Vito Mielnicki Jr. Scores Spectacular First Round Knockout in Prudential Center Main Event
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent- Ringside
*Photo Credit: Robert Brizel, Real Combat Media
Newark, NJ (December 3oth, 2023)– In the main event of an eleven bout Brick City holiday boxing card at Prudential Center Newark, on Friday night, December 29, 2023, rising super welterweight sensation Vito Mielnicki Jr. scored a spectacular first round knockout of opponent Salim Larbi which electrified the capacity crowd, though the bout ended with some tense scary moments.
Melnicki, 17-1 with 12 knockouts, Roseland, New Jersey, the World Boxing Council Youth Super Welterweight champion, dropped Larbi early with a right hand. Larbi foolishly got up, the ring had been cut off by Mielnicki and Larbi found himself backed with nowhere to go. Mielnicki felt out Larbi quickly, and attempted to set his timing to take Larbi out. Thee nd came brutally at 2:56 of the first round, when an overhand power right hand sent Larbi, 22-13 with eight knockouts, Rahway, new Jersey by way of France, out on his back out cold.
Mielnicki got on his knees and kneeled in great concern for Larbi, who was unconscious and rapidly stretchered out to a nearby hospital. Mielnicki’s last two opponents have been dropped a total of five times in the first round. It was evident by the expression on Mielnicki’s face before the start of the bout he was one class above his challenger, and remains worthy of better opposition. Larbi had got the distance with Thomas LaManna and Nicolas Hernandez, who fought each other earlier on the card.
Middleweight LaManna, 37-5-1 with 16 knockouts, Millville, New Jersey, would still be better off fighting at 147 and 154 pounds, in notching his seventh comeback win in a row with a seventh round stoppage win at 2:13 of the seventh over Hernandez, age 39, 28-8-3 with 12 knockouts, Reading, Pennsylvania.
LaManna appeared bigger and stronger than Hernandez, who fought six times in 2023 and was coming off an eight round decision win over Ezekiel Urena Santana last month. The stoppage in LaManna’s favor was premature, however Hernandez was eating LaManna’s jab for all seven rounds and did not win a single round. Hernandez could probably have gone the ten round distance, but he had no rounds to show for it. Hernandez’ career has done best against local opposition in Pennsylvania, but he never ascended to the world class level.
In the third main event, Newark’s favorite son, welterweight ‘Slick’ Michael Anderson, 24-3-1 with 18 knockouts, age 43, won his seventh consecutive bout with a seventh round knockout of Eudy Bernardo, 25-7 with 18 knockouts, Elias Pina, Dominican Republic. The taller Bernardo, who also enjoyed reach advantage, won the first four rounds over Anderson, who wasin the house but who appeared to be losing the battle with father time. Bernardo was in top condition, and easily outworked Anderson. An overhand left in round five dropped Bernardo, and Anderson moved in for the kill, knocking out Bernardo on his back at 2:28 of the fifth round. It may soon be time for Anderson to contemplate retirement, however on this occasion, he managed to escape because he still has his power, if not his technical skill.
After losing five of six bouts, super lightweight Ricky Edwards, 14-5 with three knockouts, Missouri City, Texas, won a rematch by six round majority decision over Mike Lee, 10-3 with seven knockouts, Newark, New Jersey. Edwards beat Lee in much the same manner as he did in Philadelphia by six round majority decision 18 months earlier, standing in front of Lee and quietly outworking him. Scoring: 57-57 draw. 59-55, 58-56 Edwards.
Paul Kroll, 11-0-2 with seven knockouts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, scored a fourth round stoppage at 2:00 of the fifth round of limited Weah Archebald, 10-16-5 with five knockouts, Mount Vernon, New York.
Brick City Friday Night Fights Undercard Results:
Paul Kroll TKO 4 Weah Archiebald, Welterweights (2:00)
Malik Nelson TKO 1 Romel Tsanimp, Super Featherweights (2:45)
John Vallejo Win 4 Rashad Bogar, Super Welterweights
Dwyke Flemmings Jr. KO 1 Luis Briceno Roman, Middleweights (0:45)
Anthony Johns Win 4 Israel Camacho, Flyweights
2-9 Camacho was a last minute substitute and managed to go the distance.
Kasir Goldston TKO 1 George Gethers, Super Lightweights (0:37)
Opening bout on Prudential Center card. Predictable outcome with Albany New York rising super lightweight prospect 6-0-1 Goldston leaving Jersey City New Jersey 0-6 Gethers without a prayer.
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