Episode 2

Thursday March 10th. 2005

Alfonso's Glory

The show now has my undivided attention. The crowd is cheering for our new hero Alfonso Gomez. His family is all in the ring hugging him and jumping up and down. As mom hugs her son, she says I knew you could do it. I knew you could win.

While in the shower, Alfonso has a huge kool aide smile. He knows he did good. He knows he pulled a major upset and is sitting pretty as he wont have to fight until the second round of the show.

What about Peter?

The teams are talking about Peter Manfredo Jr. and they are all saying he is through. The old dude with the hat says that Peter ain't through.

From what I am seeing and hearing, Peter has asked for another chance to prove himself. Will he return? If he does, will he be let back in the competition and still get a shot for the $ one million dollar purse? Or will he just come back to fight some one to help boost his self esteem? I guess we will just have to wait and see. We are all speculating on this on.

The sparring of words continues....

In the gym things begin to get ugly as Ishe starts talking ##### to Ahmed again while Ishe is sparring in the ring and ahmed is writing in his journal while watching and listening from the tier above. Ishe begins to make indirect remarks and Ahmed bites the hook again and says to Ishe: Don't talk to my friends. Say what you got to say to me! "You ain't nothin' says Ahmed and adds: I will beat you anytime.! Ishe then says to Ahmed you ain't beat anyone good. Ahmed reply's with a question" Who have you fought? Who have you beat?" Ishe reply's and says: I fought and beat your momma and your daddy and your greasy headed granny too. (I heard him say that about his granny)

This went on and more threats were made. Ahmed's lasts words to Ishe were: "I am gonna kill you!"

Sly steps in.

Them is fighting words and now the ##### is really getting ugly. The tension is so thick in the gym you could cut it with a knife. Stallone is also watching and listening and has to step in and call Ahmed to his office before Ahmed does something crazy. Stallone talks to Ahmed and explains the situation about not losing his cool. Ahmed agrees not to go after Ishe as favor to Sly.

Bling, bling for Alfonso Gomez

Moving on.... Sly talks to the boys and tells Alfonso that he ain't got to fight until the second phase of the show (hes already in as a final 8) and also presents Gomez with a neck chain and a charm attached to it. Looks like a glove?
That truly had to be another great moment for Alfonso Gomez. Being the first fighter to receive the (we shall call it the immunity gloves necklace)
Priceless.......

Actually it's worth that much closer to $1 Million Dollars.

Team reward

Another reward for winning was: Team West Coast will be meeting and getting to rub elbows with another great boxing heavy weight. George Foreman. They will also get to do lunch. Team East Coast can only sit back and watch as the other team reaps their reward. First thing Foreman does is acknowledge Alfonso Gomez and congratulates him on his victory over Peter Manfredo Jr.

Lunch and the words of wisdom

During lunch the boys are all gathered around the table with George Foreman and chatting. Ishe mentions a boxers name, I forget who it was. George Foreman quotes the boxer "Plan your work, and work your plan," he said. "All boxers should think things out. Then you get personal." This is where Ishe began to think and thus I believe lead him to do what he did later on in the show. He had a new game plan. I think these words came just in time for Ishe to hear.

Time to play the game and not get played by the game.

Get the flags/build a puzzle

Both teams have to run up the stairs of a stadium and retrieve a bunch of flags then build a puzzle made of cloth. I think it was a banner. I said this before and I will say it again. The challenges on all reality shows are lame, except maybe 'Fear Factors' eating and drinking sick ##### challenges. Ok and maybe the amazing race has some good ones too.

Both teams were neck and neck but when it came to building the puzzle, Team East Coast was about as lost as a camel in the Antarctic. Speaking of lost, you guessed it. Team East Coast looses again.

