I gasped. I oohed and ahh-ed. I was literally on the edge of my seat.
This was my first boxing match, yet I was familiar with many of the sights. The sweat flying across the ring when the strike blasts a face over the shoulder. The trainer hovering over his boxer in the corner between rounds, squirting water into his mouth and applying Vaseline around his eyes. And the ring girls. Yes—you can’t forget the ring girls strutting around in circles diverting eyes from the intense action.
This was Rocky Mountain Mayhem at it’s best and the Silverhawk Championship Boxing Association brought it’s finest fighters to The Broomfield Event Center on Friday, May 19th to defend titles and fight for their dreams in front of 2500 roaring fans.
The first fight lasted four rounds, and I was already tired. The boxers ducked and weaved and calculated their next swing throughout the endless minutes. The goal was to make contact—each hit gains a point. Each swing that doesn’t connect is a fruitless act, tiring out necessary muscle groups. The momentum grew at a steady pace and I learned that boxing fans are quite likeable. The men seated around me effortlessly doled out statistics and advice about strategy, helping me understand what I was watching.
By the third fight, the energy had matured into an all out Vegas feel as Adrian “Juanito” Mora entered the ring amidst special effects lighting and fierce blasting music. He took another step toward the world champion title with the knockout of Marc Thompson.
“I felt like superman tonight,” he said of taking home the win in his hometown.
Next came the powerhouse heavyweight, Cedric “The Bos” Boswell, fighting Steve “Storm” Pannell. Boswell dominated the fight and triumphed in the first round with yet another of his famous KOs—that would make 19 of them in a 24-1 record.
I asked him if he knew immediately that his blow had knocked Pannell out. He shrugged confidently, “I knew it was a good shot, but…” At 37 years old, he says he sees his future as “heavyweight champion, baby!”
Lightweight, Johnnie Edwards of North Carolina fought Jaime “Superfly” Sandoval in an exhausting 6 round battle. A diminutive 5-footer, Edwards wowed the fans with his endless energy and standing back flip at the announcement of his win. “People think I can’t do it because I’m small. I have to prove myself—I have to entertain—that’s what these people are paying for.”
The main event between Stevie “Lil’ But Bad” Johnston and Humberto “El Fuerte” Toledo would certainly make those tickets worth the price. Going the full 12 rounds, Johnston and Toledo endlessly battled for the IBA World Lightweight Champion belt.
Crowd favorite, Johnston held tight, even when often leaning on the ropes letting Toledo tirelessly swing away. The crowd roared in anticipation as seconds grew into minutes. My neck was soar from sitting at high attention, not wanting to miss a move, and I found myself hollering and cheering, well caught up in the excitement.
At the end of the vigorous fight, Johnston’s team lifted him up in celebration, confident of his victory, allowing him to bask in the glory of his new title. When I asked what his secret weapon was throughout the fight, he stated he was “just bringing it all on”.
Encircled by fans hoping for autographs and pictures with their new champion, the victor and his handlers appeased the crowded ring of well-wishers. Dripping with sweat, and with his young son proudly leaning against him, Johnston shared a moment with me. “The people of Colorado have been so nice to me,” he said.
The Champion looked in my eyes, his excitement shifting to emotion, and revealed that the fight meant “everything—it meant the world to me.” And with that, he looked down at his son who was staring up at a hero, and tousled the boy’s hair. In that moment—seeing what it all meant to the champ…and seeing what it meant to his boy—I became a boxing fan forever.
