New York—Another night of boxing from the Manhattan Center/Hammerstein Ballroom on West 34th street, another sellout crowd thrilled by lots of action, lots of knockouts, featuring some big names and some lesser known local fighters.

Eliseo Castillo (20-2-1, 15KO) was a rising star in the cruiserweight division (200 pound limit), returning to the weight class after testing the heavyweight waters. He looked the part in the first round against Johnathon Banks (12-0, 9KO), flooring the undefeated youngster twice for eight-counts. But the Emanuel Stewart trained Detroiter showed veteran savvy, clutching and grabbing after the second knockdown to survive the round.

Castillo inexplicably shelved his first round aggressiveness, became more tentative and looked for counterpunching opportunities rather than initiate attacks. Banks was also content to counterpunch, and the first round slugfest became a patient, tactical battle. Banks fought Castillo even through the second and third rounds, then launched two straight rights to Castillo’s chin to crumple the chiseled Cuban at 1:12 of the fourth, sealing the victory for the Kronk Gym fighter. That Manny Steward (trainer for Tommy Hearns, Lennox Lewis, Jermain Taylor and a dozen other champions) is a pretty good teacher.

Former heavyweight champion David Tua (45-3-1, 39KO) toyed with his opponent, Edward Gutierrez (15-3-1, 6KO) for three rounds before unleashing a flurry of three left hooks to the head, followed immediately with two more crushing left hooks to the body, earning a forth round KO. Tua, claiming he is “older and wiser” perhaps has put behind him the days when he failed to train hard and maintain his conditioning and weight, relinquishing his titles to Lennox Lewis in November 2000. The big Samoan is remembered for ballooning up 30 pounds after winning a belt; he still has the handspeed and punching power to comeback to the top ranks, earn some purses and maybe even threaten for the championship once again.

Local rising prospects Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin (6-0, 4KO) and Jorge “The Truth” Teron (11-0-1, 8KO) prevailed in their bouts. Quillin, a middleweight (160#) displayed more effort with his now trademarked tossing candies to the ringside crowd after his first round one-punch KO of William Prieto (2-1) than he expended in the ring. Lightweight (135#) Teron had a tough, seasoned veteran opposite him in Armando Cordoba (21-26-2, 16KO) who was elusive throughout their six round contest. Teron was patient in stalking Cordoba, finally landing many square head and body shots to earn a unanimous decision (58-56 on all three cards).

The roster of sports and entertainment luminaries at ringside this night: Teddy Atlas calling the fight for ESPN2; Gary Sheffield; Winky Wright; DMC (Darryl McDaniel) of the old-school Run-DMC, and a bunch of recent rappers I am too old to recognize.

Other results:

Joe Green (11-0, 8KO, Brooklyn, NY), 2nd round KO of Damone Wright (17-26-2, 6KO, Omaha, NE), middleweight (160#)

Cindy Serrano (13-0-1, 7KO, Brooklyn, NY), 6 round decision over Tawnyah Freeman (7-3, 3KO, Ft. Smith, AK), lightweight (135#)

Bryant “The Fighting Cop” Pappas (4-0, 4KO, Yonkers, NY), 1st round KO of James Durham (0-2, Louisville, KY), super middleweight (168#)

Jon “The Fighting Marine” Schneider (1-0, 1KO, Yonkers, NY), 1st round KO of Eddie Kimbrough (0-2, Milwaukee, WI), heavyweight

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