Hey Mayor, try bending those knees just a tad

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March 18, 2010

Anonymous The Laurel Leader-Call Thu Mar 18, 2010, 11:52 PM CDT

Mayor Mack, try bending those knees a little bit when throwing your punches. And keep that head down.

In case you missed it, Laurel Mayor Melvin Mack was in a “slugfest” Wednesday with Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny Dupree in a specially-constructed boxing ring set up on the front lawn of City Hall. No need for alarm or smelling salts, the aptly named “Brawl at City Hall” challenge was all for a good cause as a fundraiser for the Pine Belt Chapter of the American Red Cross’ “Heroes” campaign.

Approximately $2,400 was raised from the event for the Red Cross as donations poured in. Some $600 was raised during the event's first hour. The Red Cross hopes to raise $50,000.

In fact, Dupree did not even make it to Laurel, much less step through the ropes to “fight” Mack. He was on a business trip to China. Mayor Dupree was represented by his assistant, Johnny Brown, who has quite a few pounds on the 210-pound Laurel mayor. Mayor Mack and Brown squared off for the media. But Mayor Mack said it’s that Dupree whom he wants inside the ring.

Remember your jab, Mayor.

“I think they were afraid. I think Dupree left town purposely to avoid this whipping I was going to put on him,” Mack said, tongue firmly in cheek.

Instead of whuppin’ up on Dupree, Mack had to be content with knocking out a mannequin with Dupree’s likeness emblazoned on it. The mannequin was donated for the event by one of the local schools.

To hear the mayor tell it, the mannequin was no match for the 60-year-old Mack, who looks like he could have gone a few rounds in the ring during his salad days

“He was rope-a-doping me and wouldn’t come out to the center of the ring,” Mack joked. “"I was busting him up pretty goo

Round 1 definitely goes to Mayor Mack.

For the “Brawl at City Hall,” Mack borrowed former boxing legend Muhammad Ali’s “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee,” slogan. Only Mack added on to the phrase: “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. I’m going to knock out Henry Dupree.”

Watch out Ali.

Round 1 definitely goes to Mayor Mack.

Wednesday was the first opportunity to actually meet Mayor Mack since I began work in January as the Laurel Leader-Call sports editor. I found him to be a friendly, approachable sort, who can spin a yarn at the drop of a hat. I quickly learned we share a passion for boxing.

“I never boxed a day in my life,” Mack said afterward inside City Hall. “I watch boxing on television all the time and see how they stand. Ali was indeed the greatest. I love all phases of sports. I’m a fanatic about football, basketball and baseball.”

Mayor Mack’s boxing pose on the recent front page of the LL-C to announce the “Brawl at City Hall” immediately caught my attention. I figured this was something I had to see. I wondered if he had the stamina to go the distance.

Apparently he does. Mack has already accepted a challenge for a rematch, sent though Mayor Dupree’s assistant. The venue and site are to be determined.

“I’ll meet (Dupree) halfway between Eastabuchie and Ellisville,” Mack quipped. “I’ll stop on the side of the Interstate and fight him.”

I can’t wait for Round Two.

Randy Hammons is the sports editor of the Laurel Leader-Call. He can be contacted at sports@laurelleadercall.com.

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