By Kevin Kincade (photo by Stephen Burt)
When one thinks of Nashville, TN, BOXING isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. Conversely, when one hears the word “hook” in correlation to “Music City”, USA, it is generally a reference to a particular part of a song that catches the listeners’ attention and makes them want to hear more…..as in to “hook” a fish and reel it in. Still, maybe that analogy will hold true for Fight Beat Entertainment’s boxing card, “Road to Glory” on Friday night. Indeed there were plenty of hooks thrown; and, quite possibly, those hooks might just “reel” in some new boxing fans for more fisticuffs.
Words in print cannot accurately express the excitement that took place in and around the boxing ring in Municipal Auditorium Friday night in Nashville, TN. If anything can be said about Jake Donovan, it’s that he knows how to put together a fight card. Friday night will, or should go down as one of, if not the best night of boxing Music City has ever seen. Ninety-nine point nine percent of the bouts were competitive and kept the fans on the edge of their seats. What more can be asked of a fight card than that?
The Main Event: Bobby Gun vs. Shelby Gross (Cruiserweights)
“The Road to Glory” featured a couple of Cruiserweights (heavyweights in years gone by) who you’ve probably never heard of but should have: “The Bonetown Brawler” Shelby Gross and Hackensack, NJ’s own Bobby Gunn. Both fit into that category of fighter who is so hungry he can’t stand it; but for one reason or another hasn’t broken into the “Big Time”. After all was said and done, recognized world title on the line or no, it’s a shame there was no television coverage of the efforts of these two gladiators on this night, for both men did the sport proud.
The IBA Cruiserweight Championship is a forgotten title in the sea of Alpha-Belts drowning the sport; but for these two men striving for the world, it was a step towards the recognition they crave. Gross, with a record of 16-3 (13 KO’s) had touched the threshold of the “Big Time” on three occasions against Antonio Tarver, Dale Brown, and Robert Daniels, losing to all three; though, in truth, the Tarver fight was early in the “Magic Man’s” career as it was early in Shelby’s. Bobby, on the other hand, with a record of 15-2 (12 KO’s), was on a six fight winning streak, all of them knock-outs, and looking for his first big win. He’d already acquired a couple of other regional belts and was looking to add to his collection; and potentially secure a match with WBA Cruiserweight Belt holder, Virgil Hill.
Two men couldn’t have been more different in appearance or mentality than Gunn and Gross. Bobby looks more like a matinee idol than a prize fighter in person and is a genuinely good natured sort who seems to make friends easily with his positive attitude towards life and quiet self-confidence. At the weigh-in, one could not help but notice the trim and ready 181 Lbs that Gunn was carrying into battle. He was just above the Light Heavyweight limit and a little light for a cruiserweight; but appeared finely tuned and ready for action.
Compared to Gunn’s picturesque athlete’s physique, Gross, looked like a rough and rugged tough-man who has been in many a bar-room scrap, which is exactly the case. Gross’s 189 Lbs seemed to belie good physical conditioning with the exception of the steel coils he calls legs, from which his power is undoubtedly generated. On a personal note, he’s a down to earth man with a treasure-trove of “Shelby-isms” he’s constructed to adequately describe his outlook on some of life’s deepest questions. If you ever run into him, ask him about his parable of the lion leading sheep or the relationship between success and discipline…..you just might learn something. Whether or not he ever becomes the World Champion remains to be seen; but he surely could compile of book full of his home-spun wisdom.
When the two entered the ring, one would have thought Tennessee was the “Garden State”. Gunn’s stable of backers had showed up in strength and voiced loudly their support for the transplanted Virginian. Clad in resplendent blue and green checks, Gunn certainly looked the part of a champion to-be as he tested out the parameters and padding of the ring. He had already captured the WBE Cruiserweight belt and nearly everyone in attendance expected him to add the IBA strap to his waist as well.
Gross, sporting a week’s worth of stubble and camouflaged trunks, climbed through the ropes, surprisingly, to a chorus of boos. The South Carolina native grew up in Dixie, right next door to the Volunteer State; and in most cases geography plays a large role in who the fan favorite is in a bout….not in this case. The “Bonetown Brawler” was booed lustily as he made his way around the circle square; occasionally sneering at Gunn’s cheering section, who were persistent in their insults and pre-fight predictions of Shelby’s eminent demise.
