Underdog Caver faces off against Thompson in quarterfinals
By KATIE HUGHES
Sports Writer
After four years of Bengal Bouts experience, co-president Josh "The Redemon" Thompson knows that regardless of who is favored before a fight begins, anything can happen when the punches start being thrown.
"Once you get in the ring," Thompson said, "everyone has a chance to be a champion."
Thompson will face John "The Caveman" Caver, who won in one round on Thursday.
"I'm confident, if that's possible with Josh's experience," Caver said. "I look forward to being the underdog. I have nothing to lose. I'm gonna try no to be so aggressive, to be more conservative, to save some left for the third round."
Both Caver and Thompson find inspiration in Rocky IV. Thompson watches all four Rocky movies before he fights.
"I think Rocky IV is appropriate for me now," Caver said. "He was facing the hardest opponent."
Also fighting in the 185-pound weight class will be Eric "Superfreak" Goulet against Chris "The Sweet Scientist" Pearsall, both of whom won preliminary round fights Thursday.
John "You Want Some" Moore will fight Scott Duba, who had a bye on Thursday. Chris Donovan will face Stephen Pfeiffer, who also had a bye Thursday. Duba and Pfeiffer are favored in their respective classes.
The 185-lb. weight class is a new addition to the Bengal Bouts.
"I think this is a pretty tough weight class, though 175 is probably the one with the most experience," Thompson said. "Every class has lots of good fighters. Everyone has a good shot, but the butterflies are starting,"said Thompson.
Light Heavyweight
Bob "Kennedy Kennedy" Kennedy thinks a few rounds of experience in Thursday's Bouts will go a long way in preparing him mentally for his fight tonight against Ben Deda. "I'm a little anxious, but it was good to get back in the ring," Kennedy said. "You get sort of cold after a year off. I was happy about how my fight on Thursday went, but I'm glad I won't have to face a lefty again."
Kennedy said Thursday's fight took more out of him physically than he had expected, but after a weekend of rest, he's ready to fight again.
"If either one of us wins, it would still be really tough to face Pete Ryan," said Kennedy.
The overwhelming favorite in the Light Heavyweight division, Ryan has another bye in tonight's fights.
Stefan Borovina will face Mike "Raging Bull" Vanderpoel, who had an easy victory on Thursday. Borovina, a freshman, will have to struggle against both adrenaline and inexperience.
"I think the biggest thing is staying calm," Borovina said. "That comes with experience — knowing how to stay in control."
Heavyweight
The heavyweight class, which had all byes on Thursday, features three former Division I football players.
Andrew "The Irish Hammer" Dempsey, was a walk-on nose guard for the Irish, Steve "Lefty Guns" Pratico played linebacker for Rutgers and Dan Adams played football for Harvard.
Dempsey will face Andrew McGuire in the ring tonight.
"Football and boxing are a lot different," said Dempsey. "In football, a play only lasts five seconds, but in boxing, you're going for two minutes straight. There's more of a science to boxing, it's more of a controlled aggression. The training is a lot different, too. I've lost 35 pounds since August."
Pratico, a third-year law student, agrees that boxing demands endurance.
"I've been doing lots of running to get in shape for this year," Pratico said. "This weight class has a lot of guys who can do a lot of damage."
Pratico will fight Carlos Abeyta.
Adams, who is the No. 1 seed in the heavyweight class, has a bye tonight.
All Sports Stories for Monday, February 26, 2001
