A Don King Weekend
The first person that I saw in the grand lobby at the Mohegan Sun Casino upon checking in was none other than Don King. To say that the veteran promoter is magnetic would be a gross understatement. 'The Don' literally attracted a crowd at any point that he left his suite to venture into the casino,shops or restaurants. Boxing's scribes and others have noted that King has lost a step or two in the past decade as he doesn't have his bread & butter product any longer; a viable heavyweight. True, Don has only had success with the huge wooly mammoth Nikolai Valuev (former WBA champ) over the past few years, but he still has a dozen of the HW division's top 30 men under contract. In fact, a quick glance at DKP's roster of boxers from all weight classes reveals a roster as deep as any on the globe. Perhaps the most talented boxer (and future pound/pound great) in King's stable was the main attraction this past weekend in Connecticut. WBC super-welter weight champion Devon Alexander (The Great) wrested the IBF's 140 lb belt from the ultra-tough Juan Urango in the Mohegan Sun Arena. King had been trumpeting Alexander as the next coming of Ray Leonard in the week(s) leading up to the fight. I usually discount a promoter's assessment of "his guy" by 40%, for obvious reasons. In the case of Devon Alexander's coming out party against Urango, Don was on the money.
I had told more than a few punters to expect a decision victory(for the boxer) in the weeks leading up to the fight. I was conscious of Urango's two close decision losses to (the technically inferior) tandem of Ricky Hatton and Andre Berto. I expected a tough night at the office for Devon, as Urango is a banger that can change the direction of a fight in a heartbeat. The moment of truth for Alexander came in the sixth round as Urango was reaching him with some heavy leather, but couldn't finish. Alexander's corner implored him to box, and not stand and trade as much. Good advice that was heeded by the skilled boxer from St. Louis, as he took a safer approach in the seventh round with Urango in pursuit. Perhaps Urango sensed that Devon was there for the taking as he started to lunge towards the slick boxer swinging wide with his head down/leading in. Big mistake, as Alexander was looking for an uppercut all night. Boom. The biggest fight-deciding uppercut that I have witnessed from ring-side since Arturo Gatti almost decapitated Gabe Ruelas on the Lennox Lewis - Andrew Golota undercard in '97. The tough Columbian got to his feet, but the end was inevitable. I just didn't think of Alexander as a puncher too, but he clearly is a player in the pound for pound discussion (and possibly in the Pacquiao derby).
Bawdy Shots:
I am often reminded of how much the hospitality industry in Toronto could learn so much from their counterparts (anywhere) south of the borber. My travel partner and I asked our lovely waitress to put the Leafs-Bruins game on one screen and then to change another to the Lakers-Heat game. Then, not happy enough, could she please dim the glowing spot light above our table. She responded with a smile, swift responses, and left us the remote control...
The after-party at the Club in the Mohegan Casino after the night of fights was as enjoyable as it was well catered. I sensed one small problem when a burly guy in a fedora hat slipped by security and engaged Lennox Lewis in an animated manner. I slipped between them, much to this character's chagrin. It turns out that he was local Heavyweight Tony Grano. I think that I dodged a bullet there. We actually discussed his career over a drink and were fast buddies before night's end (quite unlike my incident at the fantastic nightclub in the MGM at Foxwoods the night before)...
It was too good to be true. I was minding my own business in the will-call ticket line hours before the fight when two GORGEOUS ladies behind me fell into a conversation with me. Turns out that they were picking up some (front row) seats that Don King had comped them. The two are news anchors Rachel Lutzker & Sarah French from Hartford's Fox tv affilliate and they were excited to go to their first fight. And they were genuine, and friendly and... hitched. I decompressed as Rachel introduced her husband Dave, and Sarah introduced her giant boyfriend (Brent Henley,injured New York Ranger defenseman/enforcer). They all joined Lennox and our party of friends, which also included referee Arthur Mercante Jr., who was busy introducing us to the evenings round card girls...
I fully expect Manny Pacquiao to beat Joshua Clottey this Saturday in Dallas. It should be quite an event at the new Cowboy's Stadium with over 45,000 people attending. I think that Clottey's size and strength should make it interesting (Antonio Margarito couldn't hurt him; Cotto scored a flash knockdown), but Manny's workrate should provide trouble in the second half of the fight. Wladimir Klitschko should safely decision Fast Eddie Chambers next week in Germany, but not without a fight. I was impressed with the way Eddie handled and knocked down the huge Alexander Dimitrenko to get this title shot, but Wlad is a superior boxer.
