Albanian heavyweight stars in Atlantic City

“Cornflake” LaManna’s Rising Star Boxing put on a show in the upper arena of Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall, the old, original Convention Hall, on 3/25/23. John McKaie, Mark Consentino and Paul Wallace were the assigned judges in the main event. Mark Fratto announced and Fred Blumstein kept time.

The main event, scheduled 10, showcased titanic Albanian heavyweight star Kristian Prenga, 255, Orosh, 13-1 (13), against outgunned Sam Crossed, 208, Greenbelt, MD, 11-4-1 (7). With the expectant Albanian fans waiting to explode, it seemed only a matter of time before the favorite had his man out of there. The first was merely feelout, with Prenga finding the range with the jab. In the second, Kristian rehearsed for the KO, launching the right over the top and bringing up the left hook as the opponent ducked away. In the third, it clicked. Prenga landed the combo, Crossed crumbled to canvas, and referee Harvey Dock counted him out, in 31 seconds.

In the semi-final six, “Big Back” Anthony Johns, 112, Newark, 6-0 (5), faced diminutive Ramon Velasquez, 116 ½, Quellón, Chile, 7-7. Despite the weights, the powerfully-built Johns looked a whole division bigger. The visitor circled away as the favorite effectively stalked him with sharp jabs and one-twos. Late in the first, Velasquez went down in his own corner without being hit a clean shot, then got up making a big fuss over his protector to ref David Fields. This included turning to his corner for help while frantically gesticulating to his crotch. The cornermen were briefly on the apron, then the round resumed, but the bell ended it. Nothing much happened in round two other than Johns walking Velasquez down. The underdog quit in his corner at the end of the second, claiming injury to his most vulnerable parts. Evidently a poorly fitted protector on so small a frame was the ultimate culprit.

In a scheduled eight, Avious Griffin, 146 ½, Chattanooga, 11-0 (10), got nothing but a win out of Jose Alberto (Gazo) Alfaro, 149, Nagarote, Nicaragua, 31-14-1 (25). Avious certainly got little of the much needed experience against a veteran opponent, announced as a former world title holder, as Griffin did nearly all the fighting. In the second, Avious chased him to the ropes, drilled a solid right to the kidney, and Alfaro folded to one knee and quit. Ref, Shada Murdaugh.

In the best bout, Isaah Flaherty, 157 ½, Elmont, NY, 6-0 (3), battled his way to a unanimous verdict over Dewayne Williams, 161 ½, Phila., 3-7-1 (3), 6. In a good clash of styles with steady action and flow, Flaherty pressed inside and worked the body while Dewayne circled away and tried to gain room. Flaherty managed to corral Williams and work the body with hooks after leading with a jab or right on the way in. By the second, Dewayne’s right eye was puffing. In the third, he tried desperately to move away but couldn’t elude Isaah’s pressure. Action wearied slightly in the fourth, with Williams scoring a clean right-left combo and then a right that could have stolen the round. In the fifth, it appeared that Dewayne had taken control over a tiring favorite and might make it anybody’s fight, as he kept a safe distance and let his hands go. But Flaherty managed to crowd him behind lead rights in the final round, although Dewayne again closed with a rally that might have stolen it. However, the judges did well. Anthony Lundy scored 58-56, Robin Taylor and John Signorile 59-55, for Flaherty.

Justin “Time” Figueroa, 154, Atlantic City, 4-0 (4), wowed his hometown fans blitzing hapless Manuel Moreira, 154, Sheridan, WYO, 0-4, in a scheduled four. Justin set up his opponent in the first with range finder left hooks or combos with the right. Moreira was like a deer in the headlights, getting jarred by a left hook just before the bell. In the second, Figueroa upped the pressure, rocking Moreira with a lead right and then coming right back with it to send him down. Justin then swarmed all over him with both hands as Manuel couldn’t get untracked and ref Fields stopped it, at 2:56.

Another local attraction, Francisco Rodriguez, 134, Atlantic City, debuted to excited crowd encouragement against Marco Dorame, 134 ½, Agua Pieta, MX, in a scheduled four. The long-armed visitor, also debuting, never launched a serious offense as the local favorite was all over him, ripping clean shots with both hands. A long poke to the belly seemed to hurt Dorame and double him over, which cued Rodriguez to go all out for the finisher. Francisco poured it on freely with both hands while Marco tried to cover helplessly on the ropes until ref Ricky Gonzalez rescued him, at 1:43 of the first.

Malik Nelson, 125 ½, Avenel, NJ, 4-0 (3), didn’t exactly get a competitive contest out of Joseph Adorno, 127 ½, Vega Alta, PR, 0-1-1. But the prospect did learn that you just can’t walk through everybody. The contest was interesting, but Adorno’s lack of aggression made it tame for action, as Nelson was doing all the fighting. The southpaw favorite established the right jab from outside in the second and stayed with it. That was all he needed to win the unanimous decision: 40-35 from Signorile and 40-36 from Lundy and Taylor. The loser smiled sheepishly as ref Gonzalez held his arm awaiting the verdict.

A scheduled four between Gabriel Gerena, 131, Piscataway, 2-0 (2), and Joshua Maldonado, 132, Vega Alta, 1-4, was good while it lasted. The visitor won the opening round by circling and countering, but as the crowd cheered on Gerena, the local would not be denied. Applying heavy pressure with lead rights to the head of the retreating southpaw opponent, Gabriel battered Josh into thinking better of answering the bell for the third. Ref, Murdaugh.

Derek Starling, 276, Phila., 6-1 (4), and southpaw Dennis Vance Jr, 273, Hale, MI, 4-9 (2), opened the show with a blubbery huff-&-puff four. Vance got off to an ambitious start with big overhand rights but quickly seemed to lose steam. Dennis was down briefly to start the second from what looked like more of a push-punch. Starling kept his hands free with straight lefts and rights as he moved in to take the third and had Vance lunging into straight punches in the final round. Signorile, Lundy and Taylor all scored 39-36 for Starling. Ref, Murdaugh.

The show drew nearly a full house of perhaps 2000. The Albanians were prevalent and whooped it up, with a prolonged musical interlude of Albanian songs introducing the hero to a joyous reception. The red corner won every bout in record building matches where they weren’t in grave danger. Not to worry! The crowd loved every bit, got to cheer their heroes in contests in which they shined while gaining experience, and then headed to the casinos to lose their pants. A great time was had by everyone. Cornflake has been keeping the once mighty fight town of Atlantic City alive while developing talent.