Huntington's Chris Algieri defeats Mike Arnaoutis to remain undefeated
Chris Algieri of Huntington, left, fights Mike Arnaoutis of Astoria at the Paramount Theatre. (July 20, 2013) Credit: Mike Stobe
Huntington's Chris Algieri doesn't plan on becoming boxing's oldest fighter.
Algieri, who fought Mike Arnaoutis in the main event on Saturday night's "Rockin' Fights 9" card at the Paramount Theater in Huntington, has a grand plan when it is time for him to hang up the gloves. But first things first.
Algieri needed to take care of Arnaoutis, considered to be his toughest opponent to date.
Algieri (17-0) was up to the task, scoring a unanimous-decision win over Arnaoutis (24-9-2), 99-91, 98-92, 98-92.
"The guy's been in there with world class fighters his entire career," Algieri said of Arnaoutis. "He came in here in phenomenal shape . . . Everyone who comes to the Paramount brings their 'A' game."
Arnaoutis had lost five of his previous seven fights, but three of those losses were against rising junior welterweight Danny Garcia, once-defeated Demetrius Hopkins and Delvin Rodriguez.
"I have a window of opportunity to become a championship boxer," the junior welterweight said. "But my mind is always looking ahead. I don't plan on being like Bernard Hopkins."
Hopkins, 48, became the oldest fighter to win a major title in March.
Algieri, who has a bachelor's degree from Stony Brook in health care science and a master's degree from NYIT in clinical nutrition, said he has a "Plan B," which is to go to medical school.
In other action at the Paramount, Wendy Toussaint made his pro debut and scored a unanimous decision over On'Rey Towns in a four-round super middleweight bout.
All three judges scored it 40-36 in favor of Toussaint. A native of Haiti who now resides in Huntington, Toussaint controlled the action from start to finish, peppering Towns with an array of jabs, right hooks and an occasional uppercut. "It's just a start, but he'll get better and better," said Toussaint's trainer, Dominic Marino.
Working with Toussaint, who doesn't speak English well, is at times a challenge, but Marino is convinced he has the potential to succeed.
For Alan Gotay (6-0), it was a pure slugfest. But the lightweight from Plainview prevailed, earning a unanimous decision (60-54, 58-56, 58-56) over Michael Doyle
Doyle was short in stature, but strong and aggressive. Gotay said Doyle forced him to box. "I had the range and I had the distance," Gotay said. "I wasn't going to fight his fight."
Gotay used his jab to ward off Doyle's straightforward attack. "Everyone I've fought so far has been a different type of fighter," Gotay said. "I'm happy for that because it's showing me I'm versatile and allowing me to adapt and change."
