Published: June 15, 2007 12:14 am            

Hughes, News & Views: West Vigo graduate to make hometown debut in cage-fighting match

TERRE HAUTE — Cage fighting is coming to Terre Haute.

An eight-bout pro/amateur card featuring 30-year-old Shane Meehan of Terre Haute will rock the Zorah Shrine Temple on July 28.

A 1996 graduate of West Vigo High School, Meehan owns a 17-2 record as a pro. Having competed in cage fighting on and off for 12 years, some of his bouts have taken place in Atlantic City and Las Vegas.

In Meehan’s first fight in Terre Haute, he’ll be taking on an opponent to be announced later for the North American Boxing Council’s vacant heavyweight cage-fighting championship.

Retired boxing champion Terry Ray of Terre Haute has been helping train Meehan for about four months and he’s impressed with Meehan’s power.

“He’s a real tough guy,” Ray said of the 6-foot-1, 235-pound Meehan, whom he works with at the U.S. Penitentiary. “He hits very hard.”

Ray started to notice cage fighting develop into a popular sport in this country in the last year.

“It’s one on one,” he explained. “It’s similar to boxing. I respect those guys [who compete in cage fighting]. It takes a lot of hard work.”

An octagon-shaped cage (eight sides) will be brought in for the card. Meehan said cages usually stand about 6 feet from the ring floor.

Bouts are scheduled for three five-minute rounds, although they could end early if a fighter knocks out his opponent or makes his opponent submit (often known as “tapping out”). One of the most frequently used submission moves is the arm bar.

Meehan said he wears a 4-ounce thumbless glove that’s several ounces lighter than boxing gloves. “It’s almost like getting hit with a bare fist,” he mentioned.

Meehan admitted that cage fights can get pretty rough, but fans aren’t likely to see anyone get seriously injured.

“With the athletes we put in there, you won’t see anyone brutally beaten,” he insisted. “Everyone will come in trained in some combination of wrestling, mixed martial arts, boxing and/or kickboxing.”

Other bouts on the July 28 card — including a few Terre Haute fighters — will be announced later.

Tickets will go on sale Tuesday at central Indiana TicketMaster outlets. They also can be purchased by calling Meehan at (812) 230-5301. Tables seating up to 10 persons will be available for $500.



David Hughes can be reached by phone at 1-800-783-8742, Option 4, or at (812) 231-4224; by e-mail at david.hughes@tribstar.com; or by fax at (812) 231-4321.

        

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