Uncasville, CT (BoxingGurus.com) - Thomas Tate captured the vacant NABF Super Middlewweight Title by winning a close split decsion over a very game Fernando Zuniga. The fight was televised on Friday Night Fights on ESPN2 at the Uncasville Pavillion at the Mohegan Sun Casino.

Tate (39-6, 27 KO) used his crisp jab to double and triple up on Zuniga to try to keep him at bay and not let him get off his quick counter-punches. "Zuniga is a very crafty guy," said Tate. "He is a good counter-puncher." Tate felt he won comfortably and took the fight over in the last 4 rounds. "I stayed on him after the 8th round and never lost focus."

Zuniga (20-4, 15 KO) landed the cleaner and harder punches throughout the fight, but was out-boxed most of the time. The judges must have liked the jabbing more than the clean counter-punching as the judges scored the fight 116-111 (Zuniga), 117-111 (Tate) and 117-111 (Tate). At ringside, BoxingGurus.com scored the fight 115-113 for Zuniga.

Tate, now 35 years old, wants to get his shot again at a world title. Tate lost a very controversial contest to IBF Super Middleweight champ Sven Ottke back in September of 1999 when Ottke suffered a cut, but it was determined to be caused by an accidental head butt and Ottke won on the cards. Most ringside observers said the cut clearly came from a punch and it should have been a TKO win for Tate. Tate now hopes to get a tile shot, maybe a rematch with Ottke, by years end.

TELEVISED UNDERCARD:

Former 1992 US Olympian Julian Wheeler (20-6-1, 8 KO) pulled of a minor upset by winning a unaminous 8 round decision over local favorite and former #1 ranked Lightweight contender Isreal "Pito" Cardona (34-5, 26 KO). The fight was totally dominationed by Wheeler who won easily on all three judges scorecard 78-74, 79-73, and 77-75. At ringside, we at BoxingGurus.com had it 79-73 for Wheeler. Wheeler knows he has not lived up to his promise as an Olympian and can't lose again or he will never get his championship shot. "I don't have much time since I am 30 years old," said Wheeler. "I can't afford another loss."

Undefeated Lightweight Gary "Tiger" Balletto (20-0-2, 19 KO) remained undbeaten by winning a unamious 6 round decision over a game Freddy Cruz (52-29-9, 17 KO). Balleto still has a way to go as he threw many wild combos, but out-worked and out-connected Cruz. Balletto did score a knockdown in the first round to set the early pace. The judges had the scores 60-52, 59-54, and 60-52.

UNTELEVISED UNDERCARD:

A hot local Featherweight prospect Angel Torres (2-0, 2 KO) score the most impressive knockout of the evening by scoring a TKO at 1:14 of the 1st round over Terron Glasgow (1-2, 0 KO). Torres showed amazing power, by flooring Glasgow with a huge overhand right that almost knocked out Glasgow. Glasgow somehow beat the count, but the refere stopped the fight as Glasgow was out on his feet.

Another talented prospect, Middleweight Peter Manfredo Jr. (5-0, 3 KO), scored a workman like 4th round TKO by outworking and punishing Manny Teo (4-5, 3 KO). Manfredo Jr. threw great combos and was in total control from the opening bell.