ZOMBIES: RECAP - The Walking Dead gets 'Sick', Ep. 2, Season 3

by Bowie Ibarra

The Hyundai Zombie Death Dealer can be yours

The WD crew face a big dilemma at the end of episode one, 'Seeds'.  Herschel gets bit by a zed, bringing Rick to action to stop the spread of infection (even though their infected already) by cutting off Herschel's leg below the knee where he was bit.  But its only moments after that when we find that they're not the only ones in the prison as episode 2, 'Sick', begins.

The WD crew hold off the five hidden prisoners, who were hiding in one of the prison's kitchens.  One of the dudes threatens to kill Herschel when he finds he was bit, but is put in check by T-Dawg and an always-ready Daryl.  Glenn finds some wraps to stop the bleeding and a rolling food table (no pun intended) to put Herschel on for transport.  As the scene ends, one of the great camera shots, which for me has been the hallmark of the series, takes us into the opening title sequence (see pic above).

The WD crew heads back to their Cell Block 3, only to find the curious new prisoners in pursuit.  Using the key to unlock CB 3, they bring Herschel back, who is immediately tended to by the WD crew.  Daryl goes back to hold off the prisoners.  T-Dogg joins, and tensions rise as the WD Crew tries to run off the prisoners.  Glenn sticks around to support his woman, Maggie, and little Carl secures the space while Rick goes off to provide a dose of reality to the prisoners, who have no idea how bad things have turned outside.

Alpha Male Tomas decides that he wants to run off the WD Crew, but Rick holds his ground.  Rick offers another option by clearing out another cell block for them in exchange for half the food available in the kitchen, but threatens to kill Tomas and his buddies if they come close to his people.

Meanwhile, the women tend to Herschel and Glenn supports Maggie, who realizes the challenge a crippled Herschel now presents to the team.  Maggie expects the worst while her little sister, Beth, hopes for the best by repairing Herschel's pant legs.

The WD Crew moves to the pantry.  Rick uses his sheriff senses to know not to trust any of the prisoner dudes, especially Tomas.  Rick opens an old freezer door and is grossed out by the smell.  What was in there was never revealed, but it stunk bad.  Reader Chuck Mutch believes the old room served as the latrine for the prisoners. 

After gathering some items, the team brings food to the others in cell block 3.

As the food arrives, Lori and Rick have a heart to heart, asking what threat the prisoners present.  Rick makes it clear he'll kill them, but Lori thinks he's bluffing.  Meanwhile, Herschel gets cuffed to the bed, and Maggie takes a moment with her dad to tell him she's ready if he wants to pass.  She doesn't want to see him suffer (or turn), and tells her unconscious father 'thank you'.

While the ladies and Glenn watch over Herschel, Carl made a run for supplies by himself.  Going alone got him an earful from his mom and the others, which upsets him.  Then Carol asks Glenn to come with her to the fenceline outside.  Anticipating Lori needing a C-Section, Carol wants to practice on a female body.  So she gets Glenn to help her find one outside near the spot where they first came in.  She drags in the dead zed and proceeds to practice.  But someone is watching her.

But back in cell block 3, Herschel stops breathing.  Thankfully, Lori provides some mouth to mouth and revives him.

The WD Crew of Rick, Daryl, and T-Dogg mobilize with the prisoners to secure a cell block.  The prisoners take to the mission like a prison riot, jumping the zombies and kicking them, wasting energy and skill.  In the frakas, Big Tiny gets cut by a wounded zombie.  Fearing infection, Tomas takes the initiative and strikes him down and then bashes his head into a bloody pulp to prove a point to Rick.

As they advance into the final cell block, Tomas ignores Rick's order to open just one double door and sets forth some chaos as the place is flooded.  The takes a swipe at Rick with his weapon before throwing a zed at him.  After securing the zed and the other threats, Rick and Tomas face off.  Pushed too far, out of nowhere, Rick gives Tomas the Lenny 'Machete Zombie' Lies treatment with a machete to the head.  When one of the prisoners tries to defend Tomas, he gets punked out and runs off, only to be trapped by Rick in a prison yard filled with zeds.  The two remaining prisoners are held at weaponpoint by T-Dawg and Daryl.

