Published: June 29, 2007

Yusaf Mack: Pure Action on Wall Street

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by David Pambianchi

Yusaf Mack

On June 27th, 2007, amid flowing gowns, suits and Tuxedos, Yusaf Mack met Jose "Zeus" Vazquez for a schedule 10 round bout at Tommy Gallagher's posh "Black-Tie Boxing" dinner event at Cipriani's in New York City.

With a grand Roman numeral clock above a Corinthian archway flanked by tan marble columns all around, the fight hall exudes elegance. A ceiling rotunda above the boxing ring looms ornately decorated with the zodiac signs. And stepping up to the atmosphere and ambiance, the fighters did themselves and quests proud.

Yusaf Mack Wins

For the first three rounds, both fighters landed numerous punches and combinations with everything in the mix, left jabs, hooks and upper-cuts targeting the body and head, but clearly Yusaf scored better especially during the third with an intense flurry of fast and hard over-hand rights.

Photographer Christy Cappillino adding some elegance of her own

For the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds, the overall pace settled in, but flurries continued in rapid and furious spurts, punches landing and some missing or blocked all to tea-party claps that suddenly fade behind gasps of excitement and loud cheers.

Capriani Black-Tie night

In round seven, the pace of action took off again like the Bulls and Bears of the Wall Street Stock Market as Yusaf scored hard and heavy with (did I mention), over-hand rights, Jose Zues keeping that left glove low, but always showing amazing resiliency by recovering and fighting back through the ninth round.