KEA Boxing 06-23-07 Mussachio beats Durham

Photo & clips by Jeff Miller

The fights were in upstate New Jersey but it was well worth the two hour ride as Danny Serratelli, Andre Kut and the entire KEA Boxing Promotions team brought some class back to the sport of boxing at the Birchwood Manor Resort in Whippany New Jersey. While the environment on the outside was about peace and love, the action in the ballroom was all about getting your fight on as the action was top to bottom on this 6 fight card and showing these guys from North Jersey can throw down too.


Chuckie Mussachio vs Chandler Durham
Wildwood, NJ ………Philadelphia, PA
9 – 0 5ko’s …………..6 – 3 3ko’s

The main event was a contest pitting a rising Light Heavyweight against an older vet who is in the early stages of a comeback after ten years on the bench. It might have looked like a bit of a mismatch on paper but the end it turned out to be a close, tough fight that was worthy of headline status. Mussachio came to the ring in his usually fashion, wearing the brim hat and had Ol’ Blue Eyes as theme music. Not to be outdone, Durham walked the aisle to 50 Cent pumping out of the speakers and backed by a rough looking squad led by Marvis Frazier and a guy who wore an ATL Hawks jersey that said Ilkins. And this was just the beginning. As soon as the opening bell rang, Durham came out of the corner blazing looking to starch the younger prospect firing off 6 consecutive power punches upstairs. Mussachio seemed surprised by the sudden outburst but overall took it well and towards the middle of the round seemed to be able to time the bull rushing Durham highlighted by a quick 3 punch combo while backed up on the ropes.

In the second and third were pretty similar and full of action with Mussachio circling and Durham looking to cut off the ring and bully his way to the inside. Durham kept up the aggressiveness of the previous round and would pound right hooks to the body when he was able to get inside. Mussachio would throw a flurry of punches as Durham got into close quarters and when he escaped the danger zone, he would circle the ring and pop off the left jab that consistently found its mark.

In the 4th Durham got even more physical, pinning Mussachio on the ropes and in the corner and fired off more right hooks to the ribs and following it up overhand rights. Mussachio stuck to the plan of circling and sticking the jab in his opponents face this round but Durham stayed on the attack bang banged away until the bell sounded to end the round.

Mussachio led off the 5th with some steam behind his punches and landed a clean 3 piece upstairs to start the round which caused some blood to show from Durhams nose. Durham kept on coming throwing big overhand rights that had bad intentions but was unable to land as Mussachio continued to circle and stick the jab.

The fight was hanging in the balance in the final round and Durham went for broke throwing big yet wild punches and wrestling with Mussachio. Durham was able to land a few hard punches with The Professor in the corner but when Mussachio found his way back to the middle of the ring, he used his jab again to keep Durham at bay. As the fight neared a close both men stood on the inside exchanging shots with Durham getting in a good hard, clean right to the face and Mussachio returning fire with a crisp combo upstairs to end the round.

The fight went to the score cards and once judge saw it dead even at 57 – 57 with the other 2 seeing it 58 – 56 x2 in favor of Chuckie Mussachio. Mussachio got the hard fought victory but even in defeat Chandler Durham showed he for real and would give anyone in town a stiff test with the ability to come out on top.



Bobby Rooney ….vs….. Terrence Wilson
New Jersey ……………Arkansas
5 – 2 – 1 3ko’s …………3 – 0 2ko’s

The co-feature pitted a local favorite against an undefeated outsider and this one turned into crowd pleaser as promised. While this was my first time seeing Rooney in action, I can tell he is my kind of fighter. A young guy who leaves it all in the ring win, lose or draw trying to work his way up the ladder and go from fighting to pay the kids tuition to big money paydays in front of larger audiences. His opponent hailed from the Charmain soft land of Arkansas but matchmaker Sonny Mistretta must have gotten a good line on this kid because he was definitely a fighter.

