The Darker Side of Boxing

[Andre]

Holmcall,

I think this is great. Let me think about it and get back to you.

Do you have links to your articles on boxing reform?

Here you are:

From 1993 to 2004, Antwun "Kid Dynamite" Echols ran up an admirable 29-5-1 mark. After losing his first professional fight, he won 13 in a row all by stoppage but against dreadful opposition that even included the infamous Eric Crumble who would finish his career at 0-31-(KO 31). In 2006, he fought a draw against tough and future world champion Eric Lucas in Quebec and then won 8 more in a row again all by stoppage. He had earned a reputation as a force.

In 1999, "The Kid" stepped up and lost a UD to IBF Middleweight Champion, Bernard Hopkins but he gave a good account of himself. Echols was stopped in the 10th stanza in a rematch with Hopkins in Las Vegas in a dirty, foul-filled fight that looked more like a street fight than a boxing match.

The Brewer Brawl

On May 19, 2001, in a fight I saw live at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT, Echols participated in one of the most remarkable closet classic in boxing history against Philadelphian Charles "The Hatchet" Brewer (36-7). After an ebb and flow first round that featured an exchange of heavy blows, Echols was viciously decked 3 times in the 2nd stanza that put him on Queer Street. Somehow and to the amazement of the spectators, he survived. In round 3, Brewer immediately went for the kill but instead was hit by a straight right from Echols that decked him. Echols, now fully recovered, went after him like a mugger at midnight and caught Brewer flush with a looping right. "The Kid" then maneuvered Brewer to the ropes where he landed a series of head snapping shots that forced referee Michael Ortega to halt matters in what many considered a premature stoppage. Nevertheless, the incredible turnaround was one for the memory bank.

In 2002, Echols displayed his vaunted power by waxing and exposing Oscar Bravo (16-1) with a crunching hook early in round one. Bravo did a Berbeck 3-step. Echols also beat roughhousing (as in dirty) Kabary Salem (16-1).Then in 2003, a favored Echols lost by close decision to Anthony Mundine for the vacant WBA Super Middleweight title. Two years later, he was stopped by Nigerian transplant Kingsley Ikeke (22-1) in an IBF Middleweight Eliminator.

Post Ikeke

The stoppage loss to Ikeke marked the beginning of a downward journey for "Kid Dynamite." Suddenly, he no longer was the feared, skilled, and seasoned veteran with heavy hands and a decent chin. Yes, he had been decked before, but more often than not this crowd pleaser came back more dangerous than ever and managed to snatch victory from impending defeat.

In addition to fighting stiff opposition, Echols fought 80 grueling rounds in 2007 and 2008. As a result, he became a shadow of his former self and fought with visibly unsteady legs. In 2009, he was stopped by rugged Roman "Made in Hell" Karmazin (though he did deck "Hell"), Phil Williams, and Angel Hernandez. In 2010, the Memphis native notched a KO win against winless Fred Thomas. He then went the distance against undefeated Caleb Truax (14-0-1), but was stopped by Darryl Cunningham (19-2) in 3, savaged by heavy handed Joey "KO Kid" Spina (25-1-2) in 3, and then waxed by a sap-like shot to the head by Colombian bomber Alejandro "Naco" Berrio (31-5) also in 3. Since the Ikeke fight, Echols’s record is a troublesome 1-11- 3 including 7 stoppage defeats.

The Future

Antwun’s career record is now 32 (KO 2-16 (KO9)-4. He has fought in 19 different states and in Ecuador, Canada (twice), and Australia. He was once a proud and formidable fighter and has a fine legacy as a power punching crowd pleaser. Many of his fights were spine tinglers where he came from behind to win, but those chillers were then and this is now and Father Time is not charitable. Fighting the likes of Berrio at this point could well be a bad accident waiting to happen.

After watching footage of young Joey Spina brutally taking apart "The Kid" at Foxwoods, my memory sadly drifted back to the Brewer vs. Echols classic that took place 9 years ago just up the road at another Connecticut casino. I thought about how that version of Echols would have iced Spina early and malifically like he did against Oscar Bravo. For his own sake, I wish "The Kid" would retire, but that’s a decision he must make—and because of that, I am again reminded that there are many dimensions to this business of boxing and some are darker than others.

That was a pearler of a fight, I'll never forget it .

here it is..

[greynotsoold]

My friend told me a story how a guy from his hometown, considered a good prospect at the time, was fighting a guy from out of town, considered to be a real tough guy, but in town to lose. The day of the fight, the opponent said that if he didn't get another $1,500 he would try to win and they paid him. Interesting thing, last time I checked the opponent that wanted more money was a state boxing commissioner.

[Master]

Holmcall,

I think this is great. Let me think about it and get back to you.

Do you have links to your articles on boxing reform?

Here you are:

From 1993 to 2004, Antwun "Kid Dynamite" Echols ran up an admirable 29-5-1 mark. After losing his first professional fight, he won 13 in a row all by stoppage but against dreadful opposition that even included the infamous Eric Crumble who would finish his career at 0-31-(KO 31). In 2006, he fought a draw against tough and future world champion Eric Lucas in Quebec and then won 8 more in a row again all by stoppage. He had earned a reputation as a force.

