Final Forum Boxing Presents CBS Championship Card at Resorts World Casino
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
New York, NY (February 5th, 2015)– Promoter Sal Musumeci and Final Forum Boxing make their CBS television debut with an exciting six bout card on Saturday, February 14, 2015, at Resorts World Casino in Queens, New York. The main event will feature an exciting ten round vacant International Boxing Federation North American heavyweight title bout between Akhror Muralimov of Uzbekistan, and Derric Rossy of Medford, New York. Muralimov is predicted to win by stoppage in the eighth or ninth round stoppage or by a ten round unanimous decision.
Muralimov, 16-0, 13 knockouts, an Uzbek fighting out of Houston, Texas, went eight rounds in 2012 and 2013 bouts, so he is durable. Muralimov can also hit hard, as evidenced in his brutal second round stoppage of Jason Bergman for the NABA USA title last July at Meadows Racetrack & Casino in Washington, Pennsylvania.
Rossy, 29-9, 14 knockouts, Medford, New York, went ten rounds in his last outing in August 2014, losing a televised and controversial 10 round decision to Vyacheslav Glaskov of Ukraine. Rossy protested after the bout, claiming he had won. Rossy beat 21-1 Joe Hanks at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada in April 2014, and has the opportunity to pull another upset if Muralimov cannot fight. However, Rossy has been taken apart by heavier heavyweight hitters, including Maurice Harris, Audley Harrison, Kubrat Pulev, Alexander Dimitrenko, and Eddie Chambers.
Rossy does have the edge on experience, but has lost seven of his last eleven professional bouts. Look for Muralimov to come on strong, and try to close the show on television near the end in the last few rounds of an exciting bout. Rossy, nicknamed ‘The Shaolin Master’, can always make a fight of it, but does not do a good job of running or holding. If Rossy cannot hold Muralimov after getting hit under pressure, Rossy will get cut, and Muralimov will win by stoppage in six rounds or less.
In his bout with Eddie Chambers, Rossy fought the 12 rounder along the ropes defensively on the edge of the ring, taking a beating but avoiding prolonged exchanges. If Rossy opts to trade with Muralimov, Rossy is going to get knocked down. Still, Rossy fight opt for a slugfest and go for broke. If Rossy does opt to slug it out and try for a knockout, the Muralimov will have to trade power shots in a slugfest, and someone is going to get knocked out. Rossy, nearing the end of his career, might swing away and take his chances.
In the preliminary bout to the main event, Chicago cruiserweight Mike Lee is predicted to win by first or second round knockout of Gary Tapusoa of Independence, Missouri. Lee, 13-0 with seven knockouts, has a knockout percentage over fifty percent. Tapusoa, 6-3-1 with five knockouts, nicknamed ‘the freak train’ is no freak to figure out. Tapusoa has been knocked out in the first round three time by heavy hitters. What Lee will do to Tapusoa should not be seen on television, but it evidently will. The bout is sanctioned for the vacant Universal Boxing Federation All America Cruiserweight title.
Also appearing is ‘The Bosnian Prince’, cruiserweight Armin Mrkanovic, who is predicted to win by six round decision over limited Dave Valykeo. Fight fans note Mrkanovic, 6-2, three knockouts, Queens, New York, by way of Bosnia and Herzegovina, lost a four rounder in 2012 to limited Rayford Johnson. Mrkanovic is not a heavy hitter, but is a very good technical fighter. Valykeo has lost three consecutive bouts to superior technical fighters, and isjust missing what is required to take his boxing ability to the next level.
Heavyweight Curtis Harper and super middleweight Devan Lee are both predicted to win their preliminary bouts by unanimous decision or stoppage. Muay Thai fighter Phillip LeGrand is favored by unanimous decision over Henry Beckford in the opening preliminary bout, which will be fought at middleweight.
The boxing event takes place on Saturday, February 14, 2014, in the third floor Central Park special events room of Resorts World Casino. Doors open 7 P.M., first bout 8 P.M., and will include a special performance by George LaMond. For more information, go the casino’s events page online at http://www.rwnewyork.com/entertainment/special-events
Tickets for the Saturday evening, February 14, 2015, event range from $50 to general admission to $200 ringside and can be purchased online athttp://www.etix.com/ticket/online/performanceSearch.jsp?performance_id=6105095or at the door on a space available basis. For more information and tickets, contact promoter Sal Musumeci at 516-343-0053. For those driving with GPS, Resorts World Casino is located at 110-00 Rockaway Boulevard, Jamaica, New York. The casino is also accessible by New York City Subway ‘A’ train to the casino stop, where customers are then picked up by van shuttle.
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