|
WWBU Monthly,
Volume 9, January 1903
Another month full of action in the WWBU ranks as fighters jockeyed for position in the rankings and anticipation built for the Heavyweight title fight that will be taking place as you read this edition. Jaime Garza and Ricardo Cardona was the biggest fight on the offing, with the Featherweight division still someway from having an active WWBU world title the loser may still figure into the initial title tournament picture. Also in an previously unheralded event on the 22nd of December, Middleweight Charley Burley won his 15th fight to become the eighth ranked fighter in the division. The WWBU announced the next day that the top four fighters would face off in eliminators in February 1903 to determine who will fight for the Middleweight crown.
December In Review
The month’s biggest attraction was in the Featherweight division with a long anticipated fight between Jaime Garza (#1, 18-1-1) and Ricardo Cardona (#3, 16-2-1) saw Garza once again stop a skilful opponent. Garza started the fight well swarming Cardona in the first round and landing with some hard right and left hands. By the half way mark of the round the momentum shifted and Cardona visibly seemed to work out Garza’s style, managing to stylishly jab and thrust his way through Garza’s porous defence. The opening of the second stanza looked to be a continuation, with Cardona successfully avoiding Garza’s hard salvos while landing his own counter punches. But it only takes one opening for a murderous puncher like Garza to win, and when that opening came he took the opportunity and landed a full force left hook that left Cardona prone for the full measure.
An important crossroads fight was on the offing as the highest profile Heavyweight action of the month with Kevin Isaacs (#4, 20-9-0) fighting the perennially frustrated Audley Harrison (#5, 22-5-0). Through the first third of the bout Harrison boxed intelligently and patiently, waiting for opportunities to use his height, weight and reach advantages to their fullest. The fifth round saw Harrison start to throw the leather with abandon as he had Issaacs hurt several times during the round. Harrison continued on at the start of the sixth, but sensing the bout slip through his fingers Isaacs fought back hard and even took the round on some cards, the first he arguably took for the fight. The seventh round was uneventful, but the eighth saw Issacs land a thunderous right on the bell to end the round that had Harrison in some trouble. Issacs had spent all his credit and Harrison took over in the last four rounds, Issacs doing all he could to just avoid going to the canvas. The judges had the bout 116-112 (x2) and 117-112 all for Harrison the winner by unanimous decision.
In other action, important eliminator took place, with the Middleweight title soon to be become active, Rocky Mosley Jr (#4, 17-3-2) completely outboxed and outfoxed his less experienced, only sometimes explosive Daniel Santos (#7, 15-3-0), who has failed in both attempts to move into the top 4 in the Middleweight division. Welterweight star Felix Trinidad (#1, 21-1-0) had a brief struggle with Danny Carswell (0-1-1) before stopping in the fourth round. LW kingpin George Lavigne (21-1-1) took his time figuring out Johnny Irving (1-6-0) before finishing him off with a devastating sixth round attack that had the young fighter all but out against the ropes before the referee stepped in. FLY #1 Little Dado (20-1-0) took on Richard Frame (1-2-0) to stay in ring shape, after a somewhat cautious start, Dado opened up in the second stanza forcing the referee to step in to save Frame. Top Bantamweight Jiro Watanabe (#1, 18-1-0) put Chris Knighton (1-1-0) down in the first round and the bout was never really in doubt after that. LHW contender Jacob Mofokeng (#4, 16-2-0) struggled to defeat the dogged Albert Cauley (2-5-1).
Other Results of Note
HW Rex Layne #7 16-5-0 UD12 Tom Kennedy #8 15-7-0
MW Charley Burley 15-0-0 UD10 Alex Hilton 13-7-0
WW Sharmba Mitchell 15-0-0 MD10 Fritzie Zivic 12-2-0
Current Rankings and Analysis
Heavyweight Division
Champ – Vacant
1. Frankie Daniels
2. Greg Page
3. Alfio Righetti
4. Audley Harrison
5. Kevin Isaac
6. Jimmy Clark
7. Rex Layne
8. Tom Kennedy
9. Denver Ed Martin
Harrison takes #4 ranking after defeating Issac who slips to #4. Martin joins ranings at number 9.
Light Heavyweight Division
Champ – Vacant
1. Michael Bennett
2. Victor Robledo
3. Leslie Stewart
4. Jacob Mofokeng
No Change
Middleweight Division
Champ – Vacant
1. Mike O’Dowd
2. George Abrams
3. Eric Lucas
4. Rocky Mosley Jr.
5. Vergil Cooper
6. Robin Reid
7. Daniel Santos
8. Charley Burley
Burley joins rankings at number 8. Eliminators set for World title, O’Dowd versus Mosley Jr. and Abrams to take on Lucas.
Welterweight Division
Champ – Vacant
1. Felix Trinidad
2. Packy McFarland
3. Reuben Shank
4. Billy Backus
5. Sharmba Mitchell
Mitchell joins the rankings at number 5.
Lightweight Division
Champ – Vacant
1. George Lavigne
2. Jack McAuliffe
No Change
Featherweight Division
Champ – Vacant
1. Jaime Garza
2. Vuyani Bungu
3. Ricardo Cardona
No Change
Bantamweight Division
Champ – Vacant
1. Jiro Watanabe
2. Felix Friedemann
3. Ruben Olivares
No Change
Flyweight Division
Champ – Vacant
1. Little Dado
2. Rosendo Alvarez
No Change
|