In 1999, "The Kid" stepped up and lost a UD to IBF Middleweight Champion, Bernard Hopkins but he gave a good account of himself. Echols was stopped in the 10th stanza in a rematch with Hopkins in Las Vegas in a dirty, foul-filled fight that looked more like a street fight than a boxing match.

The Brewer Brawl

On May 19, 2001, in a fight I saw live at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT, Echols participated in one of the most remarkable closet classic in boxing history against Philadelphian Charles "The Hatchet" Brewer (36-7). After an ebb and flow first round that featured an exchange of heavy blows, Echols was viciously decked 3 times in the 2nd stanza that put him on Queer Street. Somehow and to the amazement of the spectators, he survived. In round 3, Brewer immediately went for the kill but instead was hit by a straight right from Echols that decked him. Echols, now fully recovered, went after him like a mugger at midnight and caught Brewer flush with a looping right. "The Kid" then maneuvered Brewer to the ropes where he landed a series of head snapping shots that forced referee Michael Ortega to halt matters in what many considered a premature stoppage. Nevertheless, the incredible turnaround was one for the memory bank.

In 2002, Echols displayed his vaunted power by waxing and exposing Oscar Bravo (16-1) with a crunching hook early in round one. Bravo did a Berbeck 3-step. Echols also beat roughhousing (as in dirty) Kabary Salem (16-1).Then in 2003, a favored Echols lost by close decision to Anthony Mundine for the vacant WBA Super Middleweight title. Two years later, he was stopped by Nigerian transplant Kingsley Ikeke (22-1) in an IBF Middleweight Eliminator.

Post Ikeke

The stoppage loss to Ikeke marked the beginning of a downward journey for "Kid Dynamite." Suddenly, he no longer was the feared, skilled, and seasoned veteran with heavy hands and a decent chin. Yes, he had been decked before, but more often than not this crowd pleaser came back more dangerous than ever and managed to snatch victory from impending defeat.

In addition to fighting stiff opposition, Echols fought 80 grueling rounds in 2007 and 2008. As a result, he became a shadow of his former self and fought with visibly unsteady legs. In 2009, he was stopped by rugged Roman "Made in Hell" Karmazin (though he did deck "Hell"), Phil Williams, and Angel Hernandez. In 2010, the Memphis native notched a KO win against winless Fred Thomas. He then went the distance against undefeated Caleb Truax (14-0-1), but was stopped by Darryl Cunningham (19-2) in 3, savaged by heavy handed Joey "KO Kid" Spina (25-1-2) in 3, and then waxed by a sap-like shot to the head by Colombian bomber Alejandro "Naco" Berrio (31-5) also in 3. Since the Ikeke fight, Echols’s record is a troublesome 1-11- 3 including 7 stoppage defeats.

The Future

Antwun’s career record is now 32 (KO 2-16 (KO9)-4. He has fought in 19 different states and in Ecuador, Canada (twice), and Australia. He was once a proud and formidable fighter and has a fine legacy as a power punching crowd pleaser. Many of his fights were spine tinglers where he came from behind to win, but those chillers were then and this is now and Father Time is not charitable. Fighting the likes of Berrio at this point could well be a bad accident waiting to happen.

After watching footage of young Joey Spina brutally taking apart "The Kid" at Foxwoods, my memory sadly drifted back to the Brewer vs. Echols classic that took place 9 years ago just up the road at another Connecticut casino. I thought about how that version of Echols would have iced Spina early and malifically like he did against Oscar Bravo. For his own sake, I wish "The Kid" would retire, but that’s a decision he must make—and because of that, I am again reminded that there are many dimensions to this business of boxing and some are darker than others.

That was a pearler of a fight, I'll never forget it .

here it is..

Wow what a fight

[Andre]

Great eh ,what a shame it didnt go a few more seconds more!
premature stoppage for sure but probably only by seconds.
I think Charles was a goner anyway cause he had his elbows out with his gloves protecting the sides of head but Eccols was throwing dead straight down the pipe so really they would be still unanswered.

[Master]

Great eh ,what a shame it didnt go a few more seconds more!
premature stoppage for sure but probably only by seconds.
I think Charles was a goner anyway cause he had his elbows out with his gloves protecting the sides of head but Eccols was throwing dead straight down the pipe so really they would be still unanswered.

Yes but it was such a dramatic turn around that Tate deserved some more seconds, could have survived.

[Andre]

Yeah another few seconds and we could of all been able to tell for certain. Eccols was sure teeing off on him though, he even had time to lean back and load up for a couple of king hits. brewer recons he was in the process of clearing his head. I can think of better ways to do that though like moving or blocking. Mean first round too , these two were right at it from the start. Wish it had gone on.

[Master]

Yeah another few seconds and we could of all been able to tell for certain. Eccols was sure teeing off on him though, he even had time to lean back and load up for a couple of king hits. brewer recons he was in the process of clearing his head. I can think of better ways to do that though like moving or blocking. Mean first round too , these two were right at it from the start. Wish it had gone on.

Remember the Gatti v ward fight, that should have been stopped but glad the ref let it carry on as we ended up seeing a full classic. refs should do it more.