Rumble Coming From Underneath the Rock

When I was told that I could attend Rumble at The Rock 7 at the River Rock Casino in Richmond British Columbia, I was stoked. First and foremost I am a MMA guy and the appreciation for the sweet science is hidden in my inner being, somewhere under a rock. Once in a while it comes out at night.

I remember watching professional boxers like Tyson, Holyfield, Lewis, Sugar Ray, etc… There was a time where big boxing matches were accessible on free television. The best in the world would fight each other. I never got to see Ali or Frazier, but the 80’s did have their boxing heroes. I remember going to church one Sunday and my dad rushing home to watch the Sugar Ray vs. Hagler fight in 1986. Sorry God, but Sugar Ray is making a comeback…. again.

After Sugar Ray Leonard came Mike Tyson, a man I beat after months of training. Yes you heard me; I beat Mike Tyson, along with Don Flamenco and King Hippo. Not everyone can say they beat Mike Tyson in the late 80’s. Here is how I did it: In the first round of your fight against Mike Tyson; for the first minute and thirty seconds every time Tyson hits you it is a knockdown. So, don’t try to hit him for the first 1:30, just get out of the way. For the rest of the fight he won’t be so deadly. Anyone else get Nintendo blisters? But that is just an example of how huge the sport of boxing was. We would run home after school to try and beat Mike. It is sort of ironic that it was Mike Tyson in the end that beat Mike Tyson.

It is well documented on why boxing started its decline. I’m not going to bother explaining how greed destroyed the sport in this blog. Instead it was curiosity and a press pass that had me attending Manny Sobral’s West Coast Promotions boxing event. In fact it is Mr. Sobral who should be commended for trying to keep the sport alive in Vancouver and the Lower mainland. Has there been resurgence, or since it’s Easter today, a resurrection of the sport my father rushed communion to run home to?

I walked into the River Rock Casino, sat ringside with my notebook and pen. Paul “The Mauler” Lazenby announced each fight, and I waited for the casino auditorium to fill up. It never reached capacity, but it was full of boxing enthusiasts and curious on lookers. You had the young people wearing their MMA Tap Out T-shirts, and the boxing enthusiasts wearing their Sunday best, paying tribute to a sport of kings.

I have to say that the second fight of the evening was an all out war. Back and forth the two combatants threw combinations at each other that would knock out any regular man. The best part was that it was two women that were throwing it down. All of a sudden I sat up in my seat, forgetting to take notes. Sweat and blood was thrown into the air, and there was a part of me that wished I could sit a bit closer to feel what the sweat n’ blood combo splatter feels like. Sick?

The evening went on, and I found myself thoroughly entertained. It didn’t matter that every time I saw two guys go into the clinch I kept looking for the double leg takedown or the Muay Thai Knee. Instead the referee split them up and the dance continued.

Watching the Main Event I noticed that coming down to the ring to Phil Collins “In the Air Tonight,” was not as intimidating as Canadian Light Heavy Weight Champ, Junior Moar’s entourage of native Indians in ceremonial dress and drums. If I were the American Billy Bailey I would re-think Phil and maybe go with the cliché bagpipes or something scarier. Or go with, I’m clinically insane route, and come down to the music of “Under the Sea” from Little Mermaid. Everyone would think you’re nuts!

The Main Event delivered as both combatants hung on for eight rounds. Moar pounded on Bailey for most of the fight, but the young American didn’t give up. Took his shots like a man. The fight ended in a majority decision for the Canadian Champ Junior Moar. Thus ended my evening of boxing. Paul Lazenby announced the winner and told the audience that special guest Canadian Boxing Legend; George Chuvalo would be available in the foyer for pictures and autographs. Chuvalo was a hero in the boxing world to many, and to the majority demographic that were in the audience. He is a symbol of the glory days of boxing. Some say boxing’s decline was MMA’s gain; I personally feel boxing laid the groundwork for MMA enthusiasts like me.

Here are the results of Rumble At the Rock 7

• Paul Beaulieu – Dropped out due to fear? Not sure why he quite at the last minute.
• Marcus Hicks – dropped out due to injury – MMA fighter who was going to make his professional boxing debut.

• Ty McDougall def. Victor Wang due to Corner Stoppage
• Wendy Roy def. Sarah Marshall by Majority Decision – Fight of the night candidate
• Dave Petryk def. Dwayne Welsh by Majority Decision
• Jamie Watton vs Sandy Pembroke: Draw – Don’t agree, I think Sandy squeaked it out
• Will Williams def. Steve Lowry by KO – brutal KO
  
• Junior Moar def. Billy Bailey by Majority decision – The CDN champ gave the tough Bailey a beating.

My next event blog will be on the The Extreme MMA Canadian Amateur Championships taking place at the Red Robinson Theatre on April 23rd in Coquitlam BC. Apparently this organization has some strange rules like you can’t grapple on the ground for more than thirty seconds. Really? And they call this MMA? Or could be an attempt to bring it back to the Neanderthals. Stay Tuned.