By Matt Richardson at ringside
Crowd pleasing local heavyweight Vinny Maddalone sent his fans home happy on Thursday night at Russo’s on the Bay restaurant in Howard Beach, New York when his opponent, journeyman Benji Baker, did not come out for the fifth round of a scheduled eight in the main event of a card promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing. Maddalone (32-5, 23 KO’s) dominated the fight; knocking Baker down in the first, third and fourth rounds. It was the first fight for Maddalone since losing a decision to unbeaten heavyweight Denis Boystov last November. It was also the first time Baker (18-7, 9 KO’s) had fought since 2001. While he didn’t fight particularly well (he may have won the second round) he was more competitive than his record or recent activity rate would have suggested prior to the encounter. In the co-feature, super middleweight contender Curtis “Showtime” Stevens won an eight-round unanimous decision over journeyman Dan Mouton. (More to come)
