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By Jake Donovan - For years, Memphis in May has been about barbecues, blues and booze. A festive weekend capped with the World Championship Barbecue Competition helps, if only for a weekend, captivate all of the culture, scenery and hospitality that River City has to offer. This weekend in particular is special, as it comes on the heels of the city celebrating 50 Years of Soul Music.
Since 2002, Memphis has also played host to at least one major fight card per year. The tradition began with Lennox Lewis' eight-round thrashing of Mike Tyson in what was until two weekends ago the most lucrative fight in boxing history. Since then, Roy Jones, Glen Johnson, Antonio Tarver, Jermain Taylor and Winky Wright have all played Beale Street.
This year, the town tries an experiment that will hopefully morph into a new tradition: Boxing on Beale Street, during Memphis in May.
A much neater title can be offered for this year's event: Middleweights in Memphis in May.
Though lead promoter Lou DiBella deserves full credit for offering a full undercard, thus a great excuse for fans to arrive early, the co-feature and main event are perhaps the best 1-2 punch the town has offered since becoming a pugilistic player five years ago. Those attending, or tuning in on HBO (Saturday, May 19, 10:15PM ET/7:15PM PT), get to see two bouts that, regardless of outcomes (save for a pair or draws), will greatly affect the landscape in the middleweight division. [details]
Since 2002, Memphis has also played host to at least one major fight card per year. The tradition began with Lennox Lewis' eight-round thrashing of Mike Tyson in what was until two weekends ago the most lucrative fight in boxing history. Since then, Roy Jones, Glen Johnson, Antonio Tarver, Jermain Taylor and Winky Wright have all played Beale Street.
This year, the town tries an experiment that will hopefully morph into a new tradition: Boxing on Beale Street, during Memphis in May.
A much neater title can be offered for this year's event: Middleweights in Memphis in May.
Though lead promoter Lou DiBella deserves full credit for offering a full undercard, thus a great excuse for fans to arrive early, the co-feature and main event are perhaps the best 1-2 punch the town has offered since becoming a pugilistic player five years ago. Those attending, or tuning in on HBO (Saturday, May 19, 10:15PM ET/7:15PM PT), get to see two bouts that, regardless of outcomes (save for a pair or draws), will greatly affect the landscape in the middleweight division. [details]
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