The clock on my computer says 8:20 AM. In most cases I'd be saying that I not only slept in, I'd be saying I had a great nights sleep. In this case, neither are true. Jennifer and I arrived home at 3:30 AM this morning and I had to sift through around 60 e-mail messages last night before heading off to bed. So I'm not at all well rested. In fact, I can guarantee you that right now at this very moment, my eyes are puffier than Fernando Guerero's and tired enough to wine about how I feel like I just got hit by a train. Pretty selfish after our friend just went 8 rounds pounding the crap out of a guy that just wouldn't fall.
I was in the back after the fight listening to one Reporter ask Fernando, let's talk about the third round. Fernando got a serious look on his face and tried thinking back to the third round and the Reporter said, that was about the best round your opponent had. Fernando replied, it was? The Reporter replied, well, yeah, he hit you about three times in the third round and I'd have to say that was his best round. Did those punches affect you at all? Fernando replied, "he hit me?" Honest to God Folks, he had a very serious look on his face when he said it and kept that straight ace because he was completely serious. He replied, I didn't realize the guy even hit me.
If you weren't at the fight, there's a good chance you saw it on TV. If you didn't see it on TV and you didn't go to the fight, WOW! You missed one of the most pounding fights I've ever seen where the guy getting the shit kicked out of him didn't fall. Fernando beat this guy up like there's no tomorrow and gave the Fans in Salisbury a Show like no one had ever seen before. This kids heart is just unreal. How could anyone who saw that fight last night not say that Fernando didn't give 100% in each and every round? He most certainly did.
Let's talk about the crowd for a moment. Ladies & Gentlemen, THANK YOU! Thank You for attending. Thank You for supporting a local event. Thank You for supporting Salisbury and Thank You for trusting us when we assured you that you'd get your moneys worth. There was a section in the upper top left corner of the Civic Center in which I knew was supposed to stay empty because of the Showtime Camera. I knew before the fight that 4,500 tickets had been sold but there were still plenty of seats left. By 7:30 PM there was a line going out the front door for people wanting tickets, it reminded me of two week ago for the Billiard Event at Diver Downs. I went inside and spoke with Hal Chernoff and he was asking how the line was to buy tickets. I replied, Hal, this thing is going to sell out. He said, Joe, it doesn't matter. We've sold around 4,500 tickets and that's good enough.
The next thing I knew, about two hours later I started seeing the closed section in the top left corner of the Civic Center open up and I thought, I'll be damned, this thing is going to sell out. A friend called me about an hour before the Showtime Fight, (Fernando's) and asked if there were any tickets left. He and three friends wanted to head up there and get whatever seats they had, the nose bleed seats. I walked to the front to the ticket counter and I said, how many seats do you have left? He said, around a hundred or so. There were still around 15 people in line to buy tickets and I told my friends they had better hurry up. By the time the Main Event started I looked up to that section and there wasn't a seat left.
That's what I'm talking about Folks! Supporting this young man as well as Hal Chernoff was not only the right thing to do, you got your money's worth and no one can deny that. OK, so Fernando didn't drop the guy by knockout in the 1st Round. However, you got an 8 Round Show with a young man just pounding his opponent with shots to the body and head like I had never seen before. This kid had heart and while his mouth was wide open after the 2nd round gasping for air, he just wouldn't fall. I came home to several e-mail messages telling me they saw me on Showtime, woo hoo! I'd like to see that video again because I was right at the ring snapping away at shots and then hooting and hollering in support of Fernando. It was a beautiful thing!
My friend Wayne Barall was ring side taking pictures and wants everyone to visit his Site to see the photos he took of the fight. Showtime saw some of his pictures at the weigh in yesterday and immediately hired him to also take shots of last nights fight as well. GO HERE to see his photos of last night. I'll be adding my own photos later today. Thanks for sharing that link Wayne and I truly hope all of you enjoyed the fight. It was a beautiful thing to watch and there's nothing better than LIVE! When I get caught up with sleep I'll completely redo this Post or another one and talk like I have some sense. Till them, please understand I'm working off of very little sleep and I've got that stupid a$$ Sponge Bob playing in the background and my Grandson is up and looks like he's in a coma too.
Thanks for being there Folks and I mean that with all my heart. It was a very special evening for one and all.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
23 comments:
Good job Joe! I wasn't able to attend in person but I did sit in front of my TV watching it. I also recorded it to send over to Iraq for one of my troops who follows your blog.
I saw you many times at ring side taking pics. There were two other faces that I noticed a few rows back. Rick Pollitt and Davis Ruark were sitting together. From the looks on their faces they had a good time.
Try to get some rest today. You deserve it.
It was a good night... but "By the time the Main Event started I looked up to that section and there wasn't a seat left"... by the time Fernando was done about 50% of the crowd left. Most probably assumed that was the main event.
You're right, many people did leave right after Fernando's fight.
I thought it was so cool though, seeing Staff from the Civic Center so blown away with the Civic Center being sold out, or very close to it.
Has Hal Chernoff and Fernando Guerrero brought life back to the Civic Center?
The big question now is, Showtime will want to copme back. Would you pay to go see another fight here at home?
Joe, The sell out had everything to do with Fernandos' personality. The people I talked to way out in the "hinterlands" said they wanted to support this kid no matter what because of his honest and authentic heart of gold. Hal and SBYNews as well as the other media just let the true Fernando shine. I'm not sure just a regular fight would produce such a solid turnout.
ok, forgive someone who knows nothing about fights... but did he WIN???
