Re-born in the USA - that was the heartening beat rapped out by Henry Wharton across the Atlantic to his York homeland.
The 30-year-old's move on up to debut light-heavyweight duties in his American professional baptism bore instant dividends.
The York star is back, but among the bigger boys, yet he can take ample encouragement from his Stateside set-to in which he steadily, then stealthily accounted for rugged Yank Franklin Charles Edmondson in Atlantic City.
Wharton's unanimous points win after eight rounds of combative, competent action was all the more impressive in that each of the three ringside judges at the Caesar's Palace Convention Centre deemed he had not lost a single round. Two returned scores of 80-72 signalling domination of every round, the third arbitrator went for a 79-73 verdict.
This observer had Edmondson, four years younger but significantly heavier than Wharton, up in one round, but that was a minor blip.
And the added bonus was that for the first time in quite a while Wharton recalled his best days of yore by finishing the encounter the stronger of the two.
That plainly was not the case in his last outing 10 months previously when his struggle to keep to the 12st limitation of the super-middleweight division robbed him of vital strength and stamina to lose on points to then World Boxing Council champion Robin Reid.
No such sensory deprivation here. Wharton was toned and honed to go the distance, which he did with thoroughness.
As he waited for the action to start in the massive Convention Centre auditorium Wharton - clad in eye-catching red, white and blue shorts designed by Evening Press competition winner, York teenager Gavin Orrey - looked nervous.
But it was an eerie setting as the 16,000 capacity arena showed rows of empty seats, the York ace only the warm-up to the main attractions of a duet of world title duels involving Herol 'Bomber' Graham and top-drawer Lennox Lewis.
Whether it was the muted atmosphere, broken several times by cries of 'come on Henry' from the corps of loyal fans who travelled across the Atlantic to watch their favourite, or the lack of combat for just short of a year, Wharton's start was sluggish.
Yet even when he laboured for mobility his aggression prevailed in the first half of the fight. Then, in the last four rounds he eased into a fluency that the hardy Edmondson could not counter.
Wharton's vaunted punching power did not over-trouble Edmondson, which is worrying if subsequently proved not to be attributable to a lack of timing as a legacy of his lengthy absence. But in the land of comeback kids Wharton showed he is far from finished.
A new beginning might be dawning.
Here's how the Caesar's Palace drama unfolded.
Round One: As expected the start is less gung-ho, more whoa there. Both men open prudently, though it's noticeable that Wharton seeks the centre of the ring first to establish early ascendancy. Tucking himself up neatly against any potential surprise from the 26-year-old opponent from North Carolina, Wharton lets fly a good left hook and straight jab to impress the judges.
Round Two: Wharton continues to command centre stage, though Edmondson shows a willingness to engage the York man at closer quarters. Punches from both swish and miss. An untidy round mainly, but Wharton's shots the crisper.
Round Three: A good right hand from Wharton catches Edmondson, who counters in kind, a right uppercut tagging the Englishman. Wharton remains unfazed, conjuring a combination to wobble the legs of his shaven-headed foe to finish the stronger.
Round Four: As yet Wharton has not found a smooth rhythm, his shoulders and arms tense, his movement around his opponent stuttering. The heavier Edmondson, sensing a possible way in, is not easily fended off and that uppercut proves menacing. The American enjoys his best spell so far.
Round Five: Edmondson is quicker to respond from the bell and a short right finds its mark. But it's a false dawn for the North Carolinian. Wharton ups his work-rate and varies his point of attack, a smoother movement enabling him to dodge any American advance and re-launch his own shots. A level-pegged round after which Wharton's trainer Gary Atkin advises his charge not to seek a knockout punch.
Round Six: Wharton opts for a more controlled approach. Far less static he circles Edmondson with intent and the increased tempo unnerves the homester. The Wharton jab pierces the defence three times and a brace of stinging short rights also hammer into the face of Edmondson, who now looks distinctly ragged.
Round Seven: An intelligent use of his skills from Wharton begin to drain his opponent's resistance. This is much more like it. The York star weaves around the ring in control, more fluid, faster and purposeful. That early tension has evaporated.
Round Eight: The traditional and respectful touch of gloves at the start is followed by a busy, busy, busy Wharton. He moves in behind the jab, then out again, Edmondson barely offering a meaningful reply. Wharton knows he is comfortably ahead and sees out his debut untroubled. A good day at the office.
Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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