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kenyan_cheena · 05-22-2009, 06:38 AM

The New York Age

SATURDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER, 2006

TOP SEEDS TO SQUARE OFF
FOR IBL WELTERWEIGHT TITLE

Story by James Reynolds

Mexico's Enrique Diaz and Virgin Islands-born New Yorker Emile Griffith became the first fighters to book a place in an IBL world title fight last night, both scoring 12-round decision victories in semi-final bouts at Mexico City's Arena Coliseo. Appearing in the main event Diaz overcame a mighty challenge from Cleveland native Marvyn Rollins before taking a unanimous verdict by scores of 116-112 and 115-113 (twice). Rollins had come within a whisker of dethroning WBA junior-welterweight champion Eddie Perkins in April before scoring a split decision win over Ike Quartey in both men's first IBL bout in June. Some observers believed that a third big fight in the space of five months would be too much for him to handle and, when one looks at the final result, that appears to be true. But through the first seven rounds Rollins was very much in the fight and trailed by just a single point on all three cards.

But Enrique Diaz is nothing if not a determined customer and he effectively ended Rollins' quest to be crowned the league's first welterweight world champion by dominating rounds eight, nine and ten. The former WBO title holder looked fantastic in decimating Roger Menetrey in the quarters and last night he was similarly impressive, but for different reasons. He fought on the outside for much of the contest, putting on a brilliant display of counter punching against the more aggressive Rollins. Even when Rollins became desperate in the final rounds and went all out for a stoppage Diaz never lost his composure. He outlanded Rollins by a considerable margin, connecting with 314 of 860 punches (36.5%) while the Ohio slugger landed 228 of 1,100 (20.7%). Diaz improved to 30-1(22) while Rollins lost for the second time in three fights to fall to 30-3-1(22).

The tournament's #1 seed Emile Griffith scraped through by the skin of his teeth in the co-feature, defeating Germany's Gustav Eder by majority decision (114-113, 114-114, 114-113). Griffith had also won his quarter-final against Phialdelphia's Meldrick Taylor by majority decision but he was much closer to defeat last night than he was back in June. Eder is a fantastic fighter who made the former WBA champ earn his victory the hard way, never backing down and pushing his adversary all the way to the final bell. A number of rounds were very close and therefore difficult to score. As an example the American judge Nathan Palmer gave rounds two through four to Griffith, while Korea's Wan-Soo Yuh scored each of them in Eder's favour. Griffith has been considered the best welterweight in the world for the last couple of years but it would be true to say he has not exactly set the world on fire in his opening two IBL contests. As was the case against Taylor, Griffith was deducted a point last night. It came in the 9th when he hit Eder in the kidneys one time too many. Griffith's record is now 29-1-1(22), Eder falling to 26-2(17).

Based on the performances of Griffith and Diaz through the quarters and semis the Mexican would have to be considered a slight favourite to emerge with the championship. For far too long the 27 year-old has been underrated and unappreciated and if he can lift that championship belt come December 4 it would be a fantastic achievement. He'll give Griffith one of the biggest tests of his career and it should be an outstanding contest.

In the evening's openers Ghana's Ike Quartey and the Puerto Rican Carmelo Barea were both victorious in eight-round world ranking bouts. Both were defeated in the quarters of the world championship tournament and would have been happy to get back in the winner's circle, albeit against opponents who were not quite of the same class. Quartey floored Charley Scott twice on the way to a unanimous decision nod while Barea won by 6th round technical unanimous decision after his contest with Charlie Shipes was halted due to a cut over the Californian's right eye. It had been opened by an accidental headbutt in round four.

