FROM A TRINIDADIAN NEWSPAPER YESTERDAY
EARN US$2,000 for putting on a pair of outrageous shorts, lacing on a pair of ten-ounce boxing gloves, and then proceed to dance like a drunken sailor in the ring for a minute...hug, clinch, cover up and push Jimmy "Farmer" Joseph...and then drop to the canvas three times.
A "fighter" from the USA called Gary Butler did exactly that Friday night and actually got away with the gig in front of 600 spectators who paid as much as $60 each to get in at the Woodbrook Youth Facility.
Even the huge "Farmer", making a comeback after two years in the wilderness, was surprised, make that speechless, when the hulking Butler, who actually entered the ring on wobbly legs, suddenly rolled over and never even attempted to fight for his pay packet.
"I don't want that kind of win. I want a man to fight...to hit me back when I hit him," said the 35-year-old veteran Trinidad heavyweight, locked in a race against time to reach the top of a division which carries no weight stipulation. "Farmer", who received $2,000 in local currency, carried on long after the fight, pleading for tougher opposition.
It was also a bit of a shock when the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Board of Control-under the chairmanship of former world-class referee/judge, Melchoir Taylor-sanctioned the bout.
Butler came in as a late substitute for Ronnie "Big Bear" Smith of Texas with an unimpressive tab of 25 defeats from 40 bouts.
"Big Bear" was not allowed to fly out of the States because of child support charges, so he sent Butler.
And there was no doubt that Joseph's work load would have been short.
Butler, a 241-pounder with a paunch and breasts like a middle-aged woman, had some trouble climbing up the ring apron.
He even attempted a Muhammad Ali-shuffle and almost toppled over.
But had it been left entirely to Taylor, Butler would have got exactly what he deserved-not a damn cent.
The chairman was all for seizing the American's US$2,000 cheque, or at least imposing a heavy fine.
But he was saved by the supernatural vision of the two experts on the board, Bertram Legall and Molly Boxill, who saw the "phantom punch", a fast, glancing blow to the chin, travelling at the speed of light, which instantly suspended the blood flow to Butler's brain.
Legall and Boxill's testimony saved Butler's pay packet when the board members converged for a tete-a-tete around ringside.
It also proved that those who turned up are suffering from glaucoma and urgently need spectacles.
Not only was Legall T&T's best-ever amateur fighter, but he is also our most qualified and knowledgeable coach.
His views must carry the obvious weight, although Taylor made it clear that, "left to me, I would have confiscated it".
A close look at the video replay showed that "Farmer" made some brief contact to his opponent's body, but the effectiveness of it is another mystery.
Back in the dressing room, the American and his matchmaker Reginald McGowan (not his trainer) insisted that a solid blow was landed. Butler referred to "Farmer" as "a strong brute, with awesome power".
But although the small crowd felt cheated in the main event, they were earlier treated to a "helluva" fight between local middleweights Kirt Sinnette of Tigers Gym and Garfield Quashie of Tobago. Quashie survived knockdowns in the first and second rounds to come back and win the third round.
He was back in the fight in the fourth and fifth, before sustaining another knockdown in the sixth and final round.
George St Aude and Stanley Chimming both had Sinnette winning at 60-51, meaning he never lost a round.
Spectacles must be given to those in need.
Glen Noel's tabulation was more realistic-59-52. He had the game Tobagonian, a former national welterweight champion, winning the third, when he not only buckled Sinnette, but had him drifting and was close to scoring a knockdown.
The victory pushed Sinnette to 3-0 since turning pro and he is likely to be in action again on Friday at Skinner Park, San Fernando on a card which also features Giselle "Magic" Salandy, and heavyweight Kertson "Big Cat" Manswell.
Not a great night for local boxing, following last week's Vicky Boodram annihilation at Princes Town at the hands of Guyana's Shondell Alfred.
Gorgeous Vicky, the Princes Town Tigress, was among the crowd at the Woodbrook Youth Facility last Friday and vowed she'll soon be back in the ring.
Among the amateurs, 14-year-old Brian George emerged as an excellent prospect, despite losing to 20-year-old Christopher De Freitas.
And Kirt Blackwe of St Michael's clinched a close decision in a highly-thrilling encounter against Aaron Prince of Tigers.
AND WE THOUGHT KEBEDE WAS USELESS
Ach i wanted to be the first to make the predictable 'future opponent for Audley/Calzaghe/Hatton'.... and I would have gotten away with it to if it hadnt been for you pesky kinds!!Exile wrote:Ive heard this Butler guy is a future opponent of A-Force once Audley has another couple of tune-ups to prepare
