning of end arrived just after the midway point … Suleyman down from
big left hand after assorted combinations find the mark. Up, but not ready
for a Quintana barrage of power punches that sees the Russian battler
helpless with back against the ring ropes.
Local referee Mike England calls a halt at 2:33 seconds mark of round four
and Quintana now advances to 19 wins with 15 KO’s … and Suleyman drops to
15-3 with 17 KO’s.
Post Scripts: Quintana looks like still another legitimate force at 147 … or
better yet, at jr. welter. Speed, good power, good chin and polished in
style from the always difficult to deal with southpaw stance.
Suleyman ~ Guess is the brain trust never thought the
smaller Puerto Rican southpaw would be such a complete entity after 18
fights. Nurhan should still get work at ESPN-Sho-Box level but that is best
he will do with what he has to work with.
Referee Mike England ~ Pleasant surprise this young
referee, unlike his peers from outposts such as Conchee and Gardnersville
and other tank towns, kept respectable distance while the dueling played
out. Not a sign of stress, panic or ludicrous "looka me" that is polluting
the today game.
Main event saw an imported intruder from Nevada country with a clinic on how
not to work center stage in role of referee … and one has to wonder what Jay
Nady cost the Miami, Oklahoma commission or promoters to fly the clown in
for the assignment.
Whatever the bill, it would have been cheaper to give a local the work …
couldn’t have been any worse.
No sooner main bout heavyweights Terry Smith (22-1-1, 15 KO’s) and Fernely
Feliz ( 21- 4, 14 KO’s) get it warmed up there’s Nady doing his usual best
to screw things up.
From stanza three on, it was the Dominican Feliz targeted as the object of
disaffection, as Nady repeatedly harassed the guy over "holding."
Problem is the holding in question was pretty much a mutual concession. The
major cause of the on-off holding was more a case of short on skills,
inexperienced fighters embracing after missed power punches.
Nady’s job should have been a simple matter of physically breaking the
clinches when they occurred … not exactly all that taxing for a man Nady’s
size. But, of course, the visitor from Vegas has long been accustomed to the
attention he likely has bought over the years working the Sin-City circuit.
And the fight. Both Smith and Feliz did their best to make it work. Feliz,
using the jab with some success while hoping the now and then right hand
would get the job done. Smith more the aggressor but much too wild from both
sides with big right and left hand misses. Then the inevitable tying up when
the bodies meshed like a closet hanger.
It went to the scorecards with Smith by unanimous decision to the tune of
96-94, 97-93, 97-93. My unofficial agreed with 97-93 in points and 7-3 via
round by round method.
Closing Comments: Terry Smith ~ Judging off last nite’s performance and at a
now age 33, and with no more than 25 ring assignments on the application, he
is clearly not the advertised "Hot prospect" as some have declared. The ESPN
club fight circuit is, and should be his domain. Will be no more than
"opponent" if stepping up to the next level.
Fernely Feliz ~ The won-loss résumé of a
now 21-5, 14 questions the caliber of prior opposition. No serious future at
this point in time.
Jay Nady ~ If continues to play the part
of a clown he should be mandated to dress as one come future assignments.
* Think it time the wiring of referees
should go the way of the horse & wagon, ice box, and cold water flats. Has
proven a negative affect on too many third man in ring assignments.
