Friday, April 04, 2008

MD State Title Bout Called Off Due to..Liniment Spray!

The Maryland State Featherweight title bout between Thomas "KO" Snow and Tyrell "Da Show Shock'A" Samuel at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, MD was suddenly called off due to a liniment-type substance used by one of the boxers.

Moments before the contest, Snow put on a spray that he says he has used before every bout without incident. In this case, however, the Samuel camp smelled the spray and said it smelled like liniment and was afraid that the spray could get into their boxers's eyes. Reportedly, Snow tried to wash the spray off, but there was some still on his body, enough to force the cancellation of the bout.

We'll have more on this story as it develops.

The rest of the six-bout card went off as scheduled. Here are the results:

Pasadena, MD super middleweight Mike "The Persecutor" Paschall put on a scintillating performance in stopping Bruce "The Rage" Rumbolz of Sterling, IL in the fourth round. Paschall put on a body shot clinic in the first two rounds, breaking Rumbolz down before putting him away with head shots forcing ringside doctor John Stiller to stop the contest at 1:56 of the fourth. Paschall is now 16-0-1, four KO's while Rumbolz falls to 21-16-2, 15 KO's.

Welterweight Norman "The Shadow" Allen of Laurel, MD survived a third-round knockdown to stop "The Capital Punisher" Spencer Harsley in the fourth. Harsley caught Allen with a vicious right hand that dropped him to the canvas in the third round. Allen was able to finish the round and came out strong in the fourth pummeling Harsley until Harsley's corner threw in the towel. The bout was stopped at 2:38. Allen remains undefeated at 3-0, two KO's while Harsley falls to 1-6-2.

Undefeated York, PA super featherweight Carney "Beeper" Bowman registered an easy six-round unanimous decision over Cuauhtemoc Mendoza of Cancun, Mexico. Bowman pitched a shutout on two of the three judges's scorecards and raised his record to 9-0, four KO's. Mendoza's record drops to 4-5-1, one KO.

Detroit, MI cruiserweight Harvey "Candy Man" Jolly used brutal uppercuts to stop previously undefeated Rich Gingras of Concord, MA in the third round. After a few misses, Jolly finally landed the right uppercut late in the second and dropped Gingras hard to the canvas. Early in the third, Jolly landed another big uppercut, forcing referee John Gradowski to stop the bout at 20 seconds of the round. With the win, Jolly evens his record at 7-7-1, four KO's while Gingras is now 8-1, four KO's.

Omaha, NE lightweight Terrence Crawford spent three minutes punishing New Yorker Filiberto Nieto. Nieto did not come out for the second round. Crawford is now 2-0, two KO's while Nieto drops to 1-5.

Here is the BATB Post-Fight Wrap-up Show that may shed more light on this card.

Gabcast! Boxing Along the Beltway #105 - Why There Was No Maryland State Title Bout in Glen Burnie!

Another bizarre event at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie. "The Fight Doctor" Jerome Spears and I try to explain why the Maryland State Featherweight title bout between Thomas "KO" Snow and Tyrell "Da Show Shock A" Samuel was called off as well as talk about what was an otherwise solid night of boxing!

39 comments:

Anonymous said...

that was some stuff that was cooked up in order to stop pimples. he meant no harm at all.

Anonymous said...

obs don"t defend snow on this one he is a bum for real. how many people are you going to turn down before you get knockout

Anonymous said...

SOUTHPAW:

Disappointing end to a good night at the fights. The crowd was pumped for this bout, it is too bad. I was there to root for Tyrell, but anyone who believes Snow did this to get an advantage or have fight called off isn't thinking. Hopefully they run it back soon or get these promising fighters in the ring with someone else soon.

Anonymous said...

Oh good grief! How stupid can you be? I think Snow deserves a loss on his record via disqualification for doing something so unbelievably stupid!

Anonymous said...

nobody is defending snow, but the truth is-he was going to win that fight and everyone knows it...

