Tommy LaManna Wows’ Em in Atlantic City, Faces Two Biggest Challenges of Career
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent- Ringside
*Photo Credit: Robert Brizel, Real Combat Media
Atlantic City, NJ ( July 23, 2016)– In the featured bout on a nine bout card at Claridge Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, promoted by Rising Promotions, Thomas ‘Cornflake’ LaManna knocked out Engelberto Valenzuela in the first round with a nonstop flurry of power shots. Valenzuela, on the ropes near a corner, took the power shots to head for more than 30 seconds nonstop before taking a knee. Referee Harvey Dock waived off the contest.
If the pro-LaManna crowd expected to see more fight time from LaManna, 21-1, nine knockouts, Millville, New Jersey, fighting at junior middleweight down from middleweight, it will have to wait. LaManna is next scheduled to fight Dusty Hernandez Harrison, 29-0-1 with 16 knockouts, Washington, D.C., at welterweight at the Taj Mahal on September 16, 2016. Valenzuela, 10-8 with three knockouts, Agua Prieta, Mexico, headed home with a quick paycheck, however undeserved, for his brief pathetic defenseless head beating by ‘cornflake’.
LaManna will now face the two biggest challenges of his career. One, LaManna will fight Harrison at 147 pounds welterweight, where he has vowed to continue his world title quest.LaManna has fought between 148 and 164 pounds during his 22 bout five year career.
However, it still remains to be seen whether LaManna can get down to the magical 147 pound welterweight threshold from the 155 pounds where he is now. LaManna got down to 148 pounds for his eight round decision win over Ariel Vasquez. Can he reach 147 pounds, and if he does, can he stay there? That is Tommy LaManna’s career question number one.
The second biggest question affecting Tommy LaManna’s next career decision is the union strike at the Taj Mahal Casino in Atlantic City. For three weeks, Taj Mahal workers have picketed to get pension and health benefits restored. The Taj Mahal remains open, but will it remain open. With about 1000 bellhops, cooks, cocktail servers and housekeepers on strike, the question is whether or not The Taj will resolve the strike. For Tommy and his father Vinny LaManna, the best outcome is if the strike is resolved before that date, or circumstances will remain beyond their control, and the venue for the September 16 scheduled bout with Dusty Harrison (perhaps for a regional title) will have to be moved.
Result: Tommy LaManna KO 1 EngelbertoValenzuela, Super Welterweights
Time: 2:17 Referee: Harvey Dock. Valenzuela down on one knee as bout ended.
On the undercard, another comeback by southpaw light heavyweight Daniel Judah ended with failure. Judah, who will turn 39 years old in two weeks, is the brother of former welterweight champion Zab Judah. After losing seven consecutive comeback attempts between 2008 and 2002, Judah recently returned to the ring with a first round stoppage win, and declared himself reborn.
This time, Judah lost to the 8-0 Chinese prospect Fanlong ‘Cold Blood’ Meng. Judah’s entire offense consisted of ugly menacing hand gestures and verbal taunts and laughing off Meng’s consistent power shots. Meanwhile, Judah lacked an offense. His rare punches looked like tap punches. A brutal uppercut by Meng thrown in round five left Judah slumped on the ropes with bent legs, knocked out on his feet, like Terry Norris was beaten by Julian Jackson in 1989. Judah should retire at this point.
Result: Fanlong Meng KO 5 Daniel Judah, Light Heavyweights
Other Bouts on the Claridge Hotel & Casino Card
Referees: David Franciosi, Rocky Gonzalez, Harvey Dock
Anthony ‘Juice’ Young Win 6 Eduardo Flores, Super Welterweights
In main event, dirty Flores, hitting behind the head and punching wildly, refused to go.
Zhilei Zhang Win 6 Rodney Hernandez, Heavyweights
11-0 Zhang cut Hernandez over right eye and gave him bloody nose. Originally 8 rounder.
Daniel Pasciolla Win 6 Dante Selby, Heavyweights
Rematch of Pasciolla’s debut, won by Selby, who took a count in round 2 after getting hit.
Marvin Johnson Win 4 Lamont White, Welterweights
First win for Jersey’s Johnson. No relation to ex-light heavyweight champ Marvin Johnson.
Donald Smith (Pro Debut) Win 4 Cameron Cain (Pro Debut), Featherweights
Both fighters debut. Cain was in shape but fought wildly without skills, somehow survived.
Dallas Holden (Pro Debut) Win 4 Kevin Asmat (Pro Debut), Bantamweights
Both fighters debut. Holden trained by Bill Johnson, father of the late Leavander Johnson.
Christian Carto TKO 3 Christopher Nelson (Pro Debut), Bantamweights
2-0 Carto dropped the taller debuting Nelson in round one, two and three. Not a close bout.
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