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kenyan_cheena · 03-26-2005, 03:29 AM

Pelkey started jumping up and down and shouting as his jubilation and joy kicked into a higher gear, the realisation of what he had just achieved flooding over him. He exchanged brief words with Sharkey and his cornermen before continuing his celebration, basking in the audience's applause.

"I knew that I couldn't just sit back and let him dictate the fight," said Pelkey, in response to ESPN's Jay Marlow. "That first round went perfectly for me, because I think I made him fight the way I wanted him to. If it hadn't gone that way, I probably wouldn't have been able to cut him."

"First Joe Beckett, now Arthur Pelkey," said Marlow, smiling. "Do you think that a trend is starting?"

Pelkey laughed. "I won't lie. What Joe Beckett achieved last Saturday night really did inspire and encourage me. I did think to myself, "Why can't I do that?" Jack Sharkey is an excellent, skillful fighter, no doubt. But like I said, I made him fight my fight. Down in the trenches, you know? And it worked."

"It really was a war, wasn't it?" said Marlow.

"That's how I wanted it to be," Pelkey said, nodding. "In the second round, he really beat the hell out of me, but I still said to myself, "He's fighting your fight." I knew that he was trying to finish me off, because he was worried about the cut. When he dropped me, it didn't bother me. I knew that all it would take was another shot or two on that cut, and it'd be over."

"Well, Arthur, congratulations on your victory. Like Joe Beckett before you, you've shown that there are no absolutes in this tournament, and I think you've given this crowd a great show."

The audience responded to this comment warmly.

"Thank you very much, Jay," said Pelkey. "I just want to say that everyone's seen what's happened during the past week. Two guys who most didn't think had a shot have won, so, I think that's a message. This tournament really is wide open."

Soon after, Marlow spoke to a clearly dejected and shattered Jack Sharkey.

"We had a gameplan and I didn't stick to it," Sharkey said. "The plan was to box him, to wear him down with the jab, but ... just didn't happen. We started brawling, and I just reacted without thinking, didn't think clearly at all. I really did screw up. Just too emotional, and hot-headed."

"A lot of people in the crowd, especially at ringside, were amazed that an accidental headbutt didn't come about in that first round, because the two of you were virtually forehead to forehead for long stretches there," said Marlow.

Sharkey nodded. "It was just crazy. I have to give him credit, though. He out-thought me, without a doubt."

"That really is quite a nasty cut," Marlow said, motioning to the one inch diagonal crevasse above Sharkey's left eye. "I would have to say that it will have an effect on training for your next bout."

"You got that right," said Sharkey, wiping at the cut with a white towel. "I guess it's the price I'll have to pay."

"Well, Jack, commiserations on what I'm sure must be a disappointing night for you," said Marlow. "But I also want to wish you the best for the remainder of the tournament. I think the audience will agree with me when I say that you'll surely bounce back from this. Good luck."

'Well, that's what I have to do," said Sharkey. "Put this behind me and just worry about what I can control. I want to thank the audience for all the wonderful support you've given the HBF this week and tonight."

Sharkey shook Marlow's hand, acknowledged the audience and made his way back to the dressing room...

***

THE UNDERCARD

Opening Bout

Going into the 4th round, 19 year-old Irishman Peter Maher was taking a beating. His 25 year-old New Jersey opponent Chuck Wepner had already dropped him to the canvas with a punishing uppercut in round one, and had continued to hold the advantage through rounds two and three. But then, the fight did a 180 degree turn, as Maher unleashed a fierce beating on his tough-as-nails opponent. In rounds four, five and six, Maher landed a total of 153 punches, compared to 66 by Wepner. This incredible turnaround was enough to give Maher, the 31st seed in the 1st Defense tournament, a majority decision victory, 57-56, 57-57, 58-55.

Preliminary 1

20 year-old Welshman Johnny Williams scored a 3rd round knockout of Wim Snoek of the Netherlands. In an action-packed contest, the combatants split the opening two rounds, with the third continuing in a competitive fashion before a single right cross from Williams dropped the Dutchman. Snoek was counted out at 2:19 of the third round. Williams is the 23rd seed in the 1st Defense tournament, and showed that he has quite an impressive arsenal at his disposal. He is certainly one to watch.

