BOXING

BY John Mastalir jmastalir@yahoo.com

Always entertainment for me.

I have been a boxing fan for 50 years and continue to enjoy the competition and aura that surrounds it. This from the golden gloves in Norfolk, Nebraska 1958...to being the ring announcer for the first womens card in Topeka, Kansas 1978....to my first big fight as a reporter for KVBC-TV 3 Las Vegas at the Riveria 1984....to covering nearly every pro fight in Las Vegas since my arrival.... to Saturdays card at the Planet Hollywood. I remember them all (or as the late Jack Welch used to say....most of them) ! Each match has an element of uncertainty....man to man and of course anything can happen. It did at Planet Hollywood Saturday.

Three knockdowns in the first round with Kendall Holt going down twice in 40 seconds and recovering to knockout Ricardo Torres in 61 seconds in the main event.....these 140 pounders.... B level fighters for a quasi (title) with interesting histories and abilities. This a rematch from a fight that was fought in Columbia last year. It is all judgmental on how good each fighter is and how good the matches are so the issue is to go and see and you be the judge ! What more could you want in the unexpected category.....this was not Nadal-Federer 16, but what could be, this was a nice local sporting event I enjoyed. Good solid competition on top of a Top Rank card that featured 8 other bouts and started on time at 4:30 for Showtime....3226 in attendance at one of boxing great arenas....when they imploded the Alladin they saved this and it remains among the citys best for all events.

My angle is to be entertained and boxing gives me access to officials, fans and new friends to replay old fights and second guess the referees.....Joe Cortez are you listening ? First class venue with first class people running the show to include hotel staff, Nevada Athletic Commission officials and first class promoter Bob Arum (at least in his mind and mine) and his staff.

Not every match is a world beater but they all bring man to man and the fighters have never been on strike which eliminates my field of interest to indoor soccer, minor league hockey and boxing. Thank you one and all for a great night of entertainment !

I continue to judge all entertainment on the Standard....Sammy Davis Jr.

A 95

This night the interfight rap music did not start until 6:29..... another big plus.....also the air conditioning was beautiful when it was 108 outside......Thank you Top Rank, thank you Planet Hollywood, thank you Steve Flynn...