McNeeley still tries to jab away
by George Kimball
Wednesday, March 21, 2001
Talk about being wrapped in a cocoon of horror.
By all accounts, Peter McNeeley appears to have his life back under control. It's his boxing career that needs to be reined in.
McNeeley's purse for being knocked out by Britain's Henry Akinwande in a little more than five minutes on Saturday night in Tallahassee, Fla., was in excess of $10,000, according to manager Vinnie Vecchione. Perhaps just enough to encourage him to do it all over again.
When Vecchione entered the ring at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas to rescue McNeeley from Mike Tyson six years ago, he was criticized and ridiculed by people who didn't know any better, but his intervention drew nothing but praise from this corner. McNeeley went right after Tyson. He gave it his best shot and was mortally wounded for his trouble.
With the outcome no longer in doubt, Vecchione's concern was saving his fighter from graver damage and, when it became apparent that the referee was not about to stop the fight, he did it himself, on humane grounds.
McNeeley was effectively exposed in his minute-and-a-half waltz with Tyson and I wrote at the time that there would be a dangerous temptation to capitalize on the notoriety he earned that night. Possessed of a recognizable name and an impressive (on paper) record, he could easily slip into the role of the Classic Opponent - a human punching bag whose name would register another notch for would-be contenders looking to pad their own records.
In short, precisely the sort of opponent Vecchione used to unearth for McNeeley when he was on the way up.
``I'll never let that happen,'' Vecchione promised at the time.
And when I suggested this week that from all appearances, McNeeley was courting precisely the sort of danger Vecchione promised to protect him from, the manager demurred.
``Dangerous would be Greg Page, fighting at 43,'' Vecchione said. A week before McNeeley was stretched by Akinwande, Page, the portly former WBA champion, fought for $1,500 in a backwater Kentucky nightclub. Knocked out by Dale Crowe in the 10th round, he remains comatose and on life support in a Cincinnati hospital.
Vecchione pointed out that despite the 31-year-old McNeeley's 47-6 record ``he doesn't have a lot of mileage on him.''
More than 30 of McNeeley's wins, noted Vecchione, ended in first- or second-round KOs and several of his losses ended the same way. In other words, for most of his bouts he wasn't in the ring long enough to absorb the grueling sort of punishment that traditionally shortens careers and pulverizes brain cells.
McNeeley has, however, been in and out of rehab more times than the late Chris Farley - who was, come to think of it, the Hurricane's roommate during one of his detox stays.
``He's very forthright about that,'' Vecchione said. ``I think that's one reason Pete is so popular wherever he goes. His honesty in talking about his own life touches people.
``Down in Florida, the place was packed. They loved Pete. And he did what he was supposed to do. He went right after Akinwande, but then in the second round he got caught coming out of a weave, Akinwande got him with a straight right and eventually the referee stopped it.''
The bout was not televised, but according to the Tallahassee Democrat, McNeeley was floored three times by right hands and ``laid on the canvas for almost three minutes before being helped to his feet.''
Vecchione disputed that account.
``The doctors kept him down,'' he said. ``They brought a stool into the ring and wanted to make sure he was OK.''
McNeeley was 36-1 when he fought Tyson. He hasn't beaten an opponent of any consequence since.
Since it is evident, or should be, that he no longer has championship aspirations, McNeeley is plainly fighting for one reason: Even though six years ago he was, briefly, a millionaire, he now risks getting his brains scrambled because he needs the money.
``Sure,'' Vecchione said. ``But don't they all fight for money? You think anybody does this for fun?''
With the end in sight, Vecchione said that McNeeley will be looking to cash in on his few remaining paydays.You won't see a retirement announcement soon.
``I'm thinking three or four more of these,'' said Vecchione. ``I'd like to see Pete put together enough money to maybe buy an apartment house and then pack it in.'' |