As Discombobulating Jones introduced the participants, one could feel the drama of the event begin to swell as the tension between the two men was so thick it could have been cut with a knife. A small grin crept across Gunn’s face when his name was announced to resounding applause and cheers. Gross just stared with focused determination while the two men were brought to center ring for instructions. During the formalities, the fans remained standing in unison in anticipation for the sounding of the gong. Whenever you feel the “woo-woo” hairs on the back of your neck stand up, you know something special’s about to take place; “woo-woo” hairs don’t lie.
Round 1:
Gross starts off with occasional strong jabs to the body while Gunn circles, looking for countering opportunities. Approximately one minute into the round, Gunn counters a body jab with a short quick right hand that lands flush on Shelby’s chin. Gross’s legs immediately wobble from the impact of the blow. Sensing he has his man in trouble, Gunn rushes in and unleashes a salvo of combinations while Gross tries to block and clear his head. Gunn batters Gross all around the ring to the hoops and howls of the crowd until he finally lands a booming right hand to Shelby’s jaw which sends sweat flying as Gross crashes to the canvas. The place is in an uproar as Gross struggles to his feet. Once upright, Shelby spits his mouthpiece onto the canvas to buy more time as the ref takes it and him over to his corner to wash it off and replace it. The moment the referee signals the fighters to continue, Gunn begins systematically taking his man apart with precise shots to both the body and head. Gross doesn’t appear to know where he is as he fights back through sheer will. As the round enters it’s final few seconds, Gunn rips a vicious combination to the head and then unleashes a wicked right hand to the ribs which causes Gross to tumble onto his side and roll over onto his back. He lays there staring up at the lights with his mouthpiece sticking out for what seems like an eternity. It doesn’t look like he’s going to get up; but just as the count reaches seven, Shelby rolls over, climbs to his haunches and struggles up on wobbly legs. For a moment there is some confusion as a ringside official places a stool in Gross’s corner, presuming the fight’s over. The referee orders him to get the stool out of the ring, he hasn’t stopped anything. Just then, the round ends and the men go to their corners. Round 1: Gunn…..10-7
Round 2:
The round starts off with Gunn pressuring Gross to find out if he’s still hurt…he is; but is covering up well, though giving ground. About forty-five seconds into the round, Gross, with his back approximately two feet away from the ropes, catches Gunn coming in with a short little left hook which visibly wobbles Bobby to the gasps and shrieks of the crowd. Smelling blood, Gross, tiger-like, pounces on his wounded prey and pounds him into and down the ropes where, ala the opening scene in the original “Rocky”, he straddles his fallen opponent and continues to pound on Gunn as “Rocky Balboa” did “Spider Rico” until the ref grabs Gross from behind and slings him halfway across the ring away from Gunn. The Crowd, who are collectively on their feet on the verge of a riot, are vehemently yelling curses at the “Bonetown Brawler” as he catches an earful from the referee as well. All the while Gunn stands up and begins to shake off the cobwebs.
Gunn is given some time to recover from Gross’s illegal assault; but wanting to exact his own toll, doesn’t take all of it. When the action resumes, Gross immediately picks up where he left off, throwing every punch and combination in his arsenal while Gunn does his best to cover up keep him at bay by throwing occasional countershots that have little to no steam. Now it is Shelby who is punching every undefended and defended area on Gunn with as much force as he can muster while Gunn is looking to turn the tide once more. A little more than half-way through the round, Gross unleashes a brutal body assault, finishing off the combination with a deadly accurate left hook to the point of Gunn’s chin, causing the Jersey boy to crumble backwards and onto the seat of his pants and over onto his side.
Obviously hurt, Gunn, somehow, finds the heart to struggle to his feet once more, just beating the count of ten. Worried expressions and pleas to “Hold On!” echo from all around ringside, especially from the Gunn cheering gallery behind me. Gross, not to be denied, picks up exactly where he left off with hard body shots which bring Gunn’s guard down. Gunn puts up a gutsy effort, exchanging punch for punch when he should be tying his man up; but is far too hurt to adequately fend off the incoming. At 2:45 of the round, Gross lands two shots to the body, followed by a pulverizing left hook, once again to the very point of Gunn’s chin, sending his man crashing backwards to mat like 181 Lbs of dead weight, with the back of his cranium bouncing off the canvas.
As Shelby waits in the neutral corner, Bobby Gunn, somehow, defies gravity again and raises the crumpled heap that was his body off the mat. However, his legs are unable to answer his fighting heart’s call to arms as he falls apart in pieces towards his own corner where he crashes into the padding and slides down again to the canvas. It’s all over with one second left in the round. What a fight!!
