Boxing
Mesi shows he still has a knockout punch
by MATT KRUEGER Reporter

He may not have faced the caliber of opponent he'd like to, but Town of Tonawanda heavyweight "Baby" Joe Mesi got exactly what he wanted, and needed, in his fight Saturday.

Mesi upped his record to 32-0 with 26 knockouts with a second round TKO victory over Dennis Matthews (9-28) Saturday at the Pope County Fairgrounds in Russellville, Ark.

After taking Ronald Bellamy (14-5-4) and Stephene Tessier (3-8) the distance for decision wins earlier this year, Mesi got back to the business of knocking out opponents this weekend. That's something he hasn't done since he floored DaVarryl Williamson in the first round six fights ago.

"Joe looked much sharper, crisper and stronger," Mesi's manager and father Jack Mesi said. "He improved all around. We still have a ways to go. We're still working on his skills. We're still happy with what we got. It was a real good outing."

Mesi was very critical of his performances in his wins over Bellamy and Tessier - his first two fights since returning from a two-year suspension for brain bleeds suffered in a 2004 win over Vassiliy Jirov. In all three of his comeback fights this year, Mesi has faced competition nowhere near the level he was at before his suspension. These are boxers he would have knocked out easily before the forced layoff.

Mesi took this fight on less than a week's notice just to keep in shape and get in another fight. He was supposed to fight on the undercard of Laila Ali Aug. 5 in South Africa, but that event fell through, leaving Mesi without a bout. It was also the first time in more

than seven years that Mesi had a four-round fight. He had fought 10and 12-rounders from 2000 to his suspension in 2004. His bout with Bellamy was an eight-round contest, while the fight with Tessier was a six-rounder.

There is no word from the Mesi camp on the Sweet Home High School graduate's next fight, but there should be a couple more this year.

e-mail: mkrueger@beenews.com