DeLong Isn’t Around Long; Masters Wins

There was a crasher at Nick DeLong’s coming-out party at the Irvine Marriott Hotel Monday night.

It was Nick DeLong.

He crashed to the canvas and stayed there after a series of blows from Monte Master, thus spoiling the party.

A crowd favorite at the monthly Marriott boxing card, DeLong, of Long Beach, was ready to move up in the world of California heavyweights after posting an 8-2 record over the past year.

But in order to get a state title fight, DeLong still had to beat somebody with a name. The name that was brought in--Masters--failed to cooperate.

Masters, of Oklahoma City, floored DeLong twice in the fight, once in the second round and then finally with four seconds remaining in the fourth round.

DeLong did not answer the 10-count, so Masters was awarded the knockout at 3:06 of the fourth round. (Because the time of the count exceeded the end of the round, the official time of the knockout is after the reguation three-minute round.)

Masters, a former World Athletic Assn. heavyweight champion, raised his record to 30-2 and will now likely pursue a California title fight of his own.

DeLong, a one-time lineman for the San Jose State football team and a former bartender, will have to get in better shape if he hopes to continue his pursuit.

In the brief fight, the veteran Masters was hardly weathered, while DeLong resorted to clinching his opponent--a common tactic to get some rest during the fight--as early as the second round.

On the undercard: Daniel Garcia of Los Angeles decisioned Salvadore Hernandez of Los Angeles at 123 pounds; Zeke Thompson of Long Beach knocked out Sean Desmond of Albuquerque, N.M., in their heavyweight bout, and James Evans of Santa Paula decisioned Geraldo Nava of Santa Ana at 136 pounds.

Also, Ricky Reese of Los Angeles knocked out Dennis Reddick of Inglewood in the first round of their heavyweight fight, and Lee Sentinella of Huntington Beach decisioned Tony Chicoine of Anaheim in their bout at 163 pounds.