After a slow first round highlighted by a couple of wrestling sessions, the action picked up in the 2nd when both guys decided to stand in front of each other to give and receive some solid rights and lefts upstairs. Rooney took it a step further soon after and nailed Williams with 2 body shots that made his opponent grimace in pain and take a step back. Rooney noticed his man was on thin ice immediately went in for the kill, pounding the body again and scoring a knockdown with a left hook to the liver. Williams beat the count and ate a few more solid punches before being saved by the bell.

Rooney kept it up in the 3rd going right after his still hurt opponent. Williams showed he wasn’t about to pack it in and after sucking up a big right hand to the face, returned fire with a right of his own that seemed to cut the bridge of Rooney’s nose. Rooney was unfazed but Williams seemed to recover and was able to do some damage of his own towards the end of the round.

Williams momentum carried over into the 4th and began to consistently land the overhand right to Rooney’s face. Rooney looked a little gased and Williams capitalized working upstairs and to the body. After a 30 second lul, Rooney got his second wind back and engaged in a nice toe to toe exchange that finished out the round.

Rooney had a big 5th round as he immediately took the wind out of Williams sails early as he stopped the Razorback in his tracks with a pin point left – right combo. Williams staggered back and Rooney landed a good 7 or 8 shots that left Williams looking like he was ready for a shower. Williams was able to hang on but for the most part soaked up a lot of leather in this round.

Rooney had a good sized lead going into the 6th and to the crowds delight still decided to fight it out until the end. Williams obliged him and both men went at it until the final bell sounded.

The judges all say the fight in favor of Bobby Rooney by scores of 58 – 55, 59 – 53 & 59 – 55.




Alex Perez ……..vs…..Jesse Williams
New Jersey..........Youngstown, OH
7 – 0 5ko’s ………...……3 – 3 – 1 1ko

Word on the way to Whippany was that Alex Perez can bang and on this night he proved that statement to be true with an absolute thumping of Jesse Williams scoring 3 knockdowns before the ref mercifully waved it off at 2:39 in the 1st.



Antonio Espinosa …..vs……Edwin Valdez
New Jersey .............Dominican Republic
8 – 0 – 1 ……………......………3 – 4 – 2 2ko’s

Like I said before, this was my first time seeing these guys but to me it seemed like this was a case where both fighters had a record that was a bit deceiving although both proved to have some solid skills. Tony the Tiger was said to be a slick southpaw with some solid boxing skills and Valdez was there to be just another run of the mill opponent. Well guess what, Edwin Valdez came to Whippany for more than just a pay check, he came to win and almost pulled off a dramatic upset over his undefeated counterpart.

Round one through six were pretty much the same with Espinosa circling and staying away from the smaller yet more powerful Valdez who would charge after his opponent throwing wide, roundabout rights. There were a few times where Espinosa elected to fight with Valdez but for the more part he was being chased but not caught. The fight went to the cards without any major damage inflicted and one read 58 – 56 in favor of Valdez while the other two read 58 – 56 & 59 – 55 respectively for Espinosa



Danny McDermott ….vs….Brian Gadson
Jersey City, NJ.......Parts Unknown
3 - 0 1ko.............0 - 1

It was the return of Super Featherweight “Little Mac” and he pleased the sizable Irish fans in attendance with some theme music from the homeland as he entered the ring. Once the bell sounded he blew the doors off his opponent with a left hook followed by a big straight right to the head which put Gadson out for the count.



Francisco Rodriguez…vs….Arthur Parker
San Juan, PR ………………Lancaster, PA
Pro debut……………………1 – 0 1ko

It was an interesting match up of newcomers and a solid way to start the night as Francisco Rodriguez pitched a shut out over four rounds. Rodriguez showed a solid jab and the ability to put punches together throughout. Parker was game but was never really able to catch his more skilled opposition. All three judges scored the fight 40 – 36 in favor of Francisco Rodriguez.




Check out the ring girls, which one do you like best?


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