Jennings Wins While Rosado Steals the Show on NBC’s “Fight Night”

Saturday night from the Asylum Arena in the city of brotherly love Philadelphia, PA, Peltz Boxing and Top Rank presented NBC’s inaugural installment of “Fight Night,” broadcast on the new NBC Sports Network. The first of four confirmed fight cards in 2012 with Kathy Duva’s Main Events Promotions on the network got off to a rocky start when the heavyweight main event of Sergei Liakhovic – Eddie Chambers was scrapped a week before the event when Chambers had to pull out due to an injury upon doctor’s instructions. Fortunately two undefeated Philly heavyweight prospects – in a show of character and confidence – stepped up on a week’s notice to fill the slot in a 10 round heavyweight clash for the Pennsylvania state heavyweight championship between 27-year-old Bryant “Bye-Bye” Jennings (12-0, 5KOs) and 29-year-old Maurice “Freight Train” Byarm (13-1-1, 9KOs). The replacement was a good one as Jennings won a ten-round unanimous decision over Byarm in a spirited effort from both men that saw plenty of action and was plenty competitive.

The telecast had two supporting bouts and a ten round junior middleweight scrap between 26-year-old “King” Gabriel Rosado (19-5, 11KOs) and well-respected 29-year-old Jesus “Renuente” Soto Karass (24-7-3, 16KOs) stole the show as the “King” stopped Karass with an eye-opening fifth-round TKO.

Aside from taking the lead role in a 10 round fight when neither man had been past six, Jennings and Byarm were willing to put their perfect records on the line when most contemporaries are record padding against soft touches. Main Events Kathy Duva made it clear that that would be the foundation for the new series, competitive pick-em fights without the resume building mismatches that have become an accepted norm in boxing.

Both Jennings and Byarm were coming off 1st round knockout victories and looking to thrust themselves into the spotlight at the expense of a fellow brother without the love.

The fight got off to tentative start as Philadelphia’s Bryant Jennings and Maurice Byarm opened with two close rounds. Jennings landed some nice right and left crosses against the ropes to the head of Byarm to close out round one. Byarm – a southpaw – was the aggressor as he came forward and connected on some nice straight lefts and good body work in the 2nd frame. Byarm stayed the aggressor throughout, coming forward throwing straight lefts and working the body while Jennings was boxing on the move and winging powerful right and left crosses upstairs. Jennings was more successful with his game plan in the early goings.

The combatants picked up the pace in the 3rd round as they began exchanging power punches on the inside. “Bye-Bye” Jennings scored with a big right hand up top followed by a few hooks to the body, to which Byarm answered with a nice straight left and good body work of his own. They continued to exchange and Jennings got the better of it as his wide right and left hooks were going around the gloves of Maurice and scoring to the side of the jaw.

The 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th rounds were very close and they seemed to be exchanging frames. Jennings was working off his jab to set things up and he was faster, more powerful and getting off first. Jennings began working the body with punishing blows as the fight went on but the story of the fight for “Bye-Bye” were hooks and right-uppercuts to the dome in a show of superior boxing.

Bryant began to show signs of fatigue in the mid rounds which allowed the “Freight Train” to catch up to Jennings and impose his will while doing work on his body and scoring with many straight lefts. Both men were swinging for the fences and giving the fans an action packed main event. Bryant and Maurice were battering each other’s body and big uppercuts from both men became more prevalent. Jennings flat out took off round seven and Byarm took the frame with a few straight lefts and plenty of shots downstairs.

A rejuvenated Jennings found a second wind and turned up the heat as he swung for the fences in explosives burst which finally slowed Byarm while securing the last three rounds for himself. The 10th and final round saw Jennings and Byarm go toe-to-toe in a furious close-out that saw Bryant accidentally tackle Byarm to the canvas in the heat of exchange. The strong finish for Jennings would prove to be critical as Jennings won the Pennsylvania state title with a ten-round unanimous decision with scores of 97-93 and 96-94 twice.

With the victory Jennings improved his undefeated streak to 12-0 with 5 knockouts while Byarm – of Washington, D.C. by way of Philadelphia – realized defeat for the first time.

There were no losers in this fight though as both men made a fine account of themself in a good battle and Main Events had to be happy with the warriors they chose to save the day.

It had been eight years since Jesus Soto Karass fought at junior middleweight and “King” Gabriel Rosado welcomed the Mexican to the division with an emphatic and precise beat down as he became the first man to ever finish off Karass.

Philadelphia’s Rosado set the tone for the fight by thumping Karass with a huge uppercut followed by successive right hand bombs that had Jesus hurt in the opening frame. Gabriel never looked back as he continued to connect with big uppercuts and devastating left hooks to the body. The “King” was patient and stayed measured in the instances that he realized Karass wasn’t quite ready to go. Karass landed a nice right hand in the 2nd round but Rosado took it well and continued to outwork and out-speed the Mexican. Rosado was making sure to use his jab to set things up and used the ring well while Jesus followed him around and got lit up.

Gabriel was sharp and didn’t forget to punish Karass’ torso as he dug into the ribs with good extension. A cut opened over Karass’ eye in the 3rd frame from a clash of heads which prompted some toe-to-toe action that Rosado clearly got the better of. Karass seemed slower and his punches didn’t seem to carry the same pop as they normally do. Rosado hurt Karass numerous times and had Jesus on weary legs in the 4th and 5th as he began to back him up. With a minute to go in the 5th period Rosado smashed Karass with a right hand that put Jesus on the ropes hurt. Gabriel followed up with thunderous left hooks to the jaw and looping rights until referee Steve Smoger stepped in and waved off the action at :55 seconds of round five, awarding Rosado with an impressive and unexpected 5th round TKO to improve to 19-5 with 11 knockouts.

Rosado has now won five straight with the rousing kayo of Karass as he announces his name to the contenders in the junior middleweight division.

Karass, of Los Angeles by way of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, MEX, has now lost four of five and it looks like we’ve seen the last of the best from the well regarded warrior.

In the other televised bout 29-year-old undefeated Cuban prospect Sullivan Barrera (9-0, 6KOs), of Miami, FL, dominated Toledo, Ohio’s 22-year-old Damar Singleton (8-1, 4KOs) in a six round light heavyweight contest by scores of 60-54 twice and 59-55.