Shelby Gross and Bobby Gunn proved without a shadow of a doubt that one does not need to possess world class ranking to own a world class heart. That’s not to say one or both of these men will not go on to championship gold some day; but is merely a testament to their individual determination and grit. For Gross to comeback from the shellacking he took in the round prior and turn the tables so completely is all one needs to know about this South Carolina native, or to put it in his words: “I AM A LION!!!
Man, I used to wrestle with 2000 Lb cows every day, NO WAY A 200 Lb Man is gonna hurt Me! NO, I’m no a great fighter; but I’M THE GREEDIEST FIGHTER IN THE WORLD!!” Also, give credit to Gunn for his fighting heart as well. Though Gross got the victory, there were no losers in this fight or in the audience. Gunn and Gross both did the sport proud; and should Bobby and the “Bonetown Brawler” rematch in a venue near you, do yourself a favor and buy a ticket. You won’t be disappointed.
Tennessee Turf War: Jerome Pillow vs Marty Robbins (Jr. Lightweights)
You would have thought the world championship was at stake the way these two men went to war. Pillow is a 39 year old 130 Lb'er from Columbia, TN with an unblemished 13-0 (10 KO's) record. Robbins, a Crossville, TN native sports an experienced 21-31-1 (15 KO's) record; but of those 21 wins, 15 took place in Tennessee without a loss, which is what sold this match as a Mid-South Championship. Robbins was far more experienced than any opponent Pillow has ever faced before and it showed in the middle rounds. Normally, Robbins fights at Jr. Welterweight; but judging by his physique, Jr. Lightweight suites him better; though Robbins did seem to be the naturally stronger fighter as the night progressed. To say drama surrounded this 10 round undercard bout would be a grievous understatement. It seemed as though half of Columbia had turned out for Jerome Pillow's first regional championship.
As Robbins waited in the ring, the soulful voice of Al Green came over the house speakers, crooning Booker T & The MG's "A Change is Gonna Come", which you might remember from the "Ali" soundtrack. Shadowboxing in rhythm to the R & B classic as he slowly walked towards the ring, Jerome stared deep into himself, presumably going over his fight plan and building himself up for the task at hand. When he entered the ring, the crowd, who had been on their feet from his initial appearance at the edge of the arena, exploded in a wall of sound, cheering their hometown late-bloomer.
Round 1: Pillow comes out and sets the pace with quick jabs and body shots. Robbins seems to be feeling him out, occasionally unleashing some hard body punches. Midway through the round there's an accidental clash of heads as both men come in at the same time, resulting in a slight cut along Robbins's right brow. The two men resume the action with Pillow once again using his jab to get inside and pound Robbins' midsection.
Round Pillow....10-9
Round 2: Robbins comes out more aggressive, pounding on Jerome's ribs. Pillow takes advantage of Robbins increased offense by countering well on both the inside and the outside. Two minutes into the action Pillow lands a beautiful right hand straight down the pipe and sets Robbins on his kieshter. Marty appears more stunned than hurt and gets up at the count of six. Pillow steps back up in side, trying to land a combination to put Robbins back on the canvas; but Robbins covers well and lasts out the round.
Round Pillow....10-8
Round 3: Pillow comes out for Round 3 looking to set up Robbins for another right hand; but Marty steps up inside Pillow's power. There is much infighting this round with good work by both men. Jerome seems to mix his combinations better; but Robbins appears stronger and lands some sapping punches to the body. As the round progresses, Robbins really pours it on to the body of his 39 year old opponent who has never gone ten rounds before. Both men trade more or less evenly; but Robbins’ bodywork could have won him this stanza.
Round Even....10-10
Round 4: Robbins meets Pillow in the center of the ring and bulls him backwards into his own corner and then along the ropes until he has Pillow's back in his corner, working the body mercilessly and almost exclusively. Jerome finally fights his way off the ropes; but is caught with a vicious left hook that knocks him backwards into the ropes. Pillow seems to recover well; but Robbins won't let him breathe.
Round Robbins....10-9
Round 5: Pillow opens up strong; but is fighting with his mouth open, apparently feeling the penalty for the rapid pace. This round could be fought in a phone booth, both men exchanging, countering, and blocking everywhere but on the ropes. Robbins puts together some powerful body shots driving Pillow back towards the ropes; but Jerome grits his teeth and fires off a multi-punch combination that forces Robbins to move backwards. Not to be outdone, Robbins fires back a salvo of his own. Non-stop punching all round long, slight advantage Pillow.
