Fight:83247

James Crawford 164 lbs drew with Dana Rosenblatt 168 lbs by TD at 2:15 in round 2 of 10

• Date: 2000-04-28
• Location: Foxwoods Resort, Mashantucket, Connecticut, USA
• Referee: Steve Smoger

Nothing good can come from two boxers putting their heads together. It is more of a problem when the skull session involves Dana Rosenblatt.

Rosenblatt, a well-known bleeder, clunked noggins with Jimmy Crawford Friday night and came out much the worse for it. He did not, however, come out a loser...or a winner.

Because of a deep cut high on Rosenblatt's forehead, the super middleweight bout at Foxwoods Resort Casino Friday night was stopped at 2:15 of the second round and declared a technical draw.

"Not only was it bad, it hurt and it squirted blood," Rosenblatt said. "Once I saw the squirt of blood I knew that was it."

The severity of the injury, which will require plastic surgery, will delay, if not totally alter, any future plans for Rosenblatt.

"This was a disappointing night for us," Rosenblatt's trainer and manager Joe Lake said. "It's disappointing because we were looking to fight Tony Ayala or [WBO super middleweight champion] Joe Calzaghe."

It was an even contest for as long as it lasted. If anything, Crawford (32-2-2, 13 KOs) landed the better scoring punches.

But the scorecards became needless when Rosenblatt (36-1-1, 23 KOs) dipped to throw a punch to Crawford's body. As he bent, Rosenblatt's head crashed into Crawford's.

Rosenblatt took a step back and blood spurted from the wound, then formed a red line down the center of his forehead. After referee Steve Smoger consulted chief ringside physician Michael Schwartz, Smoger stopped the fight.

"The doctor determined it was too deep to go on," Smoger said. "I think he saw skull, and that was it."

It was the sixth consecutive fight that resulted in Rosenblatt going to the hospital for repair work of some sort. In his last fight -- a split decision over rival Vinny Pazienza, Rosenblatt needed 32 stitches to close wounds above both eyes.

(Terry Price, Hartford Courant 4/29/2000)