[Gunsmoke]

WWBU Quarterly
Volume 2, April 1902

It was an exciting quarter of fistic action as the top fighters in all weights continued to ply the trade on the way to the various titles becoming active in the respective divisions. Greg Page, the world #1 ranked HW, would stay particularly active, with fights in the year’s first three months keeping him at the forefront of the publics mind. The first quarter contained plenty of action to keep all fight fans happy.

The Quarter In Review
January 1902
January would be an exciting month of action in the WWBU. The biggest card of the month occurred on the 10th at the McGovern County Community Hall, with a headlining bout of #1 HW Greg Page (21-0-0) taking on frequent opponent world #3 Audley Harrison (20-3-0). All three of Harrison’s losses have occurred against Page, and rather than avoiding him Harrison seems intent on trying to topple him despite the frequent setbacks. This bout would be an even more demoralizing loss for Harrison as Page dominated from the start, stunning Harrison with power shots and keeping him from ever establishing any offence at all. Harrison to his credit didn’t go down at all till the sixth, but he was near defenceless on the ropes in the third and fifth and was fortunate/unfortunate that the bout wasn’t stopped at those points. Page put the exclamation point on his victory in the sixth and last round with a dominating show of power punching; sending Harrison to the canvas twice for eight counts before the ref stepped in and halted the action. In the co-main Vergil Cooper (15-2-0) boxed his way to be the fifth ranked MW fighter in a strong showing against Fernando Janilli (10-2-0). Janilli needs to find his way again after starting his career 10-0.

In an earlier fight card at the McGovern County Community Hall on the 3rd, rising MW sensation Rocky Graziano would take on the powerful Blair Richardson. The reputation of Rocky Graziano has been on the rise in the last six months culminating in this top of the card clash. Graziano (11-0-0) has shown heavy fists so far in his career with 10 of his victories coming via stoppage; meanwhile Richardson (7-0-1) has also shown similar levels of power on occasion, with his last 4 victories coming via early knockout. For both fighters it is their first real test of their careers. Graziano starts out on fire backing Richardson against the ropes and unleashing a torrent of power punching, but Richardson weathered the storm and then smartly countered with hard shots of his own as the round ended. Richardson would continue to play the smart countering game that work successfully at the end of the first, through the next four rounds with the spoils being slightly in Richardson’s favour over that period. But after five rounds of taking Graziano’s powerful blows on his upper arms Richardson was visibly starting to tire, and The Rock moved in like a shark at the first sign of weakness punishing Richardson mercilessly in the sixth. The seventh looked like it could’ve been the last round of the bout several times as Graziano wailed away at Richardson, who valiantly managed to maintain his footing through out. Richardson emerged from his shell at start of the eighth, surprising Graziano with his sudden pluck, but he ran out of steam and Graziano took the final stanza. All three judges scored the bout 78-75 in favour of Rocky Graziano.

Also in action this month were world #1 WW Felix Trinidad who battered his way to a 1st round TKO and #2 LW George Lavigne who KO’d his opponent in the second round.

Results of Note
HW Greg Page #1 22-0-0 TKO6 Audley Harrison #3 20-4-0
MW Rocky Graziano 12-0-0 UD8 Blair Richardson 7-1-1
WW Felix Trinidad #1 16-1-0 TKO1 Paddy Buttle 1-3-0
MW Vergil Cooper 15-2-0 UD10 Fernando Janilli 10-2-0
LW George Lavigne #2 16-1-1 KO2 Lonnie Rendell 1-7-1
WW Billy Backus 12-0-2 UD8 Andrew Chessen 1-5-1
LHW Michael Bennett #1 16-1-0 UD12 Victor Robledo #2 15-2-0

