Anthony Bizzarro boosts boxing record to 12-0 during Bayfront Brawl 17 fight card
Pressure in the ring had a double meaning the last time Anthony Bizzarro was at the Bayfront Convention Center.
The Erie boxer was twice a winner there during last November’s Bayfront Brawl 16 card. A second-round technical knockout was overshadowed by his postmatch marriage proposal to Enida Gobeljic.
Bizzarro’s girlfriend-turned-fiancée attended his latest professional bout there, an Aug. 2 eight-rounder vs. Helton Lara during Bayfront Brawl 17. She watched her significant other improve to 12-0 with a unanimous decision against his super lightweight (140 pounds) bout.
Bizzarro, 25, consistently backed Lara (17-10) against the ropes. The tactic permitted him to connect multiple punches to the body of the Nicaragua native, who lost his fourth straight bout.
“I would have liked to knock him out,” Bizzarro said. “I thought I knocked him down with a couple shots. I was able to avoid his power shots, but he was tough.”
It was Bizzarro’s second victory this year. He threw competitive punches for the first time since April 25, when he defeated Eric Palmer during a card at the Meadows Racetrack & Casino in Washington, Pennsylvania.
Bizzarro also won for the seventh time during a card promoted by Ernie Bizzarro, his uncle. He said punching power is the greatest improvement he’s experienced since turning pro in 2021.
“I’ve been training in York,” Anthony Bizzarro said, “and we’ve been working on that a lot down there.”
‘Going to miss him’
Bayfront Brawl 17 occurred less than a week after the death of longtime Erie resident Don Elbaum. The former boxer and promoter, a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame’s 2019 class, died July 27 at age 94.
Ernie Bizzarro arranged for a ceremonial 10-bell salute in Elbaum’s memory before the card’s pro boxing fights. Among those who heard it was Elbaum’s son.
Kipp Elbaum, 67, is a sound engineer in New York City. That work is secondary, though, to his decades of memories compiled from helping his late father arrange more than 10,000 bouts and more than 1,000 cards.
“I’m not kidding,” Kipp Elbaum said. “I called my dad almost every day. Even up until his last day. I don’t know how long I’ll keep thinking I need to call him today, or he’s going to call me.
“I’m going to miss him the rest of my life.”
Calling hours for Don Elbaum will take place Aug. 5 from 5 p.m. until a time of sharing at 7 p.m. at Burton Quinn-Scott Cremation & Funeral Services Inc. Downtown, 602 W. 10th St.
A service and burial will follow Aug. 6 at 11 a.m. at Temple Anshe Hesed Cemetery, 624 W. 26th St.
Kipp Elbaum (right) provides color commentary during the boxing portion of the Aug. 2 Bayfront Brawl 17 fight card at the Bayfront Convention Center. The late Don Elbaum, Kipp's father who died July 27, was honored with a ceremonial 10-bell salute.
Girard grad gets cage win
Former Girard wrestler Mitchell Marfinetz was one of 10 victors for the card’s mixed martial arts fights.
Marfinetz, who competed for the YellowJackets from 2016-20, overcame Logan Johnson’s early takedown for a win by technical knockout. Their 170-pound amateur bout, which was scheduled for three rounds, was stopped at 2:47 of the second thanks to Marfinetz’s flurry of blows to his prone Franklin opponent.
Marfinetz nudged his record to 3-1.
Former Girard wrestler Mitchell Marfinetz lands a punch against prone Franklin opponent Logan Johnson early in their 135-pound amateur mixed martial arts bout during the Aug. 2 Bayfront Brawl 17 fight card at the Bayfront Convention Center. Marfinetz won via a second round technical knockout.
Bayfront Brawl 17 results
Boxing
Professional
155 pounds: Matthew Acosta def. Cliff Jefferson by technical knockout, 1:47 of the second round
140: Anthony Bizzarro def. Helton Lara by eight-round unanimous decision
Mixed martial arts
Amateur
170 pounds: Branden Shields def. Michael Frederick by technical knockout, arm bar at 1:26 of the first round
205: Ty Stahli def. Noah Irwin by technical knockout, strikes at 1:48 of the second round
185: Derek Bly def. Cole Oziemblowsky by three-round unanimous decision
185: Trevon Thomas def. Jarel Abdelaziz by technical knockout, 1:40 of the third round
135: Joe Lehman def. Jaison Morales by three-round unanimous decision
170: Mitchell Marfinetz def. Logan Johnson by technical knockout, strikes at 2:47 of the first round
155: J.R. Kazales def. Anthony Monachino by technical knockout (medical stoppage), 1:33 of the second round
125: Tim Bailey and Josh Caban, no contest at :19 of the first round
Professional
185: John Antanitis def. Blair Phillips by technical knockout, rear naked chokehold at :23 of the second round
180: Connor Cyphert def. Regal Reese by three-round unanimous decision
