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kenyan_cheena · 10-04-2005, 10:07 PM

LOOK OUT BELOW!
WILLS DROPS BOMBS IN THE BRONX

Tuesday 12 March 2002

In front of an audience that included HBF President Michael Vincennes and a number of "potential federation investors", New Orleans native Harry Wills put on a spectacular display of hard-hitting boxing as he easily outpointed Dan Hodge of Wichita, Kansas at Jimmy's Bronx Cafe.

Wills sent Hodge crashing to the canvas with single punch knockdowns in the third and fourth rounds and was never troubled on his way to a unanimous decision victory, 58-54, 60-52, 59-53. It was a performance that left no doubt in regards to Wills being a future contender for the federation's World Championship, a performance that showed noteable improvement over his Atlantic City debut five weeks ago.

The #1 seed in the Heavyweight Boxing Federation's U.S. Atlantic Coast Boxing League, Wills landed 194 punches to 73 and made quite an impression with his ring entrance. Wills, all decked out in black, made his way to the ring accompanied by the Janet Jackson tune "Black Cat". Indeed, ever since his first ring appearance in New Jersey last month, a number of boxing observers have compared Wills to a panther in the way he moves around the ring. In the moments before tonight's bout, he appeared like a caged animal ready to explode.

Unable to mask his excitement and joy in the moments after the bout, Wills boasted that he feels ready to take on any of the top seeds in the federation's World Championship and 1st Defense tournaments.

"I know I've just started out with this thing, but they ain't so different from me. I'd just love to mix it up with some of those guys," said the 22 year-old. "Johnson, Bowe ... hell, even that big bear Sonny Liston! I'd just love that. But, with the way the rules are, I ain't gonna get that chance for at least a couple o' years, yet." Wills wiped sweat from his bald pate with a towel. "You'll see, baby," he continued. "Once all these tournaments are done and buried, Harry Wills gonna unload a worrrrrld o' hurt on these guys. I really just can't wait, I tell ya."

It's obvious that one of the things Wills possesses in abundance is confidence. That attitude will surely prove to be of some benefit as he continues through the Atlantic League's initial tournament.

But if Wills wasn't already confident enough before arriving at Jimmy's Bronx Cafe tonight, then without a doubt the performance on the undercard of the League's #2 seed and hometown favourite Bob Pastor would have done the trick. In the Co-Feature, Pastor was floored in the third round and outboxed in the fifth before eeking out a split decision victory over San Francisco's Bruce Crickett, 58-57, 56-57, 57-56...

THE ATLANTIC COAST BOXING LEAGUE UNDERCARD

Five weeks ago, the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City hosted the first fight card of the U.S. Atlantic Coast Boxing League. That night got off to an unusual start, with the first three bouts all being draws.

Tonight's event almost started with a trio of a different kind.

The evening opened with a spirited contest between the #6 and #7 seeds, New York's Joe Alexander and the 23 year-old slugger from New Jersey, Jack O'Halloran. Alexander had the better of it during the opening half of the bout, but O'Halloran fought back strongly and had landed more punches by the time the final bell sounded. But Alexander had done just enough in the early rounds and took a split decision victory, 58-57, 57-58, 58-57.

This was followed by two contests that would have to be considered upsets, as the 4th and 5th seeds (Ernie Schaaf of Massachusetts and New York's Tim Carlisle) were both outpointed by lower seeds.

Carlisle's defeat came first, with the hard-working Kansas native Randy Baez (8th seed) gutsing it out for a unanimous decision victory, 58-57, 58-56(x2). Baez had been one of the six fighters involved in drawn bouts on the League's opening night, but most watching had believed he should have been awarded a victory in his bout with Ernie Schaaf. Tonight, his relief and jubilation was there for all to see when the verdict was announced. Undefeated at 1-0-1, Baez has a great chance of qualifying for the tournament's semi-finals.

If Carlisle's loss was a surprise, the result of the next bout was even more so. In a fantastic contest, the #4 seed Ernie Schaaf struggled early (tasting the canvas in the opening round) before making a furious, late comeback. But it was not enough to prevent the League's 12th and last seed Sonny Banks of Detroit taking a unanimous decision, 58-55, 57-56(x2). Having put up a brave showing against the #1 seed Harry Wills on debut, tonight's performance and result was a triumph for Banks ... and an absolute disaster for Schaaf. Being the 4th seed in the League, Schaaf is expected to qualify for the tournament semi-finals. But with his record a disappointing 0-1-1 after bouts with the #8 and #12 seeds, that looks like being a very difficult task indeed.

So if O'Halloran had beaten Alexander in the night's first bout, it would have been a hattrick of victories for the lower seeded fighters.

In the evening's fourth bout, 3rd seed Clarence Burman of Baltimore did what Schaaf and Carlisle could not, pitching a six round shutout against Ray Impelletiere of Cold Springs, New York. The scorecards all read 60-53 to Burman.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS
HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING FEDERATION FIGHT CARD
TUESDAY 12 MARCH 2002
JIMMY'S BRONX CAFE, BRONX, NEW YORK USA

