Spivey, Witherspoon and Hasson Score KO’s

Several times during the fight Vasquez backed up and ran into Page who for some reason was behind the fighter. When you see one of the top referee’s like Steve “SS” Smoger doing 4 preliminary fights and neither of the title fights one has to wonder what’s going on. Smoger had just returned from the country of Dubai where he held an officials clinic. Page needs to think of enjoying a well earned retirement.

In the Co-Main event Philadelphia’s Chazz “The Gentlemen” Witherspoon, 30-2 (22), and his opponent David “Big David” Saulsberry, 7-5 (7), of Greenville, KY, seemed to be throwing right hands at the same time. The veteran Witherspoon got there first and that’s all she wrote for Saulsberry who almost tipped the scales at 300. Referee Allan Huggins counted Saulsberry out at 0:32 of the second round. This was announced as for the vacant International Boxing Syndicate North American Continental heavyweight title. Try fitting that on a belt buckle.

The return of Dennis Hasson, 12-0 (4), formerly of the Kensington section of Philadelphia now out of Wilmington, DE, shook off an early scare when rocked by William “Ice Man” Santiago, 6-8-1 (2), in a cruiserweight 6 to box his way out of trouble by the end of the first round. New trainer and former IBC Super Middleweight champion Dave “TNT” Tiberi settled his boxer down in the minute rest period and let him know what he expected and what he was trained to do.

“My trainer (Tiberi) had to settle me down and box my opponent. I was fighting a cruiserweight and he was very strong, “said Hasson. “I had to tell him not to pull back from those wild overhand rights,” said Tiberi. That is exactly what happened in the second round when Hasson rocked Santiago early and had him stumbling toward the ropes by the end of the round. It could have been stopped in between rounds but Santiago was given the opportunity to come out for the third.

Where in the past Hasson may have come out boxing, Tiberi had him go right after Santiago starting with a jab and punch after punch having Santiago against the ropes and out on his feet when Huggins waved it off at 1:17 of the 3^rd round. A jubilant Hasson celebrated his 17 month inactivity return to the ring and should only get better with each outing. Now under the banner of www.champsmanagement.com Hasson for the first time in 4 years has a solid support team behind him.

“At 175 Dennis will be light heavyweight champion,” said Tiberi. He should know since in preparing for his IBF Middleweight title 20 years ago this month in Atlantic City he had several sparring partners like then IBF 175 champion “Prince” Charles Williams and current WBC 175 champion Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins to get him ready.

In addition there was the now the late “Lightning” Steve Little who would become the WBA Super Middleweight champion and Rob “Bam Bam” Hines, who would take the IBF light middleweight title as additional sparring partners. Hines was in attendance for the show. Plans are for Hasson to return next month and work his weight down to light heavyweight. Whether he returns to super middleweight is a wait and see.

One of the first to greet Hasson as he left the ring was Wildwood boxer Chuckie Mussachio and his father/trainer Al. Mussachio and Hasson have sparred hundred’s of rounds when both attended Northern Michigan University. Cut-man Joey Intrieri also worked the corner with Tiberi.

One of the best bouts besides Hasson-Santiago followed with Nydia “Da Phenominal” Feliciano, 4-2-3 (0), of the Bronx, NY, going toe-to-toe with Ela “Bam Bam” Nunez, 11-12-2 (3), of PR. It was a 4 round featherweight battle with Feliciano winning 39-37 on all score cards. She was simply too fast for the heavier Nunez who had just come off a knockout win a week ago. Referee Smoger let both girls fight and that they did.

Southpaw Frankie “The Freight Train” Filippone, 9-2 (2), of Norfolk, VA, edged Harley “Sandman” Kilfian, 9-9 (8) of Menomonie, WI, over 6 rounds in the super middleweight division. It seemed to this writer that Kilfian may have pulled out a draw by taking the last 2 rounds but the southpaw Filippone had Kolfian out of range for most of the first half of the fight. Waleska Roldan had it 59-55 while Joe Pasquale and Luis Rivera had identical 58-56 scores all for Filippone. Smoger was the referee.

Joey “Joltin” Tiberi, 7-1 (5), Newark, DE, came out for bear as usual and drove Steve Cox, 2-4 (1), of Independence, MO, around the ring for 2 rounds. In the third Tiberi had Cox out on his feet but let him survive by holding and running from Tiberi. The fourth and final round was the most competitive round of the 4 round light welterweight bout with Cox knowing he needed a knockout to win. All 3 judges had it for Tiberi 40-36. Both Tiberi and Hasson train out of the Elsmere Gym in Wilmington. Tiberi had quite a rooting group of fans as usual.

Isiah Seldon, 6-0 (3), Atlantic City, NJ, never looked better as he tore into Kenneth Moody, Jr., 2-3-2 (1), of Virginia Beach who had no answer for the stronger and busier Seldon. Moody was warned several time for hitting on the break by referee Huggins and lost a point for losing his mouthpiece twice. A straight right hand put Moody out for the count at 1:41 of the second round. Manager Jim Kurtz seemed pleased with the progress of Seldon especially considering he had no amateur experience. He’s the son of former WBA heavyweight champion Bruce Seldon.

In the opening bout Keenan “Killer Keenan” Smith, 5-0 (1) of Philadelphia seemed to be living up to his nickname pounding Chris Finley, 3-4 (3), of Detroit, MI, for 3 rounds. A clash of heads caused a nasty cut over the right eye of Smith. At first he was tentative but came back in the fourth round getting the better of Finley though judges Pasquale and Roldan had it 39-37 and somehow a 38-38 by Rivera.

Heavyweights Dorsett “Bullet” Barnwell, 6-0 (3), OF Norfolk, VA, and Jon “Dark Knight” Bolden, 2-4 (2), of Brooklyn, NY, had a lack luster 4 round bout with Barnwell after a big first round seemed to be doing more loading up and Bolden outworking him in the middle rounds. Most at press row had it even though Barnwell took a 39-37 decision on all score cards. Smoger was the referee.

With the large attendance and a good show the promoter Dee Lee should be coming back to the Tropicana in the near future ASAP.

For more from Ken: Visit www.DoghouseBoxing.com