F.I.S.T. Fights! October 27, 2005 By Jason "J-Gon" Gonzalez at ringside

Hall of Fame Trainer ( L ) Angelo Dundee, Jake Lamotta and Jake's wife, & F.I.S.T. Founder and Chairman Gerry Cooney pose for photo, @ the N.Y. Hilton on October 26, 2005 in New York City. Fighters Initative and for support and Training. F.I.S.T./ photo by Teddy B. Blackburn/ F.I.S.T.

Arthur Mercante Sr. ( L) Anglelo Dundee ( C) and Jake Lamotta pose for photgraphers @ FIST Fund Raiser, @ NYC Hilton on Oct. 26. photo by Teddy Blackburn

Ken Norton and Arthur Mercante Sr. at FIST in New York/ pix by Teddy Blackburn

Jake Lamotta and Bronx Boxing Promoter Joey DeGaurdia/ pix by Teddy Blackburn

Both Blood and Truth are members of the FIST, and have turned their life around, pix by Teddy Blackburn

On the one year anniversary of the inaugural F.I.S.T. fights for New York (Fighter's Initiative For Support and Training.), founder and chairman Gerry Cooney felt that the best way to commemorate this crowning achievement was by playing host to the black tie affair once again.

The mission of F. I. S. T. is to provide services for treatment, counseling, and career path assistance to boxers who lack the resources needed for a successful transition after their careers as professional fighters are over. Ultimately leading to financial and family stability.

So from the prestigious Hilton Hotel in midtown Manhattan on chilly Wednesday night in October, Gerry Cooney in association with Joe Deguardia presented an action packed night of boxing, featuring a mixture of the newer and older faces on the boxing scene.
In a scheduled four rounder, the opening bout featured the Long Island heavyweight Jerry Harvey. In what was his pro-debut, Harvey pounded out the Far Rockaway native Rodney Ray in a sloppy slugfest. Although Harvey was winging and telegraphing his punches, he had enough steam on them to drop Ray in the second. Ray did manage to beat the count, however his face was extremely bloody. As the round came to an end, with blood pouring from Ray's nose and mouth his corner promptly stopped the fight. Rodney Ray now falls to 2-3-0 with 2 KO's.

The second bout of the evening featured cruiserweights John Douglas and Jamal McKay both of Brooklyn set to square off in a six rounder. From the start of the opening bell it was obvious that both fighters were evenly matched. In what was a very competitive bout and very close to call, Douglas got the nod. John Douglas improved to 6-10-3 and 3 KO's via a unanimous decision. The judges scorecards read 58-56, 59-55, and 58-57. Fightnews had it 58-57 in favor of McKay. It had appeared that McKay had landed the harder and cleaner shots. Be it as it may Jamal McKay now falls to 4-8-2 with 1 KO.

In the preceding bout, The Bronx native Melissa Hernandez made a successful pro-debut as she cruised to an easy majority decision over the previously unbeaten Mao Mao Zhang. Hernandez dictated the pace of the fight with her jab. She executed her game plan well by using excellent footwork, head and body movement, as well as feinting. However she did manage to walk in the line of fire a few times. When she got hit with a couple of solid left hooks as she tried to get inside. But overall her boxing skills were too much for Zhang. As the final bell sounded the scorecards read 40-36 (2x's) and 38-38. Zhang now falls to a .500 record of 1-1-0.

In the co-main event feature bout of the evening, the Philadelphian heavyweight Robert Hawkins improved to 21-4-0 with 7 KO's by earning a unanimous ten round decision over the very game Robert Wiggins of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. In a fight that could only be described as the cure for insomnia, Hawkins banged on Wiggins the same way a carpenter would bang on wood. All three judges had it the same 98-91. Robert Wiggins now falls to 20-6-1 with 12 KO's.

Now in the main event of the evening heavyweight Malachy Farrell out of Chicago, Illinois continued his winning streak by pouncing on Harlem's own Barry "Buck Trap" Lineberger over four rounds. In this extremely sloppy and slow paced bout, Farrell teed off on Lineberger's head and out of shape body. The frustrated "Buck Trap" had no response. In fact at one point during the bout, Lineberger laid on the ropes calling Farrell to come to him for Farrell to hit him. Also it may have seemed that Lineberger may have shoved Farrell as the final bell of the fight sounded. All three judges saw it the same way 40-36. Malachy Farrell improved to 12-0-0 with 9 KO's while Barry Lineberger a.k.a. "Buck Trap" now falls to an anemic 4-9-0 with 2 KO's.

So with all of the proceeds that were generated from this terrific event going to
F. I. S. T. as well as fifteen other charities, you can say that New York was 'fighting' for the right cause.

Questions? Comments?
Email Jason "J-Gon" Gonzalez