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MASSACRE IN MEMPHIS:
MCVEY DESTROYS FOLLEY IN TWO!!
Monday 27 May 2002
California's Sam McVey scored an explosive 2nd round TKO of Zora Folley in the Main Event of tonight's Heavyweight Boxing Federation fight card at The Pyramid in Memphis, Tennessee. The Oxnard native put on a performance worthy of the start of the HBF World Championship tournament's important fifth series of bouts, getting the jump on his Arizona-born opponent early in round two with a series of punishing power shots that had Folley out on his feet before a crushing uppercut led referee Teddy Waltham to decide he'd seen enough, stopping the contest at the 2:43 mark.
It could not have been a more successful night for the tournament's 8th seed. As he had done in his home state debut back in March, McVey made his way to the ring to the sound of 2Pac's "California Love", decked out in a robe of gold with purple and white piping and led by his stunningly beautiful supermodel girlfriend Claudette James. She wore a figure-hugging, ankle length gold halterneck dress and worked the aisle like she was strutting down the catwalk, her smile lighting up the arena. In addition to his corner crew, McVey was accompanied by a trio of his Californian buddies: future International Boxing League Middleweight competitor James Toney, fellow HBF contender Ken Norton and Roberto Garcia, an IBL Lightweight and childhood friend of McVey's from Oxnard. Despite being country music territory, the Memphis audience accepted McVey warmly, applauding the entertaining ring entrance.
The fact that McVey was victorious was not a terrible surprise, but the manner of his victory definitely was. He had won each of his bouts against Group Eight's bottom four seeds by comfortable unanimous decision, so a TKO of Folley would not have been expected.
Yesterday, the Californian had revealed that he was apprehensive about the fight but came out all guns blazing, intent on finishing Folley early. It was a thrilling opening round, free of any kind of "feeling out" period as the two combatants traded power shots in the centre of the ring. While Folley was willing and landed his share of big hits, he was clearly on the receiving end of a fierce beating, a beating that only intensified early in round two. Before it was a minute old, McVey had tagged Folley with four separate left hooks and a jolting uppercut, punches that would have dropped lesser men. Though clearly hurt by the assault, Folley maintained his footing but it wasn't long before he was in a world of trouble. After taking a brief breather, McVey went back to work in earnest, raining lefts and rights onto the overwhelmed Arizona native. It was a left hook followed by a right uppercut that finished the bout, referee Waltham supporting Folley as he slumped down the ropes and to the canvas.
McVey celebrated wildly but briefly, quick to check on the condition of his opponent, a man who he has a lot of admiration for. Folley was understandably dazed for several minutes afterwards, but once he recovered he crossed the ring and congratulated McVey, the two men talking at length before the result was officially confirmed.
In just under six minutes of work, McVey had landed a fantastic 95 of 142 punches (67%) while Folley managed 32 of 64 (50%).
(to be continued)
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