Giuriceo moves ahead after loss

July 23, 2012 at 12:00a.m.

After watching his best fighter, Jake Guiriceo, suffer his first professional loss on Saturday, trainer Keith Burnside left Columbus frustrated.

Frustrated by the defeat. Frustrated by Michael Clark. And frustrated by the judges.

Giuriceo lost a majority decision to the former WBO title challenger by the head-scratching margin of 80-70, 79-72 and 76-76 in an eight-round bout for the vacant Ohio junior welterweight title at Promo West Pavilion.

“It was a crazy fight for us, just different” Burnside said. “He frustrated Jake a lot.”

Clark (43-7-1) head-butted Giuriceo (16-1-1) in the first round, opening up an-inch long cut above Giuriceo’s eye as well as a gash on Clark’s head. From there, the 39-year-old Clark out-boxed Giuriceo, using his experience to stymie Giuriceo’s aggressiveness.

“He was just moving and Jake chased him the whole fight,” Burnside said. “He’s a slick boxer. It’s like he almost knew what Jake was going to do.

“Jake was more aggressive and he tagged him with a few nice shots but he was ready for us.”

Afterward, Clark refused to shake Giuriceo’s hand and started dancing around the ring while performing lewd gestures, Burnside said.

“He was a real cocky kid,” Burnside said.

Burnside said he was told there would be at least one Youngstown judge at the bout but ended up with judges from Cleveland, Akron and Columbus.

“We’ll be OK,” Burnside said. “Jake’s head is up high. He went the distance with a good fighter.

“I wouldn’t mind fighting the kid back home.”