Anonymous said...

Gary,

Did the boxing commission give an official ruling on this situation? What's going on in those terms? It's obvious to me that the only party involved in this situation that could have either cancelled the bout or let it go on was indeed the Maryland Boxing Commission. If Samuel didn't fight and the Commission said the fight could go on then Samuel should be awarded a DQ loss. If Snow couldn't fight because the Commission said he had an illegal substance on then he should be awarded a DQ loss. Where are the locker room inspectors in Maryland? Aren't they supposed to be with the boxers at all times? What a joke and Snow is a friggin' idiot for doing something so unblievably moronic!

Gary Digital Williams said...

Snow did not pull out of the fight, the fight was cancelled.

Anonymous said...

Yes I know Gary. But that is one way and another way of getting out of the fight. Or try to take what ever advantages he can to win the fight, fair or not.

Anonymous said...

The question is if this is something Snow says he has done in previous fights, has any of the other fighters or their camp ever noticed it or taken exception to it (and not said anything). If it was so prevalent that a corner called off the fight, and Mr. Snow says done it before how come no one has called foul before?

What are rules/parameters anyway on this? Should all boxers shower with unscented, or at least organic soap in case another fighter is sensitive to it and breaks out with can'tfightitis?

Should the officials be required to attend nursing or at least beauty school to recognize such substances as "Fight Off" which kills pesky fighters at first whiff before they can even raise a fist in the ring?

How is it that opposing sides are in such close proximity that they can smell their opponent before they enter the ring from different sides?

Just asking.

Anonymous said...

Liniment has that burning effect that builds up and lasts a while. This could be what happened in the Ali/Liston bout when Ali could not see from liniment in his eye. He was forced to fight a round basically blind. Was it on purpose or was it being used to open an airway or muscle soreness. If it was on Snow and got on Tyrell's gloves it could get in Snows own eyes. It is a ban substance to put on your body before a fight. It might not have made a difference but man you would hear about it if a fighter did get it in their eyes. Pat Panella was damned if he did and damned if he didn't. Snow admitted to using it before other bouts. what if a fighter now comes back and protests by saying his eyes were burning after Snow admitted using it. The whole thing is a mess and although I personally don't think Snow intentionally did anything wrong, someone in his camp should have been on top of that. How the other camp got so close to know about it before the fight is suspisious as well, good thing it wasn't that sented preperation -H.

Gary Digital Williams said...

Unlike most areas, the dressing areas are VERY close to each other at Michael's. They are not separate rooms, the boxers are in the same area separated by a curtain.

Anonymous said...

Interesting. Thanks for the info (except for the last sentence). That paints the picture very very bad for Mr. Snow, who I am sure has fought many amateur fights before turning pro. There must have been a sage teacher along the way that would say to him...Ya know son...this is not something that is ethical. Not Something that will make you a better person or a better man and continue to endear you to the fans that support you. If true, and only Thomas knows, was it better to attempt to tip the scales at the expense of ruining your integrity and credibility as a legitimate fighter? What young person uses liniment anyway...that's something for horses and old fragile men. Not a young warrior going into battle. My Snow fan club membership is on the line. Would like to hear from Thomas on this one. Gary, is it possible to do another gabcast with Mr. Snow?

Gary Digital Williams said...

I plan to talk to Thomas tomorrow.

Anonymous said...

Are officials who sign off on the gloves schooled in this? I thought if they sign off everything is cool and a definite go. Who signed Snow's gloves?

This is really a fiasco all around. It reflects poorly on the boxer that would apply anything to his body that would in any way raise someone's radar, and really, really the official (I am sure sanctioned by the Commissioner?) who didn't detect it before the opposing corner. I don't care how (well I really do) tight the dressing rooms are, I know if you are signing off on the glove you should be closer than anyone other than the boxer, and person wrappin' those hands.

This just stinks of opportunity taking advantage of ineptitude in an environment that makes this possible. Lot's of chef's in Hell's Kitchen.

