[Gunsmoke]

10-12-1903 WWBU HW Title, Alfio Righetti (Champ) v Greg Page
The long awaited meeting between the undefeated defending champion Alfio Righetti and the man who 12 months ago was favoured to win the WWBU Heavyweight Title Tournament Greg Page. In the tournament Page was denied by a flagrant low blow which disqualified him in the eliminator against Frankie Daniels, which saw Daniels go on to fight Righetti for the title. Page has taken this fight on short notice after his tough bout against Walter Neusel where he had to travel the full distance to record the win, while Righetti looks well toned and has had the perfect preparation.

Page starts out the bout well, establishing space for his big right paw and keeping Righetti off balance. Near the end of the round Page lands a straight right that seems to hurt Righetti and by the time the bell rings his right is swelling noticeably. The damage emboldens Page in the second as he comes at the defensive Righetti. Page lands a huge uppercut followed by a nice 1-2 combination that sees Righetti sitting on the canvas for a count of three. Righetti clambers to his feet and tries to find Page to tie him up but only finds Page’s fists as the challengers tries mightily to bring the contest to an early close. With the crowd expecting the bout to end in the near future the champ finally found his feet in the third round as Righetti managed to control Page and take his first round. The next few rounds continued to be more competitive but the damage around Righetti’s eye only got worse. The sixth and start of the seventh saw Page able to land his left hand at will and by the middle of the seventh the referee let the ring doctor take a look at the champ’s eye. The ring doctor immediately indicated the stoppage to the disgust of Righetti. Page is the new WWBU HW champion via a TKO in the seventh round.

Undercard
MW Daniel Santos #2 19-4-0 KO7 Vergil Cooper #10 20-6-0
MW Johnny Wilson #6 16-0-0 TKO10 Andrew Newman
LHW Fred Lenhart 12-1-0 KO3 Lonnie Bennett 13-3-0
HW Kevin Isaac #6 21-11-0 UD12 Louie Santamaria #15 14-15-0
WW Tombstone Smith 13-1-0 KO3 Oscar Munoz 11-2-0

[Gunsmoke]

14-03-1903 WWBU FW Title Tournament Semi-Finals
In the main event, Jaime Garza (#1, ) enters the FW Tournament with the favouritism of the punters as the man to watch, however Baby Arizmendi has proven to be a tricky opponent. Garza, since his draw with Vuyani Bungu, #2, has stopped his last 5 opponents within 4 rounds. Arizmendi has been in with some heavy hitters, namely Al Corbett, but none that have the destructive power of Garza. From the opening bell, Arizmendi showed perfect defence and counterpunching ability, leading Garza a merry dance through the opening four rounds and keeping Garza at bay with solid jabs and right crosses. It took till the sixth round for Garza to adjust his style to box more rather than bull rush into Arizmendi’s punches and win a round. The next three rounds saw see-saw action with the fighter’s equally sharing the points over that period. Garza would try for the stoppage in the last two rounds, but Arizmendi continued to show his iron jaw and he survived to the bell. All the judges scored the bout 116-113 unanimously for Baby Arizmendi.

In the first semi-final of the night Vuyani Bungu (#2, 20-2-1) would fight Ricardo Cardona (#3, 18-3-2) for the right to move onto the Featherweight Title Tournament final. Bungu is in the midst of a six fight undefeated streak with a draw with #1 ranked Jaime Garza the only blemish in that stretch, while Cardona has had three wins since being starched by Garza in two rounds. Cardona established his jab and clutch strategy early in the piece, clearly frustrating Bungu in the first few rounds. Cardona’s pace seemed to fade somewhat after the first three rounds and Bungu began to land his heavy artillery, sharing the round honours till he drops Cardona in the sixth to take the lead. Cardona recovered his composure and boxed beautifully till he walks into a vicious right hook from Bungu in the ninth and he doesn’t move on the canvas as the referee counts him out. The experts’ scorecard at the time of the KO was Cardona winning the bout 76-75.

