If that title grabbed your attention, let me clarify. “Iron” Mike Tyson was seen inside the ring but not as a fighter, he is now part of the newly founded promotional company Iron Mike Productions and was doing his part promoting their first event which happened to be ESPN’s Friday Night Fights last card of the season. The card was titled “Tyson is Back!” and was promoted in association with Greg Cohen Productions and took place at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York.
The main event featured an IBF Junior Lightweight Championship fight between Champion Argenis “La Tormenta” Mendez (21-2-1, 11KOs) and the rugged Arash Usmanee (20-1-1, 10KOs). The fight was controversially called a majority draw with scores of 115-113 for Usmanee and 114-114 twice for Mendez who was able to retain the title he won back in March. Most in attendance saw Mendez pull out the win, including Iron Mike who had some words:
“I thought my fighter (Mendez) won his fight. It was a sensational fight, good for boxing, but horrible for my boxer. He’s a great boxer. We’d like to get (Roman) Martinez or (Yuriorkis) Gamboa next for him.”
Usmanee started strong from round one and applied pressure on Mendez, but as the fight progressed the tables turned and it was Mendez who was dominant. Mendez did his best work in the middle of the ring often countering Usmanee with monstrous right hands and body punches. Usmanee on the other hand was more successful when he managed to trap Mendez on the ropes and landed his power punches. The fight was entertaining (and controversial) enough to warrant a rematch but nothing was confirmed.
In the Co-main event Claudio “The Matrix” Marrero (14-0, 11KOs) suffered his first loss against Jesus Andres Cuellar (22-1, 18KOs) in a WBA Featherweight Interim Championship fight. Marrero had his moments in the fight and was finding success up until the 6th round when Cuellar scored a knockdown. In the end the judges scored it 115-112, 114-113, and 116-111 all in favor of Cuellar.
Undercard Results:
6 Rounds – Heavyweights
Dorsett Barnwell (9-0, 4KOs) scored another win with a 3rd round TKO over Marlon “Rumblin Man” Hayes (23-12, 11KOs). Referee Dick Pacozzi stops the fight at 2:14
10 Rounds – Junior Welterweights
Alexei “The Mexican-Cuban” Collado (16-0, 15KOs) remains undefeated with a TKO over Guillermo Sanchez (13-9-1, 5KOs) in the 5th round at 2:25
6 Rounds – Super Middleweights
Antoine “Action” Douglas (8-0, 6KOs) wins via unanimous decision over Edgar Perez (5-5, 3KOs) – judges’ scores 60-53, 60-54, 60-54
10 Rounds – Welterweights
Ed “The Lion” Paredes (33-3-1, 22KOs) defeats Noe “Platanito” Bolanos (24-8-1, 16KOs) with an unanimous decision with judges’ scores of 99-91 (3x)
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