Anonymous said...

Just so that you folks know. The hands are wrapped and sign. Many time the boxer is still in there street clothes. Most times there are no more than a cuple of inspectors working each corner. So that is 2 people to watch everything 7 people do.

Anonymous said...

Really this is not to create a wedge.
Looks like Mr. Sounds like what you are saying is official are done with their work once they sign those gloves.

Mr. Panella could learn from the VA Commish. His inspectors always look and act like a well oiled drill team. (Usually looks like he has at least 6 or more inspectors. He has meeting with them before and after the fights. (I am sure Pat must do this too because he is ultra anal around the ring and everything else he does), just don't usually see him much in the dressing rooms. Maybe some more light in the dressing area might help the 2 or 3 inspectors see better what's going on.

Anonymous said...

Pat always has at least 1 or 2 officals in each dressing room.I arrive usually an hour to an hour and a half before a bout and I always see the officals.Pat and his crew are very stern with the rules.....Brad

Anonymous said...

I was talking about VA not MD. Point being the same thing could have happened in VA or any other state. When you see an inspector before the start of a fight that means there is one less set of eyes in the locker room.

Anonymous said...

Who made the decision that the fight wouldn't go on? Was it the Commission? Was it Samuel? Digital, find out for us please!

Anonymous said...

I was wrapping hands a pro-am in MD. A very elderly gentleman sat and watched closely to my every move while 5 other boxers got wrapped. I though he was impressed with my wrap until he went to inspect it and signed it. I said wow I've never seen them so strict on an amateur's handwraps, "Oh" he said "I thought you were a pro".By the way It was an amateur wrap, not a pro wrap. Some of these gentlemen are very nice guys, but like any other job that takes energy to do, some of them need to move aside and let younger more alert guys in. I take nothing away from their knowledge or experience, but I can't think of too many jobs where you can stay on forever. In the same way that some people might think it is unfair to expect an seasoned older members to step aside, it is just as unfair to hold out new younger candidates that want to a job with the commission. If it was a commission member that smelled the liniment and raised the issue, then I have to say, that is pretty astute and this person obviously still has what it takes to do the job.

Anonymous said...

Understand the best inspectors are refs and judges. As you put more time in you move out of the dressing room in most cases. In recent years I have only check wraps when asked by an inspector. Now how would you feel if you knew the judges were hanging around the locker room? Next thing you would do is talk of favoritism. I don't do anything more than say hello until after the fight night has completed.

Anonymous said...

It was decision made by the commission doctors.

Anonymous said...

Gary, did Ty Samuel get paid? He should, it wasnt his fault that fight got cancelled.

Anonymous said...

Middendorf did this bad trick. First he rips off Silk and now this. I think it's time we call it what it, BS! Get Chris out of boxing.

Anonymous said...

anonymous said: Middendorf did this bad trick. First he rips off Silk and now this. I think it's time we call it what it, BS! Get Chris out of boxing.
This post is the real BS...

Gary Digital Williams said...

You beat me to it, Boxbible! This generic Middendorf bashing is just ridiculous! Chris does not have ANY control over how a boxer prepares for a bout in a dressing room!

By the time the show starts, Chris's work is done. Usually, he's able to enjoy the bouts like everyone else! It's just ridiculous to criticize him over this. If it wasn't for him, the bout would have never been scheduled!

Gary Digital Williams said...

As far as I know, both men received their money. I've been told there will be a hearing in the very near future on this situation.

Anonymous said...