THE U.S. ATLANTIC COAST BOXING LEAGUE

OPENING BOUT

(6) Joe Alexander SD6 (7) Jack O'Halloran

PRELIMINARY 1

(8) Randy Baez UD6 (5) Tim Carlisle

PRELIMINARY 2

(12) Sonny Banks UD6 (4) Ernie Schaaf

SUPPORT BOUT

(3) Clarence Burman UD6 (11) Ray Impelletiere

CO-FEATURE

(2) Bob Pastor SD6 (10) Bruce Crickett

MAIN EVENT

(1) Harry Wills UD6 (9) Dan Hodge

10-04-2005, 10:07 PM	#286 (permalink)
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 4,311	LOOK OUT BELOW! WILLS DROPS BOMBS IN THE BRONX Tuesday 12 March 2002 In front of an audience that included HBF President Michael Vincennes and a number of "potential federation investors", New Orleans native Harry Wills put on a spectacular display of hard-hitting boxing as he easily outpointed Dan Hodge of Wichita, Kansas at Jimmy's Bronx Cafe. Wills sent Hodge crashing to the canvas with single punch knockdowns in the third and fourth rounds and was never troubled on his way to a unanimous decision victory, 58-54, 60-52, 59-53. It was a performance that left no doubt in regards to Wills being a future contender for the federation's World Championship, a performance that showed noteable improvement over his Atlantic City debut five weeks ago. The #1 seed in the Heavyweight Boxing Federation's U.S. Atlantic Coast Boxing League, Wills landed 194 punches to 73 and made quite an impression with his ring entrance. Wills, all decked out in black, made his way to the ring accompanied by the Janet Jackson tune "Black Cat". Indeed, ever since his first ring appearance in New Jersey last month, a number of boxing observers have compared Wills to a panther in the way he moves around the ring. In the moments before tonight's bout, he appeared like a caged animal ready to explode. Unable to mask his excitement and joy in the moments after the bout, Wills boasted that he feels ready to take on any of the top seeds in the federation's World Championship and 1st Defense tournaments. "I know I've just started out with this thing, but they ain't so different from me. I'd just love to mix it up with some of those guys," said the 22 year-old. "Johnson, Bowe ... hell, even that big bear Sonny Liston! I'd just love that. But, with the way the rules are, I ain't gonna get that chance for at least a couple o' years, yet." Wills wiped sweat from his bald pate with a towel. "You'll see, baby," he continued. "Once all these tournaments are done and buried, Harry Wills gonna unload a worrrrrld o' hurt on these guys. I really just can't wait, I tell ya." It's obvious that one of the things Wills possesses in abundance is confidence. That attitude will surely prove to be of some benefit as he continues through the Atlantic League's initial tournament. But if Wills wasn't already confident enough before arriving at Jimmy's Bronx Cafe tonight, then without a doubt the performance on the undercard of the League's #2 seed and hometown favourite Bob Pastor would have done the trick. In the Co-Feature, Pastor was floored in the third round and outboxed in the fifth before eeking out a split decision victory over San Francisco's Bruce Crickett, 58-57, 56-57, 57-56... THE ATLANTIC COAST BOXING LEAGUE UNDERCARD Five weeks ago, the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City hosted the first fight card of the U.S. Atlantic Coast Boxing League. That night got off to an unusual start, with the first three bouts all being draws. Tonight's event almost started with a trio of a different kind. The evening opened with a spirited contest between the #6 and #7 seeds, New York's Joe Alexander and the 23 year-old slugger from New Jersey, Jack O'Halloran. Alexander had the better of it during the opening half of the bout, but O'Halloran fought back strongly and had landed more punches by the time the final bell sounded. But Alexander had done just enough in the early rounds and took a split decision victory, 58-57, 57-58, 58-57. This was followed by two contests that would have to be considered upsets, as the 4th and 5th seeds (Ernie Schaaf of Massachusetts and New York's Tim Carlisle) were both outpointed by lower seeds. Carlisle's defeat came first, with the hard-working Kansas native Randy Baez (8th seed) gutsing it out for a unanimous decision victory, 58-57, 58-56(x2). Baez had been one of the six fighters involved in drawn bouts on the League's opening night, but most watching had believed he should have been awarded a victory in his bout with Ernie Schaaf. Tonight, his relief and jubilation was there for all to see when the verdict was announced. Undefeated at 1-0-1, Baez has a great chance of qualifying for the tournament's semi-finals. If Carlisle's loss was a surprise, the result of the next bout was even more so. In a fantastic contest, the #4 seed Ernie Schaaf struggled early (tasting the canvas in the opening round) before making a furious, late comeback. But it was not enough to prevent the League's 12th and last seed Sonny Banks of Detroit taking a unanimous decision, 58-55, 57-56(x2). Having put up a brave showing against the #1 seed Harry Wills on debut, tonight's performance and result was a triumph for Banks ... and an absolute disaster for Schaaf. Being the 4th seed in the League, Schaaf is expected to qualify for the tournament semi-finals. But with his record a disappointing 0-1-1 after bouts with the #8 and #12 seeds, that looks like being a very difficult task indeed. So if O'Halloran had beaten Alexander in the night's first bout, it would have been a hattrick of victories for the lower seeded fighters. In the evening's fourth bout, 3rd seed Clarence Burman of Baltimore did what Schaaf and Carlisle could not, pitching a six round shutout against Ray Impelletiere of Cold Springs, New York. The scorecards all read 60-53 to Burman. SUMMARY OF RESULTS HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING FEDERATION FIGHT CARD TUESDAY 12 MARCH 2002 JIMMY'S BRONX CAFE, BRONX, NEW YORK USA THE U.S. ATLANTIC COAST BOXING LEAGUE OPENING BOUT (6) Joe Alexander SD6 (7) Jack O'Halloran PRELIMINARY 1 (8) Randy Baez UD6 (5) Tim Carlisle PRELIMINARY 2 (12) Sonny Banks UD6 (4) Ernie Schaaf SUPPORT BOUT (3) Clarence Burman UD6 (11) Ray Impelletiere CO-FEATURE (2) Bob Pastor SD6 (10) Bruce Crickett MAIN EVENT (1) Harry Wills UD6 (9) Dan Hodge __________________ The Heavyweight Boxing Federation The Heavyweight Boxing Federation: Tournament Group Standings The International Boxing League MLB: 1958 and Beyond...