When Rick hits the scene, he demands answers on whether or not to spare Axel or Oscar.  Axel begs for his life while Oscar lets Rick decide for himself.  Sparing them, they move them into their cell, only to find all the prisoners murdered.  Axel knew a few of them and sympathizes.  Rick leaves the two there to fend for themselves.  Daryl empathizes with Axel, and T-Dawg tells them to burn the bodies in the cell block before they settle in.

When Rick returns, Herschel comes out of his coma. Rick uncuffs him before taking a moment to spend some time with Lori.

Out on a walkway, the two talk.  I'm not sure if it was intended or not, but the two are subliminally split by the bar in the shot, as if the bar represents two different sides of the WD Crew worlds, or even two different sides of Rick.  We've seen a colder, more brutal Rick this episode.  The same Rick Lori claimed wasn't a killer.  The shot here is curious because it shows Rick split by a pole.  They could have got the shot without that, but I think it meant something, especially when Rick seems to reach out from the divide to touch Lori and tell her thanks for saving Herschel before crossing back over again.
 

Again, great camera shots, great special effects from the Savini disciple Greg Nicotero, and just a move forward in the series.

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Bowie Ibarra is the author of the 'Down the Road' zombie horror series from Permuted Press and Simon and Schuester.  His latest zombie story, The Fall of Austin, tells the story of military, police, convicts, and citizens of the Texas capitol as they deal with the zpoc.

You can network with Bowie and read about his Tex-Mexploitation stories at his personal website, ZombieBloodFights.com.

FIGHTS: Morales suffers terrible and swift loss to the undefeated Garcia

by Bowie Ibarra

It took 1:23 of Round 4 for the speed and youth of Danny 'Swift' Garcia (25-0, 15 KO) to topple Erik 'El Terrible' Morales (52-9, 36 KO) with a brutal left hook.  Morales could not get a measure of redemption on Garcia, who had beat Morales in Houston this past March.

Morales seemed slow in spite of his natural warrior's determination.  He answered the youthful Garcia with punches, but it was not enough to get the victory.

This might be the last big payday for the vaunted Tijuana warrior Morales, who had a storied career, including a win against Manny Pacquiao and Marco Antonio Barrera, and several boxing title reigns.  He hopes to have one more match in TJ sometime in the near future.

Danny Garcia is in line for another great fight.  His home promotion of Golden Boy is grooming him for stardom, but he will need another victory against other members of his weight class, including Amir Khan and Lamont Peterson.  Zab Judah would be a good matchup to continue his rise.

ZombieBloodFights.com salutes Erik Morales and looks forward to watching Danny Garcia's rise through the boxing ranks.

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Bowie V. Ibarra is the author of the 'Down the Road' zombie horror series from Permuted Press and Simon and Schuester.  His combat sports themed book,Pit Fighters: Baptism by Fire , features a Scottish boxer who transitions to mixed martial arts competition.

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ZOMBIES: RECAP- The Walking Dead 'Seed' gets planted, Ep.1, Season 3

by Bowie V. Ibarra

So, here's the deal.

I moved to a new apartment.  It didn't have cable.  Not a big deal, all I need to be doing in this town is working and writing.  So it worked out.

But let's face it.  When those three little words all zpoc fanatics hear dance across their ears, you know its time to make it happen when you don't have cable.  And those three little words are 'The Walking Dead'.

Well, cable didn't get hooked up in time, so I had to find an alternative place to watch so my twenty-five noble blog followers could read about ZombieBloodFights.com's take on the show.  My first need was TV.  My second need was beer.

