Reflections From The Flight Deck Of The USS Intrepid

Thomas Hauser is reminded of darker times as Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury skirmish and shout on their media tour

- Thomas Hauser

THE last time that I was on the USS Intrepid prior to the October 2 press conference for the upcoming fight between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury, I saw a man beaten to death. His name was Beethaeven Scott land. He died because of the nature of the sport he was involved with and because a referee let a fight go on too long and the ring doctor assigned to his corner was less than vigilant.

That night – June 26, 2001 – began as a festive occasion. Duva Boxing was promoting the first professional fight card ever held on the flight deck of the Intrepid, a decomissioned 900-foot aircraft carrier. Arriving fans were greeted by round card girls styled as World War II pin-ups. There were panoramic views wherever one turned. The towering skyscrapers of midtown Manhattan to the east; the George Washington Bridge to the north; the Hudson River and New Jersey Palisades to the west. And to the south, the World Trade Center.

Red, white, and blue ring ropes cordoned off the red, white, and blue ring canvas. Everything sparkled. The sky was a perfect, almost surreal, backdrop for the fighters. Aquamarine at first, then dark with just enough haze to resemble a black velvet curtain.

George Khalid Jones faced off against Scott land in next-to-last fight of the evening. In the 10th and final round, tragedy struck.