Time to pick two more gladiators

You would think this was a no brainer and Ishe would step up and say he was going to fight Ahmed, right? Wrong! In the locker room everyone expected it. But it did not happened. We were all waiting. Everyone was looking around as if like someone had just cut a fart or something. Some one spoke up and said well Ishe what's it gonna be? Ishe said nothing. Now he's playing possum and is playing the game on another level thanks to you Mister George Foreman. lol

Jesse Brinkley calls Ishe on it and says come on step up. Jesse is pissed because Ishe has put the team through all the drama and now Ishe sits quieter than a church mouse on heroine. Now was a good time for Ishe to run his yapper, but he said nothing as he sat there with his head hung low and thought about the pressure.

Jesse Brinkley is obviously disgusted and says: ##### it! (I heard him say it) I will fight Jonathan Reid.

Holy crap!

Another shocker. Are you guys sure this is not scripted? It doesn't get any better than this.

The team is not happy with this impulsive decision and tries to talk Jesse Brinkley out of going through with it. Jesse ain't trying to hear it and has made up his mind. It's on!

Jesse Brinkley has lost total respect for Ishe Smith and I don't blame him.

The Press Conference

During the press conference, Sly asks Reid if he has any predictions on the fight.

Pain! says Reid. Oops that was Clubber Lang who said that.

I am going to even the score and win said Jonathan Reid.

When Jesse Brinkley was asked about the fight all I can remember is him saying that he was tired of the Ahmed/Ishe tension rivalry and then Ishe interrupts Jesse by telling him not to bring that topic up and to save it. Jesse Brinkley is a bit of a hot head too.

Allot of testosterone on Team West Coast. No doubt.

Ishe stood up and went over to where Jesse was sitting and a heated argument began.

Judas

To make matters worse, right after the press conference was over Ishe went over to Ried and said I wan't you to beat this guy. Kick his ##### for me. (I heard him say it)

Before the fight

Both fighters are allowed to leave the compound and spend time with their family. We get to meet the people behind the boxers. Nice touch.

Locker room

Reid and Brinkley prepare for the fight as they get taped up, get loose and warm before stepping into the ring. Both fighters look confident. Reid talks about how he has to be quick as a snake. Brinkley talks about how he fought with two broken bones on both hands. Ouch. I don't recall him saying he won that fight.

The battle

Jonathan Ried is the first one out to the ring. He looks good.

I see many famous people in the crowd kinda' like watching the old school matches back in the days. We would always look in the crowd and try to spot the celebrities. Them was the good ol' days.

Jesse Brinkley comes out pounding through them doors like a gladiator ready to do battle.

Round one: Both boxers begin to feel each other out throwing a few jabs, bobbing and weaving and working them dust kickers. Since this 5 rounds was edited. I can't call the fight as it happened. I can only call what they showed. (But yahoo has the full fight. I might download it when I get time) Neither fighter looks very comfortable going through this first round. The round was pretty even.

Round two: Jesse still looks a little nervous and is trying hard not to get hit by that right hand of Reid. Now it looks like Jesse has cleared the butterflies and is looking good landing some nice blows as Reid counters with a few of his own. But Jesse has seen that the upper cut is effective as was mentioned and noticed by others earlier in the show as they watched Reid spar.

It's a close fight and in Jesse's corner they are telling him to stop trying to take out Jonathan Reid with one blow. Work them hands and use combinations! We didn't come here for the one hitter quitter. Now go out and fight!

The crowd is cheering.

Use the upper cut! screams Joey.

Rounds three and four. I gave these rounds to Jesse Brinkley.

The look on Jonathan's wifes face said it all. Jonathan was losing the fight.

Jesse just showed more heart and determination. Jesse just kept beating Jonathan to the punch.

Sure enough it is that upper cut that keeps getting Reid and has him frustrated. With that said, Jesse Brinkley wins the fight in a unanimous decision over Jonathan Reid.

Congratulations to Jesse Brinkley for a great fight and having the balls to step up when no one else would. You got my respect. I did curse the ##### out of you for picking what I thought was a tougher fighter than you. I was wrong.

He did say he was here to prove himself and I believe him.

It was a great match. If you missed it, find it on line.

There are now two sets of boxing gloves hanging in the bone yard. Who will be next?

That's all I got for now. See you Sunday. Man I can't wait to watch Episode 3. I am hooked!