Campbell, Angulo win; Martinez vs Cintron ends in controversial draw!

Over the weekend on Saturday night, at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida, Nate Campbell won a hard-earned majority decision over Ali Funeka. Sergio Martinez appeared to be the victor against Kermit Cintron, but two of three official judges as well as referee Frank Santore saw otherwise. Alfredo Angulo raised his undefeated record to 15-0 with 12 KOs, stopping battle tested late replacement Cosme Rivera in five one-sided rounds.

Nate Campbell W12 Ali Funeka... Campbell got off to a fast start in the first couple of rounds, viciously bullying Funeka to the ropes and attacking his lanky body. Scoring a knockdown of Funeka in round two, Campbell tried to finish the fight but Funeka survived the rounds. Funeka, with his high volume punch output, was able to box his way back into the fight by winning most of the middle rounds. Campbell, by his own admission, was fatigued in those middle rounds as a result of trying to make the 135lb weight limit. By round 10, Funeka had built a lead on the scorecards - at least unofficially on the scorecard of Boxing Chronicles as well as HBO's unofficial ringside judge Harold Lederman - but began to fade a bit.

Campbell, perhaps desperate and getting his second wind, went back to attacking Funeka's body in round 10 and managed to hurt Funeka round 11. Funeka was game and once again managed to survive the round. Campbell won the twelve round as well, outworking Funeka and staying in his mid section. Official scores were 113-113, 114-112, and 115-111, a majority decision in favor of Campbell. The knockdowns in rounds two and eleven sealed the deal for Campbell, as the decision would've been a draw otherwise. Boxing Chronicles scored the fight 114-112 for Campbell.

Sergio Martinez D12 Kermit Cintron... This was an extremely awkward and bizarre affair. For the most part, Martinez used his hand speed and ring generalship to beat Cintron the punch. Martinez threw more punches and landed more punches than Cintron, even though Cintron's may have been a little harder. Cintron had his moments, such as the first two rounds, but it appeared as though Martinez had earned a stoppage win in the seventh round when he dropped Cintron with a straight left hand. Referee Frank Santore issued a count, and had counted to ten at the moment at which Cintron's right knee was coming up off the canvas. This fight, from my vantage point, should have been a TKO for Martinez. From first glance, it looked like Santore had called the fight on Cintron. Cintron immediately protested to the referee as well as ringside officials and claimed that he had been headbutted. Perhaps showing sympathy and bending to the fighter's outbursts, Santore ruled that the fight was not ever and allowed to resume action.

Cintron was more competitive coming down the stretch, and even managed to win round 10, but for the most part, Martinez was the busier fighter and landed more punches. In the final round, Santore deducted a point from Martinez for a rabbit punch, when Martinez hit Cintron behind the head. Officials scores for the fight were 116-110 Martinez, overruled by the other two blind judges who scored the fight 113-113. Both the judges and Santore contributed to what is an early candidate for Worst decision of the Year. Boxing Chronicles scored the fight 116-110 Martinez. Yes, there were a few close rounds in the fight, but I did Cintron two of the first four rounds. Had I given Cintron all four of the first four rounds, I still would have had Martinez winning 114-112 and that would be stretching it pretty close. There is really no way anybody can justify a draw here.

Alfredo Angulo TKO5 Cosme Rivera... WBC/WBO 154lb number one contender Alfredo Angulo was cut over the right eye, which the referee ruled was caused by a punch. The replay clearly showed it was a headbutt, but the potential ruling of a Rivera TKO became irrelevant as Angulo thoroughly dominated the contest and punished Rivera with hard and accurate punches. Referee Telis Assimenios stopped the contest at 2:38 of round 5.
Television: HBO Boxing After Dark