[kenyan_cheena]

(continuation of post #224)

When Run-DMC's "Peter Piper" started playing it was the cue for the short-tempered Orlando native David Kane to make his entrance. The 21 year-old is a huge fan of the hip-hop legends and has been accompanied by one of their songs on each and every one of his walks to the ring. He was in a loud mood, rapping along with the song and almost jumping out of his skin. He wore solid black, save for the thick gold rope chain hanging around his neck, which was another nod to his musical heroes. Unlike McVey, Kane had a small entourage, just himself and his corner crew. After he climbed between the ropes he fixed McVey with an intense gaze, standing only a few paces from him and seemingly challenging his entire crew, sweat bubbling on his forehead and bald pate.

What followed was admittedly anti-climatic but still spectacular, McVey proving to be the more dangerous when he knocked Kane out less than two minutes into the opening round. The crowd was expecting a thunder storm and that's what they got, but it was all one-sided. Both men have been untested and destructive to this point of their careers so something was going to give. McVey was decisive and Kane hesitant, despite the intimidation factor on display beforehand. The Californian knew exactly what he had to do and ran his gameplan perfectly, a flush left hook only seconds into it giving a sign of what was to follow. Soon after McVey bullied his foe to the canvas, stepping on his foot and shouldering him onto his backside. When Kane made it back to his feet he was greeted by another hard left, coming after McVey had faked a body shot.

Kane was on his heels and throwing nothing but tentative jabs to keep the charging McVey at bay. The Oxnard native fooled him again, dropping his shoulder as if about to unleash a right before driving a left hook into Kane's midsection. The round had only just passed the midpoint and Kane was clearly shaken. When McVey stepped in and connected with a left-right salvo and then a crunching left hook as the finisher Kane was down for the first time in his career. He was on one knee at five but glared up at the referee almost as if to say "I don't want any more of this". Breathing heavily, he started pushing himslef up but stumbled backwards, at which point the count reached ten and the fight was over at the 1:57 mark. Just like that, the aura of invincibility the Florida slugger had built up since his debut twelve months ago had been shattered.

McVey's excitement was on full display. He flexed his biceps, mounted the corner post and thumped his chest with his right glove and then celebrated wildly when his corner crew and numerous supporters flooded the ring, giving his girlfriend a passionate kiss and high-fiving Norton and Johnson, whose differences were put on hold in order to share the moment with this fantastic young talent. McVey is now 8-0(6) while the vanquished Kane fell to 8-1(7). He'll have to put the disappointment of this crushing defeat behind him pretty quickly as, along with all the other fighters on the card, he'll be back in action again in six weeks.

The newest member of Roy Jones' talented Pensacola stable faced the biggest challenge of his brief professional career to date in the next bout. 12th-seeded Belle Glade native Romy Alvarez was up against the tough Uruguayan Alfredo Evangelista, who after losing two of his first three pro fights had gone undefeated in his next ten. Evangelista was a heavy favourite to progress to the tournament quarter-finals on the back of that streak, most believing Alvarez, despite his obvious ability, would find the South American too difficult a proposition and become the first of Jones' fighters to lose an IBL bout. Alvarez had fought each of his first five contests in his home state and so making the trip all the way to Las Vegas had been quite an experience for him. But he was backed up by Jones (who would be there working his corner) aswell as other members of the Florida Alliance: the Ray cousins James and Elmer, and Holman Williams.

Their entourage came into the arena with the high octane blast of Metallica's "Bleeding Me" assaulting the arena speakers, Alvarez in a robe of black with red and white trim. His trunks followed the same pattern, his boots black with red laces. Displayed on the right leg of his trunks were a trio of flag patches representing his heritage: the Stars and Stripes, the Florida state flag and the Cuban national flag. Alvarez motioned to them proudly as he was introduced, raising his right fist into the air. As in his previous bouts he wore his hair pulled back in a long ponytail that was held together by hair ties and covered by a cotton sleeve.

Anyone who expected Alvarez to be circumspect received a rude but welcomed surprise. Evangelista seemed to be the least prepared of anyone as Alvarez came out with the intention to destroy him. A smashing right cross some thirty seconds in buckled the South American's legs, the shot chased by a left hook that bounced off his forehead. Evangelista backpedalled, probing with a hesitant jab as Alvarez marched forward without fear. The crowd was on his side and that obviously encouraged him. He stepped in and caught Evangelista with a succession of blows that kept his man on the defensive, including a pair of hard uppercuts and a vicious left to the body. At one point Alvarez ended up behind Evangelista as he lunged forward with a right hand that missed, the perturbed 5th seed spinning out of harm's way.

It's been said that Alvarez has possibly the quickest hands in the heavyweight division and he gave even more reason to accept that belief last night. As the round entered its final minute Evangelista was staggered by a lightning-fast combination, five successive punches that all found the target. Alvarez did not sit back satisfied, pressing Evangelista and wobbling him again with a quartet of blows. The Uruguayan wore a stunned expression and when Alvarez dropped a flush left hook on him he stumbled backwards into the ropes, a jolting left-right salvo as he was slumped helplessly there leading to referee Steve Smoger jumping in and pulling Alvarez aside, declaring him the winner at the 2:55 mark. His trainer Roy Jones was quickly into the ring to congratulate him, as were Williams and the Rays. It was an extraordinary, unexpected performance, one that will make boxing observers really sit up and take notice of the Florida slugger.

