Paul-Andre Walker, Staff Reporter
O'Neil Bell from Montego Bay, St. James, celebrates after knocking out Jean-Marc Mormeck of France in the 10th round of their cruiserweight unification bout at New York's Madison Square Garden last Saturday night. - - REUTERS
FOR BEING the first man to unify his division since the great Evander Holy-field, Jamaican-born and undisputed WBC/WBA/IBF cruiserweight champion O'Neil Bell is this week's Performer of the Week.
The 31-year-old, who has now notched a career 26 wins with one loss and a draw, made his way into the history books when he knocked out Jean-Marc Mormeck in the 10th round of what journalists have been calling a 'slug fest'.
'Super Nova' or 'Give 'em Hell Bell', as he is often called by ring announcers started slowly but succeeded in wearing down Frenchman Mormeck the former WBA/WBC champion to create not only history for Jamaica but to dispel the long-standing rumour that there were no more great fights left in the cruiserweight division.
At the end of what was a high-paced fight, Mormeck and both his belts went tumbling down with just 15 seconds left in the 10th round.
The loss meant that Mormeck's statistics as a professional now stand at 31 wins and three defeats.
Raising the flag of his native country after the fight Bell said:
"I had to break him down methodically. I had to take him mentally, and then take him physically."
As the huge underdog, Bell has made a habit of coming from behind in title fights, doing so to defend his IBF title and now doing so against the favoured Mormeck.
According to boxing pundits all over the world, the fight could easily be billed as one of the greatest ever.
If Bell has anything to say about this those pundits might get something to compare it with.
"I'd like to give him a rematch," he said after the bout.
Of course, Mormeck is also raring to get part two of the unification bout going.
"Believe me, it's not over. I definitely want to come back for more challenges," he said.
He might just get some more 'hell' from Bell.
