When the Floyd Mayweather – Juan Manuel Marquez fight was first announced, I hoped to be in Vegas to cover the fight live. However, when that didn’t happen due to circumstances beyond my control I decided to experience the next best and unique way to view the bout: at a movie theater.
Golden Boy Promotions decided to resurrect an old time boxing tradition when they brought back live theater broadcasts for this fight. Prior to the advent of cable and pay per view, closed circuit broadcasts of big fights at movie theaters were prominent for fighters such as Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and Joe Frazier.
It was a theater in Randolph, Massachusetts where I opted to view the fight. About a 20 minute drive from my home outside Boston. Not knowing what the turnout would be for an event being shown in just one theater in a huge movie complex, I purchased my tickets earlier in the day.
When I arrived I purchased some normal movie snacks. I got a root beer and a hot dog. 8countnews.com owner Ed Anderson who joined me on this adventure also had a root beer and got the more traditional movie snack of popcorn.
As our ticket was ripped for entry into the theater, a movie theater employee asked “Soda? We got better stuff than soda in there.”
Apparently for the big fight they had a bar set up in the theater. We didn’t know beforehand and neither did the dozens of others who would bring in soft drinks and candy purchased at the concession stand only to realize there were more desired adult beverages available inside.
The broadcast began and the theater was not full. My fear of the fight being a sell out and me being left out of the theater experienced proved to be unfounded. However, there was a healthy contingent of fight fans and more would trickle in as we got closer to the main event.
The broadcast began and it was almost like watching by myself in my living room. The crowd was silent, with the exception of casual quiet chatter among audience members, and Cornelius Lock and Orlando Cruz began their scheduled 10 round featherweight fight.
Lock – Cruz was a fight not originally scheduled to be a part of the broadcast. However when former world champ Zab Judah pulled out of the co-feature weeks ago, HBO and promoters bumped the fight to be an on TV bout.
During the first round Orlando Cruz appeared to be working to the body nicely and outworking Lock to win the opening stanza. Then, with just seconds remaining in the round, Lock landed a few solid right hands and put Cruz on the canvas.
“ooooohhhhh”, the theater crowd responded.
The 2nd round was more of the same silence but with more concentration on watching the fight from the crowd. Then in the 3rd round the theater really livened up.
Cruz complained to the ref about a borderline low blow he was hit with.
“Shut up and fight”, shouted one theater goer.
The 3rd round ended with both fighters trading punches, landing cleanly and trying to knock each other out. The theater erupts in applause.
“Now that’s what I’m talking about.”
The fight continued and was an entertaining scrap with Lock scoring two knockdowns in the 5th en route to a TKO win in the same round.
Next up: Michael Katsidis vs. Vicente Escobedo.
The theater loved this fight responding to the pressure and aggression of Katsidis, the occasional clean counters landed by Escobedo, and the way Katsidis would walk through those counters seemingly unfazed.
As time wore on, everyone knew Katsidis was in control and when it went to the scorecards everyone knew he was the winner.
That is except Michael Fitzgerald, an inexperienced Wisconsin official, who happened to be one of the official judges for the fight.
When his scorecard was announced 116-112 for Escobedo, the crowd gasped.
“What?” asked one perplexed spectator in disbelief.
Thankfully the other two judges saw it differently and more correctly and Katsidis won the decision.
Following the final bell Ed Anderson stepped out for a bathroom break and a return visit to the concession stand. When he returned with a newly purchased bag of Reese’s Piece’s I had to tell him that one of the three judges scored the fight in favor of Escobedo.
“Some judges are so stupid”, he laughed. Well said Ed.
Next up came the rematch between defending featherweight champ Chris John and challenger Rocky Juarez. In comparison to the Katsidis – Escobedo fight, the crowd was relatively subdued due to the lack of action. John seemingly was boxing his way to a lopsided decision.
Then in the final 30 seconds of the final round, Juarez hit John with a left hook that buckled his knees.
“ohhhhhhh”
John has a huge lead but Juarez had him hurt. Would he be able to finish him?
John survived and won a decision and the theater applauded at the bell.
Next up: Main event time.
This Massachusetts crowd was overwhelmingly pro Mayweather. There were a few shouts of “Viva Mexico” during the Mexican national anthem, but they appeared to be made with derogatory sarcasm as opposed to actual national pride from a Mexican.
Throughout the bout, Mayweather’s dominance was on display. He could hit Marquez as will and rarely got hit with anything in return.
When he did, he would smile at Marquez and grin much to the theaters delight.
“Ha”, laughed a fan, “Floyd’s having fun in there.”
In the opening round Mayweather hit Marquez with a straight punch. On the big screen shown in HD, you could see a red mark briefly form on the face of Marquez in the exact spot he was hit in and then disappear as blood underneath the skin dispersed.
In the second round, Floyd nailed Marquez with a perfectly timed left hook knocking him down to the canvas. This brought numerous theater goers to their feet with hands in the air signaling victory. A huge ovation for Floyd.
In between rounds, the crowd laughed at everything trainer Roger Mayweather said.
The remainder of the fight was more of the same. There was speculation on whether Floyd would knock Marquez out. Would Marquez quit between rounds?
“If I was his trainer I’d stop it..there’s no way he can win. What good can come out of continuing?”, asked one man behind me rhetorically.
In the end Marquez did finish the fight standing and Mayweather was awarded the expected unanimous decision victory. Some got up to leave..those who stayed got a show.
HBO commentator Max Kellerman’s postfight interview was a spectacle in itself.
Floyd started thanking sponsors during an answer and Max said with a smile “Let’s not do a commercial.”
Seemingly in good spirits Floyd mentioned that his sponsors give him “seven figures” so he had to do it.
Kellerman then asked about Floyd having to pay financial concessions to Marquez for coming in over the 144 contracted weight limit and Floyd said was “not here to talk about money.” This despite the fact that he mentioned money seconds previously with his “seven figures” comment and his nickname.
Then Kellerman asked about the potential of a Mayweather – Shane Mosley megafight. Suddenly Mosley appeared in the ring.
“Oh here we go”
Bernard Hopkins began shouting at Floyd. Mosley’s yelling at Floyd. Mayweather’s happy face has suddenly turned to an intense and borderline angry face. Kellerman almost loses control of the interview but regains some composure over the situation.
Then as he goes to ask Floyd another question, Floyd accuses him of “doing too much talking” and tried to take the microphone to speak. Kellerman just sends it back to fellow HBO commentator Jim Lampley.
“Max was shook”, says one Mayweather supporter.
“Mosley wants to fight now”, says another enthusiastically.
The broadcast ends and as I leave I hear a guy say, “If I was Floyd I would’ve punched Max Kellerman in the mouth.”
I guess some of these fans were ignoring the fact that Kellerman was asking legitimate questions and a lot of fans wanted legitimate answers. They were the Mayweather faithful.
It was a new and exciting perspective to view a fight and one that I think can be successful again. I hope that this becomes a trend and we see big fights more often on big screens. Can anybody say Pacquiao – Cotto?
Source: http://www.8countnews.com/news/125/ARTICLE/1935/2009-09-20.html