Lo and behold, the creator of the SATX sensation 'Bloodthirsty Thursday' works at a Black Eyed Pea just a few blocks form my current home.  I checked out the place moments before the world premiere of season three, and guess who was working the bar?  My horrorhound homie, Kelly Warren Hammond!

Is that not the perfect spontaneous picture ever

So without further ado, here's the ZombieBloodFights.com take on the season 3 opener of 'The Walking Dead' (complete with pics taken from my barstool).

The show opens with what will always be a tribute to the video game 'Resident Evil' to me.  The cliche 'zombie eye'

Naturally, its moments before the zed gets blasted by the WD crew, busting through the house like a SWAT team to loot the place.  Everyone gets a piece of the action, including that young rapscallion, Carl, who does his share of zombie blasting.  More on that curious development later.

They pillage the house, and Daryl even shots a big barn owl for food, which is an ominous start to the series, as owls are sometimes considered harbingers of death.  Not that the dead rising from the grave to attack the living isn't already a bad omen to the future of the living.

At any rate, when surrounding zeds catch wind of the WD crew, they bail and head to their vehicles, including the legendary Hyundai Zombie Death Dealer. 

They try to figure out their next move when they discover a prison nearby.  Rick decides it would be an amazing place to be safe if they can secure it.  Everyone decides they can do it, and they make a move to secure the prison.  It's a Monroeville Mall for a new generation.

So, one of the things that cracked me up is the fact that Carl apparently became a sharpshooter with a pistol.  This is the same kid that only one season ago shit his pants and couldn't pull the trigger when the zed was stuck in the mud in front of him.  Now, he's hitting headshots on zombies from 100 yards with pistol.  That's right.  A kid is hitting moving targets with a pistol like a military marksman.

Okay, and Rick has to use a scope to get the shot.  I get it.

Great fast start to the show with the mad dash ala Dawn '78 through the prison gates.

Even the preggos Lori gets her some.  And with a pistol at close range.

The show unsubtly sets up the couples, including Daryl and Carol doing their part to secure the yard together as a team.

So, after securing the yard, they settle in to relax.  Carol flirts with Daryl, and Herschel's girls sing an old family song.

The next morning, the WD crew decides they want to take the prison, so they move on it.  They take on dead prisoners and even dead riot guards still in their garb.  They knock one down and rip off their mask, revealing some great Greg Nicotero magic.

 They make their way into the prison, and like some kind of D&D game, they start picking up treasure, so to speak.  One of the biggest pieces of booty found is keys to prison cells on a dead security guard.  I believe this is going to be huge in the coming episodes.

Let's face it.  The keys seem innocuous at first.  But think about it:  whoever has those keys has the power to lock people up.  Those keys are going to be big power pieces as the show advances, I believe.

So they find a secure cell block and settle in, picking cells, apart from Daryl, who is fine with sleeping outside a cell.

Things then start to remind me of 'Women's Prison Massacre' for some reason.

Preggos Lori starts to get anxious about her impending birth, and is set right by Herschel.

Did I mention the mysterious 'Michion' and her jawless and armless pets dismantled some zombie goons with her Hanzo sword.  She's also caring for noted Walking Dead Women's Libber Andrea.  They are adventuring together.

So the WD crew decide to secure more of the cell blocks in the prison and make a move on the dark corridors of the prison.

Great camera shots once again with the lights split by the darkness.

Yikes!  As expected, walking dead prisoners.  But the team is overrun, and Herschel is bit.

Here's one of the bartenders posing for a shot as Herschel's daughter is weeping with fear at the bite on her father's leg.

And here's the zed that bit her dad.  You know those zombie bastards don't last long when they've started munching on friends.

Rick gives Herschel the 'Day of the Dead '84' Miguel treatment by cutting off his leg in the hope of stopping the infection from spreading.  We know how that played out.

Right when you think Herschel's death is the big finish to a grand start to the season, it gets even bigger with the revelation that there are actually prisoners that are still alive and have watched the whole thing play out.

