TOP RANK BOXING

BY JOHN MASTALIR edbrucevegas@yahoo.com

I have been reporting boxing in Las Vegas non stop for 26 years...it has had its ups and downs and the martial arts game has made great inroads with the populace....NOT FOR ME.

Everthing has its ups and downs especially boxing...each event really needs to live on its own merits, adminstration and matches ! Saturday night at the Hard Rock we hit a home run. Good matches, great administration and some twists in the matches. I give TOP RANK credit for their career promotion work throughout the world.

Today there are hundreds of championships, alleged championships and want to be championships...a long time ago I dispensed with labels and call letters...that will continue into the 22nd century. That said we had some fighters Saturday that were on the level below world class (actually only a hand full of world class fighters exist anyway) which made for a first class boxing card.

Hard Rock has a new venue for boxing and this reporter had the best access ever...front row balcony 10 rows back looking down into the ring...I think its a better view than the judges get. Top Rank always puts out great media history information and a meal came with this...ticket prices great for the 1900 fans from all nations....got to hear thre national anthems...a semi amusing adative.

So they fought..3 pre pay per view fights and four for the $46.

137 Anthony Peterson 29-0 unanimous 10 rounder over a game Luis Arceo 22-9-3
one near world class fighter here.

145 Mark Melligen 16-1 four round TKO over Ernest Zepeda 39-13-4...mismatch,
Ernest has had 56 too many fights and referee Joe Cortez almost waited too
long to stop it....book still out on Melligen altho he is a terric puncher.

125 fight of the night...Steven Luevano 37-1-1 wins over Bernabe Concepcion 29-2-1 as
Concepcion is disqualified for a late blow after round seven...the fighters
had been touching up after each round ...Luevano dropped his hands after
the bell and got nailed..referee Jay Nady corectly made the call
immediately.......you hate the DQ especially in this hotly contested
match ...rematch coming according to all...these are two first class boxers...I
want more.

115 Main event..sort of... Rafael Concepcion 13-4-1 missed weight by 5 pounds and
then lost a 117-111, 116-112, 115-113 decision to headliner Nonito Donaire 22-1 I was actually routing against Concepcion for missing weight but he really
took the fight to Donaire, who ran but scored the more convincing blows...I
could see this again in a heart beat but Donaire is moving up weight...which way
do you go from 115 ? Donaire not as dominating as programmed !

Great time had by all, great eveing of boxing, great venue, top administration..the bar is high now from the Crown boxing card Friday at the Orleans. Frank Luca works like hell to put on his club cards for $25...we will be there you should too !

A+ 99 for TOP RANK