Escorted to the ring by a Pop Warner football team, “Lightning” Harry Joe Yorgey outclassed Martinus Clay to win a ten-round unanimous decision at Philadelphia's Blue Horizon on Friday night. A draw with Clay (12-18-2 with 4 KOs) is the only blemish on the junior middleweight's record (20-0-1 with 9 KOs). That draw has now been avenged.  Clay came to fight but the young “lightning” fast Yorgey outboxed Clay in almost every round. Yorgey’s straight right hand continuously backed Clay up, keeping him off balance.  The official scores were 98-92, 98-92 and 96-94 all in favor of Yorgey.  Boxingtalk scored the fight 98-92 in favor of Yorgey as well.

“Lightning” Harry Joe Yorgey has proved himself over club fighters time and time again.  After avenging his only draw, standing at an undefeated 20-0-1 (9 KO’s), it now seems appropriate for Yorgey to take a step up in class.  It will be up to Yorgey’s handlers and matchmaker Don Elbaum to see if they are willing to take the risks necessary to ascend the rankings and fight legitimate opponents who pose a threat.  Yorgey is clearly an exciting fighter who has a TV friendly style and draws fans at will.  The Jr. Middleweight from Bridgeport PA by way of Phoenixville continually looks impressive and it is time for him to make a move. 

On the undercard, undefeated heavyweight Furuq Saleem, 37-0 (32 KOs), won a majority decision over Sedrick “Big Buck” Fields, 22-35-2 (16 KOs).  Have you ever heard of a 37-0 fighter still fighting in 6 round fights?  It probably has something to do with the fact that Saleem barely decisioned a club fighting journeyman in Fields.  Although the fight was mildly entertaining, both fighters were sloppy and mostly off the mark.  Fields however, had the Blue Horizon reeling while pointing out newfound friends in the crowd to the referee, dancing in the ring and talking with just about everyone ringside and on the balcony, all while the fight was actually going on.  Fields antics were without a doubt the most entertaining aspect of the fight.          

Other highlights of the evening were Harry Lundy’s blistering first round stoppage of Starr Johnson.  Lundy, now 9-0 (6 KO’s), got the stoppage by battering and beating Johnson, 3-17-1 (2 KO’s).  Lundy unloaded with barrage after barrage and referee couldn’t have waived it off quick enough for the out gunned Johnson.  Lundy weighed in at 1401lbs and Johnson at 149lbs.  Not surprisingly, the most entertaining fight of the night was Olivia Foncesca, 1-1-1 (1 KO), and Kimberly Harris, 5-9.  The official scores for the fight were 40-36, 39-37 and 39-37 all in favor of Harris, Boxingtalk had it 39-37 in favor of Harris.  Although Foncesca took a loss, she has nothing to be ashamed of as she layed it all on the line.  These women went toe to toe in classic Blue Horizon fashion.  As soon as it seemed Harris was too much for the inexperienced Foncesca, Olivia would come right back with huge power shot bombs that had the Blue Horizon on their feet in almost every round. 

Boxingtalk notes: Props to the Blue Horizon staff that saved the show at the last minute.  Apparently, the ambulance service that was scheduled to be in attendance was forced to help with a car accident on Roosevelt Blvd (not surprising considering it is one of the most dangerous roads in the U.S.).  While the crowd was waiting patiently, word is the Blue Horizon staff scrambled to find another ambulance by using google and two different ambulances actually showed up.  The show was saved and it was well worth it.              

Other results were as follows per press release: 

6 ROUNDS WELTERWEIGHTS—Tommy Rainone (9-0), 148 ½ lbs, New York, NY UD over Jaime Morales, (4-5), 149 lbs of Philadelphia…Scores were 59-54, 58-54, 58-54.  

 

4 ROUNDS FEATHERWEIGHTS—Jules Blackwell (6-0), 123 ½ lbs of Phoenixville, PA  MD over Arthur Parker (1-4), 123 lbs of Lancaster, PA…scores were 40-36, 39-37 and 38-38

 

4 ROUNDS LIGHTWEIGHTS—Louis Castro (1-0, 1 KO), 132 lbs of Philadelphia TKO 1 at 52 seconds over Elias Castillo (0-3), 130 ½ lbs of Brooklyn, NY