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GREB VERSUS BURLEY,
LIVE FROM PITTSBURGH
Monday 30 September 2002
The second series of the International Boxing League's World Championship regional qualifiers commenced tonight at Pittsburgh's Mellon Arena, the Middleweight division's talent-laden North America Central group kicking off proceedings. It was a card highlighted by a trio of stellar matchups with the main event between local fighters Harry Greb and Charley Burley expected to be the pick of them. IBL Chief Director James Molk was in attendance at ringside, looking forward to what, in his own words, would be a "fantastic night of boxing". The build-up to the evening had been well publicised and now that it had arrived, those who had numbered "The Igloo Gathering Part II" were in loud voice throughout the arena, even before the opening contest had started.
Following is a bout-by-bout review of the card...
OPENING BOUT
Having given Harry Greb a fright back on August 26 Canton's Ronnie Harris scored his first professional victory tonight, defeating fellow Ohio native Paul Pirrone by majority decision in a wonderfuuly entertaining bout (59-55, 57-57, 59-55). Pirrone himself had kept Charley Burley honest in his own debut and he never backed down against Harris. Unfortunately for him the afro-haired 22 year-old was too aggressive and determined in a bout that featured some eye-popping exchanges, especially in rounds three, five and six. Some at ringside said that the 6th may very well have been one of the most action-packed three minutes they've seen in the league to date.
PRELIMINARY 1
Canada's Frank Battaglia followed up last month's victory over Ted Wright with a more polished and assured performance, defeating Wilfie Greaves by unanimous decision (59-56, 58-56, 59-55). This bout didn't come close to the opener as far as excitement is concerned but Battaglia didn't seem at all concerned, showing a jubilant countenance when the verdict was revealed. Greaves was stopped on cuts by Wisconsin's Jake Morrison in his debut and it would be fair to say he showed more promise in the three rounds of that contest than he did tonight. He struggled to make much of an impression, only having success in the final two rounds when Battaglia had put up the shutters. The Winnipeg-born slugger is now 2-0(1) and must be happy about his start, but it will be interesting to see how he performs when he eventually comes up against some of the group's top contenders.
(to be continued)
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