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Mesi's back...but not in full effect...what's your thoughts?
Mesi's back...but not in full effect...what's your thoughts?
Mesi took his first step toward getting back in the mix with a tough eight-round decision victory against Bellamy. Mesi has spent the last two years fighting a medical suspension by the Nevada Commission. He suffered two bleeds in his brain during a match with Vassiliy Jirov on March 13, 2004 and was subsequently suspended. The suspension was lifted last December when a Nevada judge ruled that the suspension can survive past the license, which expired on Dec. 31, 2004.
The best you can say about Mesi is that he was rustier than a bucket of bolts at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. The good thing you can say is that he made it through the match relatively unscathed. He had a purple mouse (sounds funny, but it looked painful) under his right eye and he was icing a bruised right hand after the fight.
Dr. Robert Cantu, the respected neurosurgeon who took up Mesi's cause to get his license restored by Nevada, was at ring side. He acted as Mesi's cut man. Cantu monitored Mesi between rounds and talked to him. He watched Mesi during the fight to see if there were any problems. Cantu said Mesi never stumbled or staggered and didn't appear hurt from any of the punches that Bellamy landed.
"I think he showed that he's been away from boxing for two years,'' Cantu said of Mesi's performance. "Boxing is not the kind of sport you can stop and then pick up where you left off. I don't think the performance was anywhere near where it will be after a couple of fights. I also give Bellamy tremendous credit because he took a lot of shots and he didn't give up.''
Mesi wasn't happy with the performance either.
"I want to stay at this level of opponent because of my performance,'' Mesi said. "I don't want to go up too quickly because of my performance. I give myself a "C-C Plus.''
Mesi will have to get to his A-game before he's ready. That might not take very long, at least not in Mesi's mind. He believes he fights to the level of the opponent. So, he believes he fought down to Bellamy's level. The 41-year-old Bellamy, the half-brother of former Knicks standout Walt Bellamy, has no amateur background and took up boxing when he was 36. His previous pro athletic career was in basketball in Europe and New Zealand. Mesi took advantage of his inexperience, including his lack of punching power.
When Mesi was a top contender, he probably wouldn't even have considered Bellamy as a sparring partner because the work wouldn't have been adequate. But as a comeback opponent, Bellamy was perfect. He pushed Mesi's condition, which was poor, to the limits. Mesi weighed 237 pounds. At his peak he fought at 225-230 pounds. So, he's not too far off with his weight. But he wasn't toned and his stamina needs strengthening.
Jack Mesi, Mesi's father and manager, said he has had offers from at least five states in the U.S., which he won't name, that are willing to license Joe. He also said there has been contact with foreign countries. Word is that Mesi's next fight will be in Canada. Based on his performance and the controversy surrounding his comeback, Mesi will probably continue to fight under the radar - Saturday night's fight was available on DirecTV in Puerto Rico and will be available later on Mesi's website.
It could take Mesi three or four fights over the next 12 months to make a successful comeback to the level he had when he was suspended. It won't take him long to get back in the title picture. Remember that HBO loved him. He still has one fight left on his contract with the cable network.
Full article @ http://www.secondsout.com/USA/news.cfm?ccs=229&cs=19091
Personally...I find this disgusting. Mesi is a death waiting to happen. Fwock it...let 'em keep pushing this issue with this gent & his dad will be begging forgiveness at a graveside service.
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Originally Posted by luvfightgame
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