Melissa Salamone vs. Laura Serrano
at Miccosukee Indian Gaming in Miami, Florida,
August 12, 2000
fight report by Ryan "Kid Smooth" Wissow
On August 12, 2000 at Miccosukee Indian Gaming in Miami, Florida,
former IWBF Junior Lightweight champion
Melissa Salamone of Miami and
WIBF Junior Lightweight champion
Laura Serrano of Mexico
fought a 10-rounder for the vacant IBA 130-lb title.
This was an exciting fight that ended in a draw, with scores of 95-93 for Salamone,
96-92 for Serrano and one card even at 94-94.
Pro boxer Ryan Wissow posted this ringside account of the fight in
the Women's Boxing Page Forum on fight night.
I just got back from the fights tonight.
It was one HELL OF A FIGHT.
Round One went to Salamone, and Serrano came on to win the
second round.
In the third round, Melissa went down to one knee from what I couldn't
see if it was a punch or a slip. The ref called it a knockdown and
Melissa complained about it. Serrano was VERY strong and was the
aggressor, and dominated the first half of the fight.
But as the fight went on, Melissa began finding her range.
But by this time Serrano had what looked to be a big lead on points.
Then in the 8th round, Serrano walked into a HUGE right hand from
Salamone and down she went. She got up and the fight continued.
Serrano kept pressing but Melissa landed some good combinations, and
stole several of the rounds in the second half of the fight.
When the final bell rang, Serrano had won the crowd over. Everyone
there felt that Serrano did more then enough to win the fight.
So it wasn't surprising that the crowd booed when it was announced
that the fight was a DRAW. One judge for Serrano, one judge for Salamone,
and one even.
Salamone did not look her normal self tonight.
She looked sluggish and stood stationary in front of Serrano
way too much. This could have been due to Serrano fighting a great
fight, to the layoff, to her brother Lou not being in her corner [for
what reason I don't know]. Whatever the reason, Melissa didn't really
look 100% tonight.
After the fight, Lena Akesson said to me "Damn, that decision was a
bigger robbery then my fight wih Melissa." I then said "I think I'm gonna ask Melissa to buy me some lottery tickets, because she is SO
damn lucky."
I didn't see the fight as lopsided as most of the people there, but I
thought that Serrano won. Melissa came on in the second half of the
fight, but she was DAMN lucky to have gotten a draw. In any other state,
Serrano would've gotten the nod.
It was a great fight though.
Melissa also wrote to me after this
fight, to comment on the decision and on her willingness to fight
rematches with Laura Serrano and Lena Akesson ... Dee
Williams |
