|
|
(JAN 2) CHESTER, WV -
On December 30, 2005, for the first time being at a professional fight
card promotion here at The Harv, short for The Harvey E. Arneault
Memorial Theatre and Events Centre, I was quite impressed with the local
boxing talent the tri-state area has to offer, including a relatively
new ‘girl’ on the block – Leslee ‘Long Play’ Perella
(127), from nearby Pittsburgh.
Terri Blair
In the third bout of
the evening, in what was suspected by some as probably the toughest
fight in Perella’s early pro career, thus far, she did not disappoint
anyone and may have shocked a few, including this writer, when she
managed to box an admirable 4-round match that ended in a
majority draw against a tough opponent in Terri Blair (130),
from Ashland, Kentucky, who has been in with some of the tougher
opponents, as her now deceptive 6-9-2 record indicates. From the
shiners that Perella was nursing afterwards, Blair, having 3
knockouts to her credit, was definitely a formidable opponent, which
made Perella’s performance this evening all the more impressive. Of
course, there was one critic of Perella’s performance – herself.
Some of the ‘local
yokels’ who came out to support Perella, including her whole family,
saw Perella, who has the heart of a slugger, transform herself into the
beginnings of what is going to be a good ‘technician’ in the
super featherweight and lightweight divisions.
I will admit; this
writer had Blair ahead, 39-37. Fortunately, I wasn’t a judge; or
else, Perella would be ‘calling me out’ for a date to a ‘fat
lip’ party.
With the draw,
Perella’s record now goes to 3-1-1, with 2 knockouts.
It looks like Perella,
now 37 years of age, is definitely in it for a ‘long play’.
Most assuredly, these
two pugilists are going to rumble again in a rematch.
Perella’s pugnacity
comes to her honestly, with her father, Tony, and her brothers, Tony Jr.
and Jimmy, all being boxers at one time, as well as the fact that she
was an athlete in other sports, like volleyball, swimming, and running
cross country, along with other track and field events at Carrick High
School.
After her fight with
Blair, I had a chance to sit with her and the rest of Perella family,
donned in their black Perella tee shirts. I didn’t ask her if she still
had aspirations to fight Tonya Harding; but, at this
point, I don’t think Harding wants any part of this girl; but, in the
fight game, as the promotion cards always say, ‘The card is subject
to change without notice’.
All-Bouts Photo Galleries of
Terri Blair:
Gallery #251, 267, 363
Login
|
|
|
|
in 2014 - Now Free to Public!