"Holy Shit"

And that's the amazing finish to the fast start that was season 3 of 'The Walking Dead'.

Watch for the keys to play a big part in this season.  And will Hershel have a meltdown like Miguel did in 'Day..'84'?

Only time will tell.

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Leave a comment below using your Google+ or Blogger account.

Bowie Ibarra is the author of the 'Down the Road' zombie horror series from Permuted Press.  His latest zombie story, The Fall of Austin, tells the story of military, police, convicts, and citizens of the Texas capitol as they deal with the zpoc.

You can network with Bowie and read about his Tex-Mexploitation stories at his personal website, ZombieBloodFights.com.

INTERVIEW: Zombie Horrors: Bowie Ibarra!

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ZOMBIES: Mainak Dhar - Amazing man, amazing zombie horror author

by Bowie Ibarra

Vital Stats

Full Name: Mainak Dhar

Nickname: They tried calling me Maniac in college, but it never stuck.

Primary Specialty: Making stuff up

Secondary Specialty: Blowing up or otherwise mangling stuff I make up

Favorite Quote(s): “Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted. - Martin Luther King, Jr.

ZombieBloodFights.com - It’s great to have you here on the ZombieBloodFights.com blog, Mainak.  I have to admit I’ve been looking forward to this interview for a long time.  Welcome. 

Mainak Dhar - Thanks- really glad to be here.

ZBF.com - If your Facebook page is correct, you currently reside in Thailand.  Many of my readers enjoy combat sports.  Have you ever been to one of the big Thai kickboxing arenas like the Lumpinee Thai boxing facility?

MD - Yes, am in Thailand but in the process of moving to Singapore on July 1. This is my second stint in Thailand (I lived here between 1999-2001) and I really love the people and the culture. I have seen a couple of Muay Thai fights in areans, but most of my exposure to it has been courtesy Tony Jaa’s bonecrushing badness in Ong Bak.

ZBF.com - What are your thoughts on combat sports?  Do you have any favorites, or would you rather be participating in something else.

MD -  learnt Karate for 7 years as a kid, ending up with a Brown Belt, callused hands and too many bruises to remember from sparring. So combat sports and self-defence was a part of my formative years. To be honest, I don’t like watching it much as a spectator sport, but someday I hope to learn Aikido- a sport that has always fascinated me.

ZBF.com - Your Facebook page also talks about a project you are working on involving your father.  Tell us about that.

MD - My father, Maloy, passed away in May 2012. He was a prolific writer as well, and what made his story really cool was that he published his first book at the age of 59 and went on to be  the #1 bestselling non-fiction writer in India. He was an intelligence officer, and his blockbuster was a book called Open Secrets, the first time a retired intelligence officer in India wrote about the state of Indian intelligence agencies and how they are misused by politicans. Created a real controversy and earned him tons of admirers for his courage, and of course a few enemies. I want to keep his legacy alive- and the first phase is over. I have digitized Open Secrets and some more of his work, and put it up on the Kindle store to reach readers worldwide. Phase II is finishing an unfinished book he had letft on his computer.

ZBF.com - When did you become interested in writing stories?

MD - Ever since I was a kid, my dream was to be a writer. My first `published’ work was in Grade 7 when we were living in Canada. I stapled together some of my poems with solutions to the next term’s Maths textbook and sold it to my classmates at 50 cents a pop. That was the first time I got the thrill of seeing my work `published’ and I remembered a quote by Stephen King that the moment someone pays you a cent for your work you are a professional writer. So at age 12, I decided I had become a professional writer, and there’s been no looking back.

ZBF.com - What is your process when putting together a story?

MD - It all starts with the spark for an idea. That can come in different ways- for some books (Vimana, Zombiestan), the name stuck in my mind and I began creating the story. For the Alice in Deadland story, the idea came first and the story followed. But wherever the spark comes from, I jot down the broad flow and themes in a diary I have with me (for my next book, am planning to move to the digital equivalent on my Galaxy Note). Once the broad flow make sense, I start typing. Of course, as often happens, I revisit the flow and change things as I actually start writing it down, and it is an iterative process.