***

Results

(#1) Griffith MD12 (#4) Eder
(#2) Diaz UD12 (#6) Rollins

IBL World Welterweight Championship,
Friday 8 December

(#1) Emile Griffith (29-1-1(22)) vs (#2) Enrique Diaz (30-1(22))

***

05-22-2009, 06:38 AM	#361 (permalink)
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 7,598 Thanks: 81 Thanked 143x in 125 posts	*The New York Age* SATURDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER, 2006 TOP SEEDS TO SQUARE OFF FOR IBL WELTERWEIGHT TITLE Story by James Reynolds Mexico's Enrique Diaz and Virgin Islands-born New Yorker Emile Griffith became the first fighters to book a place in an IBL world title fight last night, both scoring 12-round decision victories in semi-final bouts at Mexico City's Arena Coliseo. Appearing in the main event Diaz overcame a mighty challenge from Cleveland native Marvyn Rollins before taking a unanimous verdict by scores of 116-112 and 115-113 (twice). Rollins had come within a whisker of dethroning WBA junior-welterweight champion Eddie Perkins in April before scoring a split decision win over Ike Quartey in both men's first IBL bout in June. Some observers believed that a third big fight in the space of five months would be too much for him to handle and, when one looks at the final result, that appears to be true. But through the first seven rounds Rollins was very much in the fight and trailed by just a single point on all three cards. But Enrique Diaz is nothing if not a determined customer and he effectively ended Rollins' quest to be crowned the league's first welterweight world champion by dominating rounds eight, nine and ten. The former WBO title holder looked fantastic in decimating Roger Menetrey in the quarters and last night he was similarly impressive, but for different reasons. He fought on the outside for much of the contest, putting on a brilliant display of counter punching against the more aggressive Rollins. Even when Rollins became desperate in the final rounds and went all out for a stoppage Diaz never lost his composure. He outlanded Rollins by a considerable margin, connecting with 314 of 860 punches (36.5%) while the Ohio slugger landed 228 of 1,100 (20.7%). Diaz improved to 30-1(22) while Rollins lost for the second time in three fights to fall to 30-3-1(22). The tournament's #1 seed Emile Griffith scraped through by the skin of his teeth in the co-feature, defeating Germany's Gustav Eder by majority decision (114-113, 114-114, 114-113). Griffith had also won his quarter-final against Phialdelphia's Meldrick Taylor by majority decision but he was much closer to defeat last night than he was back in June. Eder is a fantastic fighter who made the former WBA champ earn his victory the hard way, never backing down and pushing his adversary all the way to the final bell. A number of rounds were very close and therefore difficult to score. As an example the American judge Nathan Palmer gave rounds two through four to Griffith, while Korea's Wan-Soo Yuh scored each of them in Eder's favour. Griffith has been considered the best welterweight in the world for the last couple of years but it would be true to say he has not exactly set the world on fire in his opening two IBL contests. As was the case against Taylor, Griffith was deducted a point last night. It came in the 9th when he hit Eder in the kidneys one time too many. Griffith's record is now 29-1-1(22), Eder falling to 26-2(17). Based on the performances of Griffith and Diaz through the quarters and semis the Mexican would have to be considered a slight favourite to emerge with the championship. For far too long the 27 year-old has been underrated and unappreciated and if he can lift that championship belt come December 4 it would be a fantastic achievement. He'll give Griffith one of the biggest tests of his career and it should be an outstanding contest. In the evening's openers Ghana's Ike Quartey and the Puerto Rican Carmelo Barea were both victorious in eight-round world ranking bouts. Both were defeated in the quarters of the world championship tournament and would have been happy to get back in the winner's circle, albeit against opponents who were not quite of the same class. Quartey floored Charley Scott twice on the way to a unanimous decision nod while Barea won by 6th round technical unanimous decision after his contest with Charlie Shipes was halted due to a cut over the Californian's right eye. It had been opened by an accidental headbutt in round four. * Results** (#1) Griffith MD12 (#4) Eder (#2) Diaz UD12 (#6) Rollins IBL World Welterweight Championship, Friday 8 December (#1) Emile Griffith (29-1-1(22)) vs (#2) Enrique Diaz (30-1(22)) * __________________ The Greatest Prize in Sports (a TBCB Dynasty) The Greatest Prize in Sports: Almanac kenyan_cheena's NBA 2K11 Off Topic Dynasty Major League Baseball: 1990 and Beyond... (an OOTP11 Dynasty)** Last edited by kenyan_cheena; 05-27-2009 at 09:13 AM.