Vinny Maddalone vs. Benji Baker
Vinny Maddalone 233 lbs beat Benji Baker 233 lbs by RTD at 3:00 in round 4 of 8
- Date: 2009-04-28
- Location: Russo's On The Bay, Howard Beach, New York, USA
- Referee: Mike Ortega
- Judge: Steve Weisfeld
- Judge: Ron McNair
- Judge: John Signorile
In the main event of a five bout dinner and show boxing card held before a capacity crowd at Russo's on the Bay catering hall in Howard Beach Brooklyn hosted by Joe DeGuardia's Star Productions, local heavyweight favorite Vincent 'Vinny' Maddalone spoiled the comeback attempt of Benji 'Boom-Boom' Baker of Peducah, Kentucky by stopping Baker by fourth round TKO of a scheduled 8. Baker, 32, was attempting to return to the ring after an eight year hiatus but it was not to be. Although the fight card was not televised, promoter Joe DeGuardia said he would consider televised bouts from this new venue in the future, given the enthusiastic response.
Baker, now 18-7 with 9 kayos, held his own for the first four rounds and did best outboxing Maddalone at center ring, backpeddling while moving side to side and bruising the shorter Maddalone's face red with jabs. Maddalone, now 32-5 with 23 kayos, kept a furious pace, though, moving forward all night and stalking Baker. On those occasions when Maddalone trapped Baker against the ropes or in a corner, he made Baker pay by pounding on him like a piece of meat, especially at the end of each round when Baker tired. Maddalone dropped Baker at the end of rounds 1, 3 and 4 so the outcome was never in doubt. Whereas Baker arose unhurt at the end of rounds 1 and 3 unhurt, he arose at the end of round 4 holding his ribs. Baker was unable to continue at this point, and the ringside doctor stopped the bout in Baker's corner.
Maddalone took the microphone after the bout and thanked his fans for coming out to support him. The evening festivities included a center ring auction of donated items by Eagel Sports Promotions to benefit Angels On the Bay Children's Charitable Foundation. Among the items auctioned were autographed color and black and white photos of Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali, an Eli Manning New York Giants blue football jersey autographed by Manning with a rare Super Bowl 42 inscription, and a New York Mets baseball poster autographed by all of the members of the 1986 World Championship team which fetched the evening's high charitable bid of $1000.