New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
Twin River Casino put on an amazing fight card Friday night that featured some very good young local talent.
Providence and New Bedford boxers were represented in most of the fights with the New Bedford boxers leaving disappointed with three losses and no wins. Young fighters Efren Nunez and Wilson Mascarenhas had raw talent, but were out-matched by more technical fighters.
In the second match of the night, Providence’s Ricky Delossantos (4-0) defeated New Bedford’s Efren Nunez (0-2) with a TKO in the second round. Nunez’s corner threw in the towel as their fighter was taking too much punishment. There didn’t appear to be any quit in Nunez who was hurt several times in the fight but never stopped engaging Delossantos.
In the fourth match of the night, Miguel Ortiz (3-1) defeated New Bedford’s Wilson Mascarenhas (0-1) in Mascarenhas pro debut. All three judges scored the fight 40-35, but I felt the scorecards didn’t tell the real story of the fight as Mascarenhas had some strong moments. Mascarenhas shows some clear talent, but was beaten by the more technical and well rounded Ortiz.
The crowd seemed evenly split in the much anticipated main event between Edwin Soto (12-2) and New Bedford’s Ray Oliveira Jr. (8-2). Oliveira Jr. was the aggressor for most of the fight, but Soto’s counter-punching was too much and forced a second round stoppage by the referee.
Oliveira Jr. started out pushing Soto in the first half of the first round until Soto landed a solid left hook toward the end of the round that appeared to shake Oliveira Jr. Soto ended the round strongly, landing a three punch combination. Oliveira Jr.
Oliveira Jr. pushed the pace hard at the start of the second round, but was caught with a thunderous counter left-hook that rocked Oliveira Jr. and almost brought him to the canvas. Soto smiled, noticing he had Oliveira Jr. hurt and then flurried with dozens of punches – many landing flush. A solid right hand forced the referee to step in and stop the fight. The fight was likely a disappointment for Oliveira Jr., but it proved that he has a solid boxing chin as he never hit the canvas.
You can watch the fight here:
The night showcased some exciting young talent. Providence’s Anthony Marsella Jr. (8-0, 4 KO’s) dominated Mexico’s Israel Villela (6-9) and Worcester’s Jamaine Ortiz (8-0, 4 KO’s) overwhelmed Victor Rosas (9-8). Sicily’s heavyweight Juiseppe Cusumano (14-1, 12 KO’s) excited the crowd with a first round knockout of Pittsburgh’s Fred Latham (9-2-2, 5 KO’s). All three fighters could headline a fight card and I’d go in a heartbeat.
