Fights at Their Finest:  Fights at Remington Park
(By Angel C. Alba @ Ringside)

Tuesday Night Fights returned for a third time to Remington Park Racetrack and Casino in Oklahoma City.  The sold-out event drew spectators from a nearly 90-mile radius.  Boxing talent included hometown star Noah Zuhdi in his third professional fight, as well as a lineup of local up-and-coming fighters.  As usual, CatBox Entertainment and the fighters did not disappoint.

There were a total of six fights, which culminated with a super middleweight non-title bout between George “Comanche Boy” Tahdooahnippah from Lawton, Oklahoma and Terrance Wilson from Fort Smith, Arkansas.   Long before the fighters stepped in the ring, it was clear that this was no ordinary fight.

Prior to the main event, local entertainer Darla Z. dazzled the crowd with her rendition of “God Bless America.”   As she exited, Terrance Wilson and his corner-men entered the ring in preparation for the bout.  Suddenly, two Native Americans in full headdress came down the aisle to the sound of drums.  As they approached the ring, other Native Americans throughout the arena joined in with shouts.  Then, jumping over the ropes, the two men entered the ring and performed a traditional dance.  The crowd reacted with wild cheers.  As the dancers exited the ring, George T. entered the arena to thunderous applause. 

George T. was clearly the dominant fighter from the start, knocking Wilson down in the first round.  After what seemed like mere seconds into round two, the referee stopped the fight and “Comanche Boy” walked away with another win by KO.

The lightweight bout could easily have been billed as a co-main event.  Noah Zuhdi, clearly a local celebrity, entered the arena to deafening applause for his third pro fight.  His opponent was Chance Brown from Tulsa, a MMA fighter-turned-boxer, in his second professional fight. The fighters scarcely had a chance to prove their mettle against each other when the bout was stopped in the first round giving Zuhdi the TKO. “I know I should be happy with a first round knockout,” Zuhdi said afterwards,  “but I was really hoping to put on a good show for everybody.  Unfortunately my opponent was more interesting in hugging than fighting.”  

The most impressive fight took place halfway through the evening.  Welterweight contenders Kyle Sherman and Jonathan Nelson, both from Oklahoma City, stepped into the ring prepared to go all the way.   As a boxing fan and a writer, it was a joy to watch a truly good fight.  Although he was a great contender, Sherman was slightly outmatched in every aspect of a fighter’s game except for HEART.  In rounds two and three, he was rocked by powerful left hooks that left him reeling; each time, he punched his way out of the round, gaining the respect of both the crowd and his opponent.  In a fight that appeared completely one-sided, the judges’ decision was a no contest.

With an impressive lineup of local talent and growing fan base, it appears that Tuesday Night Fights are here to stay.  Boxing in Oklahoma City has been a long time coming, but locals finally have an event they can be proud of.  Tuesday Night Fights at Remington Park is truly “Fights at Their Finest.”