ZBF.com - Tell us a little bit about your book with Zombiestan.

MD - Zombiestan was my first zombie novel, and my attempt was to inject something new and unique into a genre I enjoy tremendously as a reader. I believe a writer succeeds when he embraces what makes him unique v/s being another of a herd, so instead of yet another zombie apocalypse story set in the US, I set Zombiestan in the Indian subcontinent, where I am originally from. The connection to the War on Terror (the outbreak starts among Taliban exposed to bio-weapons) gives it a universal resonance, but setting it in India give the story a couple of unique areas to play with. Simple things like the higher population density and what that would mean for the speed with which the outbreak spread, the fact that personal gun ownership is almost non-existent in India, and what that would mean for those survivors trying to fight back.

ZBF.com - Though the groundwork for zombie horror was set down with a western perspective on the fictional events of a zpoc, I believe it’s very important to get global perspectives on the event as well.  I’ve recently read many great zombie stories from European writers.  What cultural perspectives about the zombie apocalypse can readers expect from your book?

MD - There are several cultural themes I explore in Zombiestan which I hope readers take away along with enjoying the action. First, the outbreak is in a way a metaphor for religious fanaticism and how those blinded by it seek to spread their message, even if it means destroying innocent lives. The key protagonists were chosen deliberately- a Christian Navy SEAL, a Hindu boy and girl, and a Muslim writer- all banding together to protect a young child who may hold the key to stopping the outbreak. That was done to show that irrespective of our religion or background, inherent goodness can unite us all when faced with evil.

ZBF.com - When you have time to read, who are some of your favorite authors, and some of your favorite books?

MD - My all time favorite is the Lord of the Rings trilogy because of the wonderful worlds and characters Tolkien created. I read a fair bit of sci-fi and fantasy (Larry Niven, Stephen Baxter) and of course, a healthy dose of horror (Stephen King being another favorite).

  

ZBF.com - What do you look for in a good zombie horror story?

MD - Believable characters (every protagonist doesn’t have to be a `Rambo’ archetype), and a twist that injects something into the genre beyond just the blood and gore. Just read a book by Thomas Brookside called De Bello Lemures, which was about Roman soldiers encountering zombies in ancient Britain and how they would interpret it, retold as a translation from a scroll. That’s what I mean by original twists on an otherwise pretty crowded genre.

ZBF.com - In a true zombie apocalypse, do you think humans from different cultures and belief systems could unite against a common goal, or will they not cooperate and, ultimately, join the zombie hordes?

MD - I hope they do, and in Zombiestan that’s what I try and portray. However, while common people will probably help each other, I hold out little hope for how our politicians and leaders will behave.

ZBF.com - Any other projects we can look forward to?

MD - Just polishing off my Alice in Deadland trilogy, which I think zombie lovers will enjoy. Book II- Through The Looking Glass, was uploaded a couple of months ago, and Off With Their Heads, the prequel to Alice in Deadland, will be ready by early July. Including Zombiestan, that would make it four zombie books on the trot for me, and I may take a break from zombies and work on a dystopian novel I’ve been thinking of for some time.

ZBF.com - Where can readers find out more about you?

MD - My personal piece of real estate on the web is at www.mainakdhar.com and I’m on Facebook and Twitter (@mainakdhar).  I occassionally write a blog at mainakdhar.blogspot.com. Always happy to meet new people and connect, and am just a click away.

ZBF.com - Thanks, Mainak.  It was great to have you visit the blog.

MD - Thanks for giving me the opportunity, and loved visitng your blog. Good luck.

