SWAGGERING around the ring in a Bruce Lee T-shirt and denim shorts, Jerome Caines perfectly summed up the ethos of Fight Night.

The annual Front Street extravaganza showcases Bermuda's best and, undoubtedly, worst boxers and everything in between.

Caines, fighting with a I'm-not-going-to-put-my-guard-up-because-I'm-THAT-good attitude, was beaten on a split decision by Bruno Parker but his Prince Naseem-style tactics earned him many fans.

With the beer flowing, ring girls strutting and music pumping, the Teachers Rugby Club fund-raiser has fast become a 'must-attend' event on Bermuda's sporting calendar ? and the 2,000 blood-thirsty spectators of all ages, sexes, races and levels of fight knowledge proved that.

From the first bell the crowd got what they wanted (although pugilism purists would have been far from satisfied) as two 'green' fighters took to the ring.

There was a little bit too much back-turning and punching with the outside of fists to make the clash between Glen Magee and Alastair Bedingfield a genuine contest, but you couldn't knock their spirit as they gamely did their best to pummel each other while all the time making the 'noble' art seem anything but.

The appearance of the first of a number of delicious ring girls proved the perfect antidote as did the nicely-priced beer flowing regularly and liberally throughout the evening.

The evening continued with that same heady mix of music, strutting ladies and worrying boxing techniques although the standards rapidly rose through the cards with Ahmed Kashif winning boxer of the night for his unanimous points verdict over Nathan Lewis in his first outing.

Then Calvin Vincent, fighting out of Allan (Forty) Rego's gym, and with the dream team of former world number five Troy Darrell and the Island's only Teresa Perozzi in his corner, forced Dean Lottimore to throw the towel in the second round.

Perozzi, who was originally scheduled to fight but couldn't after the financial obstacles of putting on a pro bout got in the way, admitted she was "really p****d off" not to be able to get in the ring, especially once the crowd really began baying for blood.

And blood they got in what turned out to be the night's best match-up as Mason West III, a Seventh Day Adventist Minister (who packs an Almighty punch), took on behemoth James Bergl.

The slug-fest gave the crowd everything they wanted, with Bergl, the national junior discus champion, wrestling West to the floor after 20 seconds and the pounding him for the next two rounds.

But it was West, working the increasingly-bloody nose of his opponent, who was to ultimately triumph.

Then came the intermission before the experienced fighters entered the gladiatorial arena.

Theo Asante, flown in by the organisers with compatriot Azian Howes, showed his class in a victory over Andre Bean and could not have been any more complimentary about the event.

"This has got to be one of the best nights I have been involved," enthused the Canadian.

"This is better organised than some of the pro nights I have seen. You can't match this sort of event back in Toronto."

Compatriot Howes may have agreed, but he never got the chance to tell anyone as he was knocked cold by a massive Trace Easton blow within seconds of the start of the second round of the night's penultimate bout.

Easton, and fellow Olympic hopeful Shareiff Wales, ended the last two fights in exactly the way the crowd would have wanted.

The night had been building up towards a crescendo which would see the two Caribbean amateur champions enter the ring, and after Easton ("this was Canada against Bermuda and I was fighting for national pride") nailed his opponent in spectacular fashion, it was Wales' turn.

His super heavyweight contest with Freeman Smith was looking like it wouldn't finish after 304 lbs of Wales had to return to his corner in excruciating pain because of a hyper-extended elbow.

But, showing he had the stomach for the fight, Wales returned and just 47 seconds later sent Smith to the canvas with a thundering upper-cut.

That right hand earned him a bigger cheer even than the first outing of the ring girl in the skin-tight purple outfit.

Bermuda is already getting excited about Fight Night VII.