THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, August 10, 1994             TAG: 9408090141
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON    PAGE: 10   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, BEACON SPORTS EDITOR 
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   51 lines

VETERAN STREET FIGHTER BECOMING EDUCATED TO THE RING

Kevin Hall thought he knew all there was to know about boxing.

So he stepped in the ring two years ago and got a quick, 19-second lesson.

After he came to, he realized he knew a lot about fighting and very little about boxing.

So he enlisted the help of area trainer and promoter Mike Vaughan and went at the task of making up for time lost not participating in the amateur ranks.

``Most fighters get their development in the amateurs,'' said Vaughan, who returns to the promoting business Thursday with a card at Steppin' Out at Hilltop.

``Kevin never fought before. We had to bring him up with fundamentals.''

Hall appears to be a quick study - winning nine fights in a row, five by knockout. ``I grew up in Pittsburgh and we used to street fight all the time,'' he said. ``I used to kick some tail, but I guess it was different. I had a lot to learn.''

Thursday night at Steppin' Out, he faces a yet-to-be-named opponent - but names and faces don't matter. Hall just wants fights.

``I went for a few months where I fought several times and then all of a sudden, I couldn't get a fight,'' said Hall, a 26-year-old graduate of Kellam High. ``I want to fight a lot more.''

Hall's last fight - the biggest of his career against three-time world kickboxing champion and International Boxing Federation Southern middleweight champion Curtis Bush - ended early in the second round when both fighters missed punches and collided heads. Bush required 21 stitches in his eyebrow and the fight was called a technical draw.

Hall and Bush both want a rematch, but Hall isn't about to sit still waiting.

``He's got about six months to a year before he'll be ready to travel and fight better competition,'' Vaughan said.

Hopefully, Bush-Hall II will take place during that period.

``I really want to fight Curtis again,'' Hall said. ``It was just getting to be a really good fight. I want that ranking that Curtis has (IBF No. 1 intercontinental middleweight) for my career.''

Several other local favorites will be on Thursday's card - including Ricky Butts, Wayne McClanan, Brian Rogers and Sam Hampton. There also will be three amateur kickboxing bouts.

Tickets are $10 general admission and $20 ringside. by CNB