February 1902
The MW ranks would see the biggest fight of the year to this point with #1 ranked Mike O’Dowd (23-0-0) taking on the #2 ranked George Abrams (17-3-0). Abrams and O’Dowd have met three times previously as they have risen through the ranks, with O’Dowd winning all three by decision, two by majority decision and one by a close unanimous decision. After a tight first three rounds in which O’Dowd probably held the advantage on the scorers’ cards, O’Dowd opened up in the fourth punishing Abrams around the ring. Abrams refused to go down; however at this point in the fight it looked like a when rather than an if he’ll be stopped. However after this powerful showing, O’Dowd went into his shell and Abrams continued to work hard and drag himself back into the fight, to the point that after ten our scorecard had the fight even at 95-95. O’Dowd dug deep and won the eleventh with some well-timed counters on the suddenly tigerish Abrams. O’Dowd looked to be cruising in the twelfth when Abrams caught him with a hard right cross that backed him up and Abrams was on him like a rabid Rottweiler throwing punches from everywhere to take the final round. It would all come down to the judges with our card reading 114-114, the judges scores were 117-111, 115-113 and 116-112 all for Mike O’Dowd. Abrams looked crestfallen, as he seemed to have put in much better last eight rounds and to fall so far short on official scores.

On the under card WW prospect Fritzie Zivic (10-0-0) would hand Lefty Flynn (12-1-0) his first loss as a professional with an eight round demolition job in which Flynn had to be saved by the bell in several rounds to survive the fight. The #2 ranked HW Frankie Daniels (23-3-0) was in action against career opponent Jeffrey Flores, who gave him a battle he’ll remember before going to the canvas five times in the last four rounds to all but give him the decision.

Greg Page (#1 ranked HW) would stay in action taking on Title tournament hopeful Kevin Isaacs (currently ranked fifth) who has recently broken a sting on three straight losses (including a 6th round KO against Page in March 1901) with TKO victory over Jimmy Clark. Page is the overwhelming favourite, and he showed it in the first round with a dominant display of power, that all but forced Isaacs to his knees. Page would fall into a outside sniping style game plan in the second, taking the round on a late flurry before settling into his strategy in the third and fourth finally felling Isaacs with a perfectly timed right hook early in the fourth for a count of four. Isaacs survived the round, but Page saw his opponent starting to weaken and went on the attack in the fifth, taking punches to deliver his powerful blows in close. Once again Page slowed the action down, choosing to use his boxing skills in the next three rounds before exploding in the ninth, KO’ing Isaacs with a nasty hook to the head. On the under card FLY weight power house Fermin Gomez (10-1-0) lost his undefeated record against the slick boxing Little Dado (14-1-0) who once again outboxed a basic slugger taking the unanimous decision.

Also in action LW #1 Jack McAuliffe (16-0-1) was overwhelming to the crowds satisfaction against career opponent Alan Newell, LHW #1 Michael Bennett won a clear unanimous decision over Albert Cauley without having to extend himself and MW #3 Rocky Mosley Jr. was far too accomplished for Ryan Garfield who struggled to land any punches during the bout, let alone a meaningful blow.

Results of Note
MW Mike O’Dowd #1 24-0-0 UD12 George Abrams #2 17-4-0
LW Jack McAuliffe #1 16-0-1 TKO6 Alan Newell 2-8-1
HW Greg Page #1 23-0-0 KO9 Kevin Isaac #5 18-7-0
WW Fritzie Zivic 10-0-0 UD8 Lefty Flynn 12-1-0
LHW Don LaLonde 12-0-0 KO6 Pete McIntyre 10-2-1
FLY Little Dado 14-1-0 UD10 Fermin Gomez 10-1-0
BW Jiro Watanabe 14-0-0 UD8 Billy Peacock 9-1-0
WW Billy Backus 13-0-2 UD10 Tommy Cross 9-4-1
FLY Tancy Lee 10-2-1 UD10 Dommy Ursua 10-2-1
HW Frankie Daniels #2 23-3-0 UD12 Jeffrey Flores 4-6-1
LHW Michael Bennett #1 17-1-0 UD6 Albert Cauley 1-3-1
MW Rocky Mosley Jr #3 16-1-1 UD8 Ryan Garfield 1-5-0

March 1902
Rex Layne (#7, 15-3-0) would try to force his way into the HW championship tournament with a victory over the world #1 Greg Page (23-0-0). Layne was the rank outsider, who was known for his lapses against vastly inferior opponents as he rose through the ranks. Unfortunately he turned in a less than stellar effort on the training track for the biggest bout of his career so far, as he came in carrying at least 25 lbs extra baggage over his prime fighting weight. Page meanwhile looked like the efficient machine he always does, invincible and unforgiving. Page showed his intentions at the opening bell with a beautifully timed left hook that nearly took Layne’s head off. Layne managed to survive the round long battering, but must have felt like he’d been run over by a train. The second was a continuation of the battering, with the first signs of it’s effect with Layne having to cover up in the waning seconds of the round. The third started more promisingly for the crowd as Layne went on the offensive, but Page caught him flush with a straight right that stopped him dead in his tracks and then whaled away before the referee stopped the bout just as the bell rang to end the third round. Page the winner by an impressive third round TKO.

