Reader comments
Former BYU Cougar Sikahema is no stranger to the ring

Leonard | 12:27 a.m. July 18, 2008

Way to go, Vai -- class act all the way!

So true | 5:46 a.m. July 18, 2008

anyone who has ever really fought in the ring, or wrestled on the mat knows if your not trained for it, size really doesn't matter.

Rock | 7:43 a.m. July 18, 2008

I'd like to see Vai and Brad Rock in the ring.

Comments continue below

Zeke | 8:57 a.m. July 18, 2008

Wonder who would have won if it went to the ground? Does Vai know any jiu jisto. That Conseco looks like he could really bite like an alligator. He's had lots of practice with his mouth.

I've boxed, done martial arts, and MMA, and boxing is certaily the weakest of the arts. Not only that, its a good way to have head injuries. Two guys that I trained died. One from a bar fight where he was taken to the ground and choked out for good and the other got repeated head injuries and later died.

A good wrestler would take both of these guys to the ground and gound and pound them out. You have one punch to take them out or its over. Or, you must beat them on the ground.

My 2 cents.

Yo Zeke, | 9:22 a.m. July 18, 2008

What'sup man? This is an article about a celebrity boxing match?

Why not ask..."Duhhhh, what would happen if a boxer went up against an AK-47?"

Cause...man...I been in da Army man. I was a Marine. I was also a Navy man. Duhhhh....and what I'm say'n is no boxer can outpunch a bullet flyin thu da air. An by da way...da Marines is da strongest of da military arts maaaannn.

Who Cares? | 9:46 a.m. July 18, 2008

How is this story getting this much love? I shouldnt ask who cares. I know tons of you find this interesting which is more frightening yet.

Re: yo zeke | 10:00 a.m. July 18, 2008

Lame comment - infantry guys are usually pretty dumb - yo zeke proves that.

whatever zeke the weak. | 10:00 a.m. July 18, 2008

I bet you've never been in the ring before....okay, maybe to walk the little signs around, you know the ones that tell everyone what round it is.

Ground and Pound takes no skill...a fighter goes in knowing they can use almost anything to win. It's rush in, wrestle your opponent down then hoping you get a good grip and try to knock them out, lots of options....boxing on the other hand has only two options, your left and your right fist.

As far as your buddies that died....sound like idiots to me.

observer | 11:12 a.m. July 18, 2008

Stupidity meets idiocy head-on.

Don't like boxing | 12:33 p.m. July 18, 2008

I'm sure not a boxing fan, but I think this was a class act on Vai's part. To donate his winnings as he did is just great. Why are all of you so negative? What have you done lately to help someone else?
We can all use our very different talents to bless those in need and Vai did. Good for him. Makes a nice change from the general run of self-centered, self-promoting athletes.

RE: yo zeke 9:22 and | 12:38 p.m. July 18, 2008

Yo Zeke 10:00, Your lame comment regarding "infantry guys are usually pretty dumb" makes me sick to my stomach. It also makes me believe the draft should return. Maybe if all of you spoiled brats had to face up for your freedom you would have more respect.

take a peke Zeke | 1:11 p.m. July 18, 2008

the guys you trained died? I been training my boys for years and their still alive and that's no jive ...you never been near the ring for sure....and if you get hit by either of my son's well it's just like vai said goodbye to CAN-sicko

RE ... Zeke's 2 cents | 1:17 p.m. July 18, 2008

Dude really took this to heart. I wonder what Zeke read in this article that the rest of us didn't get? HILARIOUS! You da man Zeke ...

Compact power rules | 1:35 p.m. July 18, 2008

I think Vai could take that big slow lummox Canseco on the ground, as well.

In PA | 1:53 p.m. July 18, 2008

Vai is the man. He just did what every B-ball player wishes they could have done when Jose started shooting his mouth off.

I love it with the little man takes down the Giant!

Gotta love Philly!

When is the moving coming out? You don't become a true Philly sports star until your movie comes out.

Re: Who cares? | 2:08 p.m. July 18, 2008

You do, you read the article. Would you advocate censoring articles so that we can just read whatever you find significant. Vai is a good person and a celebrity who took down a low life. It's better than reading about athletes with DUI or assault charges.

westwood warrior | 2:22 p.m. July 18, 2008

Hooray Vai. The orange and blue are smiling proudly tonight

Zeke | 3:07 p.m. July 18, 2008

talk about a lot of ego and self-promotion. Vai drops you in 10 seconds.

picture is 1,000 | 3:34 p.m. July 18, 2008

I don't care where it's held, what style is fought, whatever. Look at the picture of this "old" man. That is a dude who chews nails and spits razor blades. And he's a gold glover. Give him three months to learn ground and pound, and he'll go through the MMA crowd too. Bad is bad is bad, and crazy is crazy is crazy, and an NFL All pro has to be both. Comments to the contrary reek of jealousy. SCOREBOARD!!!!!

dwr | 4:53 p.m. July 18, 2008

Celebrity boxing champ? Thats like being the best snowboarder in Saudi Arabia. Thank goodness that it was for Charity...(sort of) or Vai, you would be a joke too.

the fight | 5:02 p.m. July 18, 2008

It was a boxing match. Who cares about MMA or flying bullets.

