Live on 610AM Sports Radio in Philadelphia, PA with host Sandra Hodges. Sandra Hodges asks Heavyweight Champion Todd McNeil about his fight with former Champ Andre (Killer) Morris who Todd McNeil beat in an upset that people are still remembering.
Sandra: Good Afternoon everyone tuning in. I am Sandra Hodges and I'm your host for 610AM Sports Radio in the city of brotherly love in Philly. My guest on today's show via telephone is the Heavyweight Champion Todd McNeil. Good Afternoon Todd!
Todd: Good Afternoon Sandra and thanks for having me on your radio show.
Sandra: Your welcome and I'm glad that you can take the time out of your busy schedule to do this telephone interview. I wanted to ask you some questions.
Todd: Ask away Sandra!
Sandra: You challenged then Champion Andre Morris for the Heavyweight Title 5 years ago. Can you please tell me what made you have the courage to step in the ring to fight someone who was so dominant in boxing like Andre Morris?
Todd: Actually, I was nervous when I challenged Andre Morris to the Heavyweight Title.
Sandra: Were there any doubts that were in your mind that had you thinking that there was no chance that you could beat Andre Morris for the Heavyweight Title?
Todd: Yes. Andre Morris had such an intimidation on his face, he looked like he wanted to "punch my face in." I had to give him my best in order to have any chances of pulling off the upset and stop Andre Morris's undefeated boxing record.
Sandra: What was it like for you growing up Todd?
Todd: I'm originally from Scranton, PA and I lived in Scranton for 13 years. I grew up in an environment where we were taught not to fight. People trashed talked each other but it never led to fist fighting. I moved to Philadelphia where trash talking lead to fist fighting. I lived in Philly for the past 21 years.
Sandra: I've read about how you had to deal with bullies moving from the suburbs of Scranton and into the ghetto of Philly. What was that change like for you Todd?
Todd: When bullies used to beat me up they were of very few words. Either I give them what they wanted or I got beat down. Getting beat down as often as I did my trainer came to me and said, "Hey kid who are you?" I told my trainer Vinnie, "I'm Todd McNeil!" Vinnie said these very words to me that changed the way that I looked at bullies beating me up. Vinnie said, "You don't deserve getting the crap beaten out of you every day like this, let me teach you how to fight kid!"
Sandra: Did challenging Andre Morris to the Heavyweight Title motivate you that this is how you and anyone who have been bullied can stand up to bullies?
Todd: Yes. If you let the bully know that you're not a coward either the bully will back off and leave you alone or the bully will wind up being your friend.
Sandra: Can you tell me what were you thinking in that last round when you won the title against Andre Morris?
Todd: Sure. Andre Morris always sets you up in the corner with jabs and uppercuts, when you are trapped in the corner there is nothing anyone can do. Andre Morris does his famous hay-maker. I've watched him do this a lot of in his fights. While me and Morris were fighting back and forth I had Morris up against that corner and when Morris tried to move back he was trapped against the ropes. I uppercuted Morris and pulled off the upset.
Sandra: That is a wonderful story Todd and come on the radio show again anytime.
Todd: Thank you and will do Sandra.
Sandra: That is all for today with my telephone interview with Heavyweight Champion Todd McNeil. If you want to see the fight that Todd McNeil had with Andre Morris you will get to read the story about the whole fight online.
TodD MCNEIL VS. ANDRE (KILLER) MORRIS HEAVY WEIGHT TITLE: FICTIONAL STORY
Brooklyn, NY (This is Andre Morris rough neighborhood.)
Scranton, PA (This is where Todd McNeil is originally from and grew up here until he was 13 years old.)
Philadelphia, PA (This is the neighborhood where Todd McNeil moved to from Scranton when he was in the 8th grade and all through high school. Vinnie his trainer used to come in this neighborhood to teach Todd McNeil how to fight.)
Andre Morris grew up in Brooklyn, NY where he was known as killer because of his killer instincts. He knew where to hit people where it really hurts and would knock out people with his famous uppercut or quick rabbit punch. Andre Morris came from a background where his parents were strung out on drugs and his grandparents raised him. Practically all of his life, Andre Morris had to fight on the streets to survive. At the age of 15 Andre Morris started going to the boxing ring to learn how to box. Andre Morris was trained by Gus who taught him everything that he knows and at the age of 28 Andre Morris has an impressive record of 35-0. Andre Morris beat the best in New York and he KO 30 fighters along with winning the other 5 fights by TKO. Andre Morris was well trained by Gus during his practices and Morris won titles after titles. Morris won the heavy weight title when he knocked out former Champ Herman Burns in the second round.
