Harmon Edges Telesco!
 

May 28, 2004
Mohegan Sun Arena, Ledyard, CT
By Bill Luppert, and Scott Ploof at Ringside

www.fightnews.com
Photos: Ed Mulholland

ESPN 2's Friday Night Fights came from Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT. The main event featured former light heavyweight title combatants Derrick Harmon of Las Vegas, NV vs. David Telesco from Port Chester, NY. Harmon escaped with a close 10 round split decision victory by scores of 96-94, 97-93, and 94-96.

Both fighters came out in the first round, trying to feel each other out, sticking their jabs out there, much to the displeasure of the 4094 in attendance at the Mohegan Arena. In the second, Harmon came out and landed a straight left that snapped back Telesco's head, and Telesco answered that with a left, right, left combination that was blocked by the gloves of Harmon. The third round, Harmon chose to fight the majority of the round on the ropes, trying to bait Telesco into leaving an opening that never happened. Telesco however, was able to land a good right hook to the head of Harmon. The 4th round saw little action, however, Harmon was able to land another straight left to Telesco's head. After 3 uneventful rounds, the 8th, Telesco kept up his attack to the body that he had been going with throughout the entire fight, however, Harmon was able to keep Telesco at bay, by landing numerous jabs, as well as another left hand. The 9th round featured Telesco getting rocked with a straight left hand, however, Telesco came back with a right hook of his own. Going into the 10th and final round, Judge Tom Kaczmarek had Telesco ahead 86-85, and Judge Glen Feldman had Harmon winning by the same score. Both fighters came out as if they knew they needed the round to put the fight in the bag. Harmon was able to land his trademark straight left hand, and was able to set up another left hand by landing a soft right uppercut. Telesco, however, answered with 2 hard right hooks about 10 seconds apart. Kaczmarek score the round for Telesco, and Feldman scored it for Harmon, however, had both judges agreed on the round, either way, the fight would have been a majority draw.

Harmon improves to 24-5(11), while Telesco drops to 28-4(23), suffering his first defeat in nearly 4 1/2 years, which came to former light heavy and pound for pound king, Roy Jones, Jr. --Bill Luppert

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