The Wednesday summer series for this year 2006 has finally shut down - that’s the good news - I mean, the Friday nite Tessitore version is more than enough comedy for this fite fan.

However there was good news in the main event, with proven veteran Verno Phillips displaying his well rounded skills - stops tough Teddy Reid in the final stanza of numero twelve at the 2:40 mark.

Verno enters the favorite, while Reid arrives with the proverbial punchers chance - and the chances dwindled more and more with each passing round.

The skilled veteran out of Troy, New York is a yesterday throwback that could well have become a memorable name, had he been gifted at birth with punching power - still, in this one there was enough gunpowder to wear down the one dimensional Reid.

From the opening bell it was Verno the quicker, busier of the two - and the combinations arrived from all directions - left-hooks, lead right hands to the head were radar-like - and the old schooler often went body to head as well.

No surprise Reid showed up for a fight - problem, it was usually a looping right hand that mostly missed the target, as did the infrequent left hook- never a combination off the jab, that translated to an easily read, game Teddy road map.

The big surprise here was in seeing Verno at age 36 and his 51st kept ring appointment able to sustain the quick pace he set - the accumulation of accurate power punches first took its toll on Reid in stanza six but the bell came to the rescue.

Finally stanza nine and Reid down from evil body punch- could be stopped, but referee Gary Rosato opts for the ol’ third man in charge in search of more camera time, and deducts a point from Reid for spitting out the mouthpiece - and the beat down would continue.

The curtain drops in twelve - first a big left hook and then with a seriously wounded Reid in reverse, Phillips quickly closes the gap with a right hand that had no-mas written all over it.

Time of knockout 2:40 - and with the win Verno Phillips remains among the top ten at 155 and no easy mark for the jr. middleweight field - at this point in time would be a legit test for the upper echelon - a Spinks, Ouma, Sergie "who?" Dzindzirve pairing should prove interesting.

But at age 36 the time is short. As for tough Teddy Reid (age 35) at a now 23-8-2, 17) has earned better respect from those pulling the strings - is today slowed to a walk and needs choosing opponents with care.

And the televised undercard - a perfect selection to close the Wednesday curtain on - heavyweights Alonzo Butler 23-0-1, 18 KO’s in with Maurice Wheeler 10-6-1, 1 KO.

Butler - in words of near breathless Tessitore a much needed  American heavyweight hopeful at a chiseled (gag, puke) 6-3 @ 255 - but Joey hack failed to see the obvious stumbling, blundering wild arm swinging, and clearly a counter punchers delight if in with a live foe.

This one went the full eight stanzas against a light punching age 35 soft in body southpaw in Wheeler - surprising it continued to the final gong - maybe helped Wheeler that a lunatic referee Johnny Callas needed some camera time to debit Wheeler points in rounds two and five for head butting.

Johnny boy man in charge somehow missed a clear and vivid punch on the break in opening stanza that saw Butler scoring a solid right hand to the jaw while the Callas "Break" shout was sounded while at close quarters - zero admonishment to the favored Butler.

Scoring went unanimous Butler on all cards - 80-68, 80-68, 80-69 - ugliest perfect game ever seen in the annals of pro boxing.

Final atrocity was a fill-in light heavy mismatch with local Anthony Russell going to 14-1-1, 3 KO’s at 2:16 of candle 3 - opponent one Don Labbe who now drops to 3-8-2 and should return to his native Maine and resume full time his first love of carpenter.

Closing comments: Was good move in closing the ESPN summer circuit with likable veteran Verno Phillips - can still get the job done against the right opponent. Reid needs help at this point in making the best decision as to return or retire.
The Referees: Gary Rosato ~ best on this nite of a sad trio - still, explain pleeze the need for a Reid point deduction for the mouthpiece ejection late in a fight that he had still not won a single round. Wait, I got the answer ... "looka my style gang."
                        Johnny Callas ~ another of the wired for sound lunatics camouflaged as ring official. Could be he was electrically connected to Joey Tessitore who shouted to the viewers "Referee in charge the very capable Johnny Callas" - then conveniently hangs with the favorite while missing the hitting on break command but also a visible Butler forearm. Fight on own merits an atrocity to the sweet science - near end of mismatch and surprisingly a mutual exchange at close quarters and there’s Johnny boy rushing in to order a break. On that note, give me a break.
                       Dan Schiavonne ~ new face -  already showing signs of infection.

GEL -

8-10-06