The ESPN 2006 finale hit the proverbial jackpot when it invited Emanuel Augustus to the party - making it all the more enticing was his being paired with Courtney Burton.

Call it unfinished business for Augustus, who was raped white collar style in their first meeting by the hometown hacks of Muskegan, MI - but on this journey the playing field at Tulsa, OK would be a balanced one.

With Augustus the goal was to win convincingly, and the exclamation point, he would be looking for the knockout - Burton convinced he clearly won their first outing and promised he would repeat.

And then the bell - Augustus opens in conventional style while displaying the quicker hands in a good stanza - continues in role of straight man in candle two and scores repeatedly with swift combinations and movement.

Burton picks up the pace in an action round three, but it is visible that a relaxed and more diversified Augustus is in control -  then numero four, and Burton having a few moments - and with it, the first sighting of Augustus the entertainer.

The locals ate up the Augustus antics much like crowds gather at Nathan’s of Coney Island for its one of a kind hot dogs - and the good news for Emanuel is not a single negative reaction from referee Gary Ritter.

Then numero cinco and Augustus taking the stanza off, and for the first time Burton is competitive - but the night would belong to Augustus, who would follow a good Burton round seven with an explosive finishing stanza eight of his own.

The power left hooks to the body saps Burton of all will as he drops to the canvas at 2:04 mark, and with it Emanuel Augustus basks in the limelight of a performance suitable for framing.        

Augustus goes to 33-27-6, 18 KO’s and Burton drops to a now 21-6, 11 KO’s.

Post Scripts: Emanuel Augustus ~  age 31 a walking, breathing example of a man born for this game of professional boxing. Has all the skills taught from the book of  sweet science - the combinations arrive from all points - jab, straight right, left-hooks and uppercuts. You name it, he has it - and then the Augustus shtick that is more of tactical in design, albeit seen by the uninitiated as all hot dog. Has choreographed it as his own and the purpose is to disrupt the other guy’s flow and not designed for ridicule. The man is a gem - and were he gifted at birth with clout, he would surely be traveling the fast lane to Canastota.

                      Courtney Burton ~  birth certificate reads 26 - but in performance he’s pretty much shot when in with quality - last three losses were to Juan Lazcano, Rolando Reyes, Ebo Elder. Enough said.

                       Referee: Gary Ritter ~ Must give credit when due - never once interfered with the flow - good nite’s work.

                      Teddy Atlas ~ think timing is good for the four months hiatus that FNF is taking thru this year 2006 - the Teddy tutoring from start to finis has gone stale. Points to Augustus as skilled but lacking in finisher qualities. Seems Atlas is missing something. Not a lack of finisher skills, but more a fact Augustus is not a big banger. Also the obvious that Emanuel choreography is both entertainment and part fuel saver.

                     Studio Guest Larry Holmes: fit in nicely… on the mark with observations. Plain and simple covers Larry to the letter.

                     In closing, taped segment of Brian "No Clue" Kenny with Mayweather Jr. - a tip of the hat to Floyd when he gives "No Clue" compliment on his being a good commentator - and then tosses in Kenny has never had a fight and knows nothing about boxing. Bingo! Nothing rusty about super star Mayweather.

GEL