Bangor’s Davis bounces back from beating, plans return

Friday, Oct. 13, 2000 was truly an unlucky day for Bangor boxer Marcus “The Irish Grenade” Davis. It was the day his boxing career almost blew up in a ring at Foxwoods Casino in Ledyard, Conn.

Though the fight was filmed by ESPN for possible use, the TV network did not use the filmed fight. It was just was well. Davis, who has resumed training for an upcoming fight, took a savage beating.

It was so savage, in fact, that Pit Parron, a cut man who has worked in Marvelous Marvin Hagler’s corner and was in Davis’ corner that night had some serious concerns for Davis’ well-being.

“He was one punch away from queer street,” Parron said, using an old boxing axiom to describe a boxer who was in danger of receiving permanent damage.

Davis’ promoter, Rich Cappiello of Cappiello Promotions of Brockton, Mass., had doubts that Davis would ever return to the ring. He repeatedly tried to contact the boxer to no avail. Davis had moved from Bangor to the Portland area.

“I wasn’t sure if he wanted to do it anymore,” Cappiello said. “But he finally called me back and we got something going.”

Cappiello says that what’s going is a possible fight with 2000 Olympics bronze medalist Jermaine Taylor in October on HBO.

“We’re working out the details. I think it’s going to happen,” Cappiello said.

A fight with Taylor, a light middleweight, would be a definite step up in class for Davis, which begs the question, why after taking such a beating in his last fight would Davis want to fight someone with Taylor’s credentials?

“He wasn’t prepared properly. There were a lot of distractions. He’s coming back and he’s serious about it. His last fight, I don’t even want to think about it. I don’t even remember who the guy was that he fought,” Cappiello said.

For the record, it was Don Smith, a journeyman from Ohio. Perhaps Davis will have better luck with Jermaine Taylor of the Sydney Olympics.

King Ugly

Former UMaine offensive lineman Mike Flynn has been front and center throughout the NFL Films production of “Hard Knocks” that airs on HBO on Wednesday nights.

The show is a behind the scenes look at Baltimore Ravens training camp.

The latest episode featured Flynn as the host of the team’s King Ugly contest.

The contest is about money and fun. For King Ugly, players vote for the person they consider to be the ugliest person on the team. They vote with money.

Flynn presided over the proceedings with relish, announcing the winners or losers, with a few choice words for each that brought laughter from his teammates and coaches.

By the way, being ugly might not be such a bad deal. The third-place winner, who receives the bulk of the money picked up more than $900. Number one, alas, received nothing.

It was Nealey a hole-in-one

Russ Nealey’s name appeared in the Bangor Daily News last week. It wasn’t the first time. Nealey is a long-time member of the Maine Heat candlepin bowling team and is a six-time winner of the Maine men’s singles championship.

But Nealey’s latest appearance in the paper had nothing to do with bowling. The Otis resident had his first hole-in-one at the Lucerne-in-Maine Golf Course.

“It was the first one in my life. I’m not a real golfer,” Nealey said. “I got lucky.”

Nealey’s ace came on the 165-yard, sixth hole. He was playing with his friend Eben Hobbs of South Paris.

“I punched a 6-iron up there and we didn’t actually see it go in. We went up there and couldn’t find it. We looked in the sand trap and the grass on the backside of the green. The cup was the last place we looked.”

Nealey said he is catching up with his son Nate Nealey in the hole-in-one department. Nate is also an excellent bowler who has reached the state championship. He is also a very good golfer. Nate normally plays to a one or two handicap.

“He has two holes-in-one. I’m halfway there,” Russ Nealey laughed.

Don Perryman’s Local Spotlight column is published each Wednesday. He can be reached at 990-8045 or dperryman@bangordailynews.net