USA Tuesday Night Fights

Arlie Latham · 01-22-2005, 05:24 PM

The fight cards on the USA network in the 90s were for some reason much better than the ESPN offerings. During the show's run I watched Chris Byrd for the first time. For some reason, I took to Byrd's style. Like most boxing fans, I love a devastating knockout, but something about the Flint fighter's game really appealed to me.

I also watched a comebacking Andrew Golota vs. Corey T-Rex Sanders in a bloody brawl, Vinny Pazienza, too many Butterbean fights, etc.

One of my favorite fighters on the USA broadcasts was this tenacious light heavyweight who went down to the canvas from the breeze of the overhead fans but always got right back up. A whirling dervish of minimal talent....ladies and gentlemen, Rocky Gannon.

Anyone else remember this brilliant tomato can and his epic bouts with Dominick Carter for the IBA title? Has anyone rated him?

CONN CHRIS · 01-22-2005, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arlie Latham

A whirling dervish of minimal talent....

That's a great line, add it to the commentary thread.

I don't remember Gannon, but I think that I recall seeing Art Card go down a few times on the USA network. (didn't he go by "The Fighting Postman" or am I thinking of someone else?)

Tosti · 01-22-2005, 06:40 PM

Never saw him fight, but here he is on a website dedicated to 'flattops'

maxx · 01-22-2005, 07:40 PM

I was always a big fan of USA's fights. The description of Gannon fiits perfectly. When Gannon was fighting you made sure the VCR was working.

The number of fighters who showed up on USA either early in the careers or later was quite impressive. It was USA that launched big George's comeback when nobody else would touch it. Over the years they had Jones, DLH, Holyfield, Lewis, Bowe (how about the time when Bowe hit Elijah Tillery after the bell so Tillery kicked Bowe in the groin which led to Rock Newman grabbing Tillery around the neck and pulling him over the ropes), Whitaker, Hopkins, Carbajal, Barrera, Golota (remember that time he bit Samson Po'uha on the neck, which occurred well before Tyson made biting history), Tszyu, Mitchell (then there was the time Bazooka Limon -- very late in his career -- pulled down a very young Mitchell's trunks during the fight) and so many others.

Most memorable one punch KO: I'll never forget Tim Witherspoon poleaxing Anders Eklund. I bet Eklund's leg is still twitching spasmodically.

I'd have to say, though, that the best fight I ever saw on USA was Kevin Kelley vs. Troy Dorsey. I don't think I've ever seen a fight with such non-stop action for 12 rounds. Runner up would be that first Jorge Paez/Calvin Grove fight which made Paez a star overnight.

IceTea · 01-23-2005, 12:15 AM

I would agree. I liked O'Grady's' commentary, he knows what he is/was talking about. I still have a hat that I picked up at the Hall of Fame years back that has the tuesday night fights logo on it.

MJ

Arlie Latham · 01-23-2005, 01:51 AM

I found a good archived article about the Tuesday Night Fights on USA and what it meant to fans and fighters:

http://www.boxing-monthly.co.uk/content/9807/two.htm

01-22-2005, 05:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
Arlie Latham Major Leagues Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Iowa Cornfields Posts: 437	USA Tuesday Night Fights The fight cards on the USA network in the 90s were for some reason much better than the ESPN offerings. During the show's run I watched Chris Byrd for the first time. For some reason, I took to Byrd's style. Like most boxing fans, I love a devastating knockout, but something about the Flint fighter's game really appealed to me. I also watched a comebacking Andrew Golota vs. Corey T-Rex Sanders in a bloody brawl, Vinny Pazienza, too many Butterbean fights, etc. One of my favorite fighters on the USA broadcasts was this tenacious light heavyweight who went down to the canvas from the breeze of the overhead fans but always got right back up. A whirling dervish of minimal talent....ladies and gentlemen, Rocky Gannon. Anyone else remember this brilliant tomato can and his epic bouts with Dominick Carter for the IBA title? Has anyone rated him?

01-22-2005, 06:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tosti Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: London Posts: 5,605	Rocky Gannon Never saw him fight, but here he is on a website dedicated to 'flattops' Attached Images

01-23-2005, 12:15 AM	#5 (permalink)
IceTea Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Utica, NY Posts: 6,899	I would agree. I liked O'Grady's' commentary, he knows what he is/was talking about. I still have a hat that I picked up at the Hall of Fame years back that has the tuesday night fights logo on it. MJ __________________ Don't worry, be happy! Women's Boxing Cyber Boxing Zone IFBA Philadelphia Boxing Understanding Title Bout Boxing Ratings Fighterlist Boxrec Ross Boxing Philly Boxing History

01-23-2005, 01:51 AM	#6 (permalink)
Arlie Latham Major Leagues Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Iowa Cornfields Posts: 437	Link I found a good archived article about the Tuesday Night Fights on USA and what it meant to fans and fighters: http://www.boxing-monthly.co.uk/content/9807/two.htm

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01-22-2005, 07:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
maxx All Star Reserve Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 711	I was always a big fan of USA's fights. The description of Gannon fiits perfectly. When Gannon was fighting you made sure the VCR was working. The number of fighters who showed up on USA either early in the careers or later was quite impressive. It was USA that launched big George's comeback when nobody else would touch it. Over the years they had Jones, DLH, Holyfield, Lewis, Bowe (how about the time when Bowe hit Elijah Tillery after the bell so Tillery kicked Bowe in the groin which led to Rock Newman grabbing Tillery around the neck and pulling him over the ropes), Whitaker, Hopkins, Carbajal, Barrera, Golota (remember that time he bit Samson Po'uha on the neck, which occurred well before Tyson made biting history), Tszyu, Mitchell (then there was the time Bazooka Limon -- very late in his career -- pulled down a very young Mitchell's trunks during the fight) and so many others. Most memorable one punch KO: I'll never forget Tim Witherspoon poleaxing Anders Eklund. I bet Eklund's leg is still twitching spasmodically. I'd have to say, though, that the best fight I ever saw on USA was Kevin Kelley vs. Troy Dorsey. I don't think I've ever seen a fight with such non-stop action for 12 rounds. Runner up would be that first Jorge Paez/Calvin Grove fight which made Paez a star overnight.