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The Bull stays unbeaten
Jake Giuriceo tops Dedrick Bell by unanimous decision
By Greg gulas
Campbell
For the better part of six weeks, Jake “The Bull” Giuriceo prepared for Saturday’s light welterweight “Thrill on the Hill” expecting to fight California, Pa.’s Rod Salka.
When Salka was scratched due to medical reasons earlier in the week, he was a fighter without an opponent, albeit for just a few days.
Lights Out Productions thought the card was filled Friday when Colombia’s Oscar Cuero agreed to meet Giuriceo, only to have him back out when he couldn’t get to Campbell in time for the weigh-in and the fight.
Finally, a last ditch effort late Friday landed Dedrick Bell of Memphis, Tenn., in the Mahoning Valley as the opponent Giuriceo would face.
It turned out to be a tune-up for Giuriceo.
In the main event, Giuriceo (11-0-1, 3 KOs) scored a unanimous, six-round decision over Bell to remain undefeated on a night that almost didn’t take place.
“We watched some film on Dedrick [Bell] and noticed that he didn’t like being backed into the ropes. That was our strategy,” Giuriceo said. “I was able to land some body shots and shots to the head when I had him in the corner.
“He’s really a rough puncher and landed some shots as well. Hats off to Dedrick for coming here to fight on such short notice.”
All three judges, Tom Miller, Pat Casey and Jamie Garayua scored the fight 60-54 in Giuriceo’s favor.
In the co-main event, Miguel “Silky Smooth” Gonzalez (17-2, 13 KOs) of Cleveland scored a unanimous decision over Chris “Kid Kayo” Fernandez (19-13-1, 12 KOs) to capture the WBF International light welterweight title.
Gonzalez sent Fernandez to the canvas twice and a mandatory eight-count in both the second and eighth rounds with shots to the side of the body, but he bounced back both times despite taking a knee.
Fernandez was docked a point twice in the ninth round for punching below the belt. All three judges scored the fight 100-87 in favor of Gonzalez.
“Give him [Chris Fernandez] credit because he came at me the entire fight,” Gonzalez said. “I’m walking my dream right now.
“The thought of a world title has to start somewhere and I am hoping that mine started tonight right here in Campbell, Ohio.”
In the undercard’s opening bout, Cleveland’s Derrick Moss made a successful professional debut when he scored a unanimous decision over Daniel Crabtree (0-2) of Columbus in a lightweight match-up.
In the second bout, a light heavyweight scrap, Damar Singleton (8-0, 4 KOs) of Toledo remained undefeated when he scored a majority decision over Grover Young (5-2, 2 KO’s) of Memphis, Tenn.
In a middleweight pairing, Wilkins “The Pride of Lorain” Santiago (3-0, KO) remained undefeated by posting a unanimous decision over Russ Niggemyer (2-2, 2 KOs) of Columbus.