Sports
Tacoma Rainiers issue statement about the passing of Greg Holman
press release:
Tacoma Rainiers Team President Aaron Artman released the following statement concerning the tragic passing of outfielder Greg Halman:
“Greg was a huge part of the Rainiers during his time here in Tacoma, and played a pivotal role – on the field – in our run to the 2010 Pacific Coast League Championship. But far more important than what he did on the field, was his personality off the field.
He had a huge smile on his face, every day, and his enthusiasm was infectious. He just had a way about him that made our front office staff and fans see a guy who clearly loved what he was doing.
He was often first to raise his hand when the Tacoma community needed him, and in particular, spent a good deal of time visiting hospitalized children, which speaks to his character.
We miss Greg, already, and our prayers go out to his family, friends, teammates and the Mariners organization.”
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SLIDESHOW: Vincent Thompson remains unbeaten; wins first boxing belt
The heavyweight boxing match is stopped abruptly amid jeers, catcalls and profanity-laden epithets.
It is the eighth round of a 10-round bout and the fans are revved up. They want to see a battle that ends all battles, to see the victor pound his opponent into oblivion -- and finally answer the much-awaited question about who is the best heavyweight boxer in the Pacific Northwest.
PLEASE CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE FOR MORE
But it was not to be on Saturday night, Nov. 5, before a sell-out crowd of 1,800 fans in the Battle of the Boat 84 main event at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma.
Tacoma fighter Jonte Willis, stunned by an apparent rabbit punch connecting behind his right ear, pulls up lame, shaking his right leg and grimacing from pain. Apparently the Vincent Thompson hook to the head had rung Willis' bell down to his toes.
Willis can't shake it off. He can't put weight on his leg. The fight is called at 2:01 of the eighth round, and the outcome will be decided on judge's cards. Several minutes go by and the impatient crowd is getting restless.
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File photo by Kurt Howard
Vincent Thompson in victory pose after his unanimous decision win over Takahara in August.
Top NW boxing heavyweights set to battle in Tacoma Saturday night
In what could be the biggest local heavyweight fight in 20 years, featuring two of the top prospects in the Pacific Northwest, unbeaten Vincent Thompson and Jonte Willis square off in a 10-round Battle of the Boat 84 main event at Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma on Saturday night, Nov. 5. The six-round card begins at 7 p.m.
"It's been a long, long time since two heavyweights with this kind of talent have met, not since Joe Hipp fought Mike Cohen at the old Executive Inn in Fife in 1991," said fight promoter Brian Halquist.
The only other Seattle-Tacoma pro heavyweight fights of some note in the past 30 years were the Ibar Arrington-Harvey Steichen bout in Everett in 1982 and the Pinklon Thomas-Lee Mitchell fight at the Seattle Center Arena in 1981. Thomas, the former WBC champ, and Arrington won on knockouts.
Boone "Boom Boom" Kirkman knocked out Charles Atlas at the Arena in 1978, but that was the last best local heavyweight fight of that era.
All these fights pale in comparison to the big outdoor fights in the Seattle-Tacoma area in the 1950s. Boxing was a big sport in town then, along with University of Washington Husky football and hydroplane racing.
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