Boll who writes, directs, and produces has brought several game related films to the screen such as “House of the Dead”, “Alone in the Dark”, “Bloodrayne” and the pending “In the name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale” has incurred the wrath of many online critics who often dub the prolific director as one of the worst in history and denounce Boll and his work at every chance.
While working on his original film “Seed” Boll set fourth the challenge for critics to meet him in Vancouver to face him in a series of three round matches. The four challengers were flown to Vancouver, lodged at a 5 star hotel, and given small parts in “Postal”.
The audience was charged up from the start and after the opening entertainment, Boll entered the ring to cheers and seemed very determined from the outset. Some of his challengers such as his first opponent Richard Kyanka of Something Awful who is better known as “Lowatx” took the opportunity to clown and mug for the audience as he was decked out in red, white, and blue shorts and waving American Flags to the mostly Canadian audience.
Once the bell rang, Boll set upon his Kyanka with a flurry of blows that seemed to stagger the younger man. Kyanka attempted to clown around for the early part of the fight, but he soon found himself on the canvas repeatedly which resulted in Boll winning the match with a first round knock out.
Jeff Sneider of Ain’t it Cool news was next to face Boll, and he gave an earnest and spirited effort that ended in a T.K.O. victory for Boll when his corner tossed in the towel in the second round. After the fight Jeff commented that he vomited after the match and needed oxygen as his adrenaline was so high. He also stated that after the first round, his legs were gone which made it very hard to keep up with the match.
After a short intermission, Boll returned to the ring to face his third challenger, Chris Alexander of the publication Rue Morgue. Chris had played up the opportunity complete with a costume and documentary film crew to document his effort as well as his thoughts about Boll’s work.
Boll landed solid blows two of which visibly staggered Alexander and to his credit, he continued to press on even after the referee asked him if he wanted to continue. In the second round, a thunderous punch from Boll, bloodied Alexander as his mouth and teeth were clearly blooded. With cheers urging him on, Boll finished Alexander and won the match with a second round knock out. Alexander later claimed the blood was fake and that he used it as a distraction to "Jedi Mind Trick Boll."
The final match of the night was hyped by some to be Uwe’s biggest challenge. 17 year old Nelson Chance Minter who listed himself as an amateur boxer and even said in the pre-fight introductions that he was the only one who had a real chance to take down Boll, came into the ring with an air of confidence that his mother attributed to years of boxing.
Numerous crushing body blows by Boll had Minter shaken and he soon retreated to his corner holding his stomach where he soon said he was done handing Boll a first round technical knock out.
The audience was clearly in Boll’s corner and was very vocal in their support for him as were celebrity guests who included Kristanna Loken, Andrew Jackson, Ralf Moeller, announcer Michael Pare, and Dean Aylseworth.
After the fight, Kyanka was talking down about his experience to the assembled journalists saying that this was supposed to be a P.R. stunt and that he was the victim of a head but as that Boll was a Jerk and went for his head numerous times. I guess Kyanka did not grasp from the waiver he signed to take part in this event that it would be a contact event as others fighters such as Nelson Chance Minter said that “Uwe was a great guy who makes good films.” Jeff Sneider was heard saying that Uwe was “very gracious” and said that “he showed balls during his match.”
Some tried to dismiss this event as nothing more than a publicity stunt, but it was very clear that Boll took this seriously and like his work, he is very passionate and serious about boxing. Prior to the fight, Boll stated that he believed boxing is a great tool for young people to focus their energies and gives people better options than the violence that people face in the real world.
Boll went on to say that people who complain about the violence in his films and the games they are based upon are missing the point that those are fantasies, and that people who are concerned about their children being influenced by film and game violence, might be served by the discipline, confidence, and purpose that boxing offers.
If the evening’s events are any indication, Boll seems to have earned some much deserved respect and the audience gained a unique experience that entertained all I attendance.
