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06/07/2005 Archived Entry: "SOUTHPAW SURPRISE"
SOUTHPAW SURPRISE
After losing to a lefty, Molly McConnell rolls up her sleeves
By Katherine Dunn
The Portland Tribune, Issue Date: Tue. June 7, 2005------------------------------------------------------------------------ LINCOLN CITY — Molly McConnell is Portland’s most respected woman boxer for a reason. Trainer Leonard Trigg calls her “a coach’s dream for work ethic and dedication.” When she suffers a loss, the former national amateur champion reflects and decides she needs to do even more. Saturday, in front of the supportive Chinook Winds Casino crowd that has cheered her over the years, she lost for the first time in five fights as a pro. The split-decision victory went to a quick, smart southpaw from Louisville, Ky., Terri Blair. The loss was particularly bitter for McConnell, a 140-pound junior welterweight, because she had won a close four-round decision over Blair just two months before. Blair, 29, was on the attack this time, throwing a storm of punches, moving to her right and never giving McConnell space or time to get set. McConnell, 33, is usually on offense, picking her shots and landing precise combinations. She covered and blocked well against Blair but threw fewer punches than usual. “The southpaw stance really disrupted my rhythm,” she says. “I hesitated too much.”
Southpaws have riled McConnell before. Only one amateur in the country —a lefty —gave her serious trouble. At the time, McConnell remarked that southpaws should be banned from boxing. Before Saturday’s bout, she said, “Some fighters will tell you they love to fight southpaws, but they’re lying.” Portland’s Sue Fox, a former boxer and current editor of the Women’s Boxing Archive Network, concurs. “Nobody likes to fight southpaws,” Fox says. “You’ve got this mirror image in front of you.” But the 5'6" McConnell goes further in analyzing her loss and puts the blame on herself. “I haven’t been busy enough,” she says. “ I haven’t been a volume puncher. I’ve seen myself as a power puncher, and you’re just not going to knock everybody out. “I’m not going to rely on power so much in the future. Especially over these six- and eight-round distances, it’s a cumulative effect. Your punch output has to be higher.” McConnell’s pro record is now 4-1. Blair is 6-8-1. “Her record is deceptive,” McConnell says. “She’s been in with world champions. She’s fought the best. I have work to do.” McConnell’s manager is Jackie Kallen, the original of Meg Ryan’s character in the movie “On the Ropes” and the den mother for the NBC reality show “The Contender.” Kallen says McConnell is on track to fight more six-round and then eight-round bouts. Saturday’s loss was just a bump in the road: By next year, Kallen says, McConnell could be a 10-round main event fighter. McConnell is hoping to fight again in late July, possibly in Los Angeles, where Kallen is based. At Chinook Winds, there was immediate buzz about another match between McConnell and Blair. “I’d love it,” McConnell says, “but down the line a bit. It’d be a great fight for a title, especially since we’ve each won one. “It’s inevitable that we’ll meet again.”
Other Notes
The star of Saturday’s card was Reggie Davis of Portland’s Knott Street Boxing Club. The 154 1/2-pounder turned in a world-class performance of speed, power and skill in knocking out Tom Wilt. Before the show, promoter Steve Simons warned that Wilt was a six-time Pennsylvania state Golden Glove champ and hadn’t lost a round in his last five fights. “Reggie will have to bring his ‘A’ game to stay in with Wilt,” Simons said. Davis knocked Wilt down four times. The bout was scheduled for eight rounds, but ended two minutes into the fifth with Wilt flat on his back and the ref counting 10. Wilt’s record dropped to 18-3, while Davis improved to 14-2, with seven KOs.
… Portland light heavyweight Marcus Pernell won with a dramatic one-punch knockout of Darin Johnson of Louisville, Ky., at 2:42 of the second round. Pernell is 9-0, with four KOs.
… Light heavyweight Robert “Bo” Marthaller of Portland (3-1) stopped Andre Conner of Cleveland 27 seconds into the fourth round.
… Portland lightweight Braulio Lopez had been in three highly praised battles in his short pro career, with a disappointing result of two losses and a draw. That changed Saturday, when Lopez beat James Ferrel of Louisville with a second-round TKO.
