Khalid Twaiti lands punches on Emmanuel Rodriguez. Picture by Carlo Estonactoc
NEWARK — New Yorkers Daniel Gonzalez and Khalid Twaiti had a profitable journey throughout the Hudson River on Saturday, October 12, defeating hometown favorites Michael Anderson and Emmanuel “Salserito” Rodriguez respectively at Prudential Heart in Newark, N.J.
Gonzalez (22-4-1, 7 knockouts) of the Woodhaven part of Queens, N.Y. confirmed his versatility in outboxing “Slick” Anderson to attain the most important win of his profession. The 34-year-old Gonzalez gained by scores of 99-91 on two playing cards and 100-90 on the third, sending the 43-year-old Anderson (24-4-1, 18 KOs) to his first loss in 5 years.
Within the co-main occasion, Twaiti (14-0, 5 knockouts) took an enormous step in the direction of reputable rivalry at 118 kilos with a one-sided resolution over Newark’s Rodriguez (15-3, 8 KOs) in a ten-round bout. The scores had been 99-90 on one card and 98-91 on the opposite two.
From the outset it was clear that Anderson was trying his age as he struggled to drag the set off towards Gonzalez, who switched up his ways from his typical aggressive strategy and gave Anderson some lateral motion as a substitute. Gonzalez used his jab and aspect to aspect motion to maintain Anderson guessing, flurrying to the top and physique whereas Anderson struggled to get out a couple of punch at a time.
Gonzalez lands punches on Michael Anderson. Picture by Carlo Estonactoc
Realizing he was desperately behind, Anderson got here out for the tenth spherical with a decided look, touchdown left hooks to the physique with Gonzalez alongside the ropes however was unable to show the combat round in a significant method.
“It’s simply one other step ahead in the correct route,” stated Gonzalez, who’s promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing. “I simply confirmed that I’m rising into my physique and rising into my expertise. I simply really feel {that a} man like that, most individuals assume I’m gonna brawl the shit out of him however I switched it up and boxed the shit out of him.”
The win was the second in a row for Gonzalez, who had misplaced again to again fights previous to defeating Keane McMahon in February by unanimous resolution. Gonzalez, who’s skilled and managed by Moises Roman, says the combat that may curiosity him most subsequent is a showdown with one other New Jersey staple – Roseland’s Vito Mielnicki Jr.
“Hopefully I’ll get an enormous name, one thing on Prime Rank. Give me any of these guys, I’ll take them out. I heard [Vito Mielnick Jr.] is speaking shit, let’s see what occurs,” stated Gonzalez.
Twaiti dominates Rodriguez
Twaiti lived as much as his “Pure Gold” nickname, dropping Rodriguez within the fourth spherical and dominating him to win by the scores of 99-90 one card and 98-91 on the opposite two playing cards.
Twaiti, a Yemeni-American who resides in Brooklyn, N.Y., managed the combat all through together with his sharper left jab, maintaining Rodriguez on the surface as he picked his punches from distance. Twaiti scored the combat’s solely knockdown within the fourth when a left hook to the physique dropped Rodriguez into the ropes. Rodriguez survived the onslaught nevertheless it was clear he was outgunned from that time on.
Twaiti, who gained the NY Golden Gloves title at 114 kilos in 2013, was not content material to sit down on his lead as he pushed his benefit and looked for a knockout. Rodriguez was addled by a lower above his proper eye, creating one other goal for Twaiti to land his left hook on.
Twaiti appeared for the end till the ultimate bell as Rodriguez may do little greater than shake his head on the method his luck was operating on this evening.
Within the upset of the evening, “Harmful” Danny Gonzalez (no relation to the primary occasion fighter) confirmed he was an actual prospect to look at for, knocking out the beforehand unbeaten Gabriel Gerena in a matchup of unbeaten Backyard State junior welterweights.
Gonzalez (4-0, 4 KOs) had by no means beforehand overwhelmed a fighter with a win on his report, however the Iselin, N.J. native shined brightly in his first six spherical bout, hurting Gerena (6-1, 5 KOs) with a left hook excessive on the temple earlier than one other left hook put Gerena on his again. Gerena, 22, of Piscataway, N.J. beat the rely however was dominated unable to proceed.
The win was an enormous accomplishment for the 29-year-old Gonzalez, whose profession seemed to be at a standstill after switching gyms and struggling private setbacks earlier within the 12 months.
“I noticed it coming. The primary left hook that I landed, I noticed in his eyes that it harm him. However fortunately I’ve an excellent staff behind me as a result of I’ve a historical past of wounding individuals after which going loopy. I noticed that he was open for the left hook, I noticed he dropped his proper hand so I hit him with it and dropped him,” stated Gonzalez, a 2023 N.J. Golden Gloves champion.
The combat passed off at a catchweight of 141 kilos, which is ten kilos greater than Gerena weighed for his professional debut in March of 2023.
Anthony Johns (9-1, 6 KOs) gave his hometown followers one thing to cheer about, defeating Edwin Reyes (8-9-3, 5 KOs) of Guatemala Metropolis, Guatemala by majority resolution of their six-round junior flyweight bout. One decide had the combat even at 57-57, whereas the opposite two had it 60-54 and 59-55 for the Newark native.
Johns, 31, a 2019 Nationwide Golden Gloves champion, scored his third straight win since his lone loss, a doubtful defeat in Argentina to a neighborhood fighter 13 months in the past.
Heavyweight Kristian Prenga (16-1, 16 KOs) scored a win over his most skilled opponent so far, although not within the method he would have wished. The 33-year-old from Albania and now residing in Edgewater, N.J. was declared the winner over heavyweight journeyman Joey Dawejko (28-13-4, 16 KOs) when Dawejko claimed a shoulder damage in spherical 5 of their eight-round heavyweight bout.
Dawejko, 34, of Philadelphia was throwing a left hook to the physique when he collapsed to the ground. After a number of moments of conferring with the ringside physician, the combat was waived off, awarding Prenga the victory.
The loss is the second by questionable means in a month for Dawejko. Final month, Dawejko was disqualified in the identical spherical for excessively spitting out the mouthpiece towards Richard Torrez Jr.
Earlier on the cardboard, junior middleweight prospect Jean Pierre Valencia (2-0, 2 knockouts) of Irvington, N.J. by the use of Esmeraldas, Ecuador remained undefeated with a primary spherical KO of Cody Jenkins (0-4). Jenkins of Culpeper, Va. went down from a left hook to the physique and couldn’t beat the rely.
The present was promoted by Rising Star Promotions.
Ryan Songalia has written for ESPN, the New York Every day Information, Rappler and The Guardian, and is a part of the Craig Newmark Graduate Faculty of Journalism Class of 2020. He might be reached at [email protected].
