Rebels prepare for home debut

Dean Juipe

Thursday, Nov. 4, 1999 | 10:09 a.m.

Asking for the attention of the fighters he handles, Skip Kelp stood in the middle of the ring and went over a few items that might come as second nature to experienced boxers.

But these were not experienced fighters he was addressing. To varying degrees, each could still be classified as a novice.

So Kelp stuck to the basics.

"I think I scared 'em a little bit," he said later. "Actually thinking about getting in the ring for a fight with people watching made some of them nervous."

Kelp, a former professional fighter, is the head coach of the second-year UNLV club boxing program and has some 40 UNLV students under his wing. Among those 40 is a reigning national champion, Manny Libatique, yet the vast majority have virtually no experience in a sanctioned fight.

The Rebels have 15 returning members of last year's team, 13 of which will participate in the program's first-ever home card Saturday at the Sporting House.

"You're going to go three, two-minute rounds," Kelp said to those who will be taking part in the event. Continuing his matter-of-fact approach, he rattled off some helpful hints that may have eluded the beginners in his group.

"Step into the ring with confidence," he said.

"Be a good sport but don't be overly friendly.

"Keep your cool at all times.

"Don't show your fatigue.

"If you get knocked down, always look fresh and respond to the referee when he asks you how you are.

"If you knock someone down, don't gloat over your opponent. Go to a neutral corner and look toward me, and I'll yell some instructions.

"When the fight's over and it's a decision and it goes against you, take it in stride even if you thought you won."

While it wouldn't hurt a professional fighter to review those same tenets, it was new information for many in Kelp's audience. They listened, they seemingly absorbed, and, upon his command, they dispersed and returned to hitting the assortment of punching bags that occupy the team's quaint training "bunker" on the UNLV campus.

"They don't really know what to expect Saturday night," Kelp said. "But this is a big step for our program, and they know we want to look good."

The Sporting House will have 800 seats set up for the card, plus standing room for 200. Admission ranges from $5 to $20, with the first bell at 7 p.m. for a card that also includes representatives from the University of California, Santa Clara, Nevada-Reno and Michigan.

"Hopefully we can fill it up and everyone will be pleasantly surprised," said Bruce Kobrin, who serves as the program's guardian angel and chief fund-raiser. "Fights at this level are all action, and that's what people want to see."

The UNLV program requires a minimum of $100,000 in annual funding, all of which has to be raised independent from the university. Travel expenses alone are $25,000.

"Raising money is a constant battle," Kelp said. "But it's been fun for me personally and the program is worthwhile for everyone involved. Having a fight card in our backyard like this should help people identify with us."

In addition to the 130-pound Libatique, fighting for UNLV Saturday will be female Kylie O'Dwyer (100 pounds), plus males Brandon Brunson (147), Alex Montros (147), Mike Kobrin (154), Laurence Montrose (156), David Lamarca (165), Brian Singmaster (165), Mike Kostewka (175), Chris Kennedy (175), Rick Saul (185), Matt Benz (200) and Max Raymond (200).

Libatique, a native of Las Vegas, won his collegiate championship last year in Reno by taking all three of his matches at the national finals. A 22-year-old junior, the Rancho High graduate rekindled a childhood interest in boxing -- his uncle used to fight at the Showboat -- when Kobrin and Kelp got the UNLV program off the ground.

"I'm definitely taking the sport a lot more seriously than I once was," Libatique said. "I've started improving fast and I'm thinking of continuing in the sport beyond college. We'll see how I am in a couple of years."

Because he's a reigning champion, Libatique has found it difficult securing opponents and Saturday he'll take on a Michigan fighter being flown in (at UNLV's expense) specifically for the challenge.

"I feel stronger and a lot better, and I know people will be coming after me by the nationals again," Libatique said. "But I don't know what the big deal is about fighting me now, other than this fight is in my hometown and everyone knows I'm going to be fired up."

Beyond the event at the Sporting House, UNLV will also hold a fund-raising dinner Nov. 11 at Big Dog's on West Sahara.

"My friends have become acquaintances," Kobrin said factitiously of the difficulty of repeatedly hitting up individuals and businesses for money. "But we're hoping to have some people come out and see us and maybe agree that what we have going on here is a good thing."