[mikehoudini]

The McKnight-Beattie rematch closed out the night, and it started off with a bang, as there was no need for any feeling the other fighter out! They traded punches in the 1st, Keith with 12 hooks, James with 11 uppercuts. Beattie connected as well on a smashing uppercut and bone-jarring hook, and finished the round ahead 23-10 on the strength of a sweet combination that floored Keith for a 7 count, similar to the one that’d decked him in Round 10 of their draw! Keith also suffered a cut above his right eyebrow, and the fight was halted temporarily. Beattie had been on the losing end in the 1st round of their prior battle with a swollen eye. Would this cut play a role as the fight unfurled?

Holding his hands low to begin the 2nd, Keith threw a bunch of uppercuts, some of which got through, and a right that dazed Beattie. James came back in the last 30 seconds, but McKnight outpointed him 11-6. The 3rd was a huge round for McKnight, as he was protecting his cut by pummeling Beattie. He landed a gonzo cross as the round started, then found the range with hook after hook, 14 in all, one that had Beattie clutching the ropes for support in a 19-0 round!

Continuing his onslaught in the 4th, Keith went to his uppercut, banging 11 of them home along with a ripping combination, and he took this round easily, 14-5. His punching in the last 3 rounds clearly gave him the momentum!

But momentum is a fickle thing, and Beattie caught him flush on the jaw with an uppercut to open the 5th, then swarmed all over him with 12 crosses and two damaging hooks, good for a 20-4 momentum-breaking round! McKnight was covering up at the end of the round to escape further punishment! I had the fight even at the halfway point!

McKnight landed the first big blow in the 6th, a rocking right, but Beattie answered with another of his big combinations. He then walloped Keith with a hook, and Keith’s cut was reopened and checked by the doctor. The cut deemed not sufficient to stop the bout, McKnight felt a sense of urgency and plastered Beattie with a hook, and Big Jim tasted the canvas for the first time in his career! He waited and arose at the 8 count, and parried McKnight’s bombs for the remainder of the round, losing, 13-8.

Keith hammered a sweet combination home to start the 7th, but Beattie again responded after blocking the next few attempts, delivering a wake-up hook! Big Jim connected on a signature uppercut, and then stunned Keith with a huge right! McKnight might have gone down then, but caught a major break, as Beattie winced after connecting on another punch, and he appeared to have hurt his left hand! Beattie outscored Keith for the round, 20-8, but how bad was that hand?

The pace couldn’t continue, and it didn’t, as both warriors tried to catch their breath in the 8th. Beattie got a huge uppercut in just before the bell sounded to take the round, 11-6! I had the fight very close, maybe even even, at this juncture.

McKnight’s right eye was now swelling as they came out for the 9th, and soon he was bleeding, as his mouth was cut by a vicious head, body, head combination. He connected with a few punches, then Beattie threw a laser straight right that staggered Keith for a moment, and then the cut over his eye reopened. Beattie was ahead, 15-5, and this time the doctor stopped the fight, so Beattie was declared the winner by a TKO at 1:46 of the 9th!

It was a spectacular fight, the momentum shifting, much as their first brawl, and neither man deserved to lose! McKnight landed more punches, 218 to 189, using hooks and uppercuts for half his blows. Beattie landed more power punches, and it was a shame that this fight couldn’t have continued on without a cuts stoppage!

After warring for 19 rounds, both fighters praised each other, and they hugged, too drained to retain any animosity. When asked if he’d grant McKnight a rematch, Beattie replied “Certainly, but I’m no idiot. It won’t be for a while, as he took me to my limit! I want to finish this challenge set, and it wouldn’t be sporting to take him on until his cuts have healed. He’s a great fighter, and I’m in no hurry for another war right now!” The fans went home happy after their two wars, and McKnight can take pride in a great performance!