Shaw Boxing Card a Knockout
The annual Shaw Festival black-tie boxing series that dates back to the seventies is a treat for the fortunate attendees that are able to acquire the limited tickets. Toronto has been quite arid in regards to professional boxing for a good few years now, but the annual spring card at the grand old Royal York Hotel is as reliable as an early golf season for the Maple Leafs. The event is a magnet for boxing afficianados, boxing insiders, titans of industry and celebrities alike. I had barely walked off the elevator when I heard a familiar voice call me out in a joking manner. It was the fleet-footed Donovan Bailey in full smile decked-out in black tie splendor.
The Ballroom was humming with the anticipation of the night's fights,as well as the multi-course steak dinner that was being served upon my arrival. Emcee Joe "The Swiss" Tilley of CTV sports fame was introducing some of the distinguished greats in the room for a bow (Eggerton Marcus, Shaun O'Sullivan, Steve "Canadian Kid" Molitor, Andrew Kooner) as he prepared to announce the "friendly" that was kicking off the night. Boxing power-promoter Adam Harris of Hennessey Promotions disappointed me with the news that his main event fighter Logan MCGuinness' Mexican opponent had visa problems. I was impressed with the event's matchmaker (Jim Gentle) substituting with an exhibition bout between Tebor Brosch from Huff Boxing Club (trained by former Jeff Fenech opponent Jerome "Kid" Coffee) and Canadian welterweight champ Victor Lupo. This was a scrap that bordered on the personal level, and one that will surely happen with the smaller gloves and no head-gear sometime down the road.
The two main events were spirited affairs that benefitted from the use of two Irish opponents who came to win. Halifax fighter Tyson Cave lost his perfect (10-0) record to the strong puncher Willie Casey of Limerick, Ireland. Casey had Cave down in the 3rd, 7th and 8th rounds before the ref waved it off. Buzz Grant ruined (Belfast) Mike Kelly's record (now 8-1-1) in what started as a close fight. Grant pulled away in scoring down the stretch though.
The most significant event of the evening was Joe Tilley's introduction of a true link to boxing's glorious history. Seated a few feet from me was Gene Tunney's son Jay Tunney. The international shipping magnate and author of the recent book "The Playwright and the Prizefighter" is no stranger to the city of Toronto (having worked for The Globe & Mail). His dad's friendship with G. Bernard Shaw was the basis of the book. Shaw wasn't close to too many people but had a big admiration for the rags to riches Tunney. I was greatly honoured to meet Jay Tunney's beautiful daughter Therese and her mother Kelly. I could only admire the gentle classiness that they displayed in talking me up for a near eternity as Jay tried to get back to their suite (6 am flight call). At one point as Mr. Tunney squared up to me, I felt displaced as he looked me in the eye and asked me if I was "one of those bloggers". I was looking back in time as Tunney clearly has his father's strong jaw and looks.
Bawdy Shots:
For the love of the game and the integrity of the sport, Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins must retire. That lethargic PPV event was a farce... On a related note, Evander Holyfield has a fraction more left (It was Botha though), but will be dumped by the Klitschkos, Haye or any top-twenty heavyweight (other than Valuev; who he already "beat")...
It was good to see my pal Audley Harrison pull off a big win for the European Heavyweight title. A-Force fought with some emotion,and less caution in the fight . The 2000 Olympic gold-medalist was fighting one-armed from the 3rd round and was trailing when he threw the fight-saving knock-out hook with two minutes left in the fight...
I am off to the fight in Montreal headlined by Lucian Bute-Edison Miranda. I fully expect to see Bute break down "Pantera" for a second-half stoppage, but Miranda has game-changing power and will be a live opponent. The HBO co-feature will be the Middleweight title fight from Atlantic City. Kelly Pavlik is taking on (interim) WBC jr. middleweight titlist Sergio Martinez on the strength of his great scrap with Paul Williams. I had Martinez winning that one, unlike a couple of the judges. My guess is a Pavlik decision victory, as Martinez is a tricky lefty who might be hard to find...
