Fun show at the Manhattan Center in New York last night (Feb. 16). My wife came with me, and that was a treat. She met a bunch of people she hears me babble about. She thinks the editor is cute. Even more so when he said he’d send payment soon…She met Jack Mesi, who was in attendance with son Joe. Jack was impressed because she was cute and she’s Italian. He may think I did better than I had any right to…

Joe’s going to Puerto Rico in a couple days to continue his reconditioning process after two years off from the game…He was shedding rust in Texas…Mesis were in town for depositions in suit vs. NYSAC….

Fres Oquendo shedded a serious coat of rust himself. His opponent, Daniel Bispo, was listed as having won 16 bouts. Hmmm…Good choice by DiBella’s matchmaker. The guy seems credible to fans, with those 16 wins but in reality, he was a survivor type who didn’t have the power to dent a shopworn middleweight. Perfect dude for Oquendo to get some rounds on…

The worst looking opponent on the card was Cliff Walker, who fought Washington Hago, a local junior welter. Walker’s 41, I find on Boxrec. I figured as much; the boobs were the giveaway. They were droopy. I felt bad for him.

Don Turner’s heavyweight wasn’t what I expected. He drew with a 1-4-1 guy, Chumah Ottah…Turner does not have a phenom on his hands, but maybe the kid improves a bunch….

Giovanni Lorenzo, a Bronx middleweight, shows promise. He went to 19-0 against Shaka Henry. Lorenzo doesn’t mind getting rough and dirty. He’s got pop, especially in his right cross, but needs to settle down and fight maturely. He tends to get overeager and hotheaded….He started moving in the third and that’s when things fell into place. And when Henry fell down….

There was a band at the venue. I think their name was “Got The Gig Because A Friend Owed Us a Favor.” But a couple of strumpets dug them and danced for all in attendance….

Rough outing for the ring card girls, the wife even agreed…Sorry gals.

Security played hard guy to start the night, asking me, wife and Zach L. to find a seat. But when the gangstas filled the aisles, the guards backed down….cannot really blame them…..

Saw Ohioan John Johnson, who came with Jose Spearman. Johnson ran bouts on Ohio, when I went to Ohio Wesleyan from 1988-1992. I reminded him of those days, told him that his man Buster Douglas got me truly hooked on the sport. He tapped a fat ring on his right hand and grinned widely.

Ricky Hatton was in attendance. He and his people are narrowing down foes for May date….

Wife the vegan wouldn’t eat at a diner or Sbarro after so we went right home after paying respects to the Oquendos.

Take care all, and will somebody please start posting in the forum?????