SECTION C
March 31-April 6, 2010
ANDRE DIRRELL sends a left jab to Arthur Abraham. – Dan Graschuck photos
RONALD HEARNS (left) looks for an opening.
Showtime in Detroit
Dirrell, Hearns earn victories
Detroit is known worldwide for it cars, thus
the moniker the Motor City. And, of course, Motown records established a musical legacy that is etched in lore, too. However, simulta- neously earning its place in American sports remembrance was Detroit’s boxing history. It started with legendary fighters Joe Louis and Sugar Ray Robinson getting their starts at the Detroit’s famed Brewster Recreation Center, and was elevated further with the international ascension of the Kronk Boxing club.
So it was
appropriate that Show- time Boxing would bring its Group Stage 2 bout of the Super Six World Boxing Clas- sic to the Joe Louis Arena Saturday.
In the Game
By Leland Stein III
Showtime’s
super mid- d l e w e i g h t tournament was
origi-
nally planned to be staged in California, but an injury forced a change in venue.
Promoter Gary Shaw, citing the rich history
of Detroit and boxing, shifted the fight to the Motor City. The fans did not disappoint as a reported 4,500 enthusiastic fans enlivened the Joe.
“Detroit is a great fight town with a rich
boxing history,” Shaw told me. “The crowd was electric and I think it can be even better. I would love to come back here again and produce an- other show. I think we can do even better with more time and effort.”
It did not hurt that Flint’s 2004 Olympic
bronze medalist, Andre Dirrell, was the fea- tured fighter against Germany’s 30-year-old slugger Arthur Abraham.
Everyone was abuzz at the start of the con-
test, but no one could have envisioned the bi- zarre and strange ending to one to the more en- tertaining boxing matches I have seen in quite some time.
With Dirrell, 26, having implemented a mas-
terful fight strategy over the favored opponent with excellent execution and precision, all three judges had the fight 97-92, 98-91 and 97-92 in Dirrell’s favor at the start of the 11th round.
Now comes the unusual: Late into the 11th
round Dirrell slipped on some water near Abra- ham’s corner and went down to one knee. Abra- ham proceeded to unleash a vicious left hook on an exposed and prone Dirrell.
Dirrell (19-1, 13 KOs) flopped instantaneous- ly to the canvas, where one ring doctor thought
Dirrell had a seizure, while another thought he had a concussion as his body was making jerk- ing movements. As a result, the referee stopped the fight after Abraham intentionally fouled Dirrell, who ended up winning on a disqualifi- cation.
When they finally got Dirrell to his feet he
was apparently still unconscious and did not know where he was or what had happened. He kept saying, “Did I get knocked out?” His corner had to inform him he had won the fight.
The bizarre actions by Abraham almost start-
ed a riot in the Joe, as fans, family and friends rushed the ring concerned about Dirrell’s health. In the end police and organizers had to clear the arena before Abraham could leave the ring and go back to his dressing room.
Dirrell really needed this fight to stay in the
tourney hunt, after losing a controversial de- cision in London to its home fighter. Well, he came out like a warrior and used every facet of his boxing repertoire, moving expertly from left to right, counter punching, jabbing and ex- hibiting punching power as he put Abraham on the canvas for the first time in his career in the second round.
Unfortunately, Dirrell did not get to enjoy
his wonderful showing as the dazed fighter was taken to Detroit Receiving Hospital and was released after about four hours when all tests came back negative.
Also, Ronald Hearns, the son of Kronk’s leg-
endary Thomas Hearns, the eight-time world champion, showed all that he is still on track to produce a solid career, after starting boxing when he was 24. He won a unanimous decision over Marteze Logan of Covington, Tenn., on the undercard of the Super Six classic. He pep- pered Logan with stinging jabs and solid power punches.
Hearns is 24-1 with 18 knockouts and has
the same frame as his dad, but is fighting to get out of his giant shadow.
“I’m happy where I am as a fighter,” Ronald
told me after the fight. “From where I started to where I am now I think I’m on track to have some good things happen for me. If I win my next fight, I get a major televised bout this summer. I’m working hard to make it happen.”
And Detroit’s Vernon Paris scored a unani-
mous decision over Oscar Leon of Miami in a hard-fought junior-welterweight contest.
