Bell dings at Hilton Ballpark Hotel Friday
By Glenn McBrady
For the St. Louis American
When boxing returns to downtown St. Louis tomorrow evening at the opulent Hilton Ballpark Hotel, a name familiar to seasoned fight fans will return to the ring to join a lineup of younger boxers who are just embarking on their professional careers.
Lavell Finger was an amateur standout before turning pro on May 1, 1989 with a first round knockout victory. Over the course of the next 11 years, Finger fought locally in venues such as UAW Halls and the Ambassador Club and traveled as far as Las Vegas in an effort to track down a title shot.
After a long layoff, the southpaw is preparing to climb inside the ring with his 26-1 record and square off against Richard Grant in a battle for the Missouri Super Middleweight Championship belt.
Finger faces a stern test in Grant, a well-traveled veteran who has fought everywhere from casinos in Atlantic City to the Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills.
Grant last fought in May, dropping a unanimous decision to Rubin Williams in Tampa.
It may take Finger some time to shake off the ring rust, but according to reports from several sparring sessions, the crowd in attendance tomorrow night is in store for quite a battle in one of three regional title bouts.
Rumble Time Promotions moves forward
St. Louis’ newest boxing promotions company has gotten out of the gate quickly, thanks to the trio of principals who bring a wealth of business and boxing experience to the table.
Steven Smith is the president of Rumble Time, and it’s obvious that he has approached his latest venture with the same acumen and dedication as the rest of his business interests.
Smith is also the owner of a chain of Mobil and BP gas stations and convenience stores, as well as ATM Solutions, a full-service ATM company. He also owns an oil/liquid asphalt company named Inertia with his good friend and business partner, sportscaster Malcolm Briggs.
Smith oversees the business end of Rumble Time while C.O.O. Steve Holley, a national sales trainer at Anheuser-Busch, runs the entire boxing part of the operation. Smith says that Holley is “the heart and soul of the company with his years of experience in the boxing game.”
Vice President Jack Martorelli handles the sales and PR, and according to Smith is the man who “makes everything happen.”
Smith says, “Our company’s goal is to bring the best boxing matches to St. Louis and give all of the St. Louis fighters a place to showcase their talents. I’ve seen a lot of promoters take advantage of their fighters, but we believe that we need to treat boxers and their families fairly.”
He added, “We have a full time accountant and a financial planner, and we feel our team has everything a fighter needs to get to the top and have money long after their fighting days are done.”
In a sport with few advocates for the athletes, it’s refreshing to hear of management with a game plan that stretches beyond the short term.
Bobo wins again
12th & Park’s cool, counterpunching Leon Bobo was victorious on the undercard of last week’s “Friday Night Fights” broadcast on ESPN 2. Bobo scored a unanimous eight round decision at the FedEx Forum in Memphis to up his unblemished record to 14-0. Hopefully, fans here will eventually get a chance to see what the casino crowds down South have been cheering about.
Lavell Finger and four of 12th & Park’s “Fab 5”- DeAndre “Bull” Latimore, Jamal Parram, Chris Sharp and Kevin Engle – will be in action tomorrow, August 11 as Mobil On The Run and Rumble Time Promotions present “Friday Night Fights” at the Hilton Ballpark Hotel across from Busch Stadium. A pre-party at 6 p.m. will be followed by a full night of pro boxing beginning at 8 p.m. General admission tickets are $30 and will be available at the door or by calling (314) 495-0820.
