Arctic Chill in Atlantic City: Stevens Burns Majewski, Mchunu Hangs On To Defeat Durodola
By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent- Ringside
* Photo Credit: Robert Brizel
Patrick ‘The Machine’ Majewski of Radom, Poland, has been the darling of Atlantic City, New Jersey. Since decisioning Maurice Williams at Boardwalk Hall there in August 2007, Majewski has fought in Atlantic City eight times in seven years.
On arrival at Bally’s Hotel in Atlantic City on Friday evening, January 24, 2014, this reporter wheeled his briefcase on wheels on the Atlantic City boardwalk alone in eerie silence in the arctic chill, breathing the cool air and refreshing the lungs. There was no wind en route to Resorts international Hotel, only a dead silence quiet lonely quiet, which made this reporter quietly contemplate his own existence and the meaning of professional boxing.
In the main event of a boxing card on NBC Sports Network televised Friday night fights at Resorts International in Atlantic City, New Jersey, promoted by Main Events and Peltz Boxing, world ranked middleweight Curtis ‘Showtime’ Stevens of Brownsville Brooklyn, New York, won an expected yet seemingly most strange first round gift over Majewski, when a strangely nervous Majewski suddenly ‘stiffened up’, standing in front of Stevens, not moving or unable to move, not letting his hands go, and offering Stevens a free target.
Stevens dropped Majewski three times in the opening round in only 46 seconds, though it did not appear Majewski, who had ‘the nervous jitters’, got hit with anything of serious consequence. It just happens like that sometimes, sort of like an undefinable stage fright of sorts.
“I love boxing, and I love what I do with all of my heart. I will need some time, I will have to contemplate my next career move now, explained Majewski at the post fight press conference. “I expected Stevens to start fast,” Majewski acknowledged.
Nothing seemed extraordinary about the brief affair, only the speed at which it ended. Main Events and Peltz Boxing always give a great show and deserve great praise, giving fighters of all kinds, abilities and styles every opportunity to have a chance to make it.
It appeared that despite the best of intentions, Majewski simply cannot cope with the pressure of being a main event fighter on television, or does not feel internally he is on the same level as Stevens. Whatever the case, Majewski was too nervous and was never in the house. As his trainer, the great Arnold Robbins, noted after the bout, pointing to his own head, “The fight game is upstairs. Beyond the training aspects, boxing is 95% mental. The way you think governs how you perform. This is boxing.”
As a reporter of boxing since 1975, this reporter has had to deal with the pressures of boxing in every respect and remain at the highest levels while keeping moving. Like any other profession, boxing can have its highs and lows at times. This happens when a reporter’s expectations of a big fight or a boxing card take a fall. You learn to rise up and stand above it, but for the actual fighter, this can be particularly difficult. Few fighters go 49-0 like Rocky Marciano, so dealing with the mental aspect of the fight game, as Robbins states, is an important component of the psychology of boxing.
Muhammad Ali pioneered psychological warfare, and Iron Mike Tyson used it as an intimidation force. Majewski being a taller fighter than Stevens by far, this reporter felt Majewski had a decent chance. No matter the ups and downs, you have to believe in yourself, and you have to deal with the pressure. Perhaps the opportunity bout was too much too soon for Majewski, it’s hard to say what causes an individual to get nervous before a bout with a Big Kahuna like Stevens, who rises to 26-4 with 19 knockouts. Mjewski falls to 21-3, with 13 knockouts.
Result: Curtis Stevens TKO 1 Patrick Majewski, Middleweights (0:46)
Stevens was down three times in the first round. Referee; Lindsey Page
In the preliminary to the main event, Thabisu Mchunu of Natal, South Africa won a unanimous ten round decision over Olanerewaju Duradola of Lagos, Nigeria to win the North American Boxing Federation vacant cruiserweight title. Mchunu, coming off a win over Eddie Chambers, is a short fighter whose game plan is to throw one punch and then hold on in the great tradition of former heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman.
Mchunu landed a few shots here and there, but mostly frustrated Durodola by tying him up and turning the bout into a highlight clip out of Wrestlemania. Durodola allowed himself to get frustrated, never landing enough to win the rounds he needed on the scorecards. Durodola took the bout on three weeks’ notice, and took whatever punches Mchunu landed without flinching. Durodola just needed to put more punches together, and as a result Mchunu was busier and more the aggressor. David Fields refereed a clean bout.
Result: Thabisu Mchunu Win 10 Olanrewaju Durodola, Cruiserweights
Mchunu wins the vacant NABF Cruiserweight title. Referee: David Fields
Untelevised Undercard Results
Fred Latham Draw 4 Mark Rideout, Heavyweight Swing Bout
Scoring: 38-38, 38-38, 38-38. The ‘swing’ bout was scheduled for either four or six rounds.
In an interview after the bout, Latham’s corner believed their contract allowed only for a six round bout, felt they won the bout, and Latham would have won rounds five and six.
Hasan Young Win 6 Justin Johnson, Light Welterweights
Wellington Arias Romero TKO 1 Ishmael Serrano (1:29)
Roberto Acevedo TKO 1 Mark Khusnulgatin, Light Heavyweights (2:09)
Wilky Campfort Win Split Decision 8 DeCarlo Perez, Junior Middleweights
Venroy July Win 6 Sevdail Sherifi, Cruiserweights, Opening Untelevised Bout
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