|
21st - Atlantic City, NJ
Larry Holmes...beware!!! North American and United States heavyweight champ Evander Holyfield showed everyone he is the 'Real Deal' here at the Boardwalk Hall, making short work of challenger James 'Bonecrusher' Smith. It took Holyfield just two minutes and fifty two seconds to dispose of the South Carolina native, dropping him immediatley after the opening bell from a hurtful shot to the solar plexus. Smith was up at eight, but clearly winded.
Holyfield's KO instinct kicked in, and he was all over his stricken foe like a rash, landing blow after blow before the referee mercifully called a halt.
Holyfield improves his pro ledger to 14-4 [11], with a world title shot just round the corner...surely.
Smith dips to 12-11 [5], and just a few fights ago challenged Larry Holmes for the world title [LTKO9], but his better days are now probably behind him.
In a tepid but intriguing chief support, middleweight Frank Tate outpointed former North American champ James Toney over ten. The bout was pretty even for the first five rounds but then Toney appeared to flag with Tate peppering him with jabs and building up the points. Toney came out for a final hurrah in the last, but it was too late and the decision went unanim ously to Tate with scores of 97-94 twice, and 98-93. Tate improves to 10-6-3 [1], while Toney slips to 8-3 [4].
In a light-heavyweight quarter-final match-up, scheduled for ten, local favourite Bobby 'Chappie' Czyz dropped a wide ten round decision to Marvin Johnson but impressed all with his gutsiness.
Scores were 100-90, and 99-91 twice. Both men finished looking a mess, with Czyz' eyes badly swollen and Johnson with a bloody orb. Czyz ate leather all night, but toughed it out. The winner improves to 2-0 [1], and advances to the semi-final. Czyz is now 1-1.
Other Results:
WW: Buddy McGirt W8 Calvin Green
HW: Greg Page W8 Michael Dokes
LW: Freddy Cruz W6 Lee Cargle
|