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Jack Robby · 01-01-2004, 10:54 AM

THE SCENARIO: Two big nontitle fights help to further promote the middleweight division. Charley Burley goes to Miami Beach to take on local star Jose Basora on February 28, 1942, while Holman Williams travels across country to Madison Square Garden to fight Jake LaMotta on March 15. Burley is scheduled to meet Archie Moore for the title in June while Holman and LaMotta are each hoping a victory here will earn them a shot at the winner. Both nontitle bouts are scheduled for 10 rounds.

THE FIGHTS:

Burley v. Basora

Basora comes out swinging but his punches lack steam. Burley outboxes him and lands the harder punches. Basora tries to move more in the second, but Burley continues to outscore him at long range. The action slows down even more in the third, although Burley still has the edge. Basora tries to fight inside in the fourth, but once again Burley has too much speed and power and huts Jose with a hard right.

In the fifth, Burley hangs back and motions for Basora to come to him. Basora obliges him and lands a hard right to the jaw. Burley fights back, spinning Basora into the corner and landing several hard rights of his own. Basora makes his way back to ring center and tries to box Burley. Burley lands a hard uppercut, but instead of hurting Basora it seems to wake him up. He lands a crushing right to the Burley’s jaw, then follows up with a series of punches that has Burley holding on. For the first time in the fight, Burley is in trouble when the round ends.

Burley tries to keep Basora at a distance in the sixth, and while Basora succeeds in bulling the former-champion to the ropes repeatedly, it is Burley who scores with solid counterpunches. Burley stalks his tiring opponent to start the seventh round and scores with several solid punches, but Basora rallies late in the round, stunning Burley with a sharp job following by a hard uppercut to the jaw. Basora opens up in the eighth, realizing he is behind on points, but that simply leaves him vulnerable to Burley’s sharp counterpunches which rock Basora repeatedly.

Basora fights more cautiously in the ninth as Burley lands good punches early but Basora fights back with effective blows near the end. Burley boxes defensively in the tenth and final round and Basora seems content to let the fight come to a peaceful end.

The judge and one referee score it for Burley 48-42, while the other judge makes it unanimous for Burley, 47-43.

LaMotta v. Williams (elimination bout)

FOR TBCB GAME PURPOSES: LaMotta is pre-prime, Williams is in his prime.

Williams outboxes LaMotta in the first. Williams boxes defensively in the second and LaMotta is more effectively aggressive. Williams demonstrates brilliant defense in the third, lands just often enough to carry the round. Williams shows more offense in the fourth, outscoring LaMotta by a wide margin. Goldstein penalizes LaMotta for low blows, but it is Williams’ round in any event.

Williams outboxes LaMotta by a wide margin in round five as well. Williams even outfights LaMotta inside in the 6th. LaMotta really opens up in the seventh, but Williams is nonplussed and gives at least as good as he takes.

LaMotta keeps charging in the eighth, but Williams counters effectively. Williams takes a breather in the ninth, but still holds his own against LaMotta, who is vainly trying for a KO. Williams seems to think he has it won as he simply protects himself in the tenth, while LaMotta seems resigned and simply boxes evenly through the final bell.

The referee and both judges score the fight for Williams, 8 round to 2.

THE AFTERMATH: Both Burley and Holman demonstrate great ring mastery but neither bout is terribly exciting. Moore begins to worry that he will be at serious risk of losing his title to either man without drawing enough of a gate to generate the size of purse that would justify the risk. He talks about backing out of his fight with Burley in Pittsburgh and instead wants to face LaMotta, either in New York or Detroit. Burley screams foul and accuses Moore of backing out on his promise to face the top contender regardless of race. Moore says the only color he cares about is green and he thinks he can get more of it by facing LaMotta than either Burley or Williams.

01-01-2004, 10:54 AM	#6 (permalink)
Jack Robby Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 20	THE SCENARIO: Two big nontitle fights help to further promote the middleweight division. Charley Burley goes to Miami Beach to take on local star Jose Basora on February 28, 1942, while Holman Williams travels across country to Madison Square Garden to fight Jake LaMotta on March 15. Burley is scheduled to meet Archie Moore for the title in June while Holman and LaMotta are each hoping a victory here will earn them a shot at the winner. Both nontitle bouts are scheduled for 10 rounds. THE FIGHTS: Burley v. Basora Basora comes out swinging but his punches lack steam. Burley outboxes him and lands the harder punches. Basora tries to move more in the second, but Burley continues to outscore him at long range. The action slows down even more in the third, although Burley still has the edge. Basora tries to fight inside in the fourth, but once again Burley has too much speed and power and huts Jose with a hard right. In the fifth, Burley hangs back and motions for Basora to come to him. Basora obliges him and lands a hard right to the jaw. Burley fights back, spinning Basora into the corner and landing several hard rights of his own. Basora makes his way back to ring center and tries to box Burley. Burley lands a hard uppercut, but instead of hurting Basora it seems to wake him up. He lands a crushing right to the Burley’s jaw, then follows up with a series of punches that has Burley holding on. For the first time in the fight, Burley is in trouble when the round ends. Burley tries to keep Basora at a distance in the sixth, and while Basora succeeds in bulling the former-champion to the ropes repeatedly, it is Burley who scores with solid counterpunches. Burley stalks his tiring opponent to start the seventh round and scores with several solid punches, but Basora rallies late in the round, stunning Burley with a sharp job following by a hard uppercut to the jaw. Basora opens up in the eighth, realizing he is behind on points, but that simply leaves him vulnerable to Burley’s sharp counterpunches which rock Basora repeatedly. Basora fights more cautiously in the ninth as Burley lands good punches early but Basora fights back with effective blows near the end. Burley boxes defensively in the tenth and final round and Basora seems content to let the fight come to a peaceful end. The judge and one referee score it for Burley 48-42, while the other judge makes it unanimous for Burley, 47-43. LaMotta v. Williams (elimination bout) FOR TBCB GAME PURPOSES: LaMotta is pre-prime, Williams is in his prime. Williams outboxes LaMotta in the first. Williams boxes defensively in the second and LaMotta is more effectively aggressive. Williams demonstrates brilliant defense in the third, lands just often enough to carry the round. Williams shows more offense in the fourth, outscoring LaMotta by a wide margin. Goldstein penalizes LaMotta for low blows, but it is Williams’ round in any event. Williams outboxes LaMotta by a wide margin in round five as well. Williams even outfights LaMotta inside in the 6th. LaMotta really opens up in the seventh, but Williams is nonplussed and gives at least as good as he takes. LaMotta keeps charging in the eighth, but Williams counters effectively. Williams takes a breather in the ninth, but still holds his own against LaMotta, who is vainly trying for a KO. Williams seems to think he has it won as he simply protects himself in the tenth, while LaMotta seems resigned and simply boxes evenly through the final bell. The referee and both judges score the fight for Williams, 8 round to 2. THE AFTERMATH: Both Burley and Holman demonstrate great ring mastery but neither bout is terribly exciting. Moore begins to worry that he will be at serious risk of losing his title to either man without drawing enough of a gate to generate the size of purse that would justify the risk. He talks about backing out of his fight with Burley in Pittsburgh and instead wants to face LaMotta, either in New York or Detroit. Burley screams foul and accuses Moore of backing out on his promise to face the top contender regardless of race. Moore says the only color he cares about is green and he thinks he can get more of it by facing LaMotta than either Burley or Williams. Last edited by Jack Robby; 01-04-2004 at 05:38 PM.