Alcivar Beats Olszewski, Wins NY State Title

The Five Star banquet hall in Long Island City was packed on Wednesday night with fans that were treated to an exciting night of boxing that saw local favorite Patty Alcivar win a NY State title.

In the main event of the Uprising Promotions card, Alcivar (7-1, 3KO) faced the experienced Eileen Olszewski (7-5-2) in an eight round bout for the vacant NY State women’s flyweight championship.

Both fighters had vocal cheering sections in the audience as the bell sounded for round one.

In something of a “feel out” round Alcivar (in Chris Wheat photo, at left) initiated the action as Olszewski seemed content to wait for opportunities to counter.

The second frame started at the same pace but a head butt from Olszewski opened a cut at the top of Alcivar’s forehead. With blood trickling down the front of her face, Alcivar continued her attack. The action was halted as the referee called time to have the ringside doctor check the cut. The fighting continued with Olszewski trying to seize the moment by connecting with several significant punches. Alcivar answered back with her jab and combinations.

In the third and fourth Olszewski continued to connect with crisp punches. Alcivar found her range, connecting with combinations and staying busy as the aggressor.

The fifth round found Alcivar stepping on the gas. She increased the pace, landed multiple combinations, and began to build momentum.

Olszewski opened the 6^th with a big left, right combination that had her supporters roaring, but did little to dent the determination of Alcivar. With blood still flowing from her cut, the former two time NYC Golden Gloves champion let her hands go and continued to press the action.

Alcivar announced her intention to take the title with a big left hand to open the 7^th round. The  tough Olzewski stood her ground and fired back. Alcivar’s foot was still on the pedal though as she continued to build momentum.

The final round brought increased urgency from both fighters as they exchanged punches at a fierce pace. At one point Alcivar backed Olzewski against the ropes and landed jarring left, right combinations. With the crowd cheering their approval, the furious action continued right up until the final bell.

With scores of 78-74, 77-75, and 79-73 Alcivar won the unanimous decision and the NYS women’s flyweight title.

After the fight an emotional and elated Alcivar stated that while winning a world title is her ultimate dream, “you can’t get any better than winning a title in your home town.”

Ex champ Junior Jones, in attendance, seemed to enjoy the action.

Ronson Frank (17-0 8 KOs), Uprising Promotions’ founder, was featured in a six round cruiserweight bout. The Brooklyn native faced Sharif Kemp (8-6, 6KO) of Atlanta, Ga.

The skilled Frank used patience, precision, and a good jab in the first round to get to Kemp.

In the second, Frank landed a solid shot to the body that left Kemp’s upstairs open to a barrage of punches that put Kemp down. He survived the count and gamely pressed on. Frank continued his onslaught and the referee waved it off at 1:08 of the round for a TKO stoppage for Frank.

Representing Honduras and the Bronx, Juan Zapata (2-5-1, 1KO) faced New Yorker Valdrin Muriqi (3-2) in a 4 round super middleweight scrap.

The chiseled Zapata began the fight by stalking Muriqi and lunging with his punches. Muriqi stayed calm and used his boxing skill to avoid the incoming bombs.

In the second round Zapata opened a small cut under Muriqi’s right eye. Perhaps to answer back, Muriqi hit Zapata behind the head in an ensuing clinch. The referee warned Muiriqi instantly.

The third frame opened with Zapata continuing his head hunting mission and Muriqi doing his best to avoid the punches while offering little in the form of a counter attack. Zapata was throwing his punches with such force that, whenever he missed, he was out of position and lacking balance.

It was bombs away from Zapata in the final round as he gestured for Muriqi to come forward and fight. Zapata landed some powerful punches as his gas tank neared empty when the bell sounded to end the fight.

Zapata captured a unanimous decision victory with scores of 39-37 from all three judges.

Women were back under the spotlight in a 4 round flyweight bout that pitted New Yorker Susan Reno (1-1) against Canadian Jacqueline Park (1-2).

With a distinct height and reach advantage, Park began by using her jab to set up combinations that found their mark. Reno’s challenge would be to find a way inside to land punches of her own.

The action continued in that fashion through the second and third frames. The sparkplug Reno would occasionally get inside to land punches. Park’s effectiveness with her jab and combinations was proven when a welt began to rise over Reno’s right eye.

With the audience urging her on in the fourth, Reno let it all hang out and landed two big right hands. She continued to press the action and try to force her way inside.

The Canadian walked away with a majority decision victory from scores of 39-37, 38-38, and 39-37.

Brooklyn was in the house as cruiserweight Michael Ocasio (4-2) faced Niagara Falls’ Eric George (0-2) in a four round bout.

The big guys spent a lot of time clinching and fighting on the inside. Both tried to land uppercuts and in the second round Ocasio snapped George’s head back with a short one on the button.

Conditioning appeared to be an issue as both fighters tired in the third. George proved to be a formidable opponent as he landed punches of his own.

In the end Ocasio was the busier fighter and earned a unanimous decision with the judges tallying 39-37, 40-36, 39-37.

The evening’s first bout was a rousing junior lightweight battle between Far Rockaway’s Trevis Hall (2-1-1) and the Bronx’s Frank Garriga (0-0-2). The fan favorite’s fought to a majority draw, which left supporter’s of each jeering in disbelief.

Uprising Promotions hit a home run in their first time up at the plate. Matchmaker Diana Rodriguez did an excellent job in making exciting, competitive fights. New York fight fans have good reason to look forward to their next card.