ESPN cooked us up a FNF “Good Friday” not so special, with undefeated Andy Lee showcased in feature bout of the evening with expected fall guy Brian Vera - then, after six stanzas of entertaining club fight style battling - the “fall” guy had converted to the more durable - quick draw hack in charge calls it no-mas at 2:17 of numero seven.

Began as planned by legendary tutor Emanuel Steward, of Tommy Hearns, Lennox Lewis and other talents, that once called Manny’s gym home with lasting success - but this newest prospect, from London to Ireland to Kronk, has little chance to translate to fite version of beizbols Tinkers to Evers to Chance double-play specialists.

Lee a tall one at 6-2, and enjoying advantage of working from the port side, had the better over the opening three stanzas - included in the mix a opening round flash variety knockdown - and it looked all would go as planned.

The tough Texan would regroup during them rounds two and three, and while coming up short in the scoring, was making Lee pay for every bit of real estate he was claiming.

Then number four goes to Vera in a proverbial shootout with both exchanging power punches - Vera the right hand and Lee the straight left - and with each connect in the trenches it would be Lee showing more wear and tear.

Finally, stanza seven, the first of four remaining rounds, and Vera the fresher in appearance loading up with the power right hand and Lee showing good chin but lacking in zip with the straight left hand - then, 2:17 mark house dick Tony Chiarantano waves it off.

Post Scripts:

• Andy Lee (15-1, 12 KO) ~ Good news; young enough at age 23 to upgrade the skills. Never used height-reach advantage - the 12 by stoppage had kid seeing himself a big puncher. Had no answers when shootout went to deep end of pool. Needs refresher course in technique.
                      

• Brian Vera (16-1, 10 KO) ~ age 26 - good news; fresh in body and a no-quit attitude. The overhand right carries decent power but not enough to compensate for shortage of skills. Handled the overrated clout of Lee, but next step up talent pool a whole different story. Brought into this one for target practice - the good feelings showed during post fight ring interview. Bad news: No realistic future.
                      

• Referee Tony Chiarantano ~ stoppage was premature - Vera right hand rocks Lee backwards, but is countered with Lee left hand. No physical signs of distress - only of fatigue entering the picture. Probably would have been stopped over 8-9-10 but not at 2:17 of seven.
                     

• Media: Shouts from various media quickly went “colossal, shocking, upset.” My first peek at both fighters are, Lee lacks too much in all departments to have gotten the future of middle division label - Vera, likable, but strictly club fight hope to the bitter end.       
  
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Co-feature table setter saw S/middleweight Aaron Pryor Jr. remaining unblemished, although exposed enough to put on hold any immediate plans of moving up a rung in opponent department.      

Pryor at 6-4, enjoyed dramatic height advantage over strong and tough Alphonso Williams while using the outside game to advantage for a unanimous eight round decision win that went 79-73,  77-74,  76-75 - my unofficial had it Pryor 77-75 in points and 5-3 under round by round method.

• Pryor (9-0, 6 KO) ~ Good news; the six feet four in height and good leverage on the outside. Bad news: age 29 and only nine kept appointments leave little time for improvements. Similar in physique to past L/heavy champ Bob Foster but lacks the one-punch sleep inducer left hook the retired champ and New Mexico sheriff once enjoyed.

• Williams (10-4, 8KO) ~ Bad news; age 32 and little as 14 kept appointments sums his pugilistic future. Good news: Physically strong with bombs away approach helped the viewer better evaluate Pryor who is more a shell of his daddy.

• Referee Dick Flaherty ~ enjoying the camera more and more with each subsequent assignment.