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FIRST PAST THE POST:
MCVEY DEFEATS TUCKER TO
QUALIFY FOR SECOND STAGE
Monday 1 July 2002
California's Sam McVey has become the first fighter to qualify for the second stage of the Heavyweight Boxing Federation's World Championship tournament after scoring a six round unanimous decision victory over Tony Tucker tonight at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
Although he tasted the canvas for the first time in his professional career, McVey was too busy and too aggressive for his Michigan-born opponent and took the verdict by scores of 57-56, 59-55 and 57-56. It was a fight that didn't quite live up to expectations, with Tucker unable to make the most of a seven inch height and reach advantage and paying the price for an inability to execute at key moments.
In an entrance straight out of Hollywood, McVey had made his way to the ring accompanied by what has become a considerable entourage, his girlfriend Claudette James leading the procession in an eye-popping, curve-enhancing dress that left little to the imagination. Amongst McVey's group were fellow Californian boxers Ken Norton, James Toney and Roberto Garcia and, to the surprise of everyone in the house, Los Angeles Lakers superstar Shaquille O'Neal. The laid back, west coast hip hop classic "The Formula" by The D.O.C. reverberated through the arena speakers.
In the minutes before their arrival, the chant of "USC! USC! USC!" was strong amongst parts of the crowd supporting McVey. It's the term that he had bestowed upon his clique during an interview earlier in the week.
"We've got the Florida Alliance, so what should we call you guys?" the interviewer had asked.
McVey had responded with, "Well, we're just a bunch of united south Cali brothers, so I guess you could call us USC."
(to be continued)
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