Brewer dominates Zuniga; Tate receives
lucky outcome against Sheika
Results and Review by Phillip Przybylo
06.10.01
- On October 5, Sugar Ray Leonard and Comcast-Spectacor
produced a stirring, well rounded card at the First
Union Center in Philadelphia featured on ESPN2's "Friday
Night Fights." Two of the featured bouts dictated
who would rise to the top of the super middleweight
heap. Two vital regional belts were on the line as
well as a stepping stone to fight Sven Ottke and Eric
Lucas. Also, Ricardo Williams showed that he is the
best Olympic prospect this side of Francisco Bojado.
In the first co-main event, Thomas
Tate (40-6, 27 KO's), who had just relinquished the
NABF crown, fought Omar Sheika (23-2, 16 KO's). The
first round between the two started out innocently
enough with both of them trading left jabs, but Tate
landed more. Tate seemed to be outworking Sheika,
who was waiting for a chance to unload, with an assortment
of rights. With about 45 seconds in the round, Tate
landed a quick left hook that Sheika walked right
into. Sheika is shaken a bit for the rest of the round
and was badly swollen below the right eye. 10-9 for
Tate. In the second stanza, Sheika hurt Tate big time
with left hooks and wide rights. Omar refused to go
to the body or set anything up even with Tate walking
around like a drunk for the last two minutes. Tate
eventually got pushed through the ropes during a sloppy
exchange. Although there was a short break because
of it, Sheika came back swinging, throwing bombs and
landing about two-fifths of them. Tate takes a knee
with about 50 seconds left to gain composure. Round
ends with Tate showing faint signs of life while a
gassed Sheika still unloading upstairs. 10-7 for Sheika.
Tate seemed to be recovering in round
three, but Sheika finally listened to smart advice
from Tommy Brooks and Lou Duva and went to the body.
Sheika, although shaken and tired in rounds one and
two, was in better shape than Tate at that point.
For most of the round, some serious infighting took
place. One would cover up, the other would slam in
some power punches upstairs, and vice versa. Round
was almost even when Sheika landed an overhand right
to the top of Tate's head sending him down. Tate is
not shaken, though. 10-8 for Sheika. The fourth round
started off with Sheika, whose eye had taken a turn
for the worse, throwing four straight looping rights
upstairs (maybe one landed) to remind us that it was
not going twelve, folks. Tate's left was a little
weak but is came on strong with an excellent mixture
of straight and overhand rights. Like round three,
the slugfest continues as one capitalizes on the other
being inactive and leaving an opening. They both landed
bombs, but Tate just got more in. 10-9 for Tate.
The doctor stopped the fight between
rounds four and five as Sheika looked like a cyclops!
Duva was furious and Sheika's dejected. It was a wise
stoppage as Sheika was game but was fading because
of the lack of eyesight. Certainly a rematch should
be ordered because Sheika was winning on all the cards
(Eastside had it 38-35). The swelling started in the
first round, and it was a different fight after that
particular stanza with Sheika dominating. Although,
Tate, who raised his record to 41-6, must get credit
for hanging in there and winning round four. Afterwards,
like a true super middle, Tate refused to acknowledge
the fact that a rematch is needed. Tate is now in
line for a title shot (and beating) by Sven Ottke.
Tate TKO4 Sheika (wins USBA title)
The other super middleweight main
event featured Charles Brewer (36-8, 26 KO's) against
Fernando Zuniga (21-4, 16 KO's). The first round started
out with Zuniga immediately working the body. At times,
Brewer would keep him at bay with left hook or straight
right. Looping shots by both closed the round. Zuniga
seemed to be busier. 10-9 for Zuniga. A good start,
but no omen by any means.
Brewer started smoking in rounds two
and three, landing spectacular left-right combinations
upstairs. Zuniga landed some short power punches early
in the second, and that was the last signs of life
he showed for about seven rounds. Brewer became a
madman in these rounds attacking the body, which he
would do for the rest of the fight.
Zuniga was trying to fight back gamely
and moving forward towards the end of round three
and looked like he was trying to time Brewer in round
four. But Zuniga just kept on getting hit in the process
and was not the same. Nice infighting by both men
at the end of round three, but Brewer is more accurate
every time. In between rounds, Zuniga may have muttered
that he want to quit. His corner convinced him to
go on, though.
Zuniga was on a rollercoaster ride
for the rest of the fight. He looked to be fading
and quitting at the end of round five, only to be
busier in round six. It did not matter either way.
Charles Brewer was more accurate and powerful in everything
he did. The leverage and angles he gets are second
to only an elite few. He does leave himself way too
open, though. And he trashed talked a little too much
in this fight for a guy who does leave himself so
easy to hit. By the end of round six, it became apparent
that this was going the distance. Brewer was landing
nice right uppercuts and body shots (of which Zuniga
returned a few of his own), but they were having barely
any effect.
Round seven was a bit tentative. Brewer
would jab whenever Zuniga did, an old Ken Norton strategy.
Brewer continued to pound away to the body as the
pace quickened towards the end of the round. Mini-fireworks
by both men at the end but no effects shown by either
man. The body work clinic by Brewer continued in round
eight. Zuniga's legs seemed to be a bit rubbery near
the end when Brewer landed big left hook.
Round nine was a close, lackluster
round. It became even harder to watch when news of
Barry Bonds' 71st home run came. Zuniga did seem to
have more life to him though, and 10-10 round wouldn't
be out of the question. Zuniga came out stronger and
hitting harder in the 10th. But right when Fernando
seemed to be putting something together, Brewer lands
a mean left hook-right body shot combination. Zuniga
just cannot find the right shot and has not made any
noteworthy adjustments.
The championship rounds featured better
defense for Brewer. He sometimes rolled with Zuniga's
wide shots or ducked under them. The former super
middleweight champion began potshotting Zuniga towards
the end of the eleventh and just controlling the last
round with the jab. Neither of them seemed to be too
hurt or tired at the final bell.
Brewer won a unanimous decision by
scores of 117-111 (twice) and 116-112. Eastside had
it 119-110. Reknowned trainer Teddy Atlas had it by
a wide margin also at 120-109, so, the judges were
probably a little too generous. Brewer put on a professional
performance that should be noticed by the WBC. Great
body work, crisp combinations, and a stiff jab in
the last third of the fight showed why Brewer is of
championship caliber. I like Brewer's odds against
the average Eric Lucas.
Brewer W12 Zuniga (wins NABF title)
In other fights of the evening, Ricardo
Williams retained his undefeated record (now 5-0,
4 KO's) in scoring a TKO over Joshua Smith in the
4th. The 2000 Olympian is very flashy, yet, technically
sound. Williams, a southpaw, seemed to drop right
hooks in at will. His entourage/corner were yelling
that they are ready for some real fighters. Watch
out for Williams.
Bobby Heath and Jameel Wilson also
battled to an eight round draw (and rightfully so).
Not enough action but then an overload of it in the
last couple rounds.
Notes:
-Bernard Hopkins was interviewed on
the "Friday Night Fights" telecast. He said
he is "the happiest man in the world." He
also said he is willing to fight Oscar De la Hoya
and Shane Mosley at a catchweight of 157 pounds. He
does not rule Roy Jones out as he does not want to
prevent any big fight fans want to see. Bottom line
is that he wants superfights for the fans and the
money that comes along with it.
-Sugar Ray Leonard put on a great
B+ level show. I question why a rookie promoter is
getting so many TV dates for his shows, though. I'm
not saying he's dirty, but it looks a little suspicious
with so many other good promoters out there. Nevertheless,
Leonard has a bright future in the business.