Meanwhile, a scrawny kid by the name of Todd McNeil came from Scranton, PA. This kid learned how to fight because he used to get beat up by bullies in the 8th grade and all through high school. Vinnie would invite McNeil to the boxing ring to teach him how to fight because McNeil used to have black-eyes. Todd McNeil decided to finally learn how to fight when he was 18 and he went through light weight boxing matches where he would learn to develop as he would fight different fighters from all parts of Pennsylvania. A bum named Richard Newton went the distance with Todd McNeil when they fought in Philadelphia. This fight was the worst light weight fight that the crowd in Philly had ever seen. The 2 guys traded punches back and forth until McNeil finally got the advantage when he knocked out Newton in the 7th round. Todd McNeil now at age 29 has a record of 29-5.
McNeil's trainer Vinnie said, "I got to tell you this kid, you have a lot of heart and you give it your all every time you step into the ring."
Todd McNeil replies, "I want a shot at the heavy weight title against Andre (Killer) Morris Vinnie!"
Vinnie answers, "Kid he will knock you into next week, you don't stand a chance against this kid."
Todd McNeil's response is, "But I'm hungry, I can go the distance and pull off an upset just train me."
Vinnie replies, "I admire your optimism but he will knock you out kid."
Todd McNeil answered, "I can beat all the odds that are stacked against me."
Vinnie says, "You know what you got a lot of guts kid and I will take you up on your challenge and set up the title bout with you and Andre Morris."
"All I want is a chance to prove to the world that I can pull off the upset," utters Todd McNeil.
Andre Morris issued a challenge to anyone who wanted to challenge him for the title.
He responded by saying, "If there is a challenger that will fight me and can last 5 rounds and can beat me then I will congradulate him for beating me."
Todd McNeil stepped up and said, "Hey Andre Morris I will challenge you for your heavy weight title!"
Andre Morris replied, "Alright Todd McNeil you're on, the fight will be in Madison Square Garden!"
The fight would take place in Madison Square Garden. The trainers had a chance to train their fighters for the title. No boxer was taking anything lightly. Vinnie was working on helping Todd McNeil's focus level for the fight. Andre Morris was taking out his aggression on the punching bag.
It was a sellout crowd at Madison Square Garden and the ring announcer would announce the fighters as they prepared to fight.
Vinnie gave Todd McNeil some words of advice by saying, "The best advice that I can give you is to fight this guy hard kid and go out there and win!"
Todd McNeil was motivated from that.
The announcer said, "First the challenger at 5' 11" tall weighing at 205 LBS from Scranton, PA Todd McNeil."
Naturally the crowd booed because Todd McNeil was from Pennsylvania.
Then the announcer said, "And here is your heavy weight champion at 6' 1" weighing at 215 LBS from Brooklyn, New York they call him the "Killer instinct" Andre (Killer) Morris."
The crowd is on their feet cheering their hometown favorite champion Morris.
The ref told the 2 fighters, "Hey, I want a clean fight, no hitting below the belt, and watch out for the rabbit punches."
The bell rings for round 1 to begin: Andre Morris is lighting Todd McNeil up with a series of right and left uppercuts to the face. Todd McNeil tries to punch Andre Morris in the jaw but Andre Morris ducks and uppercuts Todd McNeil in the stomach. Andre Morris is catching Todd McNeil with quick jabs to the face. Todd McNeil was trying to fight back but couldn't connect with any of his uppercuts. Andre Morris again is lighting Todd McNeil up with more quick jabs to Todd McNeil's face and have him up against the ropes and they are holding each other. The ref tells them to break it up. McNeil is able to get in a couple of jabs to Morris's head right before the bell rings. It was the end of round 1 and Morris takes round 1 easily against McNeil.
Both boxers go to their trainers and Vinnie tells McNeil, "Hey kid don't quit because you have more heart than him; he is just a fighter like you."
Gus tells Morris, "You got him right where you want him, put him away kid."
