Tuesday, October 10, 2023 | Sony Hall, New York, NY
Broadcast: BoxingInsider.com (streamed live and free)
Promoter: Larry Goldberg, Boxing Insider Promotions
Boxing Insider Promotions returned to Sony Hall for a Tuesday night card headlined by the comeback of fan favorite Cletus “The Hebrew Hammer” Seldin, who hadn’t fought in nearly two years. Hall of Fame promoter Russell Peltz, legendary heavyweight champion Larry Holmes, and the estimable Thomas Hauser were among the dignitaries in attendance.
MAIN EVENT
Cletus “The Hebrew Hammer” Seldin (27-1, 23 KOs) def. Patrick “Yam Mallet” Okine (21-6-2, 19 KOs)
Super Lightweight — 8 Rounds
Result: TKO Round 6 (2:22)
A barn-burner. Seldin, ending a two-year layoff, was greeted by his legion of faithful “Hamma Heads” chanting his name before the opening bell. But Okine came to fight. The Ghanaian’s left hook was a weapon all night — he retreated to the ropes but fought brilliantly off them, tagging Seldin with sharp counters that caused swelling around the right eye. Seldin bored forward relentlessly, mauling on the inside, but Okine won rounds with sharpshooting and ring savvy. By the sixth, it looked like Seldin might be in trouble. Then, at the exact moment he appeared most vulnerable, Seldin unleashed two right hands that sent Okine crashing to the canvas. Okine rose but was being pummeled against the ropes when referee Ricky Gonzalez stepped in to stop it. “The fight to get into this ring was so hard,” Seldin said afterward. “I had so much emotion all day.” Among his well wishes before the fight, one stuck out: “Win for Israel.”
CO-FEATURE
Christian “Veneno” Otero (6-4) def. Carlos Marrero III (5-9-3)
Welterweight — 6 Rounds
Result: Unanimous Decision
Otero outclassed Marrero from the opening bell. Both men traded at a rapid-fire pace in the first, but Otero consistently landed the cleaner shots. By the fourth, Otero was teeing off, and by the fifth, Marrero looked completely puzzled. Otero cruised through the sixth on cruise control for the sweep on the cards.
Christina “The Hell’s Kitchen Kid” Cruz (6-0) def. Josefina “Mina” Vega (9-8)
Junior Bantamweight — 6 Rounds
Result: Unanimous Decision (KD Round 4)
Cruz used her considerable height advantage to keep Vega at bay behind her jab early, making it completely one-sided through two rounds. Vega found her way inside in the third and began landing, but Cruz answered emphatically in the fourth, sending Vega to the canvas near the end of the round. Vega beat the count and survived, showing tremendous heart through the fifth and sixth, but Cruz kept her distance down the stretch for the decision. Cruz improved to 6-0 and continued climbing the IBF flyweight rankings.
Michael Hughes (4-1) def. Nelson Morales (3-4)
Super Lightweight — 4 Rounds
Result: Unanimous Decision
Hughes and Morales — meeting for the second time on a Boxing Insider card — traded shots willingly from the opening bell. Hughes, the local fighter, got the better of the exchanges and looked cool and relaxed between rounds while Morales wouldn’t sit on his stool. Hughes took the decision to open the card.
Boxing Insider Fight Night 7 marked one of the promotion’s most star-studded evenings at Sony Hall, with Larry Holmes, Russell Peltz, and Thomas Hauser among those in attendance. For more results and upcoming events, visit Boxing Insider Promotions.