Let me make it clear. . . from my end.
1st - get off Chris' ass. You obviously do not have have an investment in the business, and if you did, you would want Chris.
2nd - No - they didn't get paid. And won't get paid. Although I feel that they worked hard to prepare. The facts are this: Vincent noticed the liniment that Thomas applied: the State Doc's would not allow the match: and the commission adhered to the regulation.
The promoter (me) did everything to have the fight happen, and in my opinion - really, noboby did anything wrong... with that said... Vincent brought up the infraction, Thomas applied the liniment, our matchmaker made a great fight, the commission sanctioned it, I have a beautiful belt, our fans wanted to see the fight. But nothing happened because of what happened... and anon is saying I should pay the fighters. I would have been glad too.
Why I am accountable for paying for something that didn't happened? That I advertised and that if, the previous fights wouldn't have been great, I would have been in jeopardy because of liniment.
I didn't even know what the hell liniment was or is. But the little bottle didn't look that intimidating.
I believe that Thomas did nothing and i believe tha Samuel didn't as well, nor the commission. It just was what it was.
In the 90 fights I have promoted, this was unique.
Lastly - as to Chris ripping off Chris. I, as the promoter is responsible for paying the fighters. Next, there has never been a fighter 2-1 at the BALLROOM... never. So Silk is a flat ass lier. And if you are for real, I owe you, not Chris, and if you are owed: their are these things called State Bonds; which insure all parties are paid. So don't think you know a damn thing about that shit. Call the commission 410-230-6223 to collect your money that I didn't pay you ... you bullshiter (does that have 2 t's.
I'm not here to defend Chris, I actually enjoy the nonsense from some of you and the knowledge of most. I read all the time and am sure I will take a beating for finally not just reading and being honest. But bring don't sing it - cause Ballroom Boxing is about integrity and for the fan. If you are "haters" - you'll just motivate the motivated. Peace and love.

Anonymous said...

That dissertation was from Scott Wagner - Ballroom Boxing
scott@ballroomboxing.com.

Anonymous said...

Yo Scott,
Did you give the bout contract to Samuel? And did he sign it? If he did, then he should get paid. As far as dumbass Snow? He shouldnt get paid and be suspended.

Anonymous said...

Well stated Scott! Not really our business the contracts between you & the fighters.

Just the Amateur section of your fight was more entertaining than some pro cards out there. These things happen to everyone. I have yet to see a post like I did on another recent card where fans were really unsatisfied and wanted their money back.
This is not taped, it's not wrestling it's live and things happen.

There are some core haters on Chris, He's tough and on a level above the hyenas that try to dog him, and just stay where they started...left behind.

Anonymous said...

Yes - I gave a contract to both fighters. And I've read it. But, when commission rules are not followed, or adhered (sp?) to... the promoter is not responsible. I was fighting for the fight, and again, i opine that it was neithers' fault. I think their was complete well intentions. With ALL parties.

As to the amateurs being better than the pro's... that's great... I think Danny did and does a great job. I also believe that together, Dan and Chris make Ballroom Boxing special. I am only as good as those around me, and only as bad as myself...all things require team effort.

For those that read this blog, I assure you that Chris Middendorf is a stand-up guy, who you would be proud to know. I am tired of the "Wizards of OZ" that slap him. You make me sick.

To the anon who says Ty should be paid, clarify my roll in this and call the commission who regulates this. I would have been glad to pay both as contracted, but am not willing to pay for something that did not happen.

And I'll leave you with this.. as my wife and child leave the scene for a week... I've been in this business for 15 years or so, with my money on the table: find another promoter who can say they haven't promoted or managed a fighter. ANYWHERE. Find one and email me at scott@ballroomboxing.com - cause I'd like to meet him/her.

I am for the fan ...period. CHALLENGE THAT!!! My point... If I did have a fighter, I would put him in Chris' hands and sleep well at night. If you don't believe me, well... thats your opinion and we will just disagree. The best matchmaker in this town is proven.


PS I'll be away for a week and you can feel free to tomahawk me at will...

Scott Wagner
Ballroom Boxing
May 29th Next Fight

Anonymous said...

