[mikehoudini]

Keith McKnight (7-2 4) vs. James Beattie (3-1 3) – This was truly a Battle of the Titians! The Fighting Knight stood 6’6” and weighed 230, but had to look up at Beattie, who stood 6’8” and weighed 240! Rarely had two men this tall squared off. Often, two men with more girth met, particularly if the fight included Butterbean or Danny Wofford.

Both came in with impressive power credentials, and neither had been knocked off his feet! McKnight had 16 knockdowns in his 9 fights, while Beattie had 5 in 4 fights. The 1st round was low-scoring, 7-6 in favor of McKnight, but indicative of how the fight would go. Beattie landed a savage combination, then reeled back from what appeared to be an intentional head butt, his eye swelling! Nothing was done by the referee, and the action continued, but Beattie’s corner was dismayed. McKnight took advantage of the loss of focus, and hammered home a savage hook.

The 2nd round was a dull 7-2 affair, won by Beattie, as both men stalked and moved and threw punches, most of which didn’t land. The action began to heat up in the 3rd, as Beattie smashed a nice uppercut home, and Keith came back with a booming hook. McKnight arguably won this close 9-8 round, but he clinched a lot, which could affect the judges’ scoring.

The 4th was a donnybrook! McKnight started with a vicious uppercut, followed by a series of hooks, two of which hurt Beattie! Beattie’s eye was swelling even worse, but he nailed Keith with an uppercut on the button, as well as 10 jabs. McKnight scored more points, 18-15, in what was a wild round!

The 5th was all-McKnight, 19-3, as he socked James with a jolting uppercut to start the round, then belted away with 16 good hooks, and landed another sweet uppercut as Beattie’s eye was now a mess.

Tired, James came back in the 6th. McKnight was warned for holding & hitting, then had a point deducted for a head butt that never occurred, according to most observers. He was finding the range with a series of crosses and uppercuts, piling up points, but Beattie rallied, launching a sonic hook that floored McKnight! On the canvas for the first time in his career, he bounded up at the count of 4, a little bewildered. Fortunately for him, Beattie was tired and couldn’t land the big follow-up blow, and the points for the round were 12-11, Beattie!

Both men took the 7th off to rest and regroup, McKnight getting one nice combo in for a 6-4 points advantage. They traded power punches in the 8th, Beattie starting with a combination, Keith answering with one of his own, then Beattie with yet another! McKnight got a searing left in, and the round ended, the points 15-12, Keith! I had McKnight ahead at this stage of the war, the only question being how far ahead, as some of the rounds were very close! At least Beattie’s eye was no worse! The fight crowd were on their feet cheering this exciting contest.

Beattie came out blasting in the 9th, connecting on 10 uppercuts, a ramrod jab and a solid right, winning, 13-2, as McKnight could barely land a blow. Fighting desperately, with a savage fury, Beattie beat McKnight to the punch in the 10th, nailing him flush with an uppercut, then firing off a five punch combination that sent Keith back to the canvas. Unused to being knocked down, McKnight was back up at the count of 2, and caught another searing combination before he could adequately cover up! The round ended with Beattie scoring far more points, 19-2, and feeling jubilant in his comeback!

The color commentator, Jim Trunzo, had McKnight the winner, 95-94, while I had Beattie as the Man, 96-95. Keith had connected on 201 punches, Beattie on 190, including the 2 knockdowns, but this was close in any case, so we went to the only persons whose scoring mattered, the judges! They had it 94-94, 95-93 Beattie & 94-94, a majority draw! So this battle was done but the warriors would fight once again (at least) to see who’d win the war!