NBC
Sports "Fight Night" Debut a smashing hit... by George Elsasser
The NBC
Saturday fight night debut proved a smashing success as both the heavyweight
main event with Bryant Jennings and Maurice Byarm battling for the
Pennsylvania State heavy title, and Gabriel Rosado in with Jesus Soto Karass
in a light middleweight barn burner stamped the credibility label.
Rosado,
Karass opened the show in a style that quickly got the paying clientele and
magic lantern fans attention - as both mixed good technique with readied
willingness to exchange at close quarters.
Nothing
changed from start to finish, that saw Rosado having the edge over the
opening four stanzas of give and take - still, Rosado's punching power
advantage hinted it would not go the full ten rounds.
Finally,
late in numero five, Karass would be driven to the ropes with Rosado
unloading a two-fisted barrage with nothing coming back - veteran referee
Steve Smoger correctly saw it time to pull the plug.
Enters
the books at 2:06 seconds mark of cinco.
Post
Scripts: Rosado (19-5, 11 KOs) ~ age 26 - good size at 6' - a wealth of
combinations from both sides; left-hooks, uppercuts along with the basic
1-2. Clearly a solid club fighter with the potential to become contender.
Karass (24-7-3- 16 KOs) ~ 29 - good skills but mostly
works on the inside - no longer contender level but still solid club
fighter.
......................................................................................
Heavyweight main event saw Bryant Jennings surprising Maurice Byarm over ten
action stanzas of a closely contested affair for the Pennsylvania State
Heavyweight Title.
Byarm
arrives with the southpaw advantage coupled with alleged 20 pounds size
advantage - Jennings would counter with the quicker hands and stronger
stamina that saw him grabbing the final two stanzas.
My
unofficial scoring had it for Jennings 96-94 in points and 6-4 under the
round by round method. The official scoring had it unanimous Jennings 97-93,
96-94, 96-94.
Post
Scripts: Bryant "Bye-Bye" Jennings (12-0, 5 KOs) ~ age 27 - has makings of
entertaining club fighter - if this win has him stepping up to next level
don't bet the rent money on him.
Maurice
"Freight Train" Byarm (13-1-1, 9 KO) ~ age 29 - the freight train began
slowing entering station number nine and ten that likely cost him the win.
Shortage of stamina and major league clout plus age sees him entertaining
club fighter.
Closing
Comments: Referee Dept: Steve Smoger earned "A" - Blair Talmadge a "B-Plus"
- Gary Rosato another failing "C" - main event assignment a mystery.
Commentary Dept: Ken Rice fair enough - BJ Flores shows promise for when
fighting career ends - Freddy Roach, the "MS" curse limits his impact for
obvious reasons - Chris Mannix believe it was he doing post fight ring
interviews. Not sure he's up to it. Drops ball with Byarm and the fighter
quickly educated him with acceptable response.