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Bowie Ibarra is the author of the 'Down the Road' zombie horror series from Permuted Press and Simon and Schuster.  His latest zombie book, "The Fall of Austin", was said to "...kick undead ass" by Johnathan Mayberry, New York Times bestselling author.  It is available in paperback, Kindle, and other e-reader versions.

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FIGHTS - Pacquiao/Bradley: or How I watched Boxing die at the worst titty bar in San Antonio

by Bowie Ibarra

One of the best places to watch a great pay-per-view fight is at a titty bar.  You can't throw a rock in San Antonio without hitting one of these places.  One of the strip clubs featuring the Pacquiao/Bradley Matchup was Sugars: San Antonio.

With that said, tonight I can confirm without the shadow of a doubt that Sugars: San Antonio is, in fact, one of the absolute worst titty bars to watch boxing.  And considering how tragically historic the night in boxing was, I think it was appropriate that I watched what boxing pundits and even Bob Arum himself proclaimed as 'the death knells of boxing' in one of the worst places to ever watch boxing in.  Ever.

I had arrived literally moments before the fight started, having seen on the Twitter  account for Top Rank Boxing that the fight had yet to start as I got out of work hocking lobsters and other seafood to the citizenry of San Antonio.

The place I wanted to go was All-Stars, where I had watched the other ridiculously historic Mayweather/Diaz bout.  I remember having a good time there.  But it was at least another 10 minutes away from where I started.

The fact was, Sugars was closer to my work.  So it was the best choice.  As I got to the club, I paid the $15 cover and went in.

I literally hit the floor as the bell rang for the first round.  Score.  It was 'Standing Room Only', and I found a spot in front of the mainstage with an HD TV just above it.

First thing I noticed as I walked in that indicated that this night was not going to go well was that the DJ continued to play music as the fight was starting.  All I remember is that at All-Stars, they turned the music off and turned the TV volume up, and the Slappers all got comfortable for the fight.  Even when I watched Pac/DeLaHoya at Palazio in Austin, they did the same thing.

That was not the case here.  Apparently, the DJ only had music from a CD that was apparently bought in a parking lot from the trunk of some dude's car off of Marbach in front of the Peter Piper's Pizza.  Don't get me wrong.  There's a place and time for tunes custom made for booty shaking and titty bouncing.  

But for the love of Pete, variety is the spice of life, Sugars SATX.  There's other genres of music out there that the sexy women who strut around Sugars: San Antonio can shake their money-maker's to, while earning my $1 tribute.

What I'm trying to say is its time for an 80s night, Sugar's style!

While I'm talking about music, I want to mention that the DJ from my last jaunt to this place a few years ago was still around.  This guy looked like the love child of Andy Dick with the voice of Barry White.  Basically, the perfect storm for crappy DJ.

I remember getting a dance from one of the tramps in the employ of Sugars about a year ago.  They were playing a club mix of The Doors 'The End' (which is a travesty in and of itself) and as I was talking metaphysics and existential philosophy with 'Fantasy' or 'Crystal' or whatever the chick's name was, this dude would not shut up during the song.

Believe me, I worked closely with douchebags who were like this guy, who enjoyed the sound of their own voice, thought they were masters and commanders of the entertainment realm they felt they held sway over, had nothing of value to say, and would not shut the f**k up.  This DJ was one of them.  And like the others I've know, I wish the zombie apocalypse would hit so I could punch these cunt DJs in the face find these DJs and provide some insight on how they are failures at their annoncing duties.

 They also look like this dude.

At any rate, the fight continued, with Pac smacking Bradley around round after round.  Bradley was game, though, and hung in there with the Filipino.  But he was getting the worst of it.

Meanwhile, some of Sugars: San Antonio's best took to the main stage in my peripheral vision.  I swear, I've never seen so many strippers with ugly toes in my life.  Perhaps some of the ugliest toes I've ever seen.

