Heartbreaking news for 'Wreckless' Willie

While the 900 fans who attended Saturday's fights at Caesars Tahoe must have been disappointed with the last-minute changes to the card, the frustration was especially great for "Wreckless" Willie Chapman, who was slated to fight in the main event.

Chapman, despite saying he was in the best shape of his 39-fight career, failed his physical examination, reportedly for having a dangerously high enzyme count - meaning he was dehydrated. Instead of making $10,000, which would have been the largest purse on the card, Chapman walked away with nothing.

"You hear that crowd?" Chapman asked during the Anthony Thompson-Yamplier Azcuy bout. "It's so quiet. It wouldn't be like that if I was in there. I was going to do the Ali shuffle."

After winning five of his last six fights, Chapman, 18-18-3, felt he had an excellent chance to up his record over the .500 mark. He was first slated to fight Michael Simms, then it was Anthony Thompson. Both were victorious Saturday but also unimpressive.

Chapman had the rare opportunity to know where he was going to fight a month ahead of time. A career "opponent" for up-and-comers, his last fight November 6 was typical.

After working as a sparring partner for Hasim Rahman on a Wednesday, Chapman was offered a fight and given two hours to catch a plane. The next evening, he beat previously unbeaten Malcolm Tann, just one in numerous undefeated fighters he has stopped.

But this time, Chapman was told well in advance he would be fighting for the fourth time at Caesars, a place where he has become somewhat of a cult hero.

Chapman, who has no trainer or manager and works out without a sparring partner, came in at his typical 222 pounds, but was clearly in more solid condition. He had strategized a new knockout punch and even added extensions to his blue hairdo for his favorite place to fight - Tahoe.

But his overzealousness got the better of him and Chapman overtrained and was too dehydrated to pass Friday's physical.

"You give boxing your all and it turns around and steps on you," he said.

Shufford scratched

Charles Shufford, the one fighter who has beaten Chapman in the last year, also was pulled off the card Friday. He was slated to fight Simms.

Shufford, 20-5, got the news after the weigh-in.

"Simms' people decided they didn't want to fight me. We hadn't signed a contract yet," Shufford said. "He made the right decision because I would have knocked him out."

However, Shufford did receive part of his agreed-upon purse.

Bad decision

Sacramento's Gilbert Martinez (18-6-2) again won the judges' affection at Caesars, apparently for his ability to take a ton of punches and not go down.

Martinez and Clifford Etienne fought to an eight-round majority draw.

Although the fight was competitive, Etienne clearly was the busier man.

In November, Caesars judges awarded Martinez a decision over Charles Hatcher.

Etienne, who is best remembered for lasting 49 seconds with Mike Tyson, was instructed by referee Vic Drakulich to remove his tongue stud before the fight.

"Man, I've fought on HBO and Showtime and they never asked me to take that (stuff) out," Etienne complained afterward.

Simon says

South Lake Tahoe's Simon Ruvalcaba says his injured shoulder is healed and he will resume boxing next month.

The welterweight with a 3-4-2 record reportedly has a verbal agreement with promoter Greg Gulli to fight in a monthly series at the Reno Hilton. The first two dates are April 24 and May 22, he said.

Thompson wins ugly

Anthony Thompson got an easy if frustrating win over Yamplier Azcuy by unanimous decision.

Azcuy (9-1, 7 KOs) spent most of the fight with his hands wrapped around Thompson's waist, holding the bigger man against the ropes. When he was actually throwing punches, the Cuban was often hitting Thompson (22-1, 13 KO) with low blows, although the referee only called him on one. Thompson tried to box but was thwarted by Azcuy's pressing tactics.

"My trainer said (Azcuy) would make it look ugly, and he did," Thompson said. "If he's going to hold and hit me with low blows, there's not a lot I can do."