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kenyan_cheena · 02-24-2007, 05:29 PM

WILLS AND PASTOR BOTH UNDEFEATED
GOING INTO SEMI-FINALS

Tuesday 25 June 2002

The top two seeds in the HBF's Atlantic Coast Boxing League will take identical 4-0-1 records into the tournament semi-finals following victories at Buffalo's HSBC Arena this evening.

New Orleans native Harry Wills and New York's Bob Pastor (#1 and #2, respectively) remained on track for a showdown in the tournament final with Wills sending Randy Baez to the canvas midway through the opening round before more or less cruising the rest of the way for a 60-55, 59-56, 60-55 unanimous decision victory.

"Wasn't no logic in goin' all-out tonight," said Wills afterwards. "I already had top spot in the group after the last fight, so I was happy just doin' enough to win."

Wills may have only been, by his own conclusion, at "about 75%", but that didn't stop him from landing more than twice as many punches as his opponent (146 to 64). One must wonder what he would have produced if he had put in 100%.

#2 seed Pastor found a bit more resistance in his opposition, New Jersey's Jack O'Halloran giving him a good workout throughout their bout. Pastor was awarded a 58-56, 59-56, 58-57 unanimous decision verdict and wore the signs of a tough contest, sporting a cut under his left eye.

Unlike Wills, Pastor was in a position where a victory (or at least a draw) was needed to insure he finished on top of Group B. This was because his fellow New Yorker and #6 seed Joe Alexander had scored something of an upset victory in the evening's previous bout when he took a split decision victory over #3 seed Clarence Burman. In doing so, the undefeated Alexander secured a top two finish in the group and a semi-final spot.

In a dramatic, action-packed and somewhat controversial contest Alexander swept the last three rounds on two of the judge's cards to take a 58-56, 56-58, 58-56 verdict and improve his record to 3-0-2. His Baltimore-born opponent had held a 3-0 record back in April but lost to Pastor last month and saw his chances of winning the tournament disappear due to what he felt was a poor judging performance.

"I really can't see how they could give each of those last three rounds to him," said a dejected Burman. "To me, it felt like the fourth and fifth were pretty even, if anything I was better in the fourth. But I'll conceed that he was better in the final round."

A drawn result would have sent Burman into the tournament semi-finals with a 3-1-1 record, compared to what would have been 2-0-3 for Alexander. Burman will no doubt be given a birth in the HBF's Qualifying League, but that will be small consolation compared to the chance of a spot in the World Ranking tournament.

"This puts me back about a year," he said, shaking his head. "This one result adds a year to the time it'll take for me to get where I want to be."

(to be continued)

02-24-2007, 05:29 PM	#1029 (permalink)
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 4,316	WILLS AND PASTOR BOTH UNDEFEATED GOING INTO SEMI-FINALS Tuesday 25 June 2002 The top two seeds in the HBF's Atlantic Coast Boxing League will take identical 4-0-1 records into the tournament semi-finals following victories at Buffalo's HSBC Arena this evening. New Orleans native Harry Wills and New York's Bob Pastor (#1 and #2, respectively) remained on track for a showdown in the tournament final with Wills sending Randy Baez to the canvas midway through the opening round before more or less cruising the rest of the way for a 60-55, 59-56, 60-55 unanimous decision victory. "Wasn't no logic in goin' all-out tonight," said Wills afterwards. "I already had top spot in the group after the last fight, so I was happy just doin' enough to win." Wills may have only been, by his own conclusion, at "about 75%", but that didn't stop him from landing more than twice as many punches as his opponent (146 to 64). One must wonder what he would have produced if he had put in 100%. #2 seed Pastor found a bit more resistance in his opposition, New Jersey's Jack O'Halloran giving him a good workout throughout their bout. Pastor was awarded a 58-56, 59-56, 58-57 unanimous decision verdict and wore the signs of a tough contest, sporting a cut under his left eye. Unlike Wills, Pastor was in a position where a victory (or at least a draw) was needed to insure he finished on top of Group B. This was because his fellow New Yorker and #6 seed Joe Alexander had scored something of an upset victory in the evening's previous bout when he took a split decision victory over #3 seed Clarence Burman. In doing so, the undefeated Alexander secured a top two finish in the group and a semi-final spot. In a dramatic, action-packed and somewhat controversial contest Alexander swept the last three rounds on two of the judge's cards to take a 58-56, 56-58, 58-56 verdict and improve his record to 3-0-2. His Baltimore-born opponent had held a 3-0 record back in April but lost to Pastor last month and saw his chances of winning the tournament disappear due to what he felt was a poor judging performance. "I really can't see how they could give each of those last three rounds to him," said a dejected Burman. "To me, it felt like the fourth and fifth were pretty even, if anything I was better in the fourth. But I'll conceed that he was better in the final round." A drawn result would have sent Burman into the tournament semi-finals with a 3-1-1 record, compared to what would have been 2-0-3 for Alexander. Burman will no doubt be given a birth in the HBF's Qualifying League, but that will be small consolation compared to the chance of a spot in the World Ranking tournament. "This puts me back about a year," he said, shaking his head. "This one result adds a year to the time it'll take for me to get where I want to be." (to be continued) __________________ The Heavyweight Boxing Federation The Heavyweight Boxing Federation: Tournament Group Standings The International Boxing League MLB: 1958 and Beyond...