Stewart Takes A Step Toward First State First

WILMINGTON — Delaware bills itself as "The First State," but apparently that doesn't extend to boxing. Although it has the distinction of being the first state to ratify the Constitution - on Dec. 7, 1787, as you history buffs are no doubt aware - Delaware is still waiting for its first home-grown world champion. It hasn't even had a world-ranked native son since middleweight Dave Tiberi retired in protest after being stiffed on the decision in his 1992 challenge of International Boxing Federation titlist James Toney.

All of which might explain Delawareans' burgeoning hopes for New Castle resident Michael "No Joke" Stewart, 21, who makes no secret of his plans to represent his state in a way no one else has.

"We have some good fighters, but I want to be the first from Delaware to win a world title. I want to be the best to ever come out of Delaware," Stewart (15-0-1, 6 KOs), a junior welterweight, said after scoring an eight-round, unanimous decision over Theon Holland (12-10, 7 KOs) last night at the Big Kahuna.

OK, so maybe Stewart isn't a strict isolationist. He trains in Philadelphia, and he even lived four years in Tennessee when he was younger.

"That's why I wear orange trunks and orange shoes," said Stewart, whose ring appearance suggests a large Dreamsicle. "Everything in Tennessee is orange. But it is kind of distinctive, don't you think? I don't see many fighters who wear orange.

"[IBF middleweight champion] Bernard Hopkins lives in Newark now, but he was born in Philadelphia and is always introduced as being from Philadelphia. I take a lot of pride when I'm introduced as being from New Castle, Del."

Some 900 spectators, many wearing garish orange garb, cheered Stewart during his sometimes-effective, sometimes-flawed performance against Holland. But they, like their favorite fighter, will need to be patient. Not only is Stewart still unranked by any of the major sanctioning bodies, he also wasn't even supposed to be in the main event. His bout with Holland moved to the top of the card after heavyweight contender Vaughn Bean was left without an opponent following an 11th-hour pullout by Eric Curry.