Winky Wright Productions and Thomas Gallagher Promotions, in association with Sal Musemeci’s Final Forum, put together a sensational fight card at the Aviator Sports Complex in Brooklyn, New York, on June 4 that was televised on ESPN 2’s Wednesday Night Fights.
In the main event, Yusaf Mack, 174 ½, of Philadelphia won a unanimous decision over Brooklyn’s Daniel Judah, 174 ½, the older brother of former world champion Zab Judah. Mack looked devastating early on as he knocked Judah down in the second round with a pulverizing left uppercut. Judah managed to survive and made the bout competitive until the very end. All of the judges scored it 97-92 for Mack, who won the vacant NABA light heavyweight title.
In a shocking upset, Gabriel “King” Rosado, 152 ½, of Philadelphia improved his record to 10-2 (6 KOS) by winning an 8 round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Irish sensation James Moore, 15-1 (10 KOS), a native of County Wicklow, Ireland, who fights out of Queens.
James Moore (right) and Gabriel Rosado at the weigh-in the day before their bout.
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The first two rounds were fought at a torrid pace, with Moore winning them handily. Rosado managed to stun Moore briefly in the fourth round, and knocked him down in the fifth with a punch that looked as if it landed behind Moore’s head. Moore rebounded and gave Rosado as much as he could handle until the end of the bout.
What shocked observers more than Moore losing was the scoring. ESPN commentator Teddy Atlas had Moore winning the fight, as did many fans in attendance. The three judges scored it unanimously for Rosado by scores of 77-74, 76-74 and 78-73. The third score, by Carlos Ortiz (not the former champion) raised a lot of eyebrows because it indicated that he only gave Moore two rounds of a fight many neutral observers thought he won.
A dejected James Moore with good friend Paul "Magic Man" Malignaggi, the IBF junior welterweight champion
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“That judge has to be blind,” said a dejected Moore. “I just don’t get it. He (Rosado) was fighting only 20 to 30 seconds a round. I believe I landed more punches in each and every round. When I first heard the scores, I was certain that I won because I landed so many more punches.”
“That judge should be a spectator, not a judge,” added IBF junior welterweight champion Paul “Magic Man” Malignaggi, a good friend of Moore’s. “Most of the rounds James was doing all the work.”
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“Moore is a good fighter, so I knew I had to step my game up,” said the gracious Rosado. “He can come back from this. I lost two fights in my career. I was robbed in one and beat the other guy who beat me in a rematch. I feel that this win erases those losses. I hope he (Moore) realizes this is not the end of the world. He’s a tough guy and I take my hat off to him. He can fight, he just needs to regroup and come back.”
The last time Moore lost was in an Irish Olympic qualifying event in 2003. As heartbreaking as that was, his father, also named James, said his son got over that and he’ll get over this. “It’s a bump in the road,” he said. It’s never fun to lose, but I know my son. This fight will only make him more determined. He’ll be back, and he’ll be better than ever.”
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