EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — This past weekend, El Paso’s Southwest University Stadium hosted the “Bouts at the Ballpark” event, which was unfortunately cut short due to rain.
Despite the weather, local fighters managed to showcase their talents. Among them was Dominic “Can’t Stop Dom” Barry, who emerged victorious in their respective matches.
The event was initially scheduled to feature seven fights, but only four took place before the rain forced a halt.
Dominic Barry, who fought in the third bout, shared his experience of competing in the rain. “It was raining as soon as I started walking out,” Barry said. “You can just feel the rain just hitting your face. It was distracting in the beginning, but not the whole time.”
Barry, fighting at the stadium for the second time, expressed his excitement about performing in front of his hometown crowd. “It’s always real cool to see El Paso show support,” he said. “But it’s always a little weird fighting outside.”
In his fight, Barry faced Elijah Sweat, a familiar opponent from his amateur days. Barry fought Sweat in his first ever amateur fight and knocked him out of the ring in the first round. “We went to a split decision though because I gassed out,” Barry recalled of their previous encounter.
This time, however, Barry was determined to finish strong. “I knew what it’s like to be in those deep rounds,” he said, explaining his strategy to empty the gas tank early and secure a victory.
Barry’s opponent did not return for the second round, resulting in a win for Barry. “He said, ‘I’m done,'” Barry recounted. The victory was a testament to Barry’s growth and preparation, as he noted, “I knew how to approach it.”
The event highlighted the resilience and talent of El Paso’s fighters, who continue to make their mark despite challenging conditions.
RECOMMENDED: El Paso author named finalist in Latino Book Awards
Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox.