By Rick Scharmberg and Kurt Wolfheimer at ringside
Photos by Marty Rosengarten/www.RingsidePhotos.com

WBO #2 heavyweight David Tua (51-3-2, 43 KOs) and Monte Barrett (34-9-1, 20 KOs) boxed to a twelve round draw on Saturday night at the Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City, NJ. The 37-year-old Tua stalked Barrett but was unable to land many clean shots. As the bout progressed, Tua began to noticably tire. Tua was deducted a point for throwing Barrett to the canvas in the twelfth round by referee Randy Neumann, then Barrett floored Tua for the first time in his career shortly before the final bell. Scores were 115-111 Tua, 113-113, 113-113.

In a stunner, journeyman lightweight Carlos Vinan (10-8-4, 1 KO) scored an eighth round TKO over IBF #4 Anthony Mezaache (18-6-3, 4 KOs). Mezaache seemed on the way to a decision, but Vinan came out with everything in the eighth and knocked down Mezaache. The fight was waved off during Vinan’s follow-up barrage. Time was :37.

Unbeaten welterweight Raymond Serrano (13-0, 6 KOs) won a close eight round majority decision against Ayi Bruce (6-3, 4 KOs). Scores were 77-76, 78-74, 76-76.

Unbeaten welterweight Bayan Jargal (15-0-1, 10 KOs) only managed an eight round draw against motivated journeyman James Hope (6-5-1, 4 KOs). Scores were 76-76 on all cards.

In a wild fight, featherweight Khedafi Djelkhir (7-0, 6 KOs), a two-time Olympian for France and silver medal winner at the 2008 games, scored a first round KO over Jorge Cordero (4-4, 4 KOs). Both fighters were on the canvas before Djelkhir put Cordero down and out. Time was 2:27.

Light heavyweight Seanie Monaghan (2-0, 2 KOs) needed just 79 seconds to annihilate Dennis Penelton (0-2).