This past Friday and Saturday marked the much anticipated "Roughest and Toughest Brawl" event in Pickens hosted by boxing legend Butterbean. Hundreds of people from around the Upstate were on hand at the Market At The Mill Event Center.
The event featured 4 Men's weight classes and one Women's weight class. On the line was a cash prize, a title belt and a story for a lifetime. Night one featured the Preliminary fights in each round. Every fighter had to win Friday in the single elimination format to move to Saturday's Title Tournament.
Night two held the Bracket and Title fights in each division. It also featured a special attraction fight as Butterbean's son stepped into the ring. Caleb "Baby Bean" Esch fought Pro Wrestler and Amateur Boxer Anthony "One Man Kru" Sanners. Both men traveled for the fight with Esch coming from Jasper, Alabama and Sanners making the trip down from Ohio.
Esch would make quick work of his much larger opponent, dropping him in 8 seconds. "Baby Bean" landed a right hook to the body, that those around boxing call a "Liver Shot". Sanners went down and could not continue, giving "Baby Bean" a 1st round TKO win.
Caleb "Baby Bean" Esch after his 1st round TKO of Anthony Sanners Saturday night in PickensRob Jones
After the fight, while still in the Arena (that's the background noise) I caught up with Caleb Esch to talk about that and much more. That interview is below.
In the Finals of the Brawl Saturday night, it was ultra competitive, hard-hitting and fast paced action. In the Women's Division, Seneca's Amanda Towe took the crown with a hard fought win in the finals.
Women's Champ Amanda ToweRoughest And Toughest Brawl/Mike Long
The Middleweight Title was taken by Steven Loggins in a decision after the fight went the distance. Loggins made the 50 mile one-way drive from Ware Shoals and brought a title back to his hometown.
Middleweight Champ of the Pickens event Steven Loggins of Ware ShoalsRob Jones
The Cruiserweight Title went to the rangy, long limbed Andrew Mccall who beat Darren Simpson in the Finals. In the Light Heavyweight Jeffrey Pressley was on a mission and would not be denied. He won three fights Saturday to take the Light Heavyweight Title.
Cruiserweight Champion Andrew McCall Saturday nightRoughest and Toughest Brawl/Mike Long
Jeffrey Pressley poses with the Light Heavyweight Title Saturday nightRoughest and Toughest Brawl/Mike Long
The grand finale was the "Big Man Battle" in the Heavyweight Division. As 300-plus pound William Emery impressed with his endurance to win multiple fights and the Heavyweight Crown.
Heavyweight Champ William Emery holding his belt and his cash prize after winningRoughest and Toughest Brawl/Mike Long
