By Tim Schmitt and Nate Beutel
Judging by their appearances after Saturday’s Brawl in the Falls, it’s easy to say Paul Marinaccio was the loser of the North American Boxing Association U.S. heavyweight title fight at Seneca Niagara Casino.
While Buffalo-bred Marinaccio sported a bloody lip, a gush over his right eye and a purple welt above his left, Michael Grant emerged almost unscathed, needing just an occasional wet towel from corner man Ray Casal.
In the end, however, it was Grant’s comeback hopes that probably took the biggest beating.
Grant won a unanimous decision in Saturday’s main event, but couldn’t put away Marinaccio, who was giving up four inches and nearly 30 pounds.
After knocking Marinaccio down twice in the seventh round, once where the underdog had his face planted in the canvas, Grant’s corner was upset after an extra minute delay between rounds, one that Grant’s people believed was a hometown advantage.
Conversely, when Marinaccio rebounded with a good ninth round, officials rung the round bell 43 seconds late.
“It just wasn’t right,” Grant said, while sporting the NABA belt. “Want to know what happened? I’ll tell you. He hit me with some shots and they were hoping he was going to get me there.
“He had favors. But I train for favors.”
Grant started sluggish, but took over as the 12-round bout developed. The former No 1. contender and one-time North American Boxing Federation champ said he didn’t get started well because he didn’t warm up properly. The fight, which was broadcast on CSI Sports, started promptly at 9 p.m., even though Grant didn’t believe the fight would go off on time.
“When you fight on TV, you fight on their time,” he said. “It’s not their fault, though, I just wasn’t ready.”
Things started slow with the two exchanging few blows in the first two rounds. Marinaccio got a few punches in during the first, but had to nearly leave his feet to make contact with the 6-foot-7 Grant.
By the third, Grant started pinning Marinaccio in a corner, and the Buffalo native had trouble getting free, but he kept bouncing back.
At one point in the fifth, Marinaccio put his hands down and goaded Grant into hitting him again.
The former No. 1 contender stayed collected, however, and followed with a methodical approach.
Marinaccio, who had a big crowd of friends and family cheering him on, was upbeat after the loss. He said he made mistakes, like allowing Grant to get him boxed in, but was happy with the night as a whole.
“I was able to get a little bit going, but it’s tough because he’s got 260 pounds coming straight down the pike,” Marinaccio said. “I was coming at him, but he’s a very strong man.”
As for the finish, Marinaccio insisted it won’t be his last.
“I want to fight again,” he said. “And if Buffalo would have me, I’d love to come back. I don’t want to go out on a loss.”
Adrian Mora vs. Shad Howard
Howard, the heavy underdog from St. Louis, put a scare into the rising junior welterweight star in Round 1. But by Round 3, Mora was back on his game with a a key knockdown. Near the end of round 4, Mora delivered the final blow of the bout, knocking Howard down for the second time. Howard’s corner, which included Niagara Falls’ Ray Casal, asked the referee to end the fight at that point, giving Mora (20-1-1, 12 KOs) the win by technical knockout. Howard fell to 13-13-3.
Guillermo Sanchez vs. Harvey Murray
Sanchez, a Buffalo resident, started slow but closed the six-round lightweight bout with a flurry. After taking an apparent shot to the back of his head in Round 5, Sanchez (5-0-0) responded with a bevy of right-left combinations leading to a win by majority decision. The judges scores were 57-57, 58-56, 59-55. Murray fell to 2-2-2.
Josh Beeman vs. Scott Paul
The hometown boy, Paul, took it on the chin in the lightweight fight. Two big right hands from Beeman sent Paul to the showers only 1:41 into the bout. It was the first career knockout for Beeman, who improved to 4-2-1. Paul fell to 3-2-0.
Contact sports editor Tim Schmitt at 282-2311, ext. 2266.
