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(continuation)
MAIN EVENT
It wasn't long after Zale and Morrison had departed the ring when the chants started in earnest, chants of "Burley!" and "Greb!" going back and forth in competition as the audience awaited the arrival of the two combatants. When they finally made their way up the aisle each man was greeted with thunderous applause, both reprising their debuts by being decked out in the colours of the Pittsburgh Steelers: Burley gold with black trim, Greb black with gold trim.
Once in the ring they prowled in their opposing corners, eager to get started. Much had been made of their friendship leading into the fight but they looked like pure enemies when coming together at ring's centre before the opening bell. As referee Enzo Montero delivered his instructions Greb and Burley appeared to be staring right through each other, Burley showing a hint of confidence, Greb a steely gaze.
Following is New York Sun journalist Peter Roman's round-by-round account of the contest...
ROUND ONE
The Mellon Arena sounds like it's ready to explode as the opening bell sounds for what promises to be an exceptional contest. If it matches the excitement of Leonard-Ray we'll be in for a great one. Burley makes the first move, stepping in and landing a hard right cross, Greb taking a couple of rapid steps backwards, putting some distance between them. He replies soon after with a cross of his own but it doesn't land cleanly, Burley hitching up his trunks, feinting with the left and looking for an opening. They're stalking each other and when Burley moves in close Greb grabs him and inititates the clinch, pulling Burley's head down. Montero seperates them, telling Greb to cut it out.
Burley looks to come inside again and OH!!! He's down! Charley Burley is on the canvas! Greb smoked him with a flush left hook and Burley hit the deck like he'd been shot! The crowd's going crazy! Burley pushes himself up at five, wearing a bemused expression. We're less than halfway through the round here and Montero asks Burley if he's okay before moving aside. Greb steps in looking to finish the job, loading up and missing with a hard right. Burley is backpedalling, trying to clear his head and Greb catches him with the uppercut, following it up with a jolting left hook.
My, Burley is in trouble and will do well just to last out the round. He's in defense mode and Greb is firing away, missing with a wild left hook before connecting with a short uppercut from inside. They're banging shoulders, arms and heads and better be careful if they want to avoid cutting each other open. The final seconds tick away and Burley's cornered, Greb working the body before Burley fires back with a left-right salvo as the bell sounds. The crowd's applause is deafening, Greb almost running back to his corner in an excited fashion.
***
My, my. That was one thing I did not expect, to see a knockdown so early. Greb has definitely taken the upperhand right out of the gate and it'll be important for him to back it up in round two, to consolidate on the 10-8 effect of the knockdown. Burley's a fantastic fighter and is going to have to show more aggression to get into the bout.
***
My scorecard for round one: Greb 10-8
Punch totals for round one
Harry Greb: 30/101 (.297)
Charley Burley: 6/35 (.171)
(to be continued)
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