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kenyan_cheena · 12-27-2004, 06:44 PM

BRAWL ERUPTS AT WEIGH-IN
FOR HBF JAPAN CARD!

Thursday 10 January 2002

KANAGAWA, JAPAN

Passionate, hot-headed 16 year-old Elmer Ray was the catalyst for an ugly brawl at the weigh-in for the Heavyweight Boxing Federation's Yokohama Arena fight card here today.

Since the HBF's contingent of twelve fighters arrived in Japan a week ago, Florida native Ray has told anyone who would listen that he is going to destroy his taller, heavier opponent, 19 year-old Buddy Baer of Denver, Colorado. Ray has also resorted to directing personal insults towards Baer, questioning everything from his sexual orientation to his boxing skills. Baer has not dignified his opponent's jibes with any kind of response. However, HBF President Michael Vincennes was quick to issue a stern warning to Ray, informing him in no uncertain terms that continued personal attacks towards Buddy Baer would result in a stiff penalty.

Since then, Ray has toned down his attitude during media appearances, but at the weigh-in, the 33rd seed's incessant heckling became too much for Baer's trainer Izzy Klein. He confronted the 16 year-old verbally and when Ray shoved him, Klein took a swing at him and all hell broke loose. Both camps traded blows for the next fifty seconds before security forces were able to bring order to the situation. The two fighters emerged unscathed, but Izzy Klein came out of the fracas with a black eye and a cut lip.

Baer's camp has requested that the bout between their man and Elmer Ray be called off, with Baer being declared winner by disqualification. HBF President Michael Vincennes has ruled out that possibility, with the most likely outcome to be that Elmer Ray's prize money will be withheld, win, lose or draw.

"Our fans here in Japan have paid good money to see six bouts, not five," said Vincennes. "We've sold out an arena with a seating capacity of 17,000. The federation does not want to deprive these fans. Now, I will admit that Elmer Ray's behaviour during the past week has been very much less than exemplary, but that is not reason enough to cancel the bout. Mister Ray will be disciplined, but the fight WILL take place."

Secretly, Vincennes thanked Ray for the publicity he has stirred up for the HBF. On the eve of the fight card, the most popular topic in Japan is the HBF, and in particular, Elmer Ray versus Buddy Baer. Ray is not even the top seed in his group (group sixteen), but his antics have taken the spotlight away from both Jimmy Young and Floyd Patterson, the top two seeds in the group and 16th and 17th seeds in the tournament, respectively.

Jimmy Young was asked in an interview what he felt about Ray's behaviour.

"I'd like to say that he's just young, immature. But I can't," said the Philadelphia native. "Look at Floyd (Patterson) ... he's only one year older than Elmer, and he's acted like a gentleman. Elmer Ray IS the youngest boxer in the tournament, but I think his real problem is that he's just got this massive chip on his shoulder. Maybe that's because of his age, but I clashed with him in the auditions, and he was, how can I say it? ... unpleasant. That's the most polite word I can use."

It will be intriguing to see if Elmer Ray can prove himself to be more than just "all talk". The fight card will be broadcast live Friday morning (5am east, 2am west) on ESPN2 with a full replay of the card to be aired in prime time on Friday night.

***

In other HBF news, which may have been overlooked due to the controversy generated by the Ray-Baer brawl, boxing commentators have been raving today about the performances of Rocky Marciano, Sam Langford and Tom Sharkey during the Wednesday night London Arena fight card.

"Marciano lives up to hype" said one headline, while another heaped praise on the "Pocket-Rockets", Langford and Sharkey.

"It's going to be terrific to see these three fighters on the same card every five weeks," said Boxing Monthly's Robert Horn. "I know that they've only fought this single fight each, but the three of them showed last night that they have the skills to be amongst the elite in this sport."

"Some of you media fellows have fallen in love with these other guys, these top seeds like Riddick Bowe and Jack Johnson," said Tom Sharkey in his strong Irish accent. "I tell you all now, don't make the mistake of forgetting the rest of us. I don't think you understand how determined some of us are to win this thing, how determined we are to prove that the HBF didn't quite get it right when they seeded us."

Sharkey's comment was well-timed as it was announced today that number three seed Jack Johnson will be appearing on the David Letterman Show next week. Johnson makes his HBF debut in the main event at the federation's Buffalo fight card on Saturday 26 January.