The bell rings for round 2 to start: Morris is catching McNeil with a series of lightning quick jabs and uppercuts to the chest and stomach. McNeil catches Morris with a nice uppercut to the head. Morris answers with an uppercut to McNeil's face and cut his eye open with that vicious blow. McNeil is trying to fight back with his one good eye and is able to catch Morris with uppercuts to his stomach and ribs and is able to catch him with a nice left hook to the jaw and knocks him on the ground. The ref counts 1, 2,3,4 and Morris gets back up. Morris is trying to catch McNeil with rights and lefts jabs but McNeil is dodging his hits. The bell rings and the fighters go back to their trainers. After 2 rounds it's even at 1 apiece.
Morris was stunned by McNeil's left hook in Round 2 of their Heavy Weight Championship boxing match that knocked Morris on the ground. Morris was able to get back up after the 4 count.
Gus to Morris: "Kid don't play nice, you got to beat this punk up good!"
Vinnie to McNeil: "Nice round McNeil you was able to weather the storm. Stay in the fight kid!"
Round 3 begins: Morris catches McNeil with a series of jabs to the face and head. McNeil tries to catch Morris with a right hook to the face but Morris dodges it and uppercuts McNeil in the face and continues to catch McNeil with jabs to McNeil's face. McNeil catches Morris with jabs to his chest and stomach. Morris catches McNeil with uppercuts to the ribs. McNeil tries to uppercut Morris in the head but Morris dodges it and catches McNeil with uppercuts to the face and a really nice uppercut to the jaw that sent McNeil to the ground. The ref counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 but McNeil somehow gets up to beat the 10 count. Morris is toying with McNeil with jabs to the face and head and jabs to the ribs and stomach. McNeil answers with uppercuts to the stomach. McNeil tried to catch Morris with a right hook to the jaw but Morris ducked and uppercuted McNeil in the face that sends McNeil right back on the ground again. The ref counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 but McNeil fights through the pain and refuse to stay down as he gets back up to beat the 10 count again. Morris clearly dominated the challenger McNeil in that 3rd round as the bell rings and both fighters go to their trainers.
Gus to Morris: "Kid you gave that kid the VIP (Very Intense Pain) treatment more punishment kid more punishment!"
Vinnie to McNeil: "McNeil continue to fight hard because you have a heart of a champion kid!"
Round 4: The bell rings for round 4 to begin. McNeil catches Morris with jabs to the head and stomach. Morris continues to catch McNeil with those lightning quick jabs to the face and head. Morris is catching McNeil with uppercuts to the stomach and Morris catches McNeil with a series of jabs to the ribs. McNeil answers with jabs to Morris's face and chest. Morris waits patiently for McNeil to do an uppercut which McNeil tries to uppercut Morris in the head but Morris cleverly dodges it and have McNeil up against the ropes. Morris catches McNeil with a nice left hook to the face that sent McNeil to the ground. The ref counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 but McNeil gets back up in time with a second before being knocked out for the count. The fighters go to their trainers as the bell rings and it's the end of round 4. McNeil took a brutal beating in these last 2 rounds. Morris takes rounds 3 and 4 by knocking down the challenger McNeil 3 times before he got up to barely beat the 10 count every time and it was on to that decisive 5th round. McNeil took a brutal beating those last 2 rounds.
Finally, it was time for the bell to ring for the decisive 5th round for the title. Morris continues to beat on McNeil with a series of rights and lefts jabs to his ribs. McNeil looked so exhausted from the punishment he took in rounds 3 and 4 but McNeil never quit. McNeil put together a combination of jabs to Morris's face and head. Morris tried to hit McNeil in the other eye to try to cut it open but McNeil was able to duck and was able to catch Morris with uppercuts to the ribs.
Gus angrily responded, "What are you doing kid, fight back don't go toe to toe with this kid he will knock you out!"
Morris wasn't fighting smart at all and allowed for it to be a trading punches fight with him and McNeil.
Vinnie said, "Go for it McNeil you got this kid!"
McNeil and Morris continued to trade punches in the 5th and decisive round. McNeil caught Morris with a right hook to the nose and a nice uppercut in the eye. McNeil was jabbing away at Morris's chest and stomach. Morris tried to move back but was up against the ropes. McNeil uppercuted Morris in the jaw and Morris fell on the ground. The ref counted 1, 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10.
The ref said, "You're out! The winner and the new heavy weight champion Todd McNeil."
The crowd cheered as Todd McNeil who was an underdog pulled off an upset to Andre Morris. After the fight was over Todd McNeil and Andre Morris shaked hands and Andre Morris congradulated Todd McNeil.
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