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February 11, 2012

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Sights Unseen

Steve Marcus - Chasing the knockdown shot

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Steve Marcus

CELEBRATION: Trainer Buboy Fernandez lifts Manny Pacquiao after the boxer’s victory over Miguel Cotto in the WBO welterweight title fight in November at the MGM Grand.

Monday, Dec. 28, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Sights Unseen: Steve Marcus' Chasing the knockdown shot

THE WINNER IS ... Oliver McCall walks around the ring as referee Joe Cortez calls off the heavyweight fight May 22 with John Hopoate of Australia at the Orleans. McCall beat Hopoate, a former rugby player, with a second-round knockout. Launch slideshow »

My first exposure to boxing in Las Vegas was developing film for other photographers on fight nights. I was in a trailer developing film when the “Fan Man” (also known as James Miller) landed by paraglider into the Riddick Bowe vs. Evander Holyfield fight at Caesars Palace in 1993.

Later I started shooting the fights myself, chasing after the knockdown shot, the celebration (“jubo” for jubilation) shot, or the elusive connection shot where a punch is landing on a fighter’s face and sweat and blood are flying off.

The connection shot happens in a split second and is very difficult to catch. It is frustrating when you miss it. Occasionally a photographer will make a fantastic connection photo on his first fight, then spend every subsequent fight trying to create it again, like the gambler who has hit the jackpot, then continues to play, hoping to hit it again.

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