12-27-2004, 06:44 PM	#25 (permalink)
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 4,621	BRAWL ERUPTS AT WEIGH-IN FOR HBF JAPAN CARD! Thursday 10 January 2002 KANAGAWA, JAPAN Passionate, hot-headed 16 year-old Elmer Ray was the catalyst for an ugly brawl at the weigh-in for the Heavyweight Boxing Federation's Yokohama Arena fight card here today. Since the HBF's contingent of twelve fighters arrived in Japan a week ago, Florida native Ray has told anyone who would listen that he is going to destroy his taller, heavier opponent, 19 year-old Buddy Baer of Denver, Colorado. Ray has also resorted to directing personal insults towards Baer, questioning everything from his sexual orientation to his boxing skills. Baer has not dignified his opponent's jibes with any kind of response. However, HBF President Michael Vincennes was quick to issue a stern warning to Ray, informing him in no uncertain terms that continued personal attacks towards Buddy Baer would result in a stiff penalty. Since then, Ray has toned down his attitude during media appearances, but at the weigh-in, the 33rd seed's incessant heckling became too much for Baer's trainer Izzy Klein. He confronted the 16 year-old verbally and when Ray shoved him, Klein took a swing at him and all hell broke loose. Both camps traded blows for the next fifty seconds before security forces were able to bring order to the situation. The two fighters emerged unscathed, but Izzy Klein came out of the fracas with a black eye and a cut lip. Baer's camp has requested that the bout between their man and Elmer Ray be called off, with Baer being declared winner by disqualification. HBF President Michael Vincennes has ruled out that possibility, with the most likely outcome to be that Elmer Ray's prize money will be withheld, win, lose or draw. "Our fans here in Japan have paid good money to see six bouts, not five," said Vincennes. "We've sold out an arena with a seating capacity of 17,000. The federation does not want to deprive these fans. Now, I will admit that Elmer Ray's behaviour during the past week has been very much less than exemplary, but that is not reason enough to cancel the bout. Mister Ray will be disciplined, but the fight WILL take place." Secretly, Vincennes thanked Ray for the publicity he has stirred up for the HBF. On the eve of the fight card, the most popular topic in Japan is the HBF, and in particular, Elmer Ray versus Buddy Baer. Ray is not even the top seed in his group (group sixteen), but his antics have taken the spotlight away from both Jimmy Young and Floyd Patterson, the top two seeds in the group and 16th and 17th seeds in the tournament, respectively. Jimmy Young was asked in an interview what he felt about Ray's behaviour. "I'd like to say that he's just young, immature. But I can't," said the Philadelphia native. "Look at Floyd (Patterson) ... he's only one year older than Elmer, and he's acted like a gentleman. Elmer Ray IS the youngest boxer in the tournament, but I think his real problem is that he's just got this massive chip on his shoulder. Maybe that's because of his age, but I clashed with him in the auditions, and he was, how can I say it? ... unpleasant. That's the most polite word I can use." It will be intriguing to see if Elmer Ray can prove himself to be more than just "all talk". The fight card will be broadcast live Friday morning (5am east, 2am west) on ESPN2 with a full replay of the card to be aired in prime time on Friday night. *** In other HBF news, which may have been overlooked due to the controversy generated by the Ray-Baer brawl, boxing commentators have been raving today about the performances of Rocky Marciano, Sam Langford and Tom Sharkey during the Wednesday night London Arena fight card. "Marciano lives up to hype" said one headline, while another heaped praise on the "Pocket-Rockets", Langford and Sharkey. "It's going to be terrific to see these three fighters on the same card every five weeks," said Boxing Monthly's Robert Horn. "I know that they've only fought this single fight each, but the three of them showed last night that they have the skills to be amongst the elite in this sport." "Some of you media fellows have fallen in love with these other guys, these top seeds like Riddick Bowe and Jack Johnson," said Tom Sharkey in his strong Irish accent. "I tell you all now, don't make the mistake of forgetting the rest of us. I don't think you understand how determined some of us are to win this thing, how determined we are to prove that the HBF didn't quite get it right when they seeded us." Sharkey's comment was well-timed as it was announced today that number three seed Jack Johnson will be appearing on the David Letterman Show next week. Johnson makes his HBF debut in the main event at the federation's Buffalo fight card on Saturday 26 January. Last edited by kenyan_cheena : 04-29-2005 at 12:09 AM.