DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Joe,
ReplyDeleteCheck out this link, too.
http://www.15rounds.com/de-la-rosa-squeaks-by-coleman-10040/
The co-main event featured local prospect Fernando “The Salisbury Sensation” Guerrero, (10-0, KOs 9) swapping leather with Tyrone Watson (7-1, KOs 3) in a middleweight showdown. Before the bell rang the “third man in the ring”, the fans, made their presence known. This led Showtime commentator Nick Charles to say, “we’ve done fights in just about every state and over seas but this place is unsurpassed. I’ve never heard a crowd that surpasses this. We said on the air that it was like a title fight atmosphere. Here is a packed house turning out for a guy 9-0. It really speaks volumes [for Salisbury]. It was really exciting to be a part of this.”
Fans began cheering for Fernando Guerrero hours before his match was to begin, chanting FER-NAN-DO over and over like possessed soccer hooligans without the inebriation (the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center does not serve alcohol). Many expected their hometown hero to clobber Tyrone Watson from pillar to post and record an early knockout. What they were treated to was good tussle where they were free to cheer without having to worry about the ultimate outcome. The matchmaking on this fight was perfect for Guerrero’s development. After a first round where both men seemed tentative, Guerrero came right out in the second round, threw a lot of punches and never stopped. Several times during the bout it appeared Guerrero had Watson nearly out of there, but he was always able to find an avenue of escape. Though he was clearly taking a beating, Watson was able to push Guerrero to the final bell, something no one had ever done before. Coming into the match Guerrero had fought just 18 rounds in 9 fights, all ending in knockout, on this night he logged 8 more rounds and settled for a unanimous decision. All three judges had the score a shutout with two of them scoring the fight 80-72 and one giving Guerrero a 10-8 round, without any knockdown, leading to a 80-71 score.
Afterward, Tyrone Watson was in awe of the crowd and even admitted, “they took me out of my game.”
After the match, in between adoring fans and fellow boxers giving Fernando Guerrero “attaboys”, he said, “the more the crowd cheered, the more I wanted to knock him out. I’m 10-0 right now. I’m on top of the world right now. Showtime, thank you!”