Brooklyn Boro

Brooklyn’s Boyd guts out big win

Melson overcomes nasty cut to score decision over Thompson

August 15, 2013 By John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle
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Brooklyn’s-own junior middleweight contender Boyd Melson smiled through the blood pouring down his face en route to a much-needed unanimous decision victory over Jason Thompson Wednesday night at Manhattan’s B.B. King Blues Club and Grill almost 10 months after the pugilists battled to a draw in the first-ever professional bout at Downtown’s Barclays Center.

Melson, eager to exact revenge for what he thought was a poor decision in the Oct. 20 meeting with Thompson on the corners of Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues, seemed well on his way to an easy win when potential disaster struck.

Thompson landed a clean shot over the Bay Ridge resident’s right eye in the sixth round, causing a vision-impairing gash and temporary stoppage, followed by a close inspection via the ringside physician.

When asked if he could go on, Melson, a graduate of West Point and a four-time U.S. Army boxing champion, simply grinned at the doctor, indicating that there was no way he was going to allow him to stop the bout.

Rather than cower and protect his wound, Melson amped up his attack and caused a nasty cut over Thompson’s right eye in the seventh before felling his opponent with a short right hand in the eighth and final round.

Thompson got up, but the damage was done, resulting in a solid 78-73, 78-73 and 77-74 score on the ringside judges’ cards.

Melson, who improved to 12-1-1 with four career knockouts, was joined in the ring by Academy Award-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr. following the big win, which raised money for his “Team Fight to Walk” and “Just a Dollar Please” organizations in the ongoing fight against spinal cord injuries via stem cell research.

“I felt great after eight rounds,” said Melson, who also had more than ten of his West Point classmates that served in Iraq or Afghanistan amongst his large contingent of fans. “My plan was to time him as he came forward with punches as well as come off of the blocks with straight punches when he would attack with wide hard punches. I think I did a decent job of that. I wanted to remain within a few feet of him at all times unlike in our first bout, where I gave him too much space to think. Additionally, I made a point of it to not allow myself to become overzealous and boxed patiently even when I hurt him. I believe I did a fair job of both.”
“Boyd has the biggest heart in boxing,” said Gooding Jr., who has trained with Melson in the past. “He fights with his hands to heal a nation. Think about that. He’s a warrior in spirit and one of god’s angels.”
 

For more information on the cause visit www.justadollarplease.org

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