MAIN EVENT SCRAPPED IN DELAWARE- SHOW GOES ON WITHOUT MOLLO
By Michael Walters

The main event last night between heavyweights Franklin Lawrence (17-2-2) and Mike Mollo in Dover, Delaware was scrapped due to medical concerns,when, Mollo (20-3-1) who has been out of the ring for two years, could not pass his pre-fight medical exams. According to Lisa Butler, a representative for Dover Downs Casino, there was an issue with Mollo's CAT scan and he could not get doctors' clearance to participate in tonight's bout.

In the new main event, former Contender participant Mike Stewart (48-7-3) stepped into the ring against career opponent Christopher Fernandez (19-15-1) in a fight scheduled for ten rounds. Mike Stewart looked every bit the veteran of nearly sixty fights and seemed to get older as the fight went on. All through the fight, Stewart looked slow and unable to get his punches off as the underdog Fernandez had his way with him landing shots at will. After eight rounds, the fight went to the cards and saw Fernandez winning by the scores of 80-72, 77-75, and 79-73. After this showing against a fighter that on paper who should have been easy work, it looks as though Stewart needs to hang it up. Boxingtalk scored the fight 78-74 Fernandez.

In the opening fight in Dover, DE cruiserweights Lamont Singletary and Rogelio Saldana (1-2) put on an entertaining four round fight. Both fighters were bloodied in the fight and Singletary (3-0) looked the worse for wear but, was  he able to score a unanimous decision by scores of 40-36 twice and 39-37. Boxingtalk scored the fight 39-37 for the still undefeated Singletary.

In the second fight of  the evening Wilmington, DE native  Ryan Belasco (16-5-3) took on Baltimore's Tyrell Samuel in lightweight contest. The fight went all six rounds and was fought evenly throughout.  Belasco was cut in the fifth round under the left eye by a Samuel (14-4-1) counter right. Although he was bloodied in the bout Belasco went on to win a majority decision by scores of  59-55 twice and 57-57. Boxingtalk scored the bout 57-57 a draw.

The following contest was a welterweight bout between Mike Denby (4-12-4) and Duane King. The first round was exciting as both fighters came out swinging for the fences. King floored his opponent  Kenby with a left hook in the final seconds of the round, on shaky legs he beat the count . Denby although clearly hurt by the knockdown came out as the aggressor in the second and won the round. It looked as though Denby was on his way to evening up the fight on the score cards in the third when he was caught by devastating King (3-2) right uppercut against ropes followed by a left hook. At that point referee Benji Esteves had seen enough and called a halt to the bout at 2:05 of the third round.

The next bout was a women's featherweight match that saw Ronica Jeffery take on Jackie Trivilino. Jeffery (9-0) was the much more skilled fighter but she got as good as she gave throughout the eight round bout. Trivilino (8-4-2) was the aggressor for much of the fight but, she hand no answer for the right hand of her undefeated opponent. The final scores saw Jeffery's win by margins of 80-72, 79-73, and 78-74, although the fight was much more entertaining and closer then the scores reflected. Boxingtalk scored the bout 78-74 for Jeffery.

In a lightweight six round slugfest Omar Douglas (4-0) took on Jonathan Garcia. The fight was fought at close quarters and saw both fighters landing hard shots. Garcia (2-1) seemed to tire as the bout wore on which left him open to right hands from his much more aggressive  opponent. After six rounds the fight went to the scorecards and Omar Douglas won by scores of 59-55 twice and 58-56. Boxingtalk scored the fight 58-56 for Douglas.

In a walkout bout John Bowman (2-0-1) won a four-round decision over Dorian Hatcher (1-4) by scores of 40-35, and 40-36 twice in a light heavyweight match up.