clarinews@clarinet.com (02/04/90)
RENO, Nev. (UPI) -- The Italian boxing team Saturday silenced critics who predicted a rout by the U.S. amateurs. As expected, the U.S. team won a majority of 11 bouts but the Italians claimed four victories -- including the only two bouts that didn't go the distance -- and left judges with tough decisions in several others. Ronald Simms of Grand Forks, N.D., won his match, but said it was harder than he expected. ``People were talking like they were going to be pushovers,'' he said. ``Let me assure you they're not.'' U.S. coaches said they were generally very pleased with the performances turned in by their charges, especially the lopsided decisions by 147 pounders Emmett Linton of Tacoma, Wash., and Raul Marquez of Houston, Tex. Linton had both speed and power over Adriano Offreda of Caserta, but said the Italian managed to force him out of his fight plan and make him mad. He said it was a good learning experience. Marquez and Raniero Rubini of Bologna slugged it out for three rounds, with the faster Marquez getting the better of most of the exchanges. Marquez, who placed third in his weight class at last year's world amateur championships, finally staggered the Italian with a right to the head in the third round, forcing a standing eight count that helped ensure a unanimous vote by the judges. Shane Mosley, 132 pounds, also turned in a dominating performance in his match with Sandro Casamonica of Rome. He used superior handspeed to repeatedly beat his Italian opponent to the punch, often launching combinations with double and triple jabs. Mosley said he had a comfortable advantage in both reach and speed. But Jerry Heller of Milwaukie, Ore., wasn't as lucky. He ran headlong into a hard-punching Antonio DiMaso in their middleweight matchup. DiMaso floored Heller with a roundhouse right in the second round and the American never recovered. The referee stopped the bout a few seconds later. The story was similar for Allan Cromp of Syracuse, N.Y., who ran into a series of hard right hands from Roberto Castelli of Rome in the third round of their match. U.S. coaches threw in the towel. ``He got his with five or six right hands. We didn't want him to get hurt,'' U.S. team coach Andy Minsker said. Skipper Kelp of Las Vegas, Nev., lost a close 2-1 decision in the 139 pound matchup to Michele Piccirillo of Bari and Vincenzo cantatore of Rome outpointed John Bray of Van Nuys, Calif., in the 201 pound class. Frank Pena of Las Vegas, Nev., won a unanimous decision over Vincenzo Bevilacqua of Foggia despite fighting at 132 pounds. He said he will return to his normal 125 pound weight for the World Cup matches this year. Hector Colon of Milwaukee, Wis., also won a unanimous deision over Massimo Bugada of Bergamo at 139 pounds. At 165 pounds, Simms won the decision over Tomaso Russo of Marciantise. Finally, Chris Byrd of Flint, Mich., beat Domenico Biffone of Marcianise in their 156 pound match. Like Colon, he said he expected the fight to be easier than it was. Coaches Minsker and Dan Vassar said the match was an excellent tuneup for the U.S. fighters going into the U.S. amateur nationals in about a month. They said the international experience will be invaluable. The bouts were held at the Flamingo-Hilton Hotel-Casino.