- Mike Stewart vs. Juan Carlos Rubio
Mike "No Joke" Stewart, of New Castle, DE, was one punch behind all night as he dropped a 10-round split decision to Juan Carlos Rubio, of Guadalajara, Mexico, in their junior welterweight main event before 1,098 fans, a near-sellout and the largest crowd in the 10-month history of the New Alhambra.
Stewart, 143, started well and won the two of the first three rounds. But Rubio, 143.5, with blood pouring from his left eye after an accidental clash of heads in the second round, repeatedly beat Sterwart to the punch and won by scores of 97-93, 97-93, 94-96.
Stewart, 27, was cut over his left eye in the fourth round and blood flowed freely from both men the remainder of the contest. A big l0th round closed the show for Rubio.
The win brought Rubio's record to 31-7-3, 11 K0s. The 27-year-old Mexican was the first pro to beat 2000 Olympian Francisco "Panchito" Bojado and this win should put him back in the world ratings.
Stewart was rated No. 8 in the world by the IBF prior to the fight. It was his third loss in his last five outings and should drop him out of the Top 10. He is 37-4-2, 21 K0s.
Rogers Mtagwa, 127.5 pounds, of South Philadelphia, pulled one out in the 10th and final round when he twice dropped lanky Fernando Trejo, 129, of Mexico City, to earn a 10-round split decision in the junior lightweight semifinal. Mtagwa, actually a featherweight, gave away height, weight and reach to Trejo, a solid lightweight.
After a solid start in the first three rounds, Mtagwa ran into trouble in the middle rounds as Trejo landed cleanly with both hands. Mtagwa staged a mini rally in the eight and ninth, but still trailed going into the 10th when he landed a long right hand which dropped Trejo along the ropes.
After referee Steve Smoger took a few extra seconds to let Trejo clear his head after getting up, Mtagwa forced Trejo into his own (Trejo's) corner and dropped him again with an overhead right. Again Smoger gave Trejo a few extra seconds and the Mexican fighter made it to the bell with Mtagwa in pursuit.
Scores were 95-93 and 96-92 for Mtagwa, 96-92 for Trejo.
For the 26-year-old Mtagwa, originally from Tanzania, the win brought his record to 18-9-2, 13 K0s. Trejo, 30, drops to 23-9-4, 15 K0s.
In other bouts: Avtandil "Hammer" Khurtsidze, 154 pounds, Northeast Philadelphia, stopped Calvin Shakir, 154, Stone Mountain, GA, at 2.45 of the third round, junior middleweights. Khurtsidze is 6-0-2, 4 K0s; Clarence Taylor, 153, Wilmington, DE, came from behind to stop Juan Carlos Escobar, 153, Camden, NJ, at 0.55 of the sixth and final round, junior middleweights; Ramaz Gazashvili, 125.75, won a unanimous four-round decision (40-36, 40-36, 40-36) over Jose Barbaro Zepeda, 125, Atlanta, GA, featherweights. Gazashvili is 5-0-1; Dave Evans, 135, New Castle, DE, scored a repeat unanimous four-round decision (39-37, 39-37, 40-36) over Joey Ortega, 133.5, Lowell, MA, lightweights; Richard Stewart, 213, New Castle, DE, earned a unanimous four-round decision (39-37, 39-37, 40-36) over Robert Willis, 283, South Philadelphia, heavyweights; Jack Burris, 172, South Philadelphia, won his pro debut with a unanimous four-round decision (39-37, 40-36, 40-36) over Jim Scully, 171, Ridley Park, PA, light-heavyweights.