Preliminary 2

22 year-old Jamaican-born Londoner Gary Mason scored a mild upset with a 6 round unanimous decision victory over Ted Lowry of New Bedford, Massachusetts. The 50th seed in the HBF's World Championship tournament, Lowry tasted the canvas in the fourth round and although he mounted a late rally, it was not enough. the 66th seeded Mason took the decision, 58-55, 58-57, 58-55.

Support Bout

Many people have said positive things about 22 year-old Atlantic City native Bruce Seldon. The 34th seed has been looked upon as a darkhorse in the World Championship tournament, thanks to both a lightning jab and knockout power, talents that were on display during the HBF's October auditions. Unfortunately, Seldon seemed to suffer from a bout of stage fright in his professional debut. Against the 82nd seeded Fort Lauderdale native Tony Alongi, Seldon looked unsure and indecisive, and was not able to jump out of this funk for the duration of the fight, save for the fourth round. By the closing stages of the final round, he looked tired and spent, as Alongi hit him with peppering jabs almost at will. Alongi was awarded a fitting unanimous decision, 58-56, 59-56, 58-56, leaving many of Seldon's admirers disappointed and bemused. One can only hope that he can put up a much more encouraging display in his next bout.

Co-Feature

22 year-old Argentinian Oscar Bonavena is the only South American amongst the top 32 seeds in the HBF's World Championship tournament. Against Pennsylvania's Alonzo Johnson, he showed that he deserves his spot there. Bonavena sent the 98th seed crashing to the canvas in the second round with a sledgehammer left hook and was never troubled for the rest of the fight, taking an easy unanimous decision, 60-53, 59-54, 59-54. The 18th seeded Bonavena is understandably the pride of Latin America at the moment, and his supporters had even more reason to cheer when the top seed in the group Jack Sharkey was defeated some thirty minutes after Bonavena had been so dominant in his own debut.

