Ex-Champ Yuri Foreman Wins Comeback

 New York, NY ( January, 24th, 2013)–With a hungry heart and a healed right knee, former World Boxing Association Light Middleweight champion Yuri Foreman, 32, made a successful comeback after a 22 month layoff in the co-main event of a nine bout card at BB King Blues Club & Grill on Wednesday night, January 23, 2012. It was his first win since defeating Daniel Santos for the WBA World Title at Las Vegas MGM Grand November 2009.

Foreman, now 29-2, 8 knockouts, a Belarus born fighter now out of Brooklyn, New York, won an easy six round decision over Missouri journeyman trial horse Brandon Baue, now 12-9, 10 knockouts. Foreman had superior height and reach over Baue, and used superior in and out and side to side foot movement which created unique punching angles for the ring technician.  The shorter Baue appeared to land less than 10 punches all night, and his target, ex-champ Yuri Foreman, was constantly moving, leaving Baue no chance to plant his feet and counter.

Baue missed wildly, or remained defensive waiting for a counter opportunity. Opportunities for Baue never materialized. The bout probably should have been stopped after the third or fourth round, as Baue had no offense. Foreman was not throwing power punches for the most part, though, and got in a good workout to shake off the ring rust while demonstrating brilliant tactical footwork which would make him a most difficult opponent for a world title holder at this point.

Yuri Foreman is a superior technical boxer at his best, unlike the power punching George Foreman who was not known for winning rounds on technical skill.

Perhaps Baue’s best moment was when he pushed Yuri Foreman to the canvas in the fifth round, hoping perhaps Foreman’s right knee was still in bad shape and Foreman would not get up, thinking of Foreman’s knee troubles when he fought Miguel Cotto in 2010. Foreman got up right away, though, so the knee was a long forgotten issue. Baue was not proficient enough to get inside the fast moving Foreman and neutralize his height and reach advantage. Baue had a decent defense, but his counterpunching opportunities were as limited as his fighting ability. Baue trained hard for the bout, and kept moving well enough to survive his first encounter against a former world champion.  Baue did not deserve even 8 points in any of the six rounds, but judges are kind and scored the rounds 10-9 for Foreman.

It was nice to see a world champion like Yuri Foreman in the ring at the BB King Club in New York City , which has been a haven for the finest pro prospects discovered by Lou DiBella and others since boxing cards have been held there.

Foreman stated after the bout “I’m happy to shed some rust and get some rounds in. I feel great, I’m signed with Lou DiBella and I am happy to be with him and DIBella Entertainment. I feel good. My legs are good. It took me about a year to regain my motivation (after knee surgery).”

Real Combat Media: “Would you be willing to fight for a  light middleweight world title against Austin Trout or Saul Alvarez in the next 24 months after a few more tune up bouts?”

Yuri Foreman: “Yes. I feel good. After a few more bouts (like this), I would go straight for a world championship fight.”

Lou DiBella and Joe Quiambo are great at moving the fighters in their stable. If anybody can make it happen for Yuri Foreman, Lou DiBella will make it happen.

Result: Yuri Foreman Win 6 Brandon Baue, Light Middleweights

Scoring: 60-54, 60-54, 60-54 for Yuri Foreman.  Referee: Shada Murdaugh

First ring appearance for ex-WBA World champion Foreman since March 2011.

In the other co-main event, 12-0 Puerto Rican featherweight prospect Luis Angel Rosa banged out a hard fought eight round decision over Florida’s Derrick Wilson,  now 9-4-2,  in a clean bout marked by one bizarre scorecard. Two top notch world class judges, Don Trella and Steve Weisfeld, correctly scored the bout 77-75 for Rosa, who appeared to win the critical eighth round as clearly the busier fighter. If not, the bout would have been a majority draw. The third judge, who shall remain unnamed, somehow scored the bout 80-72 for Rosa, which was way off the mark.

Wilson appeared to win at least three rounds. In conversation with this reporter after the bout, Wilson complained “I don’t understand how one judge could score the bout 80-72 against me. How did one judge come up with that scorecard?” Wilson raised a good question. However, Rosa won the bout by throwing a great many body combinations, while Wilson preferred to land singly placed jabs and power shots. While Wilson landed single shots consistently at times, he was not as busy and active as Rosa was, which could proved the difference in a close bout.

Result: Luis Angel Rosa Win 8 Derrick Wilson, Featherweights

Scoring: 77-75, 77-75, 80-72 Rosa. Referee: Earl Brown

Rising DiBella middleweight prospect Lamar ‘The Big Cue’ Russ outpointed Jose Medina over 8 rounds to remain unbeaten. Russ landed jabs which picked Medina apart, who resorted to trying head butts, hitting behind the head and the occasional low blow and tried to take the fight dirty. Russ won most rounds boxing out of Medina’s range. Russ,12-0, Fayetteville, North Carolina, passed the ‘got taken to school’ test with Medina, now 17-12-1, Quincy, Massachusetts, who put up a good accounting of himself despite the loss. Russ appears ready to step up in opposition.

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