Salisbury. You looked, and sounded, great last night. Even if you were there in person, watch someone's tv tape of the fight. The commentators were genuinely impressed by the response from the crowd-sounded a bit like the old hard-core ECW wrassling matches I've seen. Shame a lot of people left before the welterweight bout (this is why I think the venue would ultimately not succeeed with just random/out-of-towner cards). I think the Coleman kid deserved the win-and he had it for, like, 4 seconds-until the ring announcer realized he had said the wrong first name. Congrats, Fernando for representing like a champ.
Yes I believe that most people would attend more boxing matches, but unless Fernando is there boxing, theres no way the crowd well be as electrifying as last night. I had second rows seats, it was perfect because i was just out of the blood and sweat splattering range. Yet close enough to see it, and close enough to almost feel every bone shattering blow that was that was delivered from Fernando and the other fighters. My brother and i were talking last night after the fight and we both firmly agree that if it was a ten round fight Fernando would now be 10-0 w 10 KOs. What an amazing performance this was. Fernando did not leave a spot of this young mans upper body untouched, working him up and down left and right. I was amazed that Fernando's opponent stood the whole time.
Does anyone know what Fernando said directly after the fight? The mic was so messed up i would not be surprised if no one knew, but i would love to know. lol and how about that announcer messing up the results of the final fight.... oh my gosh what a mistake!!!
-Adam
I totally do not like the idea of boxing...I hate to see people getting hurt! But..I really wanted to support Fernando..I had been involved with a couple fundraisers for the gym, and was really impressed with him. He is a great guy and deserved the support Salisbury gave him last night. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time...it was a great fight and I was so happy for him and Hal. We should be proud today of Fernando and the Main St Gym!
I will say that my husband & I said last night we'd attend if/when Showtime came back again, even if Fernando wasn't boxing. We had a GREAT time!!!
You are right about last night. It was a great night..all bouts were very good. Only two questions..why did they wait till 3/4 into the show to do the anthem? and who the heck was the WWE wannabe in the white suit? He looked like an aging michelin man, with a pony tail and bling necklace..he really looked like a fool
For those of you wondering what Fernando was saying in the mic after the fight, he was thanking all of YOU. He was thanking Salisbury for all of your support. I was a few feet away from him when he was saying it and the crowd was going so nuts, you're right, it was very hard for anyone to hear. He was overwhelmed with your support.
Oh, Fernando won the fight.
I was there last night and I agree about what everyone said. In my 35 years I have never been to such an exciting event at the civic center. The people of Salisbury and it's surrounding are were so alive! I had a fantastic time. I stayed for all the fights and would pay to see another set of fights again. Thanks to everyone and especially to Fernando for pulling such an event off!
i dont think there was a bad seat in the house. i also am not a huge boxing fan just b/c it doesn't sit well with me. but it's something he chose to do and it is accepted as a valid sport, so why not support him? the crowd was amazing and no doubt it energized fernando!
My wife and I attended in $25 seats and had a great view and a GREAT time. I DO believe the support IS there for these fights. All the fight before Fernando's fight had lots of cheering/energy. And I do believe most thought that was the last fight and left to gtfo... How about that parking lot? I have NEVER seen parking go to that extent for ANY event. And thank you SPD for NOT writing the hundreds of tickets I'm sure you could have.
THANK YOU SHOW TIME!
I think "they" where genuinally impressed with the excitement in the crowd.
Lets hope for more great fights to come.
AWESOME FIGHT NITE!
J.Skinkle
The guy in the white suit was Kelly Armstrong, one of the promoters of several of the boxers. Believe it or not he's a pretty cool guy who loves Fernando and the Salisbury crowd just blew him away!
Great job Fernando! Keep up the hard work and make Salisbury better!
Well now that we've all condoned and supported a bunch of men beating the shit out of each other it's time to release Michael Vicks from prison. I mean, if it's ok for people to fight why not dogs, chickens, cats, squirrels or anything else, right? Lets be fair now.
I never have and never will support boxing however, I will extend congratulations to Fernando for putting his heart and soul into something he believes in, even if I don't. Congratulations Fernando and much success to you.
I came ready to see the See vs. Baker bout, but I was two months late. Fernando was great and represented Salisbury well. This guy is the real deal. Hal has really done a fantastic job molding this young man.
Donna with all due respect,
human beings have free will. They choose to become involved. Mike Vicks trained animals with no free will to kill other animals. If they lost they were often abused if they weren't killed. Vicks is where he needs to be. This doesn't even compare to a boxing match (or even UFC for that matter). I'd never been to a pro fight before that evening. It was outstanding. Watching them on TV all these years - I had no idea what I was missing. Now I'd like to see UFC come to Salisbury one time.
I don't believe in battering people either Donna. 50% of the women in this world are battered..but I eat mine plain.
People who are not involved in boxing are exposed to much worse. Abestos, lead, mercury, various chemicals and paint thinners and the fumes.
Let's also not forget the city that cornered the market in human waste, just go to the GOB any day of the week and take a look. Then go down to the river and catch a wiff, no that is not a Baby Ruth bar floating in the river.
Football among many other sports sometimes create much worse injuries.
The fight was great, but there were too many people sitting ringside who came in late and blocked the view of everyone sitting in the front few rows. These late comers thought they were at Madison Square Garden and wanted to grandstand. Believe me, you don't have the money you think or would like to have, if you did, you wouldn't be living in Salisbury.
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