At the Mohegan Sun Casino, in Uncasville, CT, Saturday, TGB Promotions – Tom Brown, over Showtime, in the Main Event featured former IBF World Bantamweight champion Emmanuel “Manny” Rodriguez and Reymart “Assassin” Gaballo for the interim WBC World Bantamweight title.
In the Main Event No. 4 ranked Emmanuel “Manny” Rodriguez, 19-2 (12), #117 1/2, of Vega Baja, PR, lost a disputed split decision to Reymart “Assassin” Gaballo, 24-0 (20), #117 1/2, of General Santos City, PH, over 12 dull rounds, for the interim WBC World Bantamweight title.
In the first seven rounds it was all Rodriguez. In the eighth and ninth rounds Gaballo finally put some punches together having chased Rodriguez the entire fight up to that point. In the tenth round a jab from Rodriguez on the chin almost knocked Gaballo down.
Scores were 118-110 Rodriguez and 116-112 and 115-113 Gaballo. Referee was Arthur Mercante, Jr.
Welterweight Jaron “Boots” Ennis, 26-0-1nc (23), #146 ľ, of Philadelphia, PA, and Chris van Heerden, 28-2-1-1nc (12), #146 ľ, of RSA and Santa Monica, CA, ended in the first due to clash of heads causing Heerden unable to continue at 2:39 of the first of a 12 for the vacant IBO title.
In the first round Ennis was ahead with body shots when a clash of heads caused the fight to end with van Heerden suffering a bad cut on the forehead over his right eye. Referee was Johnny Callas.
Welterweight Brandun Lee, 21-0 (19), #143, of La Quinta, CA, stopped Dakota Linger, 12-5-2 (8), #142 Ľ, of Buckhannon, WV, at 1:17 of the third of a scheduled 10 rounds.
Bantamweight No. 2 WBA ranked Gary Antonio Russell, 18-0 (12), #119, of Wash., DC, won a TD over former WBA Bantam champ Juan Carlos “Baby Pacquiao” Payano, 21-5 (9), #119, of DR, and Miami, FL, after 6 rounds due to a cut of a scheduled 10 rounds.
In the second round referee David Fields allowed Russell to get away with some fouls without warning. In the third round there was more wrestling than boxing. In the fifth Payano was cut on left eyebrow of this wrestling match. After the sixth round the ring physician stopped the fight. Going to the scores it was 58-56 and 59-55 twice. This writer had it 57-57 in a horrible match with a referee to match.
Super Welterweight Zsolt “The PhenomAdam” Daranyi, 15-1 (14), #150 Ľ, of Hungary, and Toronto, Ontario, CAN, lost a majority decision to Benjamin Whitaker, 15-4 (3), #150, over 8 rounds.
Scores were 77-75, 79-73 and 76-76.