Dorin halts Chucky T in 4.

Dave Spencer at ringside

March 20, 2004

Leonard Dorin left no doubts proving he is indeed back and ready to challenge the best at 140 by disposing of Charles “Chucky T” Tschorniawsky at 2:27 of the 4th round as referee Mike Griffin stepped in and called a halt to the action and walked a battered Chucky T back to his corner. “I think I’m simply at a higher level,” said Dorin of his over-matched opponent after recording his 8th knockout and remaining undefeated at 22-0-1. Dorin did everything perfectly this night as he boxed, used the ring, fought well on the inside and showed a superior defence to a game but out-gunned T. Dorin began slowly, even losing the first round on one judge’s scorecard. “I was so nervous, I figured before it was time to quit, but I can’t live without boxing, this is what I like to do. I like to box.” And do it he did. The first round Dorin showed he could land his right hand hard over Chucky T’s lead left and as the fight progressed Tschorniawsky hands never did come up any higher leaving him very vulnerable. Dorin finally capitalized on that vulnerability with four successive left-right combos to Tschorniawsky’s head two minutes into the 4th round. With the ropes supporting Chucky T, Dorin was moved into a neutral corner and as referee Griffin turned around, Tschorniawsky let go of the rope with his hand and stumbled on his own into the corner showing that he had nothing else to give on this day. For Tschorniawsky it was the earliest he has ever been stopped and dropped his record to 23-8-1. “I was expecting more rounds,” said Dorin who was back in the ring for the first time since a draw last May with Paul Spadafora. “ I took a couple of rounds to warm up and then started to move a bit and whoosh” he said moving both fists, “I don’t know what eventually took him down.”

Up next for Dorin is Arturo Gatti, scheduled for July 24th in Atlantic City. “Gatti will be an example to all boxers for years and years,” said Dorin afterwards. “I love that guy. For that guy I have to be in the best shape of my life to respond to him in the ring, for me not to be would be an insult to him.”

“Leo will face Arturo Gatti,” said Dorin’s co-promoter Lou DiBella who has an agreement in principle for the fight and was on hand to secure that all would be okay in the ring and outside it as Montreal promoter Interbox filed for bankruptcy protection this week. “There’s no greater test of a champion than coming back,” said Dibella. “Leo’s not coming back from a loss but he is coming back. That was a very difficult time for him in Romania and for all of us around him. What we saw tonight though is one of the best fighters in the world, he looks stronger and more comfortable than he did at 135,” said DiBella about Dorin who weighed in at 142.5 pounds. “Now he can focus not on what happened in Romania, not on retirement but on the future. If he beats Arturo Gatti not only is he a champion, but he is true star. That’s what we want to see, for him to realize his dream.”

In the co main event Dorin’s fellow countryman Adrian Diaconu remained undefeated by taking an easy decision over Roberto Coelho of Brazil. Diaconu moved to 15-0 as he dominated from start to finish winning 100-89, 100-89 and 99-90 on the scorecards. Diaconu who weighed in closer to cruiserweight at 183.4 than the light-heavyweight he wishes to campaign at was solid throughout dropping the game but overmatched Coelho with a beautiful duck and counter left hook in the 3rd round. Diaconu dug deep with punishing hooks to the body but would often ease back off the accelerator when he had his opponent seemingly ready to go. Diaconu admitted afterwards that he was looking for rounds after going less than five in his previous two victories. “I’m happy it went 10 rounds,” said Diaconu afterwards who is looking towards one more fight before facing top 10 opposition.

In undercard action, heavyweight Jean Francois Bergeron (19-0 14 KO) made his return to the ring after being out of action for over a year with an injury a successful one disposing of Rogerio Lobo (32-10 27KO) with a couple of left uppercuts at 2:20 of the 2nd round. Bergeron who will soon put his southpaw stance to work in helping Vitali Klitchko prepare for his upcoming bout with Corrie Sanders. “I knew before the fight that he would eventually drop his hands,” said Bergeron on his much shorter opponent. “I was never in trouble and really felt comfortable in there. I saw all his punches coming so all I had to do was keep my head up and keep moving and eventually he would wear down.” When asked what he would take away from such a victory against Lobo who has done much of fighting at cruiserweight, Bergeron responded, “A lot, other fighters are going to see that I’m back, getting my name in the mix, people will see and it gives me a chance to get back and try to get a big fight. Personally it means a lot because I’ve been through a lot over the past year and I didn’t know if I’d ever be able to come back and fight and it turns out I still can.”

Montreal’s 2 rising stars also made short work of it as super-lightweight Hermann “Black Panther” Ngoudjo (3-0 3KO) dominated over Holbrook Storr (4-1 4KO) handing him his first defeat with a TKO at 1:15 of the 2nd round. Likewise super-middleweight Lucian Bute moved 3-0 with his 3rd knockout less than 2 minutes in against first timer Jean Pascal Service.

In the opening bout of the day, middleweight Martin Berthiame (9-1-1) pulled out a narrow victory winning the last round in an exciting battle with Charles Ali Nestor (4-1) winning 58-57, 58-56, 58-56 on the scorecards. Berthiaume who had cuts to both eyes looks to be in jeopardy to losing his next scheduled bout that was to have taken place next month in Quebec City. Trainer Russ Anber was impressed enough with Berthiaume that he feels that the next step of a Canadian championship. “Either the 160 pound championship or drop down to 154. Either of those fights we’re ready to take now without a problem. Martin’s at point where no more 6 rounders, we’re ready to go, we’re making our move now.”

Questions or Comments, contact Dave Spencer.