AJC Article

INSIDE BOXING

BYLINE: J.C. CLEMONS
DATE: August 3, 2003
PUBLICATION: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The (GA)
EDITION: Metro; The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
SECTION: Sports
PAGE: D18
MEMO: METRO VERSION LONGER

August has three separate local cards

The once-barren Atlanta boxing scene is suddenly flourishing with three shows this month in a seven-day span.

Apparently, there is no such thing as too much boxing for metro Atlanta to absorb.

"Goodness gracious, no," said Tom Mishou, director of the Georgia Boxing Commission. "It would be like saying there are too many movie theaters in Georgia.

"I believe you could do a regular show in College Park, a regular show in Cobb, a regular show in Gwinnett, and that wouldn't interfere with shows in Buckhead or Doraville. People who would come to shows in Buckhead probably would be different from people who would go to shows in the Rex area."

Mishou's theory is about to be tested.

On Aug. 16, promoter Lane Collyer has his first boxing show set for the Biggs Boxing Forum on Buford Highway. Four days later, Rala Ajackie makes her debut as a promoter with a card at the Rusty Rooster nightclub in Rex.

Then, David Oblas and Austin Wingo move their Aug. 22 card from the Roxy in Buckhead to the Tabernacle downtown.

All three shows will rely heavily on local fighters, and Mishou said that, too, is a good thing.

"When you want to start out with a series of shows, you want local boxers for two reasons," Mishou said. "One, hopefully they'll talk their friends and families into buying tickets. Two, you don't have expenses associated with travel.

"As you start to get a reputation of putting on good shows, matches that are evenly matched, then it becomes an evening's entertainment, well worth the $20, $25. That's how you build a clientele."