Bergman’s opponent pulls out of fight
Josh Himes, of Monaca, takes a punch from Lamont Capers during their 195-pound fight at The Meadows Racetrack & Casino Saturday. Capers won by unanimous decision.
Johnny Martinez fights Eric Harris of Pittsburgh during a 160-pound fight at The Meadows Racetrack & Casino Saturday. Harris won the fight by unanimous decision.
MEADOW LANDS – Jason Bergman’s quest to regain the WBA-NABA U.S. Heavyweight boxing title will have to wait a little longer.
Bergman was scheduled to fight Devin Vargas Saturday night as part of the “Mayhem at The Meadows” card, but Vargas pulled out late Friday because of an injury.
The Washington resident will now be part of the card for the next boxing event at The Meadows Racetrack & Casino, which will be held July 4 against a yet-to-be-determined opponent.
That date will mark nearly a year since Bergman (24-11) lost the WBA-NABA U.S. title in a stunning defeat at the hands of Ahkor Muralimov last July at The Meadows. Muralimov, ironically, was a late replacement for Justin Jones, who pulled out of the scheduled fight with Bergman a few days before the event.
Because Vargas (18-4) pulled out so late, a suitable replacement was unable to be found in time.
“(There was) nothing anybody could do about it,” said Bergman, who had returned from Russia, where he was sparring with top-rated heavyweight contender Alexander Povetikin, earlier this week for the fight against Vargas.
Much as it did in The Meadows first boxing event last July, rain played havoc with the schedule as afternoon rain showers lingered into the early evening, soaking the outdoor event.
Fans lined the parking garage and crowded under the tent that covered the ring as they tried to stay dry throughout the evening.
The highlight came when headliner Rod Salka won the vacant WBA-NABA Superfeatherweight championship with a sixth-round knockout of Noel Echevarria.
Salka, who improved to 21-4 hammered Echevarria with a number of big shots to the head and body throughout the bout and finally stopped him when Echevarria dropped to his knees with three seconds remaining in the sixth round and began vomiting, unable to fight any longer.
He then collapsed to his back and was taken from the ring on a backboard after being checked by ringside doctors and paramedics.
Prior to that fight, Adah’s Tommy Karpency put on another impressive show, picking apart challenger Rayco Saunders of Pittsburgh to retain the WBA-NABA U.S. Light Heavyweight championship via unanimous decision.
Karpency won the title last July at The Meadows.
The opening two bouts of the event saw Eric Harris of Pittsburgh decision Johnny Martinez in a four-round match, and Lamont Capers handed Josh Himes of Monaca his first career loss via a decision in a cruiserweight match.