YOUNG “WASP” heats up after destroying Sub-Zero
It was undoubtedly a bittersweet night for longtime
Contender fans.
On one hand, the Advanced Round got arguably the best start
imaginable, with many calling the bout the best witnessed so far this season.
On the other hand, the Contender faithful had to watch one of their most
beloved gladiators fall, once again before reaching the summit.
Ramel “Sub Zero” Lewis, a previous finalist and
semi-finalist was pitted against hot newcomer Michael “The Wasp” Gardener in
what was, in many ways a classic match-up of diametric opposites: experience
versus youth; short and stocky versus tall and rail-thin; power-puncher versus
combo hitter.
 |
| Michael 'The Wasp" Gardener |
By the sound of the bell ending the fifth and final round, the
contest had lifted up to its billing and more, and baton had been passed. No
doubt Lewis, who, in a previous interview, had claimed to have stepped up his
training beyond even his normal superhuman level, had high hopes of moving on
against a young fighter just beginning to make his mark on the scene.
But from the opening bell, Gardener exuded a confidence, even a swagger, that
belied his youth and relative inexperience. He took a few good shots from the
veteran early on, but by the third, was gleefully mixing his dizzying hand
speed and resilience with taunts, gradually luring his somewhat cagey opponent
into vulnerable spots, whereupon he
proceeded to punish him with right hooks and jarring combinations. Twice, Lewis
was subjected to the dreaded Standing Eight Count, with some in the crowd expressing
the opinion that the referee was saving the veteran from what they felt was an
inevitable knockout.
In the end, it was a more than comfortable decision,
Gardener ahead on all the judges’ scorecards (49-46; 49-45; 50-45) and jubilant
upon being announced as the winner. And the swagger held over as well. In his
post-fight interview, the fighter declared that the remaining rounds “will be a
cakewalk”.
That, of course remains to be seen, with the next
quarterfinal bout looming, pitting Tsetsi “lights Out Davis” against Bajan Charman
Estwick. But whatever happens, one thing remains certain: Under the dazzling
lights, the colourful ring and the other distractions at the Chinese Benevolent
Association centre, a new star was born, one whose path the hordes of Contender
fans will be eagerly tracking.
---end--