On the under card, LW contender (ranked #2) George Lavigne dispatched his opponent Luis Sams in quick order, and in a rematch of a 10 round draw, middleweight contenders Rocky Mosley Jr (#2 ranked, 16-1-1) fought Eric Lucas (ranked #4, 17-3-1). Mosley Jr was gritty, but he could not keep up with the recently battle hardened skills of the Canadian. Lucas ran out to a 117-111 (twice) and 116-112 unanimous decision victory.

In a match up between two much bally hoed MW prospects Rocky Graziano (12-1-0) lost his first bout to the superbly talented Charley Burley (11-0-0). Burley showed his boxing ability from the opening seconds of the bout, establishing the tempo of the fight in his favour with his right hand rocking Graziano every time he tried to throw a lead with his left hand. Burley retained control through the second and third rounds before dropping the hammer on the bell to end the third. Landing a perfectly timed uppercut that had Graziano staggering about during the break in the action. Burley sensing the end coming stalked Graziano in the early part of the fourth before he launched a left cross that sent Graziano to the floor for the count of four. Burley maintained the pressure on the resumption and Graziano would succumb to it after another minute when another uppercut had Graziano looking at the lights once again. Graziano made it to his feet at the count of four once again, but he looked finished and Burley ended the contest with a sizzling combination.

In other action during the month a fat and lackadaisical Alfio Righetti eked out a unanimous decision over the tough opponent Keith Marsh to retain his all important ranking (#3) for the long expected title tournament. That’s two straight sub par performances from Righetti whose handlers must be starting to worry about their charge. LHW #1 Michael Bennett dominated Gary Bootland knocking him down twice on his way a six round unanimous decision. MW #5 ranked contender Vergil Cooper scored a 7th round TKO victory over Hugh Schlabach in a stay busy fight.

Results of Note
HW Greg Page #1 24-0-0 TKO3 Rex Layne #7 15-4-0
MW Charley Burley 11-0-0 KO4 Rocky Graiano 12-1-0
MW Daniel Santos 11-1-0 UD10 Vinnie Pazienza 9-1-2
LW George Lavigne #2 17-1-1 KO4 Luis Sams 1-3-1
MW Vergil Cooper #5 16-2-0 TKO7 Hugh Schlabach 1-6-1
LHW Danny Nardico 12-0-0 KO9 Frank Bullard 10-3-1
HW Alfio Righetti #3 18-0-1 UD8 Keith Marsh 4-6-0
WW Sharmba Mitchell 11-0-0 UD8 Andrew Chessen 1-6-1
MW Eric Lucas #4 18-3-1 UD12 Rocky Mosley Jr #2 16-2-1
LHW Michael Bennett #1 18-1-0 UD6 Gary Bootland 1-4-0

Current Rankings and Analysis

Heavyweight Division
Champ – Vacant
1. Greg Page
2. Frankie Daniels
3. Alfio Righetti
4. Audley Harrison
5. Jimmy Clark

Audley Harrison drops from #3 to #4 and Kevin Isaac drops out of the top 5 due to losses to Greg Page

Light Heavyweight Division
Champ – Vacant
1. Michael Bennett
2. Victor Robledo

No Change

Middleweight Division
Champ – Vacant
1. Mike O’Dowd
2. Eric Lucas
3. Rocky Mosley Jr.
4. George Abrams
5. Vergil Cooper

Lucas rises to #2 after his impressive win over Mosley Jr. Abrams slips to #4 after his loss to O’Dowd. Vergil Cooper joins the rankings at #5.

Welterweight Division
Champ – Vacant
1. Felix Trinidad

No Change

Lightweight Division
Champ – Vacant
1. Jack McAuliffe
2. George Lavigne

No Change

Featherweight Division
Champ – Vacant

None Qualified

Bantamweight Division
Champ – Vacant

None Qualified

Flyweight Division
Champ – Vacant

None Qualified