Congrats to Sikahema for taking it seriously and representing himself well. Everyone knows that Canseco is a loser, but if he would have defeated Vai then it would have given him some smidgeon of positive press.

Good to see a respectable athlete perform for the passion of competing, especially at his age. And good for him to donate a portion to help a family in need.

Class act.

ctr | 7:12 p.m. July 18, 2008

And Vai is proud of this? How stupid he was to even do this. If he wants to give money to a charity, just give money to a charity.

Seattle | 8:36 p.m. July 18, 2008

Ok, so an experienced gold glove winner beats up on a larger former steroid user in a boxing match. Why is Vai acting so bravado? If he wants to act light Mahammad Ali why doesnt he go fight another boxer?

It appears to have been a fun experience for Vai but I dont see the need to talk so tough about it. If it really wasnt a fair match then simply say "I told them so".

ctr | 8:50 p.m. July 18, 2008

Vai can raise more money doing this because he uses leverage to multiply his return. Don't they teach this in school. What an uneducated remark you made for all to see!

Bryan | 10:05 p.m. July 18, 2008

I would have liked this better if Vai had been humble about his victory. Just saved all the smack talk for stories to his grandkids someday. He let slip the opportunity to be gracious, complimentary, generous in his comments about his opponent.

Alan | 11:05 p.m. July 18, 2008

Vai, he's awsome. Beats up a guy 4 inches short of a full foot taller, and who weighed a good 50 pounds more. Then gives the enormous payoff to a widow and children of a local policeman who was killed-- money he could never have donated out of pocket if he didn't take on the danger. He's a total class act. And what a show!!! Thank you for the performance. Pure athletics and courage. And after winning a fight, especially so spectacularly, with the adrenaline running, the only appropriate thing to do is celebrate, just like he did. It brings a smile to the face just to see the good man pumped up with excitement after the win.

Re: steve | 11:22 p.m. July 18, 2008

A certain commentary says all we need to know about some of the anonymous commenters here. A guy has a spectacular victory, does an incredible act of charity, celebrates in the win, and the dark heart and small mind of blathering idiots shows us some people are so negative they speak evil of others and have a condescending view of all around them.

All-stars and the greats always have their nay-sayers!!!

Spud Man | 11:26 p.m. July 18, 2008

Lets put Vai in the ring with Mike Tyson. That would draw a crowd. Canseco is the same patsey he always was.

Utah Red | 11:29 p.m. July 18, 2008

Lets see Vai in the ring against Steve Young. Two has been cougars making the ring crimson. Utah wins again!!

Alex Smith could beat up Vai.

Little Blue | 11:34 p.m. July 18, 2008

Let Vai enjoy his last fling in the ring. Using charity as a cover was a good disguise. I think he just wanted one last chance to ham it up. At least he's not sitting in a rocker knitting next to the fireplace.

RE: Zeke | 12:13 a.m. July 19, 2008

can't be too much into mixed martial arts... it's spelled jujitsu. oh and your statement boxing is weakest discipline is ridiculous: ever heard of chuck lidell? or quentin jackson? they seem to do all right with it.

Ing | 10:50 a.m. July 19, 2008

Boxing is a potent martial art, especially when combined with a full range of other techniques. The best mixed-martial arts fighters are good boxers, as the previous commenter knows.

The problem with boxing as a sport is that the rules focus on headshots so much. That makes pro-style boxing more dangerous to its participants and less effective against other fighting styles.

Anyhow, it's nice to see a good guy with some toughness beat one of the most obnoxious, self-serving guys in sports.

Hey Utah Red | 3:35 p.m. July 21, 2008

Good idea since Alex should not have the opportunity to ruin my beloved 49ers season again this year he will have plenty of time to prepare to get pounded into the mat by Vai.

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Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images

Former NFL player Via Sikahema performs the Haka in celebration of his knockdown of Major League Baseball player Jose Canseco during their celebrity boxing match on July 12, 2008 at Bernie Robbins Stadium in Atlantic City, New Jersey.