03-26-2005, 03:29 AM	#111 (permalink)
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 4,316	Pelkey started jumping up and down and shouting as his jubilation and joy kicked into a higher gear, the realisation of what he had just achieved flooding over him. He exchanged brief words with Sharkey and his cornermen before continuing his celebration, basking in the audience's applause. "I knew that I couldn't just sit back and let him dictate the fight," said Pelkey, in response to ESPN's Jay Marlow. "That first round went perfectly for me, because I think I made him fight the way I wanted him to. If it hadn't gone that way, I probably wouldn't have been able to cut him." "First Joe Beckett, now Arthur Pelkey," said Marlow, smiling. "Do you think that a trend is starting?" Pelkey laughed. "I won't lie. What Joe Beckett achieved last Saturday night really did inspire and encourage me. I did think to myself, "Why can't I do that?" Jack Sharkey is an excellent, skillful fighter, no doubt. But like I said, I made him fight my fight. Down in the trenches, you know? And it worked." "It really was a war, wasn't it?" said Marlow. "That's how I wanted it to be," Pelkey said, nodding. "In the second round, he really beat the hell out of me, but I still said to myself, "He's fighting your fight." I knew that he was trying to finish me off, because he was worried about the cut. When he dropped me, it didn't bother me. I knew that all it would take was another shot or two on that cut, and it'd be over." "Well, Arthur, congratulations on your victory. Like Joe Beckett before you, you've shown that there are no absolutes in this tournament, and I think you've given this crowd a great show." The audience responded to this comment warmly. "Thank you very much, Jay," said Pelkey. "I just want to say that everyone's seen what's happened during the past week. Two guys who most didn't think had a shot have won, so, I think that's a message. This tournament really is wide open." Soon after, Marlow spoke to a clearly dejected and shattered Jack Sharkey. "We had a gameplan and I didn't stick to it," Sharkey said. "The plan was to box him, to wear him down with the jab, but ... just didn't happen. We started brawling, and I just reacted without thinking, didn't think clearly at all. I really did screw up. Just too emotional, and hot-headed." "A lot of people in the crowd, especially at ringside, were amazed that an accidental headbutt didn't come about in that first round, because the two of you were virtually forehead to forehead for long stretches there," said Marlow. Sharkey nodded. "It was just crazy. I have to give him credit, though. He out-thought me, without a doubt." "That really is quite a nasty cut," Marlow said, motioning to the one inch diagonal crevasse above Sharkey's left eye. "I would have to say that it will have an effect on training for your next bout." "You got that right," said Sharkey, wiping at the cut with a white towel. "I guess it's the price I'll have to pay." "Well, Jack, commiserations on what I'm sure must be a disappointing night for you," said Marlow. "But I also want to wish you the best for the remainder of the tournament. I think the audience will agree with me when I say that you'll surely bounce back from this. Good luck." 'Well, that's what I have to do," said Sharkey. "Put this behind me and just worry about what I can control. I want to thank the audience for all the wonderful support you've given the HBF this week and tonight." Sharkey shook Marlow's hand, acknowledged the audience and made his way back to the dressing room... * THE UNDERCARD Opening Bout Going into the 4th round, 19 year-old Irishman Peter Maher was taking a beating. His 25 year-old New Jersey opponent Chuck Wepner had already dropped him to the canvas with a punishing uppercut in round one, and had continued to hold the advantage through rounds two and three. But then, the fight did a 180 degree turn, as Maher unleashed a fierce beating on his tough-as-nails opponent. In rounds four, five and six, Maher landed a total of 153 punches, compared to 66 by Wepner. This incredible turnaround was enough to give Maher, the 31st seed in the 1st Defense tournament, a majority decision victory, 57-56, 57-57, 58-55. Preliminary 1 20 year-old Welshman Johnny Williams scored a 3rd round knockout of Wim Snoek of the Netherlands. In an action-packed contest, the combatants split the opening two rounds, with the third continuing in a competitive fashion before a single right cross from Williams dropped the Dutchman. Snoek was counted out at 2:19 of the third round. Williams is the 23rd seed in the 1st Defense tournament, and showed that he has quite an impressive arsenal at his disposal. He is certainly one to watch. Preliminary 2 22 year-old Jamaican-born Londoner Gary Mason scored a mild upset with a 6 round unanimous decision victory over Ted Lowry of New Bedford, Massachusetts. The 50th seed in the HBF's World Championship tournament, Lowry tasted the canvas in the fourth round and although he mounted a late rally, it was not enough. the 66th seeded Mason took the decision, 58-55, 58-57, 58-55. Support Bout Many people have said positive things about 22 year-old Atlantic City native Bruce Seldon. The 34th seed has been looked upon as a darkhorse in the World Championship tournament, thanks to both a lightning jab and knockout power, talents that were on display during the HBF's October auditions. Unfortunately, Seldon seemed to suffer from a bout of stage fright in his professional debut. Against the 82nd seeded Fort Lauderdale native Tony Alongi, Seldon looked unsure and indecisive, and was not able to jump out of this funk for the duration of the fight, save for the fourth round. By the closing stages of the final round, he looked tired and spent, as Alongi hit him with peppering jabs almost at will. Alongi was awarded a fitting unanimous decision, 58-56, 59-56, 58-56, leaving many of Seldon's admirers disappointed and bemused. One can only hope that he can put up a much more encouraging display in his next bout. Co-Feature** 22 year-old Argentinian Oscar Bonavena is the only South American amongst the top 32 seeds in the HBF's World Championship tournament. Against Pennsylvania's Alonzo Johnson, he showed that he deserves his spot there. Bonavena sent the 98th seed crashing to the canvas in the second round with a sledgehammer left hook and was never troubled for the rest of the fight, taking an easy unanimous decision, 60-53, 59-54, 59-54. The 18th seeded Bonavena is understandably the pride of Latin America at the moment, and his supporters had even more reason to cheer when the top seed in the group Jack Sharkey was defeated some thirty minutes after Bonavena had been so dominant in his own debut. Last edited by kenyan_cheena : 04-29-2005 at 06:38 PM.