From Yucca flats in Wyman's field to the breath taking heights of Rockland Hills, from the sweet smell of two stroke at Lourenco's garage to a roaring winter fire at Camp Wooka Wooka, From the pews of Holy Family Church to the stools of TKO Osheas, just say the name Rudy anywhere in Rockvegas and people will know your are talking about Rudy Childs. The amazing part is he has only lived in Rockland for three of the last 15 years!

I had not heard from Rudy in several weeks when I got a phone call Saturday morning. "Brian" the familiar voice said on the phone. "RUDY" I replied. "I need some help," he said. "Just name it" was my response. "I need a sound guy to help me out for a few hours tonight" he blurted out. "No problem," I answered. "Great, thanks a lot, meet me at the arena at Mohegan Sun no later than 6:30 PM tonight," 

"Whoa wait a minute," Mohegan Sun, I started to say, then I heard "click"

As I hung up the phone I thought, sound guy, I'm not a sound guy.

The next thing I said was, Honey, I'm going to Foxwoods!

Around 3PM I jumped in the truck and headed for Connecticut.

Mohegan Sundown.

Rudy Childs is one of those rare Rocklandites with ambition as big as his dreams and a heart bigger than both. Rudy was always the guy that talked about doing big things. The difference with Rudy is, he didn't just talk about it, He did it.

As I made my way along on my 125 mile favor, I wondered what Rudy had in store for me. I knew one thing, it would be good!

The Casino wolf about to pounce on greedy gamblers

I arrived at the Arena a little ahead of schedule and tried to get in on my own. Just before a team of security guards were about to throw me out the door, Rudy appeared with my credentials. RING SIDE ALL ACCESS were the first words I read on it.  

Cables lined the floors behind the ring all leading to a mobile control center. The crew made way for Rudy as he maneuvered through the organized chaos introducing me to each of his crew as we passed. He lead me into a back room that he was using as an office to get my Event shirt. Rudy pulled back a curtain and grabs a donut out of a box and between two bites asks, "Have you had supper yet," offering me one of the donuts. I declined the donut and Rudy remarked "courtesy of Anita Marie's." 

Rudy then lead me back to a chair at ring side. Rudy instructed me of my assignment. "Your job is to make sure we can hear every word the fighters and the trainers say between rounds. He gave me a quick demonstration by sticking this long handled microphone into the ring. "One thing to be aware of is the people sitting behind you in the seats paid 300.00 each for their seat, so try not to block their view." Then he was gone!

Rudy has assembled the talent training and technology to produce world class sporting events for international markets. What Rudy does with these boxing matches is as good or better as any other televised boxing event in the world. Rudy along with a co producer owns and operates Cappiello Productions. A world class company producing some of the most exciting boxing productions on the planet.

I sat looking around this awesome facility and thought to myself, "Only Rudy."  From my ring side seat I watched Rudy run his crew through the drills. With a demeanor only Rudy could muster he went through the motions like well oiled machine. Finally around 7.30 PM all the battle stations were manned and a little voice inside my head said LET"S. GET IT ON.

(The fights I meant)

.

Next came out Fighting Irish Mike McCreedy who bull rushed his opponent Boom Boom Mancini style and knocked him out in the first minute of the first round. Mike's Mom was ring side and shouted "beat the F out of him Mikey" followed by a "YAHOO." Mikes girlfriend was also on hand. McCreery is a serious, up and coming professional boxer who is so far undefeated as a pro with two knock outs in the first minute of both his pro fights.

The following three pictures were taken with five minutes of each other. Even the promoter smiled, well sort of,

The super bantamweight brought the most exciting and explosive boxing match of the night. A title bout between Iron Mike Oliver of Hartford at 11-0 with five KO's against Castulo Gonzalus of Wilmington Ma.7-1-0 with three TKO's. These two went toe to toe for nine rounds in an exciting evenly match boxing exhibition that finally ended when Oliver connected devastating right cross followed by two lefts that stunned Gonzalus who was easy prey for a final right to the head.

The main event had the promoter on his feet screaming! I think he was saying something like, "I'm not paying you to hug and dance."

Rudy Childs

Rockland Boy Makes Good!