by David P. Greisman
If a boxer goes down for the 10 count, but no one actually hit him, does it still count as a knockout?
It apparently does, after what happened in the Feb. 9 fight — if you can even call it that, which you shouldn’t — between Ray Edwards and Nicholas Capes.
And what happened between Edwards and Capes has led to Capes getting suspended, according to the Associated Press.
In this era of anything and everything being on YouTube, it doesn’t take much difficulty to find a video of this bout. And perhaps it is because this video is online — and because of who Edwards once was — that Capes is in trouble.
Edwards is a 6-foot-5 heavyweight who played several seasons as a defensive end in the NFL. Capes is much smaller in height and is wide in girth for a boxer who had been just one pound above cruiserweight for two of his three prior appearances in the ring. Capes was 0-3 going into this bout, losing each time in the first round. Edwards was 2-0, with one win by way of knockout.
Very early into this bout at the Red River Valley Fairgrounds in Fargo, N.D., Edwards missed with a right uppercut, missing so badly that the video — taken by someone seated a few rows back at ringside — clearly showed that the punch did not land.
It also clearly showed what followed: Capes turning to his right and collapsing in a heap onto his stomach.
“As we move ahead, we'll take appropriate action as the investigation review unfolds,” North Dakota’s athletic commission head was quoted as saying in the Associated Press story.
It’s unclear what good any suspension might do. After all, it’s rather clear that Capes shouldn’t be involved in boxing again.
A gig in Hollywood might be due, however.
David P. Greisman is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Follow David on Twitter @fightingwords2 or send questions/comments via email at fightingwords1@gmail.com