A message to the tarts chasing that paper for coke money at the end of the night:  If your toes are ugly, please do not buy open-toed shoes.  Be honest with yourself.  If your toes are ugly, there is a wide array of sexy CLOSED toed shoes you could wear to work for the hour/hour and a half you 'dance' and make enough money to feed a small homeless community.

Also, don't waste it all on blow.  Your child needs school clothes.

So, I can't watch a combat sport without beer.  You can't expect to get that full-Roman Empire feeling of 'Bread and Circus' without libations.  So I ordered a brew from a waitress and paid way too much 

for a 12 oz.Coors Light.  

$6.50.

Not worth the $6 bucks.
Neither is the beer.

It's hard to pay $3 for a Coors Light.  Don't get me wrong.  Coors is a good beer.  Especially Coors Original.  I've been to Golden, Colorado.  I've seen the brewery.  I've felt the hops.  It's quality.  But $6.50?  

Anyway, I gave the waitress/future dancer named Diamond or Platinum or whatever a $20 and as I should have imagined, she helped herself to the .50 cents due with the rest of the money.  And to think I was pulling out another .50 cents to give to her to make it a solid buck.  That's me.  Big spender.  

So, back to the fight.  Late round flurries from both fighters, which were great.  I thought it was a mistake for Bradley to do that, considering the wars Pac had with Marquez, who was 10x the fighter Bradley was.  And slow motion replays put that fact on display.

Since Tecate sponsored the fight, I asked the question I knew I would regret.  If 'The Silver Bullet' was just under $7, then an import must be just under $10.  It was the wrong question to ask, but the right answer was given.

"Do you have Tecate?"

"No.  We don't have Tecate"

Yes.  Little victories, people.  Little victories.

And speaking of victories, it was mere rounds later that the fight ended and the judges would reveal their scores, which seemed obvious at the time.  Naturally, I would have to read the body language on the HD TV, because music.  

And it was a surprise as I watched Bradley celebrate by jumping on the middle ropes in victory as Tyga was telling me with all the eloquence of Shakespeare or Marlowe about the glory of Rack City.  Or was it Circuit City.

But speaking of days gone by, Pacquiao's aura suffered a terrible blow.  When the entire world sees one fight and judges see another, you can't help but think about all the money floating around Las Vegas.

That damn money.  That same damn money I worked just over five hours to stuff in my pocket hocking seafood.  The same damn money the SATX bints humiliated themselves for.  The $15 bucks I paid to watch Pacquiao.  The .50 cents the future dancer named 'Sky' or 'Delight' or whatever hustled from me.  That's the only way I could explain what happened in Vegas.  That damn Money.

People are saying 'boxing died'.  #RIPBoxing.  MMA is so much better.  Pro-Wrestling FTW.

Whatever.

Let me make one thing clear:  Boxing will never die.  MMA will never die.  Pro-Wrestling and all other combat sports will never die.

Why?

Because the human impulse to participate in a fight, as a fighter or spectator, and whether it be a combat sport or on the street, will always be a part of our wiring.  It's a necessary component of human survival.  We need to participate in it, its ritual.  To participate as a fighter or to watch and vicariously experience the fight will always be a part of us.

Let's face it.  You'd watch a street fight for free as much as you'd watch a cage fight or some of the best prize fighters in the world duke it out.  My desire to punch a DJ or announcer in the face will always remain.  Your desire to do the same to your own personal bug-a-boos will be there as well.  Forever.

And as tonight showed us, when money is involved in any industry, sport or otherwise, there's also another part of our human nature that will always be there.  And its selfish heart will continue to beat and gain power from the halls of low-rate sports entertainment venues, to the workplace, to the highest offices of government:

Corruption.

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Bowie Ibarra is the author of the 'Down the Road' zombie horror series from Permuted Press and Simon and Schuster.  His latest upcoming book, "Pit Fighters: Baptism by Fire", is a combat-sports themed book featuring as one of the fighters a Mexican luchador who crosses over into MMA.  It will be available in paperback, Kindle, and other e-reader versions.

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