Spotted at the fight were Detroit Pistons
Chucky Atkins and Tayshaun Prince, former Lion Shawn Rogers, former Kronk champion fighters Milton McCrory and Johnathon Banks, and representing Showtime were announcers Steve Alberts, Al Bernstein and former cham- pion Antonio Taver.
Leland Stein can be reached at lelstein3@
aol.com.
ROSE MCCALL, secretary, and Bee McNair, treasurer.
PAST PRESIDENTS (men) Charles Hrobowski (left) and Duke Lawson (right), and Vera Johnson, current vice president.
AL STROUD, Black Bowlers Diary.
THE FLINT connection.
LEAGUE 300 shooters.
Black Bowlers Diary
By Al Stroud
The Semi-Senior Invitational League has
become one of the area’s prominent leagues de- spite its youth in bowling years. The brainchild of Leonard Hampton (he also created the Free Enterprise League), is completing its 8th year. The late Al Ellis’ 40 & Over Summer League was the inspiration for the Semi-Senior. Ellis rec- ognized the culture conflict between the older and the younger bowlers. He formed a league with a minimum age the central requirement.
Membership in the Semi-Senior is limited to
female bowlers who have attained 45 years of age and male bowlers who are at least 50 years old. Along with the age restrictions there are innovations that will surely radiate to other leagues. The president is limited to two con- secutive years. Hampton served the first two seasons; Charles Hrobowski the second; Duke Lawson was the third president and Charles Branch is completing his final season. Forty percent of the bowlers are female. It is time for a female president! Jackpots are capped at
$35 weekly. Each game pays two positions. The mixed doubles pot is $10 and pays four places. The emphasis is team performance not winning the jackpot.
League officials instituted a jackpot specifi-
cally for lower average women to address the disparity in averages among the females. It became an instant hit. The first year the league attracted 13 teams. The next season it grew to 42 teams as bowlers flocked to join. Women, who were 35 years of age, overnight, became 45 years of age. The third years the league at- tained its current size of 54 teams. The League is not limited to Detroit area bowlers. There is a small Flint, Michigan contingent that makes the weekly round trip to compete. It is com- posed of Hall-of Fame member and former Rho- dman Singles champion Lena Redmond, Willie Brown, Aaron McGee, Anthony Cheatham, Marion Mumford and Venita Coleman.
Local women include Hall of Fame member
and former Rhodman Singles champion Carmen Allen, Consuelo Cleveland, Sheree
Jones, Gwen “Big Star” Finley, Theresa Grner, Sheila Temple, Lavenda Dixon, etc. (I will hear about this). The local men are too numerous to mention, plus my boxing skills have waned considerably.
Since its inception the league has bowled
at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, Wednes- days at 6:15 p.m. The dues are $20 per week. The first two seasons the Center manager, Vicki Ingram, performed the jobs secretary/ treasurer. But once the league ballooned to 54 teams it conflicted with her primary responsi- bilities. The league was now faced with a cost that would reduce the prize fund by a consid- erable amount. Again, league officials came to the rescue with a 50/50 lottery. Tickets are sold with half the proceeds going to the winner and the other half placed in the league treasury to defray the cost of operating the league. Partici- pation is not mandatory.
The League now boasts some of the area’s
most talented bowlers. Many maintain the skills honed in their younger days.
During a recent session Charles “Ski”
Hrobowski left a seven pin on his final shot of the second game for 299 (He was denied his first career 800 series when he left a 4-9 split on his final shot of the session for a 798 series. The bowling alley owes him a kiss). Before the “Ski” celebration ended, a shout went up and down the lanes, signifying Jennings’ perfecto. That was followed by a groan, shortly after, as Bobby Christian left a hard ten pin on his last shot for a 299, also.
Lawson has the high game for women at
300. There is five way tie for second place among Allen, Jones, Dixon, Cheryl James and Rita Jackson at 279. Finley has the high series of 767 followed by Debra Dickerson, 738 and Sylvia Hill, 729. Larry Wilson has the men’s high series of 801, Hrobowski 798, Lenard Ford and Charles Hall 793.
This year’s League officers are Charles
Branch, president; Vera Johnson, vice-presi- dent; Bee McNair, treasurer; and Rose McCall, secretary.
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