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04/27/2004 Archived Entry: "New England Chatta"
New England Chatta
By J.D. Vena
McBride Awaits Colossal Opportunity
It was just a few days from last year’s anticipated return of Mike Tyson. That week, as thousands scrambled the streets of Memphis, TN for tickets and Tyson’s filling the headlines across the country, the talk on the streets wasn’t how long the fight would last. The chatta was whethah the fight was going to actually happen or not. With Tyson running around getting a tattoo on his face and the rumor of the fight being postponed, his opponent, Clifford Etienne was probably more worried about the fight not happening rather than the idea of tasting the former champion’s power.
Because it seems the only thing more powerful than Tyson’s vaunted right hand (which flattened Etienne shortly after the fight began) is his drawing power. With this potential, which Tyson will always possess, facing Iron Mike in a boxing ring is without a doubt, the most lucrative opportunity any boxer can afford.
If all goes well for Kevin McBride, a native of Clones, Ireland who lives in Brookline, MA, he could be the next lottery winner of the Mike Tyson sweepstakes. According to McBride’s promoter Rich Cappiello, Tyson’s people and even Tyson himself, a fight between the “Clones Colossus” and the “Brownsville Bomber” may happen on July 31st. But McBride, 31-4-1 with 26 KO’s, knows that a few signatures and a handshake will not make him satisfied.
“I’m not going to feel comfortable about this happening until I see him coming after me from across the ring,” admitted McBride. “Mike is a great fighter and I’ve had the opportunity to meet him years ago. We had a good chat about Barry McGuigan because we both admired him so much. It would be a dream-come-true for me, for Ireland and my fans if we actually fought. Winning a world championship for Ireland would a great thing but any one who boxes knows that fighting Tyson is huge. Nothing is bigger or pays better than a fight with Mike Tyson.”
Though there haven’t been any reports of a location to stage the fight, Mohegan Sun seems to be the most ideal. It’s dead-center between Brooklyn, NY and Brookline, MA, it’s a huge venue and more importantly, it has a commission that would sanction a Tyson fight. But I guess in the meantime, New England and New York fans will have to do what McBride’s been doing – keep dreamin.’
Cappola, Lonano Mix It Up
This year’s New England Golden Gloves heavyweight champion, Matt Cappola was tired of going to sporting events and paying an arm and a leg. After all, he needs them for fighting. Instead, he decided to start running boxing events himself.
“I love the sport of fighting,” said Cappola, a 30-year old native of Waltham, MA. “But I’m paying too much money to attend them. I’m usually paying $20-$25 for parking, then at least $80 in tickets for my girlfriend and I and I wasn’t satisfied with how much money I was paying for my night’s entertainment.”
Cappola, who also was awarded the Luis Ayala Award for most outstanding novice boxer in the 2004 N.E. Golden Gloves, decided to do something about his dilemma. After running a couple of successful amateur boxing events througout the Boston area, Cappola will co-promote a Mixed Martial Arts event at Lowell’s Tsongas Arena Friday night, April 30th.
Cappola, along with Frank Lonano, a son of successful promoter and manager, Sal Lonano of Micky Ward fame, will play host to what they’re billing “Eruption,” which will showcase several fighters of a variety of disciplines. Mixed Martial Arts is a sport that combines the most effective martial arts in the world including boxing, kickboxing, karate, wrestling and jui jitsu
“What we want to do is give the fans more bang for their buck and that’s what they are going to get when they come to the Tsongas Arena Friday night,” said Cappola. “The Gracie brothers, Eves Edwards and Matt Milotich are bringing some of their fighters and we have Jorge Rivera (of Milford, MA), who just fought on a UFC show, in our headliner.”
Another interesting fight of some interest will be the return of Marcus “The Irish Grenade” Davis. If you don’t recall, Davis of Bangor, ME compiled a boxing record of 17-1-1 with 12 KO’s before hanging up the gloves nearly four years ago. Among some of his best fights were with Tommy Attardo, who believe it or not, was unbeaten at the time they first fought. After Attardo’s close decision loss to Davis, he lost 14 of his next 16 bouts. Davis lost his last pro bout in a shocking TKO loss to Ed Bryant of New York. Though Bryant was 10-6, he had never been beaten by a fighter that wasn’t undefeated. The bout also had some mysterious circumstances.
Davis was dropped in the first round when it appeared that he more tripped over a right hand from Bryant. In the fourth round, an accidental head butt opened a serious looking gash over Davis' left eye. Had the ringside physician stopped the fight, as it probably should have, the bout would have been recorded as a technical draw. Bryant, who normally campaigned as a light heavyweight, took advantage of his opportunity, jumped all over the bloody Davis, who usually had fought at the 154-pound limit and didn't let up until referee, Ken Ezzo jumped in and stopped the contest.
Davis faces Nuri Shakir in one of the chief supporting fights Friday night. Ringside seats are priced at $75.50, row 2 at $50.50, floor seating at $35.50 and stadium seating at $20.50. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Tsongas Arena Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets by phone at 617-931-2000 and www.ticketmaster.com. Doors open at 6:30 P.M with the first fight scheduled to kick off at 7:30.
On Friday Night at the Shaw’s Convention Center in Brockton, MA, welterweight Eddie “The Irish Assassin” Bishop of Stoughton, MA suffered the first blemish of his career, a majority draw with Favio Medina of Derry, NH. In an all-action fight, two ringside officials scored the fight even while the other sided with Bishop. For Medina now 5-1-1, the feat was fairly significant because of the fact that he had to fight in front of a tough crowd, most of which were from nearby Stoughton, which as some of you readers may know, is a only a hop, skip and a jump away from Brockton. Next Saturday, May 8th, Favio and his brother Jose Medina will fight closer to their home when they appear (in separate bouts naturally) on a show at the Everett Arena in Concord, NH.
The show promoted by longtime boxing aficionado and cancer survivor, David Gates will be headlined by a rematch between the exciting jr. middleweight prospect Jason LeHoullier of West Nottingham, NH and Bruce Corby of Scranton, PA, who fought a month ago today in Lewiston, ME. LeHoullier, 12-0 with 7 KO’s won the last time by 4-round decision. For ticket information, phone 603-524-1036.
Friends of amateur boxer, Jason Estrada of Providence are holding a fundraiser for the Olympic bound super heavyweight on June 4th to help defray the cost of sending Estrada’s family to Athens. Brown, Rednick, Berlack and Israel, LLP will host the fundraiser at 121 South Main St. in Providence. The event includes a light buffet, booze, a silent auction and raffle, as well as an excellent view of the Waterfire festivities held that evening. Tickets, priced at $50.00 per person, and $250.00 corporate sponsorships (two tickets, advertisements in the event's booklet, and picture taken with Jason) are available by calling Jeanne Valles at 401.301.6260 or contacting her at bravacv@hotmail.com. Checks may be made out to Estrada Family Fund and sent to its attention to P.O. Box 2960, Pawtucket, RI 02861.
Next week Estrada will head to Team USA’s training camp at Colorado Springs, but he’s expected to be in the corner of friend and stablemate Matt Godfrey when he turns pro, May 14th at the Rhode Island Convention Center. Godfrey’s debut is part of a can’t miss event promoter Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment & Sports and features Providence local, Peter Manfredo, Jr. versus Anthony Bonsante in the featured attraction and “Bad” Chad Dawson of New Haven versus Ian “The Cobra” Gardner of Toronto in the co-feature. For more information about the show, visit www.cesboxing.com or phone 401-724-2253.
