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Bujaj lands on Wright
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BROOKLYN (MAY 20, 2014)– On Thursday night in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, cruiserweights Steve Bujaj and Junior Wright engaged in a ten-round battle on a Star of David Promotions card which many in attendance regard as a legitimate Fight of the Year candidate.
Promoter Dmitriy Salita and the fans and media at the Millennium Theatre waited with anticipation as the scorecards were tabulated after the back and forth rumble between the New Yorker Bujaj and the Chicago-based Wright, with the WBC International Cruiserweight title up for grabs.
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| Wright and Bujaj |
The judges called it a split draw, but more importantly for the fight fans who were there live, and the ones which will see highlights on a television presentation–details to come!– of the eight-bout card, it was a classic scrap.
Neither man deserved to be tagged with their first loss, promoter Salita said afterwards.
“Both Junior Wright and Steve Bujaj are champions,” Salita stated. “The fight lived up to expectations and more. Both guys showed world class skill and world class heart. They fought their heart out for the fans and for an opportunity to be recognized as among the best in the world… and now they are. These two cruiserweights are for sure the best in their weight in the US and in the mix with best cruisers in the world.”
One man who saw the battle up close at the venue was manager Ivan Edwards, who made the 2011 Fight of the Year, a draw between his boxer, Pawel Wolak, and Delvin Rodriguez.
“I was ringside for both fights,” Edwards said. “Bujaj versus Wright was much better. They went to war, both hurt each other. Two true warriors. Neither cared if they lived or died. This sort of fight is what fans want to see.”
Michael Woods, the editor of TheSweetScience.com, who called the feature, along with analyst Nirmal Lorick, took to Twitter post-fight, and opined that a rematch should land on ESPN, or perhaps “ShoBox.”
“The volume was incredible, the swings in momentum between Bujaj and Wright were intense, and each man had their fair share of moments,” Woods said. “Absolutely, a rematch makes infinite sense, and I can state with certainty that these two boxers deserve an even larger audience next time.”
Bujaj (12-0-1), who shrugged off a fractured jaw in round four, said he’d welcome another crack at Wright (10-0-1). He had surgery to repair the jaw days after the bout, but is keen to meet Wright again, for revenge. “I would love a rematch if TV buys it,” he said. “I’d do better next time, because I’d have a real mouthpiece made for me, and I won’t have to fight with a broken jaw.”
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| Salita and Miller |
