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Hallback Learns Tough Lesson

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By EDDIE DANIELS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 13, 2008

Updated: 06/13/2008 01:46 am

TAMPA - Back in February, Chevelle Hallback had Melissa Hernandez wobbled in the first round of their 10-round bout for the vacant IFBA lightweight belt.

A further assault by Hallback, a Plant City native, and Hernandez would have had her night ended early. Fortunately for Hernandez, the two shared a friendship and Hallback let up, allowing Hernandez to bring the fight to a draw.

"It was a difficult fight for me because we were friends, so I did a lot of holding back," said Hallback (26-5-2, 11 KOs). "A lesson learned."

Tonight, Hallback will face Canada's Jeanine Garside (7-0-1, 3 KOs) at the Isleta Casino and Resort in Albuquerque, N.M., for the same vacant IFBA lightweight belt. Some have said this fight has the potential to replicate the bloody trilogy between Arturo Gatti and Mickey Ward.

The co-main event of the card, titled "Finally," features Holly Holm (21-1-2, 6 KOs) vs. Mary Jo Sanders (25-0, 8 KOs) for the IFBA world junior middleweight championship.

The card features five No. 1-rated fighters battling for five belts. The pay-per-view show will air live beginning at 10 p.m.

"There's no type of friendship in this fight," Hallback said. "We both respect each other, but there's no friendship on the line. Even if there was, I've learned my lesson from the last fight. Just go in there and do what I have to do and be friends after the fight. That fight is behind me. This is a new fight, so I'm going in there to win it."

Also on the card are: Hollie Dunaway (21-6, 10 KOs) vs. Wendy Rodriquez (18-4, 3 KOs) for the IBA world strawweight and IFBA world mini-flyweight belts; and Eileen Olszewski (5-0-1, 0 KOs) vs. Carina Moreno (17-1, 5 KOs) for the IFBA world junior flyweight title.

Despite the glaring difference in the professional records for Hallback and Garside, Hallback won't allow an inflated ego to accompany her into the ring. Garside went 45-5 as an amateur, an experience Hallback didn't have.

"People judged me from my last performance, and then here she is, up-and-coming, she has all these amateur fights, so I think I might slightly be the underdog," said Hallback, owner of the WIBA and IBA junior middleweight belts. "Some say no, not at all, some say they don't know, but I feel I may be the underdog of this fight. I like being the underdog. It takes a little pressure off of me."

Garside, the WIBA champion, is just as willing to play that underdog role.

"I'm not necessarily sure if it's an advantage or not," she said. "I'm looking forward to boxing someone on her level and I'm grateful for the opportunity."

One person who believes there is a clear-cut favorite is WBO, WBA and IBA lightweight champion Nate Campbell. Campbell, a Tampa resident, and Hallback have sparred on a regular basis, and according to Hallback, Campbell gave her nothing but respect. He treated her as a fighter while in the ring - holding back nothing.

"Chevelle is more than just a fighter, she's a friend I love and respect," Campbell said, "but she's also as tenacious as they come. She can be as mean as they come, too. Chevelle is very competitive, and a good fight will make Chevelle do what she's gotta do."

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 948-4214 or edaniels@tampatrib.com.

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