JEHUU CAULCRICK, one of MSU's four captains this season, has helpled to lead the Spartans to a 4-0 record heading into Saturday's Big Ten opener at Wisconsin. - Dan Graschuck photo
The 2007 year is midway through Round 9 and most people have the Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather Jr. bout as the year’s leading story. The pre-fight hype generated the biggest worldwide interest in sports history, making way for the largest pay-per-view buy and live gate revenue for a boxing event. The fight may have lacked the brutality and blood often associated with the sport, but it highlighted the artistry and science that has enabled boxing to endure centuries as the one true sport.

But when the final bell rings on Dec. 31, the winner whose hand I may be raising as the biggest story in boxing will have had nothing to do with the sport at all. The leading candidate, or should I say candidates, are former NFL quarterback Michael Vick, former NBA referee Tim Donaghy, all of Major League Baseball BALCO buddies along with their professional wrestling co-horts (steroid usage), and last but not least, the blood-dopers of the prestigious Tour de France. Single-handily or collectively, however you want to view it, they have raised the sport of boxing from out of the gutter and placed it back on main street America. With several rounds left in the year, and barring boxing from delivering itself a low blow, it’s going to be a tough act to beat out.

On the local scene, boxing has been the slowest that I have ever seen it. But the action seems to be on the verge of picking up. It started about a month ago with a little club show in a tiny country haven south of Monroe called Ida. This area has seen a resurgence of boxing, both with local native Bronco McKart, the newly-crowned NABF middleweight champ, and the appearance of several young and promising prospects who have the local townsfolk packing the venue in support. All four prospects, Ryan Wilburn (1-0-1), Wade Tolle Jr. (1-0), Brandon Little (1-0) and Derick Minton (0-1), were matched evenly and competitively and produced favorably for their fans.

Ending the month of August, Detroit promoter Billy Summers ended a long hiatus with a show at the Filmore (formerly The State) Theatre. Featured fights included super featherweight and former outstanding amateur star Cornelius Lock over Robert DaLuz by eight-round unanimous decision. Longtime favorite Marlon “Trouble Man” Thomas worked over Jose Angel Roman for an eight-round decision in a battle of junior middleweights, while fellow Detroiter James Countryman returned home for a six-round unanimous verdict over Demetrius Davis in the super-middleweight division. Of special note was the pro debut of junior welterweight Gregory Coverson by TKO-1 over Johnny Mumford. Coverson is the son of former world-ranked boxer Greg “Candy Man” Coverson (31-2). Summers plans to promote several local shows in the upcoming months with the next card tentatively scheduled for late October at the International Club in southwest Detroit.

Action also returned to the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort on Sept. 7 with the appearance of two prominent heavyweight contenders in separate matches. Two-time world heavyweight champ Hasim “The Rock” Rahman (43-6-2, 34 KOs) stretched out veteran Dicky Ryan (55-10, 44 KOs) at 0:41 of the second round before a SRO crowd. After dropping Ryan with a good shot to the head, Rahman repeated the procedure with a crunching left hook to the body that put Ryan to his knees, gasping for air and unable to continue.

David “Tuaman” Tua (49-3-1, 42 KOs), who owns every accolade in the heavyweight division with the exception of the world title, including a TKO-10 win over Rahman, had only to report to the center of the ring to find his latest victim, Cerrone Fox, in this crowd-pleasing encounter. The heavy-handed Fox (8-6, 8 KO’s) initiated a slugfest with Tua and was holding his own in the first round, but the patient Tua landed a solid right hand to the body that took the fight out of Fox in the second round. Tua then ended matters at 1:41 of the second round.

Vernon “The Iceman” Paris quieted all doubters of his perfect 16-0 (12 KOs) record as he destroyed the very durable Patrick Byrd (16-14, 6 KOs). The elusive Byrd, brother of former IBF world heavyweight champ Chris Byrd, utilized the same defensive maneuvers made famous at the Byrd Boxing Academy of Flint as he avoided the heavy hands of Paris in the first two minutes of round one. However once Paris pinned Byrd against the ropes, a hard shot to the body buckled the knees of Byrd which prompted an eight count. Paris immediately chased Byrd following the mandatory count and caught his adversary in a neutral corner where a left hook and a right hand dropped Byrd through the ring ropes and onto the announcer’s table – ending matters at 2:43 of round 1.

Dearborn’s Brian “The Lion” Mihtar (6-0, 5 KO’s) may have seen his consecutive win streak by KO end but he gained unreplaceable ring knowledge as he was extended the full distance of four rounds against a determined Chris “Amazing” Grays (6-14, 2 KO’s) of Traverse City. In the opening minutes of the first round, Grays rolled his ankle and appeared to be out of the fight. After consulting with the ring physician, Grays decided to continue, switching to the left-handed stance to compensate for his injury. The changeup seemed to confuse Mihtar and put Grays back into the fight. Mihtar rose to the occasion and gained valuable in-the-ring experience as he went the four-round distance to win a unanimous decision.

The fight was part of a White Cap Promotions and Carlos Llinas International Productions. Their next card is scheduled for Oct. 18 at the Kewadin Casino in Sault Ste Marie featuring David Tua and Vernon Paris.

On Friday, Sept. 21, promoter Joseph Donofrio returned to the Meadow Brook Music Festival in Rochester Hills, Mich., with an evening of “Boxing Under the Stars.” In the main event, Detroit’s own undefeated Lanardo “Pain Server” Tyner (17-0, 10 KOs) scored a TKO in the ninth round over Marteze “Too Sweet” Logan (25-30-2, 6 KOs) of Covington, Tenn. Tyner, a 31-year-old power puncher with a fan-friendly, all-action style, was a big hit with the Meadow Brook crowd.

Windsor, Ontario’s undefeated female world champion Jeannine Garside (7-0-1, 3 KOs) scored a sixth-round TKO over Brooke Dierdorff (4-0-1, 3 KO’s). A superstar in the making, Garside is ranked No. 2 in the WBC world rankings.

Waterford’s “Pistol” Pete Cantu (11-6-1, 7 KO’s) slugged his way to a third-round TKO over Grand Rapids’ Reggie “Two Gun” Nash (9-19-1, 2 KOs).

Darryl “The People’s Choice” Cunningham (7-1, 3 KO’s) son a four-round unanimous decision over Edgar “The Almighty” King (4-7-1, 1 KO) of Cleveland, Tenn.

Making a special ringside appearance at Donofrio’s “Boxing Under the Stars” was legendary boxing manager Jackie Kallen. Kallen, who managed former world champion James Toney, was the subject of the movie, “Against the Ropes,” starring Meg Ryan and Omar Epps.