On paper, and buoyed by the pre- fite propaganda, the July 1 ESPN twin-bill had
possibilities - but then the ring action, and the expected dual sizzlers turned
fizzlers.
Opens with heavyweights Courage Tshabalaba (26-3, 22) and Robert Wiggins
(19-4-1, 11) in a scheduled eight round appetizer - first hint of maybe this
one isn’t what it’s cracked up to be, is respective ages 36.
Round one sees Tshabalaba out of the gate in a hurry with power punches to the
body - mixes the body assault with mostly missed left hooks and roundhouse
right hands that whiz over the head of the shorter Wiggins.
Stanza two sees the third man in charge of the action becoming both a nuisance,
and factor in how this one would play out - Wiggins reacts to a hit finding the
mark a tad below the DMZ - enter mister missed it, Mike Marvelli, quickly
charging Shaba baby with a point deduction.
From that moment on, a tortured looking Marvelli is seen bounding about the
squared circle in a crouch and look of a lunatic in the eyes - Wiggins, sensing
he’s found an ally, picks up the offense in candle three.
The one named Courage, is clearly discouraged when charged with a second
low-blow point deduction in stanza four - the resigned Tshabalaba would then
opt to remain sitting on his stool come the bell for round five.
The tale from our lead ringside commentator Joe Tessie was a Tshabalaba busted
right mitt - and I’ve never yet seen X-ray readouts taken during them 60
seconds round intervals.
Post Scripts ~ Robert Wiggins: Bad news is age and lack of size at 5-10 …
shortage of big punching power leaves legit toughness (when not catching shots
to the metal cup) and southpaw stance the only positives.
Courage Tshabalaba: First order of biz is a name
change. Maybe when younger the guts and fire was there. But at age 36, if not
getting it done early, it never gets done. Most power punches while catching
the eye catch little else.
Main event featured George Khalid Jones and Freddie "Fab" Moore in a light
heavy affair for the USBA strap - and this one as well, should have been served
up to the locals in attendance as a free of charge entity.
The respective bodies looked fine and dandy … but at age 38, the caution light
shouts never to judge a book by the cover. With both working from the southpaw
stance it was completely void of technique.
Moore enjoyed the height and reach edge at 6-3 to Jones at 6-1, and Khalid had
no clue on how to bring the action to the inside. Over the early stanzas sloppy
doesn’t come close.
At times, this one had me seeing three Mike Marvellis’ stumbling around the
ring - and he wasn’t working this one - and so we get nine stanzas of yawn
provoking inaction that has Jones unable to answer the call come round ten.
But don’t touch that dial - it would go to the judges, since the culprit was
inadvertent head butt resulting in nasty cut over Khalid’s right eye that left
him unavailable.
Replays clearly show it was a lunging face first Jones that initiated the ugly
collision - food for thought come the official scoring of our Plymouth, MA
ringside judges in attendance.
The tallies went for Jones by technical split decision to the tune of (Jones)
88-83, 88-83, (Moore) 88-83.
This unofficial saw it Moore 7-2 in rounds and 88-83 in points.
Closing Comments: Judging by how the Jones-Moore scenario played out, it seems
here the ludicrous going to the cards after halfway mark qualifies for the
recycle bin. For one thing, when the initiator of the head butt is the damaged
one, and cannot continue, it seems a TKO is in order.
P.S. Freebie advice from me to the club fight cable promoter-matchmakers, is
avoid pairing southpaw slingers with one another. Usual fare is as tasteless as
when it’s southpaw vs. orthodox.
