It was a perfect start to the new year for the Carson City Boxing Club on Saturday afternoon at the Reno Boys & Girls Club. The Reno Jets Boxing Team hosted an invitational amateur boxing card for the first live amateur fight card of the year.
"We took three boxers and all three won," said CCBC Director Chuck Williams. "It was a good start for the year for our fighters and we're all pleased with the results."
CCBC Head Coach Frank Peralta and assistant coach Victor Bruno, along with Williams, worked the corners with the local fighters.
"We had Dwayne Pope win by decision over Reno's Chad Saganey and Louis Loe knocked out Daniel Free from Fallon in the first round," Williams added. "Mike Peralta won by walkover when his opponent, Al Goranson of Reno, failed his physical. He had the flu and couldn't fight."
The Loe fight against Free, who was in his first fight ever, had a sad ending with some good news afterward.
"They carried Free out of the ring on a stretcher and to the hospital for precautionary tests," said Chuck. "He wasn't hurt, but they were taking no chances. He's OK now and we're all glad to hear that."
The card was put on by Reno's Thelma Tavares and she said she was pleased with the results.
"It was a good card with 17-fights on it," said Thelma. "It was a great action card and we'll go again with another card at the Boys & Girls Club on Feb. 12. We've got some good action fights coming up."
The main event Saturday was a rare, for amateurs, super heavyweight fight between Jewel Saganey of Reno and Andrew Herrera of Fallon. Saganey, the brother of Chad, won by decision. The Fallon Boys & Girls Boxing Club won the team sportsmanship trophy.
A NEW DATE - Chuck Williams also noted that the local boxing club has a new date to host its invitational fight card, which will be the first of the year for Carson City.
"We'll go on April 1 - and that's no April Fool's joke - instead of the old date of March 25," said Chuck. "The card will take place at the Ormsby House and we'll have a good show for the fans. We expect to have around 20 fights on the card."
More details later as fight time gets a bit closer.
A HAPPY CAMPER - That would be Reno's Mills Lane. I was talking with Lane on Sunday after the football games and I asked him if he missed being a referee and was possibly thinking of coming back to the ring?
"Nope," was his quick and laughing response."I had a great time at it but my time is done. I had a good run and I'm happy where I'm at now."
He's busy with his Judge Mills Lane TV show and Lane had some good news to relay about the show.
"I like doing the show and it was just renewed for another year," he said happily. "The money's good, too."
In addition to his TV show, Mills is doing color commentary for FOX TV's live boxing telecasts.
"That's something I like doing," said Mills, who just returned from doing the Larry King Show a few days ago and, by the time you read this, will be gone again.
"I'm keeping busy and I don't miss being a referee," he added. "I like how things are going for me and my family and wouldn't change a thing."
Many of us wish he would reconsider - but he won't and that's that!
TYSON AGAIN - This Saturday in England, Mike Tyson - whose famous "ear-bite" of Evander Holyfield made Mills Lane a household name in America - tries to get his mis-managed and shaky career back on track when he fights Julius Francis.
Tyson, who hasn't looked good inside the ropes in quite a long time, needs an impressive win to keep his chances of ever fighting for the title intact. Tyson, barring any strange happenings in this fight, hasn't had a good fight in years and, at age 33, must show quick improvement to qualify for a shot at undisputed champ Lennox Lewis. A loss would cripple his career beyond repair, in my opinion.
Don't know anything about Francis except his record. He's 21 -7 and, on paper, doesn't figure to give Tyson much trouble but "Iron" Mike seems to get into enough trouble on his own and may not need any help from his foe.
I will say this. If Francis can move and jab and stay away, he's got a shot to win by decision, especially if Francis, the British heavyweight champ, can steal a hometown decision. I look for Tyson to knock Francis out early, but, I've thought that before about some of his other recent fights and that didn't happen. We'll just wait and see what this fight brings.
The fight will be on Showtime at 10 p.m. That's an eight-hour tape delay showing and since most of you don't get Showtime, you can get the results early by watching the afternoon sports shows like Sportscenter on ESPN or Sports Saturday on CNN as well as on all the local news shows sports segments.
Personally, I'd like to see Tyson get beat and maybe we can then get rid of him, but my gut instinct says Francis is not the guy to do the job. I hope I'm wrong, but I doubt it.
- There's a change in the main event on the ESPN2 live Friday night card from New Orleans. Thomas Tate is out of the card and Esteban Cervantes will take his spot against Syd Vanderpool. Cervantes brings a 22-3-2 with 14 KO record into the scheduled 10-round super middleweight fight against Vanderpool, who is 27-1 with 18 KO's. First bell is set for 6 p.m.
ALAN ROGERS is the Nevada Appeal boxing writer.
