12.06.07 – By Wray Edwards: If Boxing is going to make a comeback as a mainstream popular sport in the United States, it will have to be managed by those who want to consolidate their influence rather than protect sacred cows named WBC, IBF, WBO, IBF, WBF and some state commissions. Home town Boxing such as we see in Philadelphia, New York, Miami, L.A., Chicago, Las Vegas and other cities has to be duplicated in smaller cities like Atlanta, St. Louis, Dallas, Tampa, and others. Also, when Boxing events are held in any city, the production values should be complimentary to the fans. That’s one reason I attended this weekend in Jacksonville, (where I live) Florida…to see what we were being offered this time.
This past weekend, Final Forum presented an evening of Boxing which had its ups and downs. Twelve eager young men stepped through the ropes in a series of matches and mismatches which thrilled and angered the crowd. There was a round card girls contest, a couple of passable fights and music, a lot of music. For some reason, a DJ was hired who filled every moment not devoted to Boxing or the contest, with the most dreadfully loud (can’t hear yourself think loud) rap music. It was the most oppressively irritating atmosphere of any venue I have ever experienced. There were, however, some boxing matches to watch. The main event was the WBF Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship between Ronald Bellamy and Derric Rossy..
As the fight began, it became obvious that Derric’s hand-speed was superior to that of Ronald. Rossy appeared stocky and stable as he punched in short compact combinations. Bellamy, on the other hand, was attempting to stay outside and box. Rossy pressed the action most of the fight and pulled the trigger with ease. Bellamy appeared to push his punches and was intimidated by Rossy’s relative quickness and power.
Each of the first five rounds was fought with Rossy controlling the action. Then, in the Sixth Round Ronald was cut above his left eye to the degree that the ring physician called the bout and the ref raised Rossy’s arm to indicate his TKO win.
The event was not sufficiently promoted to fill the venue with eager fans. The promoter seemed very frustrated when the subject of ticket sales came up.
Also, the Morocco Shrine Event Center did not have sufficient lighting over the ring to allow for much photography or even viewing by the spectators. I asked one of the other photogs about the lighting and he told me that he was responsible for it, but that the promoter was not willing to provide for more. The fate of local Boxing attractions depends on good planning, promotion and match-making. This event was marginal at best.
In short, the event needed less noise and more light to make it more of a pleasing sample of the sport for this area. I asked several in the crowd about the ear-shattering “music” which filled every agonizing minute between bouts and found it to be, in their opinions, a complete nuisance.
As an eternal optimist, I will cover the Light Welterweight (BoxRec) contest between Edner Cherry and Wes Ferguson at the A La Carte Event Pavillion in Tampa, Florida. The event will be televised on ESPN’s “Wednesday Night Fights” (06/13) as Edner and Wes fight for the NABA and USNBC Lightweight (Fightnews) Championships. Perhaps BoxRec and Fightnews will designate this contest at a catch-weight of some sort. See you at the fights.