Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.

Tuesday, October 31, 2000

Pro boxing
card up against
the ropes

Financial problems force
promoters to reschedule the
seven-bout show in Waikiki

---

By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

The Hawaii State Boxing Commission gave Hawaii Pro Boxing Inc. a standing eight count for a show that was scheduled for tonight at the Sheraton Waikiki.

The seven-bout card, headlined by former heavyweight contender Obed Sullivan (36- 7-1, 26 KOs), has been tentatively rescheduled for Saturday at the same location.

The show did not get the OK from the commission because promoter Ed Presley had not made necessary deposits amounting to about $10,000, said commission executive officer Mike Machado.

"The show is postponed because the required purse deposit and officials' fees were not submitted, according to commission rules," Machado said in a brief statement. "However, the promoter was offered the option of rescheduling to a later date."

He said that deputy attorney general James Paige advised the commission in its action.

Machado said Presley has secured the Saturday date and has assured the commission that he will bring in the required deposits.

It was the latest of several problems Presley has faced in staging the card.

Last weekend, he withdrew the original headliner, former world champion welterweight Meldrick Taylor. The withdrawal came shortly after Machado said he would require a neurological exam and CAT scan for Taylor, who has not fought in 13 months and was denied a license in New Jersey two years ago.

Presley, who staged a card at the Sheraton Waikiki in August, had to replace Sullivan's opponent twice before the fight.

The latest opponent, Wesley Joseph Martin (13-26-8, 7 KOs), was to fly in last night. He replaces Waxxon Fikes (9-3-1, 8 KOs), who was on until the weekend. No explanation for Fikes' withdrawal was given.

The original Sullivan opponent, Tommy Stevenson, who was KO'd by Frank Bruno in 1982, was rejected because he is in his 40s.

Tickets for the postponed bout were priced at $20, $40, $60, $80, $125 and $200.