Cousins Ibragimov are ...

By Jack Obermayer in Atlantic City: Heavyweight prospect Sultan Ibragimov, 217, Rostov-Na-Donu, Russia, went to 16-0, as the 30 year-old southpaw showed he had some idea on how to chop down an opponent. He came to work against a sturdy but non-too powerful foe in veteran Zuri Lawrence, 246, Wappinger Falls, N.Y., and work he did, putting the taller Lawrence down a total of four times before winning by kockout at 0:32 of round 11. The bout was a defense of something called the WBO Asia-Pacific HW title. Lawrence lives in New York, doesn't he?

Though Ibragimov was always in the lead, it was an entertaining bout. Despite the willingness of Lawrence to rumble, he was simply outworked and outpunched by his adversary. The first knockdown came in round four as a left hand caught Lawrence coming in. He was hurt badly in the fifth, but stayed on his feet. In the ninth, now bleeding noticeably from a cut over his left eye, he was dropped twice. Surprisingly the bout was allowed to continue. In the fateful stanza, Lawrence was caught flush by a left hand as Sultan came spinning off the ropes. A well-beaten and bleeding did not even get a count; the bout was halted immediately.

Scores after ten were: 97-90, 99-88, and 100-87 - with which we agreed. The 35 year-old Lawrence drops to a listed 19-10-4, 1 NC, but without a single stoppage win.

In a dreadful bout that had all the markings of two boxers going nowhere heavyweights, Timur, Ibragimov, 231, Uzbekistan, the younger cousin of Sultan, posted an uninspired ten round unanimous decision over David Polk, 232, Akron, Ohio. No knockdowns, no excitement, but plenty of boos. Plodding (Ibragimov) and indecisive (Polk) were big boys at their "best". The winner goes to 18-0, with 10 KO wins. Scores: At least Ibragimov did enough leading to post a 99-91 on all three cards. Polk falls to 9-4, with 1.

The dazzling shots of the now 5-0 Michael Torres, 140, Yonkers, N.Y., were too much for the resolute but out-classed Damon Antoine, 138, Akron, Ohio, as Torres posted a no knockdown W-4 U verdict. Scores: 39-37 twice; 39-36. We had it 40-36.
Hard punching southpaw Julio Aquino, 150, Passaic, N.J., went to 15-2, with 13 KOs, in registering a hard-fought six round unanimous decision over Anthony Osborne, 150, Jamaica/Miami, FL. No knockdowns. Scores: 59-55 twice; 58-56. We had it 59-55.

Local hot shot, Shamone Alvarez, 147, bested fellow southpaw Ian Smith, 147, Kingston, Jamaica, taking a W-6 U victory. The much more powerful Alvarez did drop Smith in round two with a left/right, but Smith, after losing a point for holding later in the same session, managed to stick it out to the finish. Mr. Smith was tough, but just not skilled enough. Alvarez now at 12-0, with 8 KO wins. Scores: 60-52 twice; 59-53.

Chuck Mussachio, 172, of nearby Wildwood, N.J. went to 2-0 in pleasing his fans with a clear W-4 U victory over the still winless - now 0-6-1 - Henry Dukes, 170, Brooklyn. Dukes was floored in round two. Scores: 4-35 twice; 40-36.
In the walk-out bout, Derrick Rossy, 238, Medford, N.Y., took on Rubin Bracero, 250, The Bronx, N.Y./This was a rematch of a December 2004 bout in which Rossy took a four round decision. Tonight he won by TKO at 2:22 of the fifth, with Bacero going down once.

Promoter - Dee Lee (Diane Fischer) and Final Forum (Sal Musumeci). Matchmaker - Sampson Lewkowicz. Venue - Tropicana Hotel-Casino

April 22,2005