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Toughman entertains Convocation Center Jonesboro Herald (http://herald.astate.edu/herald/archive/sportsF01/110501toughman.html) It's basically a barroom brawl with no biting, no kicking and no crying, but bleeding is OK. This was the opening call by the ring announcer to start the two-day event that was The Toughman Contest. Four categories were held in the two-day event. Pike "Tiny" Zack Underman, who answered the call for a challenger Friday night, won the fraternity division over Sig Ep Cory "Cross" Laitner. "The Masher" Mable Barnett won the women's bracket by a decision against "Cowgirl" April Davis, who also answered an open call for a challenger Friday night. Jesse "Shotgun" Beal of Blytheville won the light heavyweight championship with a 2-1 decision over "Busted" Dustin Crouse of Jonesboro. "Popeye" Bob Pearcy, 39, of Batesville, won by decision over former state champ and golden gloves fighter "Wild" Wayne Hogan of Cherry Valley. Pearcy, the oldest fighter in the tournament, was a defensive fighter and was competing in his fifth Toughman this weekend. "This is my last one. I'm too old," he declared after the victory, his fourth in two days. The Toughman fighters had different mindsets in the fights. Several fighters gave up during the tournament, some in the middle of a round, to give their opponents TKO victories. Others left the competition for injuries. Several Friday night winners did not return for the Saturday fights, including "Bad to the Bone" Michael Brown, who knocked out "Crazy" Kevin Cooper in the first round. The best crowd-pleasers toughed it out though, including Charlie "So Smooth" Cypret, who continued in the semifinals while bleeding profusely through all three rounds. Event planners used music and commentary to overshadow less action in slower fights. Ring announcer Justin Roberts used comedy with a want for action to keep the crowd excited. He poked fun at the fighters during matches. In a hold to buy time often used by professional fighters, Roberts said, "It's a big hug. We're all happy here Now kick his ass!" While most fighters used anger from Roberts' taunts to fuel their fighting, "Too Sexy" Angelica Presley was not able to overcome his taunts. Often backing up away from "Cowgirl" to look give dirty looks at Roberts, she became to distracted by the comments to fight. Renamed the "Karate Kid" for kicking, Presley chased Roberts around the ring in a futile effort to catch the taunt master for the night. For a change of pace, Roberts also talked the ring girls into dancing the Macerena and the Hokey Pokey. In the two days of mixed fighting styles of dancing walruses and near-professional exhibitions, Toughman onlookers were treated to an event like no other. Toughman promoters concider Toughman as one of the safest sports. Toughman uses 16 oz. gloves instead of the professional 8-10 oz. weight. Also required were mouthguards, padded head gear and kidney guard. Medical personnel was on hand to administer physicals and mandatory breathalizers.
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