Mckart Gets Split Verdict Over
Bunema
By Kent Appel
29.10.01
- Every so often I have to wonder if the judges were
watching the same fight I was watching. Such was the
case this past Friday night at the Pechanga Entertainment
Center in Temecula, California where I and over eight
hundred fans watched southpaw Bronco Mckart of Monroe,
Michigan get a split decision 12 round nod over Alex
Bunema of Kinshasa, Zaire in a Junior Middleweight
title elimination bout. The scores were 116 to 112,
and 117 to 111 for Mckart and 115 to 114 for Bunema
by the third judge. The majority of the live crowd
clearly agreed with the judge that had Bunema winning
because the decision was roundly booed. I scored the
fight 116 to 113, seven rounds for Bunema and four
rounds for Mckart, with one even. I gave Bunema the
edge on the basis of a very strong body attack throughout
the fight followed up with hard shots to the head
while he often had Mckart pinned on the ropes. Mckart,
with a few exceptions, never seemed to completely
get on track with effective combinations. Bunema's
big mistake was he didn't seem to press the action
as much in the last two rounds in what turned out
to be anybody's fight going into those last two rounds.
Maybe he ran out of steam or maybe he thought he was
ahead enough to still get the decision-which I still
feel he deserved because of his more impressive work
throughout the rest of the fight. I was wondering
what was going through Mckart's mind in those last
two rounds as he continued to box behind his right
jab when I felt he should have gone all out to try
and gain a knockout. I am sure he somehow thought
he was ahead enough to not risk getting knocked out
but still win the fight on the judges' cards. He turned
out to right though but I am not sure why!
The winner of this fight, Mckart,
is the probable opponent of the winner of the upcoming
'Sugar" Shane Mosley verses Winky Wright title
bout. Mckart had better be more aggressive if he is
to have a chance of defeating either Mosley or Wright,
a fighter who has beaten him on two other occasions.
One of two CO feature bouts on the
Mckart/Bunema undercard featured Robert Allen of Atlanta,
Georgia scoring an impressive second round knockout
over previously unbeaten Marlon Hayes of Newark, New
Jersey to win the NABF and USBA middleweight titles.
Allen, a southpaw, used a powerful right hook to gain
the victory and he improves to 31-4, 24 by knockout
while Hayes falls to 20-1, 12 by knockout. The second
CO feature bout showed Jhonny Gonzalez of Pachuca,
Mexico, scoring a tenth round TKO over Ablorh Sowah
of Atlanta, Georgia to win the NABF bantamweight title.
Gonzalez goes to 13-2, 11 by knockout; while Sowah
falls to 16-3-1, 9 by knockout.
Also on the card: In a junior welterweight
fight, Terrence Cauthen scored a four round technical
decision over Sebastian Valdez when the fight went
to the scorecards after Valdez was unable to continue
because of a cut from an accidental head butt; in
a welterweight fight, Ulysses Cabellero knocked out
Jesse Byers in the second round; and Felix Cora Jr.
knocked out Shawn Townsend in the first round, light
heavyweights.
Interview With Bronco McKart
By Ed Ludwig
26.08 - On Tuesday August 22 I had
the pleasure of interviewing Jr. Middleweight
contender Bronco McKart. He will be facing Alex Bunema
on September 29. Here
is what he had to say.
Ed Ludwig: How long were you in
training before the announcement of the Alex Bunema
fight?
Bronco McKart: In training for a couple
of weeks. Running and working out.
EL: What do you know about Alex
Bunema?
BM: He is always in tip top shape.
He has a straight forward style, wide
open and questionable chin.
EL: How would you say your career
has been so far? As expected or better?
BM: As expected, a lot more goals
to attain.
EL: What is it like fighting in
front of your hometown fans?
BM: Nothing like it. Close friends
and family watching. It's a nice feeling.
No place like home.
EL: Is it difficult to fight someone
who is also a southpaw?
BM: No, pretty easy time. No problems.
EL: Your toughest fight to date?
BM: Either be Aaron Davis or Alain
Bonnamie. Bonnamie was a tough fight.
EL: Any chance of moving to Middleweight?
BM: Could be a chance. Win a title
at Jr. Middleweight and unify and then go
to 160. Plan to stay at 154.
EL: Two guys you have defeated,
Jason Papillion and Michael Lerma fought
recently. What did you think of the fight?
BM: Excellent fight and they matched
up well. Could have been a draw. Very
exciting.
EL: Nine years as a pro, how much
longer will you go?
BM: 30 years old now. Plan to finish
at 33. If still on top I will review.
EL: Diet when training?
BM: I try to eat high protein and
low fat. I eat a lot of carbohydrates because I use
a lot when training. A lot of fruit and juice.
EL: Did the Harry Simon camp ever
make you an offer?
BM: Yes, awhile ago. Simon injured.
Nothing after that.
EL: Are in favor of a federal boxing
commission?
BM: I think it could have a positive.
Could help behind closed doors.
EL: Who will win the Felix Trinidad
vs. Bernard Hopkins showdown?
BM: Trinidad. Could be an ugly fight
because of Hopkins style and dirty tactics.
EL: Who is number one, pound for
pound in your opinion?
BM: Felix Trinidad. Not a cutie and
always comes in shape.
EL: Your favorite boxers past and
present?
BM: Past, it would be Muhammad Ali,
Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns and Marvin Hagler.
Hagler was a good southpaw with a good attitude. Current
fighters, Felix Trinidad, Roy Jones and Sugar Shane
Mosley.
EL: While growing up was there
any career path you thought about before
becoming a boxer?
BM: No. Boxing since age 14. Dreams
of being a world champion. Lots of hard
work.
EL: What will you do when your
boxing career is over?
BM: Not sure. I have made many good
friends and connections. Might work in
public relations or have my own business. As long
as I can put food on the
table.
EL: As a parent, how would you
feel if one of your children wanted to be a boxer?
BM: No boxing. I have one son and
two daughters. I am doing it so they wont
have to. Maybe baseball or golf.
EL: Favorite sport other than boxing?
BM: To play it is golf.
EL: How do you feel about your
number 95 ranking in the new Ring magazine
top 100 fighters in the world?
BM: I just heard about it. I should
have been higher. I am still happy to be
there and it is an honor. Next year I would like to
be at number 50 or
better. I want to fight better competition. After
taking care of Bunema then
it will be bigger and better things.
