Maskaev, Minto Win!

July 24, 2004

Photos and Story By: Ed Mulholland

www.fightnews.com

Heavyweights were the attraction Friday night in Atlantic City on the eve of the Arturo Gatti-Leonard Dorin bout at Boardwalk Hall. In the main event at the Trump Taj Mahal, Oleg Maskaev (29-5) proved he's still a factor in the heavyweight division by punishing previously unbeaten David Defiagbon (21-1) for ten rounds. Maskaev was able to control the majority of the early action with both fighters electing to fight at a slower pace.

Maskaev dropped Defiagbon with a quick right hand in round six, but Defiagbon was able to hold on and ride out the round.

Maskaev had him in trouble once again in the final round, but once again Defiagbon slickness allowed him to survive to hear the final bell. Surprisingly, Maskaev only managed to win by split decision. Scores were 98-92, 96-93 for Oleg and one judge inexplicably scored 95-94 for Defiagbon. Fightnews.com scored the bout 97-92 for Maskaev.

In a tremendous show of guts and heart by both fighters, Unbeaten heavyweight Brian Minto (18-0, 11KO’s) outlasted Vinny Maddalone (21-2, 15KO’s) in a heavyweight war. The night looked to be a short one when Maddalone landed a hard combination that dropped Minto in round one, but Minto managed to move and hold just enough to survive.

Maddalone continued to control the bout early on, couldn’t miss with his left hook, and bloodied Minto’s nose in the 4th round, but slowly Minto was getting himself back into the action with some good counterpunching in between the looping right hands of Maddalone.

The fight took a big swing, as Maddalone began to tire and Minto started to land heavy shots, opening up a couple of cuts on the face of Maddalone. The seventh round, saw great action as Minto battered Maddalone around the ring with huge right hands and looked on the verge of a stoppage win. Only the incredible heart and chin of Maddalone allowed him to stay on his feet and continue on through the mask of blood.

Once again the tide of the bout swung, as Maddalone began to reach Minto with looping right hands and hurt him on a couple occasions over the eighth and ninth rounds.

The end came suddenly early in the 10th. Minto, implored by his corner that he was behind and needed a KO to win, did just that, landing a huge left hook as Maddalone moved forward. Maddalone crashed to the canvas hard and valiantly tried to rise, but referee Allen Huggins reached the count of 10, giving Minto the come from behind win, in a fantastic crowd pleasing bout.

In off TV action, junior middleweight prospect Yuri Foreman (15-0, 6KO’s) scored a 6 round decision over Joshua Onyango (12-9, 11KO’s). Foreman controlled the bout with good movement and combination punching. Neither fighter was in trouble at any time. Two judges scored the bout 60-54, the third scored it 58-56 all for Foreman.

In a clutch and grab affair, Tim O’Neil won a lackluster unanimous decision over Dex Pejinovic by scores of 59-54, 59-54, and 60-53.

Robert Hawkins won a one-sided bout over Gary Winmon when referee Allen Huggins was forced to step in and stop the bout at 2:08 of round two.

In the final walkout bout, Lorenzo Bethea remained undefeated (3-0, 0KO’s) with a 4 round decision win over Aberivaldo Dos Santos. Dos Santos drops to 5-1, 4KO’s with the loss.

Questions? Comments? Email Ed Mulholland