THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, January 7, 1995 TAG: 9501070357
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
Abdel Issad scored a stunning technical knockout over Curtis Bush in one of the bloodiest International Sport Karate Association world championships on record in the main event of a professional card Friday at the Pavilion.
After a flurry of punches left Bush out on his feet, referee Al Rothenberg stepped in and stopped the fight with 50 seconds left in the eighth of a scheduled 12-rounder for the vacant ISKA super welterweight belt.
Both fighters were cut badly, although Bush was definitely worse off.The three-time world champion from Virginia Beach was cut over the right eye in the first round, but ended the round by flooring the Frenchman with a spinning bottom fist.
``I was worried that they were going to stop the fight right there,'' Bush said. ``But I begged them not to. I thought I hurt him bad with the bottom fist - few guys get up from that, much less continue.''
From there on, Bush put up a gallant effort against an opponent nine years younger. But Issad (40-1 with 23 knockouts) continued to work on Bush's eye, and actually drew blood from the nose of Bush early in the third.
Bush (38-8-2) caught Issad late in the third with another spinning backfist that cut the new champion just below the left eye.
With both fighters bleeding badly from the fourth round on, Bush appeared to gain an edge when Issad showed signs of tiring.
But in the sixth round, Issad stunned Bush with a flurry of combinations.
And in the seventh, Issad had Bush dropping his guard. And Bush was hurt early in the eighth, coming in on an uppercut that was followed by two vicious combinations from Issad.
His head hanging and Issad bringing on more punches, Bush was gone on his feet.
``I still feel like I am a champion,'' Bush said. ``But he fought like the better champion tonight and he is not the champ. I have to give him credit.''
In other fights:
Nick Rupa took a few too many Levon Rouse left jabs before coming on strong at the end of the first round in a scheduled eight-round welterweight fight.
Olympic silver medalist Chris Byrd toyed with Frankie Hines for one round before flooring him with a quick left hook 59 seconds into the second.
Mike ``Powerhouse'' Rouse liked Byrd's act so much he did the same before flooring Max Key early in the second with a close left hook in a fight stopped after two.
Brian Cherokee Parks scored a TKO over Hardie Cuffee in the third of their lightweight fight.
Adam Hartley got the undercard started with a unanimous kickboxing decision over Armond Malono. In another kickboxing bout, Andre Carter decisioned Sam Taylor. by CNB