Osnel Charles vs Rolando Chinea Joker’s Wild Bout, Wyomissing Fight Card Preview
By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent
Wyomissing, PA (July 24, 2014)– Andre Acuna’s Lionheart Promotion will present an exciting ten bout card of amateur and professional boxing at the Designer Ballroom in Crowne Plaza Hotel in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, on Friday evening, July 26, 2014, featuring junior middleweight contender Harry Joe Yorgey. The Crowne Plaza Designer Ballroom is a 10,000 square foot meeting area and event space, with a 900 person capacity. Matchmaker Mike Melendez has put together an action packed evening of entertainment, with a late addition bout sure to raise the roof. Five amateur bouts in the open category will start the card, followed by five professional bouts.
Just days before the card, Melendez signed Atlantic City’s hot and cold lightweight Osnel Charles, 10-9-1, to fight 8-0-1 Lancaster prospect Rolando Chinea. The unbeaten and superbly conditioned Chinea, who turned pro in Maryland in 2011, is seeking to move up in the lightweight division with this step up bout.
The Joker has been wild so far in the hot and cold career of Osnel Charles. In March 2014 at Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino in Chester, Charles knocked down Victor Vasquez in round two and won an upset eight round split decision to take the promoter to the cleaners. Charles has gone the distance in 19 of his 21 bouts, and is clearly an eight round fighter, when in top condition. His last 12 bouts have been six or eight rounders.
Three of Charles recent opponents, whom he went the distance with and fought to the bitter end, Naim Nelson, Bryant Cruz, and Anthony Cacace, have a combined record of 30-0. In addition, Charles fought Rod Salka in 2013 at light welterweight to the bitter end for eight rounds. Salka just beat 18-0 Victor Collado for the WBC Fecarbox title and will fight Danny Garcia on August 9, 2014, for the WBC and WBA World Light Welterweight titles.
Charles drew with Raphael Luna, however, a fighter Rolando Chinea has knocked out.
Charles is a higher level fighter and could have been adangerous fight for the Chinea camp. Charles has more experience than Chinea, and will try to get off first. However, Charles and trainer Arnold Robbins took this bout on three days notice. Charles has been in the gym (according to Robbins) but is not immaculately prepared for this bout to the extent Chinea is.
Rolando Chinea is predicted to win by decision in a six round thriller, in the preliminary to the main event. Charles will go the distance and probably put up a good accounting of himself. Chinea, trained by noted Lancaster trainer Barry Stumpf, will win the decision, with Charles swinging for the rafters but winding up more in a defensive and holding mode in the later stages of the bout when he tires.
In the main event, light middleweight contender Harry Yorgey, 27-2-1, 12 knockouts, Bridgeport, Pennsylvania, is predicted to win by six round unanimous decision after a year’sinactivity over fading Eric Mitchell, 23-11-1, 11 knockouts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mitchell still fights well enough to force Yorgey to box for the points win and remain cautious. Mitchell, in what could prove his final ring appearance, might go for broke and try to slug it out with Yorgey and take him out in a wild slugfest. If could meanYorgey might get dropped before knocking Mitchell out, if it comes to it. Mitchell was still good enough in 2011 to win a 10 round decision over Derrick Findley. Eric Mitchell’s last three opponents-including Yorgey-have a high quality combined record of 69-3.
If Mitchell turns the bout dirty, it could prove to be a barnstormer and bring down the house.
On the undercard: 2-0 light middleweight prospect Erik Spring of Reading in favored to win by four round decision over 0-2 Jarrett Robinson of Philadelphia; 2-0 light heavyweight prospect Joseph ‘Mack’ Williams of Far Rockaway Queens, New York, is favored to win by four round unanimous decision or stoppage over 1-5-1 Edwynn Jones of Houston, Texas. Debuting super featherweight Ed Mendez is favored to win by four round unanimous decision over 0-3 Phil Nazario of Bronx, New York.
In amateur novice and open three round bouts between local fighters: super middleweight Shakeem Hodge of the East Reading Boxing club faces Tavonn Dunston of Hamer Fitness (open); junior middleweight Nicolas Hernandez of the Blyweiss Boxing Club faces Dean Smith of Primal Gym (open); junior middleweight Louis Taylor of the East Reading Boxing Club faces James Martin (open); middleweight Jorge Diaz Jr. of the East Reading Boxing Club faces Al Reid of Warriors Boxing (novice); lightweight David Indio Lopez of the Blyweiss Boxing Club faces Felix Alvarado of Finefrock&Stumpf’s Lancaster Golden Gloves Center (Novice); and featherweight Isael Flores Castro of the Blyweiss Boxing Club versus Josh Leonard of Hammer Fitness (Novice).
For more information about the July 25 boxing event and advance ticket purchases please contact promoter Andre Acuna of Lionheart Promotion at 484-794-1508. Tickets can also be purchased at the East Reading Boxing Club, 1656 Cotton Street in Reading, Keys 2 Fitness at 1311 Penn Avenue in Reading, Washington Martial Arts Training Center, 2003 Belmont Avenue or at the door of the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Wyomissing the day of the event. Ticket prices $65, $45 and $25. VIP Tables are also available. Doors open 6 P.M., with the first amateur bout starting at 6:30 P.M.
Prime Steak and Wine Restaurant at the Crowne Plaza Hotel opens for dinner at 5 P.M. and will be open throughout the event to 10 P.M. or into the evening. The Goodnites Lounge & Nightclub opens at 5 P.M. to 2 A.M. The Crowne Plaza will prove a full hot food concession and full bar service at the boxing event. Rooms are available at the Crowne Plaza at $129 for a standard room for those wishing to come in for the event and stay over can call the hotel at 610-376-3811 to check for room availability. Ample free parking is provided by the hotel at no additional charge for patrons attending the boxing event.
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