The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Although he got knocked down in the third round, Meacher ‘Pain’ Major and his trainer Anthony ‘Chills’ Wilson said the referee didn’t allow him to regain his composure to continue his eight-round bout against undefeated Mexican Joe Felix Jr on Saturday night.

Before a crowd of 7,250 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, Felix threw a left hook that landed just as Major was attempting a right of his own. Major was floored, got up and took the eight count, but the referee enforced the stoppage with two minutes and 23 seconds left on the clock.

“All I can say is against all odds, the fellow got me with a hook, but I got back up and I went down on one knee for the eight count,” Major said. “The referee was speaking Spanish and because I don’t speak it, I didn’t understand what he was telling me and before I knew it, he had called off the fight.

“He apologised to me after the fight, but we all knew that he should have given me a chance to continue to fight. I was never hurt in the fight. I didn’t have any injuries or any spars. So I thank God for the opportunity, but I was very disappointed in the way things turned out.”

Out of all the fights on the card, Major said just him and another black guy fought. Everybody else he said was Hispanic. “I wasn’t disappointed. I felt good about the fight. Chill had me in the best condition that he could going into the fight in the short time that we worked out. But I know what I have to work on and I’m going to go back to the drawing board and try to turn things around again. I don’t have any problems starting all over again.

“I know a lot of people are probably saying that I’m getting old and maybe I should retire, but Meacher Major has never been hurt in any fight. I still feel fresh. I was never hurt in any of my fights. I don’t keep late hours and I don’t abuse my body, so I’m just waiting for the new year to start to get a fresh start. My main goal for the new year is to just focus on the British Commonwealth title and probably go after one of the regional titles.”

With the win, 20-year-old Felix Jr improved to 22-0-1 with 18 KOs. Major’s loss dropped the 31-year-old Bahamian to 20-6 with 17KOs. It was Major’s second straight loss coming off his second round defeat against Logan McGuinness at the Hershey Centre, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada on May 12 for the NABA super featherweight title.

Wilson, who got the opportunity to work with Major for about two weeks in preparation for the fight, said despite the loss, he felt he gave a good account of himself.

“Meacher did good. He out-boxed the kid. But the kid caught him with a left hook. He went down, got back up and took a knee for the count. He stood back up before the eight count, but the referee still called it off,” Wilson said. “He didn’t give him a chance. But he was ready to continue fighting.

“One of the commentators from ESPN said the referee should not have stopped the bout. He was just warming up.”

Had Major returned a couple weeks earlier, Wilson said he would have definitely been in much better shape for the fight.

“We spoke on it and the next time he has a fight, we will probably work together for at least 6-7 weeks,” Wilson said. “With the right timing, he will be back.”

Major said he intends to take the next two weeks off to relax and spend some time at home with his family in Kemp Road. He also intends to provide some toys and clothing for some of the needy in his community.