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The Press
OF ATLANTIC CITY

Friday 22 September 2006

Rossman stops Kates,
secures title shot

Story by Michael Ciferito

In a battle of New Jersey light-heavyweights Turnersville native Mike Rossman stopped Bayonne's Richie Kates in the 4th round of an action-packed affair at Philadelphia's National Athletic Club last night. The bout was a semi-final of the International Boxing League's Americas Championship tournament, one where the momentum swung from round-to-round. Kates made a promising start in the 1st, catching Rossman with a succession of shots before he suddenly found himself on the backfoot early in round two when a big uppercut sent him to the canvas. Rossman landed a crunching left hook later in the frame but Kates seized back control in the 3rd. He peppered Rossman throughout the frame, none of his punches doing much damage but he landed more than enough of them to win the round convincingly.

Twenty seconds into the 4th Kates was floored for the second time in the fight, a flush left hook dropping him on his backside. He was up at seven but this time there would be no escape. Rossman poured on the pressure, setting his man up with ripping body shots before banging a trio of hooks off Kates' head. As the round drew to a close Kates was in terrible trouble and when Rossman pounded him with five unanswered blows referee Curtis Thrasher stepped in and called it off five seconds before the bell. Rossman celebrated jubilantly with his corner crew, the win improving his record to 8-1(4). He had defeated Panama's Victor Cordoba in stage one and George Nichols in the quarters, last night's win the culmination of an unexpected run to the title fight for the 19 year-old.

In the main event New York's Melio Bettina scored his third consecutive unanimous decision win, spoiling the party for the crowd by defeating the #6-seeded local Dan Bucceroni (96-93 on all three cards). After making an encouraging start Bucceroni struggled through the middle rounds, Bettina building a solid lead on the back of some strong work from both the inside and outside. Bucceroni rallied somewhat in rounds eight and nine but Bettina dominated the final stanza and then dropped the Philadelphian with a hard left hook fifteen seconds before the final bell to put the result beyond doubt. He's now 8-1(3) and has looked very impressive throughout the tournament.

With such an inexperienced field this particular IBL tournament was always going to throw up some unexpected results so having the #8 and #10 seeds square off for the title is probably not a big surprise. Picking a winner will be just as difficult a task as it's been throughout the event. What the fight presents is a fantastic opportunity for both Rossman and Bettina to start their pro careers by claiming a championship, something that would have been highly unlikely if not for the IBL. Kates and Bucceroni will slug it out for the right to challenge for the Americas title in the co-feature, a fight that should be just as unpredictable as the main event.

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Results

(#8) Rossman TKO4 (#13) Kates
(#10) Bettina UD10 (#6) Bucceroni

Championship bout, December 14

(#8) Mike Rossman (8-1(4)) vs (#10) Melio Bettina (8-1(3))

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