People in Town Houses should throw punches

Bob Duffy of Ring Promotions will promote his eighth show of 2006 in the New York metropolitan area at the Huntington Town House in Huntington, Long Island, on Friday, December 8.

Headlining the action-packed card will be red-hot middleweight Pawel Wolak, a native of Poland who now resides in Brooklyn.

Appearing in the co-feature is hard-punching super middleweight southpaw “Mean” Joe Greene, 13-0 (7 KOS), of Brooklyn.

Junior welterweight Jorge Teron, 13-0 (8 KOS), of the Bronx, will square off against Atlantic City’s Lorenzo Bethea, 6-2 (1 KO).

Lightweight Freddy Soto, 8-2-2 (5 KOS), of the Bronx battles Eric Rodriguez, 3-2 (2 KOS) of Puerto Rico, and local welterweight Tommy Rainone, 1-0, of Plainview steps into the ring for the second time against Jesse Gomez, 1-2.

In Gomez’s sole victory, he outpointed previously unbeaten Alex Infante, who was 3-0, in a different venue in Huntington.

Also scheduled to appear is popular undefeated light heavyweight Joel Castillo, 3-0 (2 KOS), of the Bronx, and making his pro debut is heavyweight Wilmer Vasquez of Venezuela.

Vasquez will square off against the much more experienced Drexie James, 8-7 (4 KOS), of Miami. Although James has lost to such recognizable heavyweights as Ezra Sellers, Dominick Guinn, Eliseo Castillo, and Malik Scott, he also scored a first round knockout over 2000 Olympian Michael Bennett, who was 6-1 at the time of their meeting.

“This is a rock solid show from top to bottom,” said Duffy, a retired NYPD detective. “There’s not a bad fight on the card.”

By the middle of the week of the show, Duffy said 90 percent of the tickets, which included 37 tables, had been sold. Those buying tables will be treated to a cocktail party, full course meal, a cigar, and a tenor to serenade them.

“This isn’t just a night at the fights,” said Duffy. “This is a night out, so I’ve tried to provide something for everyone.”

Duffy says that Wolak, who will put his 11-0 (7 KOS) record on the line against rugged journeyman Patrick Thompson, 10-7-1 (4 KOS), of Lincoln, Nebraska, knows he is not in for an easy night.

The only fighter to ever stop Thompson is Alfonso Gomez, who later catapulted to fame on the first season of the “The Contender” reality TV series. Gomez stopped Thompson in the fifth round in November 2003.

Thompson has taken numerous well-regarded, then undefeated fighters the distance. Included among them are Mariusz Cendrowski, 14-0, John Duddy, 9-0, Sechew Powell, 14-0, and Giovanni Lorenzo, 7-0.

Once beaten fighters whom he extended until the final bell were Ishe Smith, another veteran of season one of “The Contender,” who was 16-1, and Matt Vanda, 31-1. He also battled Dennis Sharpe, who was 17-0, to a draw.

“He will provide a stern test for Pawel,” said Duffy, who as the former director of boxing for the New York State Athletic Commission does not believe in making non-competitive fights for bright young prospects.

“Although I’ve been involved in numerous aspects of the business, I never forget that I was initially attracted to boxing as a fan. I try to always keep that in mind when I make matches. If it’s a fight that I would want to see, I go with it. If not, I look for a more competitive matchup.”

Duffy is also very high on Greene, who he calls one of the most exciting prospects in the sport, as well as Teron, who was knocked down in his last fight, and Soto, who lost his last fight on a show that Duffy promoted.

“These guys are all real good New York fighters,” he said. “They are very hungry and determined and they have tremendous fan bases. I am thrilled to be able to promote them.”

Duffy also believes that Vasquez, who represented his native country on its national amateur team and scored 52 knockouts in 61 amateur fights, is a future star.

Because of Vasquez fighting on the card, legendary champion Roberto Duran, who is involved in the promotional aspect of his career is expected to be in attendance.

Other expected celebrities are rapper 50 Cent, who is friends with Greene, and former champion Emile Griffith.

“I love this stuff,” said Duffy. “I’ll never be as big as Don King or Bob Arum, but I love being a promoter. There’s a lot of aggravation and a lot of hair pulling, but I always come back for more and look forward to the next one.”

Tickets or tables can be purchased by calling Duffy at 516-313-2304 or Frankie G’s Academy of Boxing in Huntington Station, phone 631-673-3520.