Sharp Action at South Point

Wild Card fighters all victorious at Vegas fight

It was a wild, wild night at the South Point Hotel and Casino fight last weekend. Make that a “wild” card night. The Wild Card Boxing Club had a perfect record with all three of their fighters declared the victor. The event was called “Bragging Rights & Title Fight” and the Wild Card bunch definitely earned braggin’ rights with their boxers going three for three at Friday night’s fight.

The Wild Card fighters had a strong showing at South Point: Christopher Rizo got the decision over Michael Lynks, Dean “Irish LIghtning” Byrne was victorious over Jose Reynoso, and Alejandro Perez earned the vacant World Boxing Council’s (WBC) USNBC Super Bantamweight belt in his 12-round barn burner against tough Adolfo Landeros.

There were several bouts in the Arena, located just minutes from the Strip, including an exciting fight featuring lightweight Rodolfo Armenta defeating Angel Flores.

Held the evening before the Pacquiao-Hatton bout, the Wild Card gym was well-represented with Pepper Roach (Freddie’s brother), Steve Feder (Dean Byrne’s manager), and Shane Langford ready at hand. The impish Langford has recently received world-wide recognition on the HBO’s “24/7 Pacquiao-Hatton” series. I ask him about his sudden “rock star” status. He says with a laugh and a shrug, “It’s cool, I guess. But I haven’t changed.”

Pepper is always a hoot to chat with, a guaranteed laugh every time. Pep tells us it’s been a hectic schedule and that he just got back from San Diego with heavyweight Lateef Kayode, who won his match. He then told us a few hilarious jokes not suitable for print. Freddie’s brother is a character!

Presented by Thell Torrence’s Platinum Entertainment and Adam Fish’s Big Fish Boxing Promotions, the evening was a crowd pleaser of great fight action. Shelley Williams, who works with Torrence, made sure everything went as scheduled for a successful night of boxing. She invited special guests heavyweight Michael Dokes and legendary trainer Eddie Futch’s widow Eva Futch to the fight and both were there in attendance.

Heavyweight Tony “TNT” Tucker, former bantamweight champ Wayne “Pocket Rocket” McCullough, Salvador “Sal” Sanchez (nephew of Salvador Sanchez) were also brought up in the ring. McCullough has a great sense of humor. When I asked him to pose for a quick snapshot with Dokes and Tucker, the thin, 5′ 7″ former boxer said with a mischievous grin, “I should stand up here!” as he climbed back up the steps to the ring so he’d see eye to eye with the two imposing heavyweight physiques.

On a sad note, a ten-count was held for fighter Greg Page during an intermission in the action.

Welterweight prospect Rashad Holloway trains out of Wild Card and was there to support his stablemates. The likable young boxer was Manny Pacquiao’s main sparring partner for the Oscar De La Hoya bout. Holloway tells me that he’s planning to fight on May 16 and also July 4 at Primm. While watching his buddies’ fights from his seat, Holloway was one active and enthusiastic supporter! He shadowboxed instructions, cheered, yelled, and vigorously inspired his gym mates any way he could while sitting in the audience. It paid off and he was happy to celebrate his Wild Card pals’ victories.

And that night at the South Point fights, being a Wild Card fighter meant that you were an “ace in the hole.” Congratulations to Perez, the new WBC USNBC Champion, and to all the boxers for their A-plus performances!

Photos by Michele Chong: Promoter Adam Fish; The Irish lads Wayne and Dean; Rashad Holloway, Dean Byrne and Steve Feder; Alejandro Perez and Byrne share a laugh before their bouts; Perez celebrates; Wild Card’s Shane Langford; Two heavyweights and a “Pocket Rocket”