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By Brady Crytzer
Photos: Javiel
Centeno/Ringsidepics.com
 On Friday night the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
hosted a night of solid boxing action featuring first defenses,
second chances and last stands. Though Hurricane Katrina flooded
much of the Sunshine State’s southern portion, the Heavyweight Heat
was still on as Shannon Briggs jumped back into the Heavyweight
title picture by stopping former WBO World Champion “Merciless” Ray
Mercer in seven rounds. Also returning to the ring, 6’6, 277 lb.
“Big Time” Jameel McCline made quick work of opponent Steve Pannell
and IBF World Cruiserweight champion O’Neill Bell successfully
defended his title for the very first time in an exciting brawl
against South African Sebastian Rothmann.
 The main event of the evening pitted
two former Heavyweight champions at a crossroads in
their careers against one another in a fight that many
considered a last chance at greatness for both men.
In the opening round Briggs came out with a purpose
landing hard shots and jolting jabs as a means to establish
control over the older but dangerously experienced Mercer.
Despite the pace, Mercer slowed his much better conditioned
opponent with his own veteran jab. In the second round,
Briggs landed shots to stun Mercer but failed to capitalize
on them allowing Mercer to recover and eventually control
much of round three. In the middle rounds the fight
was deadlocked with Briggs still landing clean effective
jabs and “Merciless” Ray showing gleams of his past
by connecting with stinging shots. The tactful but tame
bout came to an abrupt halt in typical Heavyweight fashion
when Briggs landed a multitude of blasting rights to
the older Mercer while in close quarters. The accumulation
of blows flattened Briggs’ opponent for the full ten
count. Shannon Briggs (43-4-1, 37 KOs) now jumps back
into title contention while “Merciless” Ray Mercer (34-6-1,
25 KOs) hits another devastating roadblock.
 In one of the best comeback victories
of recent memory, O’Neil “The Supernova” Bell Ko'd South Africa’s
Sebastian Rothmann late in the 11th despite being matched and in
some cases beaten in nearly every round of the fight. Bell’s
inaugural defense of his IBF World Cruiserweight title was an
exciting, yet rocky one for the new champion. As both men battled in
the early rounds, it appeared as though the challenger Rothmann
(18-4-2, 12 KOs) was getting the better of the exchanges. As the
rounds that followed began to drift by, the pace of the fight was
drifting more and more to the side of the challenger and it appeared
as though Bell’s title reign would be a short one. The fight
seemingly was becoming more and more one sided entering the final
rounds as Rothmann continued to land shots. Bell, on the other hand,
never seemed to find his rhythm. It seemed as though a new champion
was to be born until O’Neil Bell slammed a vicious right hand into
the face of his opponent. The crushing blow dropped Rothmann in his
tracks at 2:09 of the eleventh round. With this “eleventh hour”
victory Bell improves to 25-1-1 with 23 KO’s. At the time of the
knockout, two ringside judges scored the fight even with the third
in favor of the challenger.
 In another Heavyweight clash, 6’6,
277 lb. “Big Time” Jameel McCline bounced back from his April loss
to former Olympian Calvin Brock by scoring a dominant third round
knockout over an overmatched Steve Pannell. Though both men appeared
a bit tentative, McCline employed strong aggression and a very
noticeable size advantage to score a knockdown as the opening round
ended. As Round two passed, McCline began landing thunderous shots
to the head and body of Pannell flooring him once more. With round
three in full swing, “Big Time” began to rumble and his opponent
appeared to tire. After landing a hellacious series of punches,
Jameel “Big Time” McCline scored a third and final knockdown giving
him the victory
 In a junior welterweight showcase, highly
touted prospect Juan Urango knocked out opponent Andre
Eason with a devastating overhand right late in the
7th round. In the early portion of the fight, Urango
showed skilled patience and a Tyson-like style as he
stalked his opponent landing hard rights and lefts.
After being dropped by hard shots in round four, Eason
began to press in round six matching Urango with well
placed right uppercuts and body shots, the tide had
seemingly changed. As round seven came to a close, Eason
appeared to have successfully taken the steam out of
his opponent by landing effective uppercuts until Juan
Urango landed a swift overhand right that that ended
his night at. Though Eason rose to his feet, he was
in no condition to continue and the fight was waved
off. The official time was 2:59 of round seven.
Urango now improves to 16-0-1.
In off-TV action, heavyweight contender Lance
"Mount" Whitaker (30-3-1, 25 KOs) stopped
Louis Monaco 30 seconds of round three and unbeaten
middleweight contender Edison Miranda won a six round
unanimous decision over Hilario Guzman. Scores were
58-54, 59-53, 59-53.
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