Klitschko beats Brock at the Garden

Photos by Jay McGuigan

"The Mecca of Boxing" was the host and the IBF Heavyweight title was on the line in this highly anticipated contest as two of the best on the division squared off in Madison Square Garden. Wladimir Klitschko won the title back in April in a very one sided beating of Chris Byrd but top flight contender Calvin Brock came into the fight undefeated and has convincingly toppled every challenger thrown his way. The house was packed with celebrities and true boxing fans alike while the crowd took turns from chanting "Klitschko, Klitschko" to "USA! USA!" in support of the American Brock.

The fight started off a little sloppy for Brock as he seemed a bit anxious in what was his first crack at championship gold. He slipped and slided around the ring for the first round as Klitschko stood in front on him pecking away with a left jab. Things began to settle down for Brock in the second as he worked the body one punch at a time while Klitschko still tapped away with the left jab and occasionally following it with a left hook. It was a typicial start offensively for a Klitschko fight, but he did have trouble landing on a well school Brock in the early going. Brock seemed to be more focused on defense early on and when it was time for him to throw, most punches were aimed at the 6'7 body of Klitschko. The third round has very little action and this one began to show the signs of an all out stinker.

An early snoozer picked up the pace for an action picked up in the fourth where Brock was able to land hard lefts to the body and a few power shots upstairs one punch at a time. Klitschko is still using the left jab as his primary weapon but this leads to lots of clinching this round. While nothing major lands, the intensity picks up.

Klitschko put on a boxing clinic in the 5th as the left jab that once had a pillowy touch now landed with the force of a pile driver. The left jab constantly split Brock's guard at will for the majority of the round with no response from Brock. With about :20 to go in the round, Wladimir followed the jab with thunderous overhand rights that found its mark more times than not wobbling Brock twice before the bell sounded. Brocks right eye begins to swell.

The 6th round was a slow one but Brock busted Klitschko's eye with an accidental headbutt and made that his primary target for the remainder of the round. Klitschko throws right hand bombs but none find the mark.

Brock was ripe for the picking in the 7th as Klitschko stuck to his game plan and opened Brock up with what looked to be an unstoppable left jab and popped his opponent with staggering overhand rights. Early in the round Dr. Wlad laid down the steel hammer and connected a devastating right hand flush on the jaw to put Brock flat on his face. Brock was able to rise at the 9 count but the referee wisely stopped the contest.













Laila Ali vs. Shelley Burton

In the co-feature, the top draw in womens boxing Layla Ali pick apart a game but outgunned Shelley Burton to retain the womens WBC Super Middleweight Title. Before the fight, The Greatest of All Time, Muhammed Ali was greeted to a roof shaking standing ovation. In the ring Laila was all over her opponent and showed a very well school style of fighting but also at times invited Burton in to brawl a bit. In the 4th, Burton took the bait to brawl but paid dearly as Ali popped the left hook and followed it with a stinging overhand right which spun Burton around and gave the referee no option but to stop the contest.





Manuel Medina....vs......Kevin Kelley

Call this one too little too late. If this fight was made ten years ago it might have been a fight for the ages but instead this battle of featherweight oldheads should have doubled as a loser leaves town match. These once upon a time greats showed there isn't a whole lot left in the tank. There wasn't a whole lot of action and if it was held anywhere besides Kelleys hometown, the boo birds would have been out early. In the end not even the home field advantage could help Kelley as two of the three judges scored the fight 115- 113 in favor of Medina with the third seeing it even at 114 - 114.


Derrick Rossy....vs....Shannon Miller

Derrick Rossy looked like the real deal as he retained his NY State Heavyweight title and stayed undefeated by beating a tough Shannon Miller. Miller came to fight but Rossi seemed to do him one better each round as Rossy was able to put together more effective punches and not allow himself to get caught by the bombs that were coming his way. The fight went to the scorecards and all three judges saw the fight in Rossy's favor by scores of 100 -90 twice and 98-91






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