The Showtime Championship Boxing offering from MSG last noche caught itself a break with an old time down and dirty shootout, when respective cruiserweight champions Jean Marc Mormeck (WBC-WBA) and O’Neil Bell (IBF) put their belts where the mouths were.

From the get go this one was nasty - Bell captures the opening stanza  with the busier output but Mormeck did close with a late rally - then it would be the Frenchman taking over in stanza two with a vicious right uppercut that sent the Bell mouthpiece airborne into the second row of ringside seats.

The Mormeck pace, for the most part, continued thru stanza six with hurting body punches and hooks while working on the inside - then number seven, and surprisingly it’s Bell looking the fresher of the two.

Now it’s Bell stepping up the output and rocking Mormeck with big right hands and the tide had clearly turned his way - again it’s Bell in stanzas eight and nine and the stage was set for the closer.

Stanza ten opens with Bell on the offense and scoring with both hands to the body - finally, late in the round it’s a big right hand to the head and a following barrage closes the curtain at the 2:50 mark.

Bell  goes to 26-1-1 with 24 by knockout and Mormeck is now 31-3 and 23 by KO.

Closing Comments:  Bell ~ Not a stylist but can mix up the inside game with some outside movement. The right hand carries the clout when delivered with bad intent. Problem is the pitter-patter variety mixed in. Very durable and tenacious. Should prove interesting with a cruiser field ready and willing to test the new multi- champion with the WBC/WBA/IBF trophies.
                                   Mormeck ~ Most of us figured the Frenchman gets the job done - surprise was in seeing the stamina fade while Bell got stronger after the halfway point. Could be at age 33 he set too quick a pace. Bell’s old school nastiness surely helped the cause.
                                   Wayne Kelly ~ Without a doubt this buffoon earned a ticket out of town ... try Conchee, OK, or any other tank town west of the Pecos. Helps he bring whoever does the assignment selections with him - repeatedly separates the fighters when the hands are free on the inside.
                                   Once upon a time an NYC sportswriter shouted "There’s New York and there’s outta town" - Kelly needs a PO change.  

GEL