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Struthers’ Giuriceo celebrates undercard win
Photo
Pavlik/Rubio Fight Night at Chevy Centre, February 21, 2009
Cleveland’s Willie Nelson and Youngstown’s Brandon Winner also enjoyed arena wins.
YOUNGSTOWN — Jake Giuriceo said he hit Michael Suarez with a straight right hand after getting hit in the back of the head.
That straight right sent Suarez of Cleveland to the canvas and down for the count of 10 by referee Randy Jarvis in the second round of the pro debut of both at the Chevrolet Centre Saturday night.
Giuriceo’s super lightweight victory was more than enough of a crowd pleaser for the crowd that includes many friends.
The Campbell native who now lives in Struthers was workmanlike despite his flashy lime-green trunks.
After Suarez hit the canvas, Jarvis started his count and kept going as the Cleveland fighter stumbled after he rose.
Giuriceo’s KO time was 0:53 of the second round during the third fight of the Pavlik-Rubio undercard.
Giuriceo said that Suarez’s hit behind the head knocked him off balance. When he released his right, Giuriceo said it landed flush on his opponent’s chin.
The fight was scheduled for four rounds.
What will Giuriceo do now?
“I want a fight. I want to keep fighting,” the 23-year-old said.
About Struthers, he kiddingly said, “The streets are better there.”
Suarez and Giuriceo came out expecting a fast pace and did so, especially at the end of the first round. Both, especially Giuriceo, whaled away with left and right hooks to the head and body.
The bout previous to Giuriceo’s was a quick one as Willie Nelson of Cleveland knocked out Damon Antoine of Mexico at 1:01 of the first round.
The taller and leaner Nelson caught Antoine on the right side of his abdomen in their scheduled six-round welterweight fight.
Nelson remained undefeated at 11-0-1, 7 KOs.
The opening fight was a bloody one as Brandon Winner of Youngstown registered a four-round unanimous decision over Billy Greenawalt, also of Youngstown.
The 36-year-old Greenawalt won the first round, but Winner, 25 years old was not backing down despite a bloody nose. Winner kept up the pressure and delivered the necessary jabs, especially a left at the end of the second round to turn the tide.
Winner improved to 2-5 while Greenawalt fell to 1-5.
In another bout, Mark Salser of Mansfield stayed perfect at 9-0 as the lightweight boxer dispatched of Leroy Newton of Michigan City, Indiana via a second-round TKO.
Prior to the outcome, Salser smothered Newton with solid body shots, both left and rights, that dropped Newton to his knees in the first round.
After the standing 8-count, Salser, again, sent his opponent to the canvas near the end of the first round.
At 1:08 of the second round, Salser recorded his TKO when Newton was send backwards on his seat.
bassetti@vindy.com