The event billed as ?Xtreme Fight Night 2? at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma did not fail to please the fans at the sold-out venue. The event featured MMA, kickboxing and boxing, with the 6 round boxing match between George Tahdooahnippah and Thomas Longacre as the main event.
Tahdooahnippah answered Longacre’s challenge after being called out repeatedly by the latter via Internet sources such as YouTube and Facebook.
Although it was Longacre’s professional boxing debut, he boasts an extensive and very successful kickboxing career, and is undefeated in 5 MMA fights.
< CLICK LEFT TO VIEW SLIDESHOW OF THE FIGHT
Longacre did as many expected and came out to apply constant pressure to Tahdooahnippah in an attempt to turn the match into a brawl. While he succeeded in doing so for much of the fight, Tahdooahnippah proved that he has the ability to land punches while backing up. At times he showed great skill in avoiding punches. Both pugilists landed several hard shots on the inside, and as they traded punches, both showed a tremendous amount of tenacity and heart.
?Irish? Mickey Ward, who is well known as the subject of the highly successful movie, ?The Fighter?, and for being one half of a brutal trilogy with the late Arturo Gatti, was present for the event.
Ward commented that ?It was a good fight,? and said ?They should fight again?.
Although it was indeed a very good match, it might not make sense from a career standpoint for Tahdooahnippah, who longs to move on to matches that he hopes will lead to a world title shot.
?Oh yeah, that’s what it’s about,? Tahdooahnippah said. ?Every time I fight, that’s what we do. We’re on the road up. This was just a step. It’s in the past now. Comanche Boy needs a minor title belt because we need to get ready for the world, and we need to get a shot at a world title.?
When this writer asked how Tahdooahnippah would rate his performance, he said;
?C-plus, B-minus; You know, I could have been a little slicker, but the objective was done. I schooled him. I wanted him to look bad. He trained thinking [he could be] bigger and stronger, and that I’m not a boxer. Everybody underestimates me, but I proved skill kills, and I paid the bills. I was too slick, I was too quick and I made him look bad. I could have done a little better, I thought. I could have turned it on a little more, but overall I beat him. He was tough. He was a strong dude, and he came to fight but I just had to make him look bad, and I thought I did it.?
Both fighters fought like true warriors, and gave the fans their money’s worth.
At the end of the night, they left their rivalry in the ring, expressing mutual respect and good sportsmanship.
Tahdooahnippah’s unanimous decision win improved his record to 27-0-1, with 20 KOs.
David Harris of Garfield, Arkansas: ?Comanche Boy has a lot faster hands, a lot more accurate hands and he’s a lot more light on his feet. Longacre has a great jaw, but Comanche Boy has more boxing skills.?
Jason Harris, also of Garfield: ?Longacre knew that the only chance he had was just to go straight at him, and he did. He just smothered [Tahdooahnippah]. When Comanche Boy got trapped in the corner, Thunderkick worked him over. It was a really good fight.?
