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HOLMES TOO MUCH FOR BRAVE TUBBS
Philadelphia, PA. Larry Holmes, cheered on by his fans from nearby Easton, was just too much for the outgunned Tony 'TNT' Tubbs. Tubbs showed the heart of a lion by going the distance, but won only the third and fourth rounds, Holmes taking the rest, in a big way. Holmes utilised his stiff left jab, usually following it with a cross, and Tubbs didn't have an answer all night. By the third round, Tubbs' left eye had began to swell, and he was dropped in the fifth by a short, clean hook. By now Tubbs had begun to carry his hands low. Holmes dropped Tubbs in the ninth and tenth rounds, and Tubbs finished the bout with left and right eye swollen, and a gash over his left eye to boot. The scores were 98-89 on all judges cards.
Philadelphia's favourite boxing son, 'Terrible' Tim Witherspoon, put on a dominant display against Derek Banks, winning every round before KO'ing his opponent in the seventh round. The crowd were wild throughout the bout.
James 'Buster' Douglas scored a knockout victory over an out of shape Gerrie Coetzee, who looked as if he wanted to be anywhere but in the ring. Douglas put on some neat boxing skills in the opening round, then started landing some heavier bombs in the second, landing an overhand right that put Coetzee down on his knee for the count. He looked as though he could have beaten the count, but decided to stay there. It was at the 2.00 mark.
Pinklon 'Pinky' Thomas was back on the winning trail with a third round KO of Gary Winmon. Thomas put Winmon down in the second, then put him away in the third when he walked onto a left hook.
Derek Banks and Anthony 'Big Hand' Willis fought each other again, and fought to another draw over eight rounds. The scores were 78-75 Willis, 77-76 Banks, and 76-76 even.
After sharing a round apiece in the opening two rounds, Lennox Lewis came out in the third and backed Mike 'Hercules' Weaver into a corner before unleashing a devastating cross which knocked out his opponent at the 0.31 mark. It was a good return to the ring for Lewis, whilst Weaver is now winless in his last six, and looks to be going nowhere.
After the card had finished, GBA COmmisioner Ian 'Iggy' Lord climbed into the ring, and shook hands with Larry Holmes and Tony Tubbs. He then made an announcement.
"I know that most of you have heard about the formation of the GBA's middleweight division," he said. "Well the first sixteen fighters have been finalised, and the contracts have been signed. I would now appreciate it if you all remain quiet while I read the boxers names out, in order of seedings.
1. Mike McCallum
2. Marvin Hagler
3. Bernard Hopkins
4. James Toney
5. Maurice Hope
6. Ayub Kalule
7. Gerald McClellan
8. Davey Moore
9. Frank Tate
10.Iran Barkley
11.Alan Minter
12.Vito Antuofermo
13.Keith Holmes
14.Tadashi Mihara
15.Shinji Takehara
16.John David Jackson
A loud round of applause was heard when Philadelphia's Bernard Hopkins was called out, who was sat in the front row.
" The tournament to crown the middleweight champion shall begin next month, along the same lines as the heavyweight tournament, and I'd now just like to wish you all a Merry Christmas."
With that Lord left the ring.
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