Round Pillow....10-9
Round 6: Both men pick up exactly where they left off fighting at an unbelievable pace....it's a shame compu-box isn't measuring this punch output. Pillow is executing beautiful combinations on the inside, occasionally stepping back to set up some power shots with the jab. In addition to his bodywork, Robbins begins circling around looking for opportunities to pot shot the tiring Pillow as he comes in. Suddenly, Pillow launches a three punch combination, all of which land solidly. The last punch, a left hook, cracks off Robbins skull and sends the salve on his cut flying into the third or fourth row. The crowd is on their feet as the round comes to a close.
Round Pillow...10-9
Round 7: Round 7 starts off with Pillow obviously wanting to jab and shoot rights from long range; but Robbins, sensing Pillow is tiring, bulls Jerome into the ropes for some more body work. Pillow, knowing what Robbins has in mind, pushes him off and the two exchange at close quarters, with Marty getting the better of it more often than not. Robbins starts to sharp shoot towards the end of the round to good effect.
Close round, edge Robbins....10-9
Round 8: The round begins with Robbins bulling the fatigued Pillow into the ropes, abusing his body greatly with slamming punches. Cries of "BUSY HANDS, BUSY FEET!!!" come from the front row where Jerome's gym mates are seated. Whether or not Jerome hears them or not is debatable; but it seems as though he does as he digs deep within himself and fights his way off the ropes to ring center where he throws 1, 2 after 1,2 into Robbins' guard, with the occasional punch getting through. All round sees Pillow catching more and standing still longer; but then rallying to the cries of "BUSY HANDS, BUSY FEET, J!! BUSY HANDS, BUSY FEET!!!" Despite Pillow’s efforts to overcome the fatigue that has obviously set in, Robbins is the fresher of the two and lands the more damaging punches.
Round Robbins...10-9
Round 9: Robbins practically runs across the ring and jumps right in Pillow's chest and completely dominates the first minute of the round with hard body shots and hooks to the head. Pillow is tiring badly; Robbins is obviously the fresher of the two as he keeps Jerome pinned on the ropes and give him a good working over. Pillow shows his heart and that he is an extremely game fighter; but Robbins strength is predominantly the difference in the round. Pillow is breathing heavily as the gong sounds to end the stanza.
Round Robbins....10-9
Round 10: Surprisingly, Pillow starts out very aggressive from long range, belying his fatigue. Robbins attempts to bull him into the ropes again; but every time Pillow's back touches the strands, he immediately spins off while firing jabs, rights, and hooks. Midway through the round Robbins throws a left from long range; Pillow weaves and counters beautifully with a Hard right hand that sends the sweat flying off Robbins' head. Time and again Pillow can be seen gritting his teeth and digging deep with combinations that back Robbins up. Pillow takes the round on sheer determination.
Round Pillow...10-9
My score tallied a two point victory for Columbia's own Jerome Pillow....96-94. The official scores were 99-90, 96-93, & 95-94.....all for Jerome Pillow, who is now 14-0 (10 KO's) and the proud owner of a Mid-South Championship.
All too often we turn our noses up to cards with fighters we’ve never heard of before. Often times, it’s as if a fighter is not worth our dollar if we haven’t seen him on HBO or Showtime; but just remember there are far more of these hungry scrappers fighting without the glow of television lights than there are those who flash a golden smile on your TV screen. They are the backbone of the sport; they are the ones who will always be there plugging away, giving the fans their all because they want to be on TV…..they want to be known. They are the ones fighting to escape the shadows and break into the limelight.
So, here’s to the undercard fighters everywhere who shed their blood sweat and tears and are all too often forgotten by the press in a world that would rather cover the Curling “Slide-offs” or who Jennifer Aniston’s seeing these days than cover a local boxing card. Here’s to ya boys (and girls)!! I Salute You! And for all who fought in Nashville, TN Friday night, thanks for a great night of boxing. You all did the sport proud.
Undercard Results:
James “Spider” Webb beats Rohan Nanton by TKO in 2
Melinda Woody beats Ashlyn Johnson by UD in 4
Sammy Spakman beats Marteze Logan by MD in 4
Edgar King beats Caleb Watson by UD in 4
Questions or Comments: kevin.kincade@citcomm.com