"Yeah, y'all, that was the plan, no doubt," said Jones afterwards. "No chance Evangelista would o' been lookin' for Romy to bumrush him, so we went with that. It was jus' gonna be for the opener but Romy do such a great job o' blitzin' the dude it ain't matter. He carried out the gameplan perfect, y'all."

Alvarez was hesitant to speak, perhaps just as surprised by his own performance as the crowd was. He's now 6-0(4), the decimated Evangelista falling to 10-3-1(8). Alvarez will take on the 4th-seeded Puerto Rican Fres Oquendo in the quarter-finals after Oquendo struggled to a majority decision win against Minnesota's Darius King (58-56, 57-57, 58-57). After the opening three rounds Oquendo appeared to be cruising to an easy win but he clocked off early, allowing King to get back into the fight and almost steal a victory. If he'd done so it would have been an embarrassing loss for Oquendo. King had been KO'd by the junior-heavyweight Mark Elwood in his last outing before joining the IBL but the organisation had seen something in him. Some of it was certainly on display in those final three rounds but he's now an unflattering 11-4-1(7) after his second loss in a row. Oquendo upped his mark to 12-1(8) but based on last night's efforts will need to improve greatly if he wants to avoid becoming another victim of "The Iceman", as Alvarez is known.

3rd-seeded Chicago native Frank Childs was far too classy and aggressive for Tennessee's Dre Kingston, the majority decision verdict not giving a true indication of Childs' domination of the contest. He outlanded Kingston 210-101 and after seeing off some determined resistance in rounds one and two took complete control. The final scorecards were 59-55, 57-57 and 58-56, Childs improving to 14-3-1(9). Kingston is another fighter who brought a loss into his IBL debut, having been stopped by none other than Romy Alvarez back in March. He's now 7-3-1(5) and unless he puts some wins together during the coming months might be on his way back to the alphabet soup gang once his contract expires. Childs is going to be in for a much tougher night in the quarter-finals as his opponent will be Sam McVey.

The co-feature produced probably the most eye-catching moment of the evening as the power punching Florida native Cheetah Brown sent the #2 seed Eddie Machen crashing out of the tournament with a single, crushing uppercut midway through the opening round. Born and raised in Pinellas Park, the 20 year-old maintained his perfect stoppage record, stretching it to seven fights. He was low-key and relaxed in the moments before the opening bell, allowing the overconfident Machen to take the spotlight. Strangely the Californian appeared to be goading Brown both during the pre-fight introductions and instructions and continued talking to him once the bout started. Brown closed his mouth in the most comprehensive fashion, a counter-right uppercut sending Machen to the canvas in sections. He collapsed to his knees and then slumped sideways as if felled by a sniper's bullet. Brown glared down at him for a moment before being motioned to a neutral corner by the referee, Machen not moving for the duration of the count. The bout was all over at the 1:44 mark, the crowd's wild applause filling Brown's ears as he slowly walked around the ring with his right fist raised.

The type of knockout power Brown possesses is a rare trait and it's something that should take him a long way in the pro ranks. It's also something that he'll need in his next fight, which will be against a man who can also claim to be blessed with brutal punching power, Indiana's Mike Hanson. It promises to be an explosive affair when these two heavy hitters clash come August. Brown gave respect to Hanson during the post-fight interview, stating that although he's not especially mobile "he can take a shot and give it back with interest". Brown said it'll be a difficult proposition to stop Hanson and that he might have to resort to more watchful tactics to overcome him.

There was almost another upset in the main event. Chile's #1 seed Arturo Godoy appeared to be heading for an early exit from the tournament before he saved his skin with a last minute knockout of the inexperienced but hugely promising Tennessee native Adam Brooks. Going into the final round Brooks had clearly been the superior combatant and held leads of one, two and three points on the scorecards. But with fifty seconds left in the fight Godoy wobbled him with a left-right salvo and then put him on his back with a follow-up left hook. Brooks looked finished and started moving at seven, to no avail. He was counted out, the bout ending at the 2:21 mark.

Considered something of a comedian Brooks couldn't see anything funny about his defeat. He appeared inconsolable as he sat on his stool some ten minutes after the bout had ended, realising he'd let a great opportunity slip through his fingers. In what was admittedly a less than electrifying affair he had outlanded Godoy 114-72 at the time of the stoppage and had rarely been troubled. In particular, he dominated round four after putting on an impressive rally late in the 2nd. Godoy would certainly be considering himself lucky to still be in the tournament. Despite the defeat Brooks should be looking forward with optimism. He came within one minute of upsetting an opponent with a good deal more experience and that's at least one positive he can take out of the fight.

***

Summary of results

(#8) Mike Weaver KO6 (#9) Owen Beck
(#10) Mike Hanson KO4 (#7) Fred Fulton
(#11) Sam McVey KO1 (#6) David Kane
(#12) Romy Alvarez TKO1 (#5) Alfredo Evangelista
(#4) Fres Oquendo MD6 (#13) Darius King
(#3) Frank Childs MD6 (#14) Dre Kingston
(#15) Cheetah Brown KO1 (#2) Eddie Machen
(#1) Arturo Godoy KO6 (#16) Adam Brooks

Quarter-finals

(#10) Hanson (7-0(7)) vs (#15) Brown (7-0(7))
(#4) Oquendo (12-1(8)) vs (#12) Alvarez (6-0(4))
(#3) Childs (14-3-1(9)) vs (#11) McVey (8-0(6))
(#1) Godoy (16-1(13)) vs (#8) Weaver (24-6-1(20))

***