New goal has a ring to it

Fortunately for Kaspars Kambala, he didn't revert to his civilized basketball behavior Sunday. Otherwise, his fledgling boxing career probably would have been short-lived.

Kambala, the former UNLV basketball center who at age 28 has decided to trade his sneakers for boxing gloves, had an impressive debut in the ring. Burying Takilesi Fifita with an avalanche of blows, Kambala gained victory when the scheduled three-round amateur heavyweight bout at Trinity High School was halted 42 seconds into the second round.

The 6-foot-9-inch, 270-pound Kambala said he always has loved boxing, going back to his days as a youth in Latvia. Now, with notable boxing referee Richard Steele guiding him, Kambala hopes to develop his skills to where he can become an effective professional, perhaps even fight for the heavyweight championship of the world some day.

"That's the goal," he said. "It's no joke. I'm serious about this."

Fighting in front of a couple hundred spectators, including former Rebels teammates Dalron Johnson, Tony Lane, Warren Rosegreen, Patrick Savoy, Grant Rice and Chris Richardson, Kambala dominated from the opening bell, using his considerable height, reach and weight advantage to keep the 5-8, 240-pound Fifita at bay.

Kambala launched two flurries of punches in the opening round, the first opening a cut on Fifita's lower lip, the second knocking the headgear off the Westminister, Calif., heavyweight.

In the second round, Kambala continued his assault. Fifita was administered a standing eight-count, and after a visit from the ringside doctor, the fight was called off.

"It was great," Kambala said. "I had so much fun. Especially when I knocked his helmet off.

"I just wanted to keep attacking and keep the pressure on him. His head was moving back and forth so much as I was hitting him, he was bouncing like a tennis ball."

Steele, who worked Kambala's corner, said the debut was perfect.

"I wanted to see if Kaspars could do in a real fight what we practiced in the gym, and he did," Steele said. "I've worked with a lot of great athletes, and he's the best I've worked with. He also has two things any boxer needs to be successful. One is meanness. He has a mean streak to him. That's something you can't teach.

"The other thing is his movement and reaction. He's a natural. He moves so well on his feet. He's 270 (pounds), but he moves like a lightweight."

Their relationship dates to 1998 when, as a sophomore with the Rebels, Kambala asked Steele to show him fundamental boxing skills. Steele, an ordained minister, officiated Kambala's wedding a couple years later, and the two have remained close.

"I have complete trust in Richard," Kambala said. "He's been around boxing a long time. He's teaching me so much already. I know I'm in good hands."

Kambala enjoyed a successful pro basketball career after leaving UNLV in 2001. He played for four teams in Europe, including Real Madrid, and made millions. So why give up basketball for boxing?

"I want to test myself," Kambala said. "I need to do this for me. I want to prove myself I can do this by myself."

At 28, Kambala decided it was now or never. So he put his basketball career on hold to enter the ring.

The fact he had tested positive for a banned substance -- reportedly an antidepressant -- in December while playing in Turkey for Fenerbauche Ulker and is currently ineligible to play helped make his decision to box much easier. According to Warren LeGarie, Kambala's agent, Kambala isn't eligible to return to the court until Feb. 1.

But LeGarie said Kambala is dead serious about boxing.

"At first, I wasn't sure if he was," LeGarie said. "But the more I talked to him, the more I realized he wanted to do this.

"For the first time, he thought this was something he could define himself with. He can't blame his teammates, his coaches or the referees. It's all about him."

Kambala said he's aware of the responsibility he has to himself once he steps through the ropes.

"I like it," he said of the one-on-one competition. "You only have yourself to rely on."

Steele said the plan is to get Kambala in the ring once a month.

"I don't see him being an amateur long," Steele said. "Ten fights or less -- and it looks like less."

Kambala, clutching a trophy he earned for his efforts Sunday, said he's ready to build on his successful debut.

"I know I have a lot to learn, but I felt pretty good about the way I performed," he said. "Whatever Richard says is fine by me. We'll go forward and keep trying to get better."