Acuna Matata! Ring Warriors Yorgey and Eric Mitchell Battle to a Close Draw
By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent- Ringside
*Photo Credit: Robert Brizel
Wyomissing, Pennsylvania (June 27, 2014)– Hakuna Matata is a Swahili phrase meaning ‘no worries, there isn’t a problem or trouble’. For new boxing boxing promoter Andre Acuna of Lionheart Promotion, his first promotion, which emerged as an eight bout amateur and professional card, went off without a hitch. The event took place in the Designer Ballroom of the luxurious Crowne Plaza Hotel in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, on Friday evening, July 25, 2014. “We’ve already moved onto (the planning for our) the next card,” noted Acuna, his first card having taken place successfully.
In the main event, junior middleweight contender Harry Joe Yorgey, whose career has been plagued by inactivity, needed three rounds to get out the ring rust, allowing 44 year old Eric Mitchell to somehow salvage a draw in the six rounder. Mitchell, a last minute opponent who showed up in condition, went after Yorgey from the opening bell with a one punch land and grab strategy, mauling and wrestling the slow starting Yorgey. Quickly, Mitchell put three rounds in the bank. The odds against the experienced but aging Mitchell accomplishing such a feat were phenomenal, but he did it.
However, Eric Mitchell, with his brother Aaron Mitchell and ex-Yorgey trainer Marshall Kauffmanin his corner, then proceeded to ignore corner advice for the next three rounds, and tried to wage a technical fight with Yorgey. The concept did not work, as Yorgey, a superb technical fighter, outjabbed the available Mitchell target at will to win the next three rounds and force the draw. Perhaps, Mitchell, having won the first three rounds, wanted to show Yorgey something different and prove he could box. IF what you are doing works well, you stick with the game plan.
One judge scored the bout 59-55 for Mitchell, perhaps swayed by Mitchell’s earlier momentum in the bout. Give the close nature of this cautious bout between Yorgey and Mitchell, a rematch seems unlikely. Rumor has it Yorgey is interested in fighting for a World Boxing Union (German Version) junior middleweight world title belt in his next bout, the same belt held currently at cruiserweight by Roy Jones Jr.
Result: Harry Joe Yorgey Major Draw 6 Eric Mitchell, Middleweights
Scoring: 59-55 Mitchell. 57-57, 57-57 a draw. Referee: Shawn Clark
Professional Undercard
Rolando Chinea TKO 3 Osnel Charles, lightweights (corner retirement)
Erik Spring TKO 4 Jason Wehr, Junior Middleweights. (1:01) Wehr down twice
Joseph Williams TKO 3 Edwynn Jones, Light Heavyweights (2:10) 3 Knockdown Rule
Eli Mendez (debut) Win 4 Phil Nazario, Super Featherweights. Mendez down in the second
Amateur Undercard
Novice bouts are three rounds, two minutes each
Open (advanced) bouts are three or four rounds, three minutes each
Shakeem Hodge Win 3 Tayvonn Dunston, 165 pounds Open Class
Nicolas Hernandez Win 3 Luis Taylor, 152 Pound Open Class
Jorge Diaz Jr. Win Walkover Al Reid (No-Show), 155 Pound Novice Class
Garcia Ramos Win 3 Felix Alvarado, 132 Pound Novice Class
Isael Flores Castro TKO 3 Josh Leonard, 123 Pounds Novice (1:54)
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