AJC Article

Warts and all, boxing clings to Atlanta scene

BYLINE: STEVE HUMMER
DATE: April 20, 2004
PUBLICATION: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The (GA)
EDITION: Home; The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
SECTION: Sports
PAGE: C3
COLUMN: ON PROS

Boxing is a many-splintered thing. With marketable athletes off making bigger, safer money and its popularity bobbing on an outgoing tide, it seems even more off-center than usual these days.

Leading the decline, wagging the dog as always, are the heavyweights. The public was asked just last weekend to pay for a show featuring Chris Byrd and John Ruiz. Instead, it was treated to something it could have seen for free the next time the Discovery Channel airs its special on cape buffaloes in rut.

And, yet, Atlanta continues trying to find a place in the sport, persistently attempting to sink a foundation in quicksand.

Its more noted resident pugs are on standby -- either aging ungracefully or healing, but nonetheless serious about continuing their hard trade. The formers can't help themselves -- they want to be currents again. Thus, former heavyweight champ Evander Holyfield decided one tango with the devil wasn't enough and re-signed with Don King. Former welterweight champ Vernon Forrest was scheduled to step up to 154 pounds Saturday night on HBO, but he pulled out to have surgery on his chronically aching left shoulder and elbow. He is facing 12 weeks of recovery. Come to think of it, three more months of not eating punches might not be such a terrible thing.

Another local boxer, Robert Allen, is scheduled to get a third shot at middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins come June 5. The sport's rulers expect Allen to go along peaceably, so Hopkins might be matched with Oscar De La Hoya, one of the last of the big earners. Allen is in position to ruin more grand plans than the SATs.

Many miles from the nearest casino, far away from what little buzz boxing can generate, Atlanta fighters do not have it so easy. But they somehow carry on, balancing their training inconveniences against a better quality of life.

More difficult still is the promoter who would try to make a living in town. I know there are boxing fans here; it's just that they don't want to admit it. The guilty pleasure of realizing the truth about boxing and still watching it can be overwhelming at times. Yes, I understand. I have suffered, too.

The history of boxing in Atlanta is spotty at best. Muhammad Ali began his comeback here against Jerry Quarry in 1970. Evander Holyfield fought three championship fights here as a cruiserweight and heavyweight. After that, there is much silence.

David Oblas and partner Austin Wingo are trying to mine what interest that remains hereabouts. One of their relatively ambitious efforts happens Friday night at the Atlanta Civic Center -- a card featuring boxing, kickboxing and no-holds-barred fighting (but no human sacrifice).

Headlining the event is that next tier of local fighter; two men tantalizingly close, but not quite there.

It does not represent a big fight for either welterweight Ebo Elder (17-1) or heavyweight Cedric Boswell (21-1). Ask Boswell anything about his opponent, and mostly he'll just shrug (he's 10-2 Robert Sulgan from the Czech Republic).

This is meant to be a showcase for a couple of boxers in the midst of comebacks. Elder is returning after taking a couple of years off to clear his head and get right with his father/trainer. Roswell's Boswell is regrouping after his first loss, in October to top contender Jameel McCline. "I'm doing this to stay busy and to let Atlanta fans see me and give them a little treat," Boswell said.

That's about as much as the local fight fan can ask of his sport anymore.

"Atlanta is not a boxing town like Philadelphia or Chicago or New York," said Newnan's Elder, who'll be fighting the 15-11-1 William Rojas. "How good a boxing town it can be is up to me. I can help make it a good boxing town."

With a little bravado, and a few willing souls, boxing does hang on. It is the weed in the sidewalk crack that will not die.