Snow has used the same damn lotion in every fight, it was nothing but intensive care lotion. It was obvious that Petteway was scared to let his guy fight. He knew what the outcome would be and so did everyone else. Snow should get his money!!! Samuels should not and he should be suspended. Snow weighed in at 121 pounds, well below the weight stated in the contract. Snow was in the best shape of his life and samuels would have not have lasted 3 rounds with KO Snow.
I am not even a Snow fan, I am just calling like it is. Like that say, if it bawks like a chicken, and it walks like a chicken, it is a chicken. Samuel and Petteway both went off and laid eggs in the far left dressing room.

Anonymous said...

Wow! If the so-called liniment-like substance was "Intensive Care" [Keri's] lotion, this whole thing is really unfortunate! So, I guess the lesson to be learned here is to either a) use unscented lotion OR b) just fight ashy. I myself would chose to be ashy because this is boxing not a fashion show.

On a serious note, can anyone speak on the actual process of determining whether or not to continue after a complaint about a possible foreign substance? Obviously, there are no labs or testing equipment on site, but there has to be a way to proceed with a fight if one camp complains about what may have been skin lotion. Is it simply a judgement call? Do they ask for a sample of the substance in doubt?

I was just curious how the fight may have been able to continue after the protest.

Thx in advance.

Anonymous said...

If the commission sanctions a fight then it can take place. If the commission does not then there is no bout. PERIOD. Nobody goes against the advice of the doctor. If you goagainst the doctor's advice you open up the state, the boxing commission and all of the officials except the doctor for a lawsuit. Also you need to understand that officials do not pay bills with the money they are paid they do it for the love of the sport. In detecting the substance more often than not starts with the nose. Almost all boxers remove the ash before going to the ring. To be honest as an official I will not act like a airport screener and check all bags. Everybody in the dressing room knows the rules. It's not that both camps did not know the match would be called of if they used a illegal substance it's that they did not think it was illegal. Being a dressing room inspector is a thankless job. Just think you love the sport so much that you would be willing to see only part of the match. You only get to see a match when you are at ringside. So if you have 4 insoectors you get to see half the show. Now let's see if any of you love the sport that much before you start talking about what should have been done inthe locker room.

Anonymous said...

Scott,

Thanks for the clarification on who called the bout off between Snow and Samuel. It was the Boxing Commission on advice from the Doctor that called off the fight. I also agree with you, the fighters did not fight, therefore they should not get paid. Simple as that. You as the Promoter did absolutely nothing wrong. And for those of you that don't agree that Snow and Samuel should not get paid, try this one on for size. Don't show up for work tomorrow and see if you get paid! I'm not talking vacation days or a number of personal days etc, I'm talking about not showing up. See if you get paid! Then take that one step further, imagine if you owned your own business and didn't work for anyone. If you don't put in a days work, you don't get a days pay. And that's what it boils down to when you're talking about a professional boxer. You're talking about someone who is self employed. In effect, they own their own business and that business is themselves as a pro boxer. The boxer pays the manager. The boxer pays the trainer. It's not the other way around. That's why I contend that the Promoter from Virginia a few weeks ago, Asim Anif who had the show cancelled because the ambulances didn't show up, that's why I say he should not be obligated to pay one red cent to the fighters. They didn't fight, how can they get paid!

Thanks once again for the clarification on who called the bout off.

I have one other question. Some say it was body lotion, some say it was liniment. What the heck was this mysterious substance? Digital or Scott or even Chris Middendorf - can someone please tell me the answer to that one? Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Digital,

Are you going to get an interview with Snow. I'm very interested in what he has to say. In fact, it will have a direct bearing on whether or not Ipay my hard earned money to see him or not.

Peace,
Philly G

Gary Digital Williams said...

Philly G,

I had an interview scheduled with Snow for this past weekend. Snow decided (smartly, I might add) to postpone the interview until after the hearing which is scheduled for this Friday. After that, he will definitely have an interview with me.

Anonymous said...

When I took my fighter(Ryan Franklin) to baltimore few years back Ballroom boxing treats u with tremendous respect. Scott Wagner & Chris Middendorf are all stars! I been around all over the country and scott treats u as good as it gets! Ron Krull