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17th - London, England
In the main event at the 'Big Smokes' London Arena, reigning Commonwealth heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis, met Ohio's James 'Buster' Douglas, who was coming in off an outstanding knockout victory over Tony Tubbs last month. Lewis, however, hadn't fought since February when he knocked out South Africa's Gerrie Coetzee in a mandatory defense of his title. There was a feeling that he may show a little ring rust. He didn't. He stamped his authority right from the opening bell, dropping Douglas for a count of six. Lewis took the second and third rounds, the third one big.
Douglas came into the fight in the fourth, narrowly taking the round, with Lewis edging the fifth, and a dead heat in the sixth. Lewis regained control in the seventh, winning it comfortably, then came out for the eighth and rattled Douglas at the beginning of the round with a heavy right. Douglas never regained his composure and the end was nigh. He was sent crashing to the canvas from a cross to the head, and was groggily up at eight. Lewis resumed the onslaught, with Douglas trying to cling on for dear life. Lewis, getting frustrated with his opponents clinging tactics, threw him to the canvas. Douglas gained a brief respite, but Lewis was sonn laying into him again, finally putting him away with an unanswered salvo of hurtful punches at the 2.53 mark. It was one of the most one sided rounds in GBA history. Lewis improved to 16-1 [11], and a world title fight is now surely just around the corner, whilst Douglas, who incidentally is the mandatory contender for Larry Holmes' North American title, dropped to 7-5-1 [2].
Chief support saw Scottish lightweight Jim Watt win every round bar the fifth and last in this ten rounder over the previously undefeated Sammy Serrano. Scores were 98-88, 97-91, and 98-90. Watt was the busier of the two and landed the cleaner punches. He also dropped Serrano, 1-1-2, in the seventh round and twice in the ninth. Watt improves to 4-1 [2].
Ugandan lightweight Cornelius Boza-Edwards, after an impressive opening round, was dropped for the count at 2.27 of the second following a crippling bodyshot from Sean O'Grady. O'Grady moves to 4-1 [2], whilst Boza-Edwards suffered his first defeat in a 1-1-3 [1] ledger.
Former world title challenger Tony 'TNT' Tucker came into the ring 20 pounds heavier than his previous bout and looking a bit soft round the middle for his bout against South Africa's Gerrie Coetzee. Many people felt this could affect his performance. It didn't. Tucker came swarming out at the opening bell and was all over Coetzee. Coetzee got a brief respite when he was warned for a low blow, but Tucker was soon back on him again and finished him off at the 1.43 mark following a hook to the head. Tucker improves to 6-9 [3] and says he still has ambitions of fighting for the world title again, and this time winning it. Coetzee dropped to 9-10 [3].
Italy's Vito Antuofermo scored a unanimous eight round decision over Larry Banks, 0-13-1. Scores were 79-72 on all judges cards. Antuofermo was in control from the opening bell and was never in trouble. He improves to 5-5 [3].
Russian lightweight Viktor Baranov won an eight round split decision over Filipino Rolando Navarette. The scores were 77-76 twice to Baranov, and 78-76 Navarette in this opening bout that never really got going. Baranov improves to 2-1 [1], whilst Navarette drops to 2-1-1.
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