So far The Champ, Hurricane Howard, has managed to avoid what all the pundits were predicting; and that’s a KO by his much younger and stronger opponent here tonight, Rapacious 'Rolls Royce' Rudd.
Hurricane may have lost much of his punching power since his last championship contest, almost three years ago, but he’s as fast on his feet as ever. He’s ducked, he’s weaved, he’s taken three mandatory eight counts but so far RR has failed to deliver the knockout blow.
RR has taunted Hurricane all week with the line “I’m the Rolls Royce, you’re just a Morris Minor”.
Is there really a Rolls Royce engine inside that sleek exterior or just another Holden like previous challengers Bomber Beasley and Lethal Latham? We'll know very soon.
Everyone said it would be over in five, but let me tell you this is going right down to the wire although the challenger is well ahead on points, 55 to 45; and Hurricane will need to summon all his strength and somehow KO Rapacious Rudd in the next two rounds to win.
Early in the fight Rapacious seemed to be able to land blows at will but Hurricane has fought back with guile and cunning and in the last few rounds has shown promise of snatching a remarkable victory.
Can The Champ yet pull a rabbit out of the hat?
Medicos were worried earlier in the week that he may be punch drunk when, at a press conference, he couldn't remember his trainer’s name. But he passed the medical at nearby Mersey Hospital and that’s all that counts.
By the way, rumour has it that services at the hospital are on standby; expecting one of these men to need their help before the night is out.
Hurricane’s corner looks worried. It’s said that even many of his sparring partners think they would have had a better chance than The Champ. Ambitious Abbott used to be a mean fighter in his day. Turnbull the Terrific and Nimble Nelson both fancy their chances too.
Still, there they are towelling him down, giving advice and encouragement, although I must say his trainer of the last 11 years, Cosmo Costello, looks particularly worried. The Champ has spent a fortune preparing for this fight and the future of both these men depends on Hurricane collecting the winner’s purse tonight.
Every favour has been called in and word is he’s promised small fortunes to all and sundry in order to pull off a surprise defence of his title.
If he wins; will he retire? We’ll, some say he will, some say he won’t.
Too early for that though; this fight’s not over yet. Stay tuned to this station folks.
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