By By Austin Bishop/EMG Regional Sports Director
May 18, 2002
PHILADELPHIA Brad McNeil understands that up and coming boxers sometimes find themselves on the outside looking in.
But the Meridian light heavyweight is hoping to punch his way into the limelight when he takes to the ring at the Silver Star Resort &Casino tonight.
The card, which features former two-time heavyweight champion "Terrible" Tim Witherspoon, is set to be televised on Fox Sports Net on a delayed basis Sunday night, beginning at 5 p.m. The actual boxing action begins tonight at 6:30.
While as of Friday afternoon's press conference, McNeil's fight was scheduled to be aired, the gritty boxer said his performance tonight could change some minds.
But televised or not, McNeil (12-1-1), says this fight is a big one for him. He quit his job at the beginning on the year to focus totally on his boxing career.
While several of the undercard boxers on the card said they didn't know much about their opponents, McNeil said he had scouted out Parks and knew exactly what he wanted to do.
McNeil said he is very aware of Parks' strengths and weaknesses.
There are six bout on the card, including a welterweight re-match between Michael Moss of Meridian and Phillip Hammac of Philadelphia. While Moss comes into the bout with an 8-20-2 mark and Hammac is 1-3, the duo put on an entertaining show at the Frank Cochran Center earlier in the year. Moss won the fight by judge's decision.
Witherspoon (54-11-1) comes into the bout having won four of his last five fights to go along with the 38 knockouts he has posted in his career.
His opponent for the 10-round bout is a much younger Ahmad Abdin of Houston, Texas who comes in at 30-2-4 and has 14 knockouts. The two were scheduled to fight earlier in the year, but Abdin had to back out due to illness.
While Witherspoon may be 44 years old, promoter Dan Goossen said the Philadelphia, Penn., native has worked hard to regain his former status among in the heavyweight ranks.
Witherspoon said he had respect for Abdin, but that he had worked hard to get here.
Witherspoon said that he was the last person to take the podium at the press conference and the feature bout on the card for one reason.
The other featured fight on the card is a heavyweight bout between 16-1 Chester Hughes of Houston, Texas and 17-6-1 Otis Tisdale of Charlotte, N.C.
A special attraction will be a four-round women's lightweight bout between former Playboy model Mia St. John (24-1-1) and Kristy Follmar (2-0). Also on the card is a six-round light heavyweight fight between 8-4 Norman Jones and 6-1-1 Donnell Wiggins.
The doors open at 6:30 p.m.