The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Meacher ‘Pain’ Major had to go on the defensive, using his jab to hold off a pesky Brazilian Roger Rosa for a six-round unanimous decision on Friday night in the Rainforest Theatre of the Wyndham resort in Cable Beach.

The three judges scored it 58-56, 58-56 and 60-54 for Major, who was limited in his mobility with his left elbow wrapped from an injury he sustained in training. But many were not convinced that it was the right decision as the shorter, stockier Rosa gave Major all he could handle and more.

“The elbow was a problem because I messed it up in training, but I kept going. I worked through the pain,” said Major, who was back in action after a year of inactivity. “I have to get back in the gym. I have a lot more to work on. As you can see, the ring rust from a whole year off. I have to try to get busy again.”

Rosa, who had predicted in his initial trip here that coming from a country with millions of people that there was no way he was going to let someone from an island of just 500 people beat him, was definitely more the aggressor of the two fighters.

The ballroom was eventually packed to capacity as fans poured in to watch the return of professional boxing in the Bahamas. The show, which featured an exciting amateur segment, was promoted by Tommy Stubbs from Buttons Formal Wear and organised by Ronn Rodgers from the Strikers Boxing Club.

Major, who improved his record to 21-6-1, said his timing wasn’t as effective as he wanted it to be because he didn’t get a chance to spar or work out with any opponents as short as Rosa, who fell to 5-5-1. “It was a great lesson. I wanted to go six rounds. I wanted to give the fans a real show of what boxing is all about,” he said. “That’s what it was tonight. I just wanted to go out there and box and not get hit and I came out victorious, so I just want to thank God.”

Major, 32, said he didn’t have any bruises on his face, but there was evidence of a cut on the corner of his left eye. Meanwhile, Rosa’s corner was kept busy from the end of round one patching up the 29-year-old nose after he got a cut from an inadvertent head butt from Major.

Neither fighter was knocked down, nor were any given a standing eight count from the referee.

Rosa, however, was quite disappointed in the outcome of the fight, having felt that he gave a gallant effort to take the fight to Major from the opening bell.

“I feel good. The decision wasn’t right. Maybe the second round, I would give him the decision, but he didn’t land anything. I was throwing the combinations. He was just trying the jab,” Rosa said. “In the first round, when he threw his right hand, I ended up hitting my nose on his forehead. The cut wasn’t from a punch. I think he only won the second round. He didn’t throw anything. He only threw the jab and was punching me behind the head. He was a tough guy, but the fight was mine.”

Undoubtedly, Rosa had his best showing in the fifth round when he literally stopped Major from moving around the ring, pinning him a couple times on the rope and going to work on his body and head with his combination of shots.

In the final round, which may have sealed the deal for Major, Rosa continued to control the fight. But eventually the two slugged it out as the time slipped away. Major ended it with a left crisp hook to Rosa’s head as the bell sounded.

Both fighters expressed their thanks to the fans who came out and showed their support. Rosa said he was even more encouraged by hearing some of the fans tell him that he fought a good fight and should have won or at least gotten a draw.

In the final analysis, Stubbs said he was overwhelmed by the support from the public.

“I am very pleased with the amount of people who came out. It was unexpected,” he said. “I’m just elated that so many people showed up. It proved to Roger that we have more than 500 people living in the Bahamas. So it was a very successful show.”

Stubbs, however, has not given any consideration on whether or not he will continue to promote more shows in the future. He said there are some issues that he will have to deal with first before he can make that decision.