Hasim Rahman and Monte Barrett both held high hopes tonight as they entered the ring to face each other. The winner would be crowned the WBC interim heavyweight champion and would go on to face WBC champion -and considered by most to be the legitimate heavyweight champion- Vitali Klitschko later in the year. Both promised fireworks leading up to the bout, but I think it's fair to say the fight didn't live up to expectation.

The first round was fought at a very slow rate, with little action, as was the second until Barrett landed a flush right hand that wobbled Rahman. As for as the action I just mentioned, it was very far and few in between. Most of the rounds went like this: Barrett back peddling to stay away from Rahman's right hand, Rahman jabbing and letting his hands go on occasion; every once in a while Barrett would let a single shot go and then retreat again.

Rahman managed to wobble Barrett on a few occasions but was never able to follow up. As the rounds passed by Rahman did just enough to win the rounds. Barrett finally let his hands go in the 12th round and managed to shake Rahman again, but it was too little, too late, as the bell sounded to end the final round. It was clear that Rahman was the winner and the judges agreed, scoring the fight 116-112 and 118-110 (twice) in favor of the new WBC Interim heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman. With the victory, Hasim Rahman improves his record to 41-5-1 (33 KO's) while Monte Barrett drops to 31-4 (17 KO's).

FLASH RING QUOTES

HASIM “The Rock” RAHMAN

“It was a tough fight in a different way, he had a good game plan he tried to move around but I was in good shape. I got dinged and Monte is a good puncher.

“I don’t think Klitschko will move around as much as Monte did, but tonight I showed I can go twelve rounds.”

MONTE  “Two Gunz” BARRETT

“I only give my self a “B” for performance but I think I did enough to win.

When asked in the ring about the decision Barrett said: “It is what it is. I felt like I hurt him a couple of times. He hit me with some good shoots but he never hurt me. When someone is hurt they get panicky, I never panicked.”

Boxing's bad boy and former welterweight champion Ricardo Mayorga stepped into the ring to face Michele Piccirillo for the vacant WBC Jr. Middleweight championship.  Mayorga promised a knockout in the second round, only to come back and say he would do the job in 16 seconds.

As it turned out, Mayorga needed more than 16 seconds and  more then 2 rounds; when it was all said and done he needed all 12. As in most of Mayorga's fights he started out fast, throwing wild shots from all angles, missing many, as Piccirillo used his legs and upper body to slip many of the punches. Mayorga sent Piccirillo to the canvas twice in the second round, both times Piccirillo rose to his feet showing no serious signs of damage. To Piccirillo's credit, he looked good at times, working behind the jab and putting his punches together, but they were not enough to keep the always on- coming Mayorga away.

In the fourth round Piccirillo landed a nice combination, and in return Mayorga threw a single right hand that again sent the Italian to the canvas. Like in the previous trips to the canvas, Piccirillo showed no signs of damage. Mayorga stunned Piccirillo in the seventh round, but was unable to put him down. However, the damage had been done, as Piccirillo never offered any real offense for the remainder of the bout.

Ricardo Mayorga cruised to an easy unanimous decision with the scores of 117-110, 117-108, and 120 105. With the win Ricardo Mayorga becomes the WBC Jr. Middleweight champion and improves his record to 27-5-1 (22 KO's) while Michele Piccirillo falls to 44-3 (28 KO's).

FLASH RING QUOTES

RICARDO “El Matador” MAYORGA

“I said I was going to knock him out in one round but I just wanted to put pressure on him and play with his head. As the fight moved on he jumped on his bicycle and he couldn’t compete against me.

“I am the best puncher in the world and Piccirillo fought scared all night long.

“Now I am the champion and I am very happy. My corner helped me relax after such a long lay off and I knew I had to slow down. All I know is that I was superior and it was good work for me, I needed those rounds. It was like a sparring session.

“Before I make a decision for my next opponent I need to drink some water and have a cigarette, but I want Vargas next. I want to be back in the ring in November.”

MICHELE PICCIRILLO

“Two of the 3 knockdowns came from blows behind my head that diminished me. He is a dirty fighter. They should have taken points away from him for the way he fought.”

One of boxing's most dramatic fighters, Oliver 'The Atomic Bull' McCall stepped into the ring tonight to face Poland’s Przemyslaw Saleta. Andrew Golota was originally penciled in as Saleta's opponent but Andrew was forced to pull out due to a cut he suffered while training. As usual McCall looked to be on the brink of tears and insanity as he entered the ring for the fourth time this year. As the bell rang to start the first round, McCall rushed at Saleta, trying to land his right hand. Saleta looked good working behind his jab but the jab was not enough to keep McCall away. A hard right hand in the fourth round stunned Saleta. McCall wasted no time jumping on his opponent and a few moments later landed a hard, left uppercut followed by a crushing right hand that sent Saleta to the canvas.

Saleta would make it to his feet at the count of nine, but referee Gino Rodriguez called a halt to the bout at the 2:40 mark of round four. Oliver McCall improved his record to 45-8 (32 KO's) while Przemyslaw Saleta falls to 42-7 (21 KO's).

FLASH RING QUOTES

OLIVER “The Atomic Bull” McCALL

“This is beautiful, I feel good. I was setting him up for the uppercut all along. I let him get comfortable, I could have been hit him with it but I did not want him to start covering up. I finished him off with a right hand.

“His jab wasn’t hard, I trained hard for the fight and it paid off. I am in my city with my friends and family and this is a great night for me.”


PRZEMYSLAW “Chemek” SALETA

“Oliver hit me and he can punch, I thought I was doing well and then I got cut. I could have tried to stick and move but I know what people want. They want someone who comes to fight but I paid the price tonight.

“I want everyone in Poland and in Chicago to know that I did the best I could do.”
 

The televised part of the card began with WBA welterweight champion Luis Collazo defending against veteran Miguel Angel Gonzalez. Gonzalez was never really in the fight; Collazo was the quicker and better fighter of the two, shooting 2, 3 and 4 punches at a time. After the seventh round Gonzalez returned to a concerned corner who told him they were going to give him one more round. That round never came as Gonzalez's brother threw in the towel stopping the fight. Luis Collazo defends his WBA title and ups his record to 26-1 (12 KO's) while Miguel Angel Gonzalez loses another title fight and falls to 49-5-1 (39 KO's).

FLASH RING QUOTES

LUIS COLLAZO

“It was a great fight and I gain a lot of experience fighting someone with Miguel’s experience.  They say I can’t punch but they should ask Miguel that after I just destroyed him.  This fight gave me the opportunity to show my talent and that is what I did.

“It feels great to have defeated a ring legend but there is a new star and it’s me.  It’s my time now and I want to conquer the whole division.  I rate my performance tonight as only a B+ and I know I can do better.

“I’ll take anyone next.  Gatti said he’s coming up and Mayweather too.  I’ll fight anyone who wants to come try to take my belt. “


MIGUEL ANGEL GONZALEZ

“My corner and I decided to stop the fight, Collazo had figured my style and the last rounds would have been the same way.

“He has a good boxing style and good rhythm. He never hurt me during the fight but he was the busier fighter.

“I will take a brake and reconsider the next step in my career. I lost all the hope I had and I have to accept this reality.”