Undercard
BW George Dixon 14-0-1 TKO9 Toshiaki Nishioka 11-2-0
WW Paul Fugii #5 19-5-1 TKO5 (Cuts) Teddy Reid #10 16-2-2 (Reid ahead 39-37 at stoppage)
HW King Levinsky 11-0-0 TKO10 Howard Eiland
WW Sid Barbarian 12-1-1 Draw Tommy Cross 14-6-3 (Ringside score: Cross 97-93)

[Gunsmoke]

24-12-1903 WWBU MW Title, George Abrams v Mike O’Dowd

George Abrams (Champ, 24-5-1) would defend his title for the second time against his nemesis Mike O’Dowd (#1, 28-1-1). O’Dowd has an enviable record against the champ with three points decision victories. Abrams is roundly considered to have improved since those fights, however O’Dowd comes into the fight as the favourite. The bout was slow to start off with as Abrams took the early lead in the opening stanza. A stern talking too from his corner seemed to awaken O’Dowd as he started the second landing a big straight right that buckled Abrams knees, and went on to dominate the round. A series of tough rounds followed, with O’Dowd getting the better of the close quarters fighting but Abrams doing a good job of dictating the timing of those clashes. A head butt opens a cut on the inside of O’Dowd’s right eyebrow in the eighth and Abrams scores some easy points working on the cut.

After 12 tight, technically excellent rounds, most ringside experts had the bout scored even. The thirteenth round saw Abrams abandon his strategy of the first 12 rounds and advance at O’Dowd who had an easy time counter punching his foe, who was awkward on the advance. However the advantage was brief with an Abrams right re-opening the cut on O’Dowd’s eyebrow, prompting an inspection by the referee. O’Dowd would survive the inspection but loose the round and his briefly held advantage. Abrams chose to chance his arm once again and bring the fight to O’Dowd, however this tie he varied his angle and timing and found success, taking the round on all observers cards and therefore the fight 144-143 by most people’s reckoning. The nerves in both men showed as they waited for the decision to be announced, the scores were read 145-142, 145-142 and 145-142 all for the new WWBU Middleweight World Champion Mike O’Dowd. A difficult fight to judge but most in the crowd are now hoping that Abrams gets another chance at the crown at a future date.

Undercard
FLY Little Dado #2 25-1-0 TKO10 Richard Frame
FLY Fermin Gomez #7 16-4-0 TKO1 Gary Simpson
WW Johar Abu-Lashin 11-3-1 UD10 Eddie Flynn 12-3-0
BW Chan-Yong Park 14-2-2 Draw Amos Carlin 13-3-2
FLY Will Grigsby 11-1-2 UD10 Henry Nissen 12-3-1

[bigMatt]

Originally Posted by Gunsmoke

10-12-1903 WWBU HW Title, Alfio Righetti (Champ) v Greg Page
The long awaited meeting between the undefeated defending champion Alfio Righetti and the man who 12 months ago was favoured to win the WWBU Heavyweight Title Tournament Greg Page. In the tournament Page was denied by a flagrant low blow which disqualified him in the eliminator against Frankie Daniels, which saw Daniels go on to fight Righetti for the title. Page has taken this fight on short notice after his tough bout against Walter Neusel where he had to travel the full distance to record the win, while Righetti looks well toned and has had the perfect preparation.

Page starts out the bout well, establishing space for his big right paw and keeping Righetti off balance. Near the end of the round Page lands a straight right that seems to hurt Righetti and by the time the bell rings his right is swelling noticeably. The damage emboldens Page in the second as he comes at the defensive Righetti. Page lands a huge uppercut followed by a nice 1-2 combination that sees Righetti sitting on the canvas for a count of three. Righetti clambers to his feet and tries to find Page to tie him up but only finds Page’s fists as the challengers tries mightily to bring the contest to an early close. With the crowd expecting the bout to end in the near future the champ finally found his feet in the third round as Righetti managed to control Page and take his first round. The next few rounds continued to be more competitive but the damage around Righetti’s eye only got worse. The sixth and start of the seventh saw Page able to land his left hand at will and by the middle of the seventh the referee let the ring doctor take a look at the champ’s eye. The ring doctor immediately indicated the stoppage to the disgust of Righetti. Page is the new WWBU HW champion via a TKO in the seventh round.

Undercard
MW Daniel Santos #2 19-4-0 KO7 Vergil Cooper #10 20-6-0
MW Johnny Wilson #6 16-0-0 TKO10 Andrew Newman
LHW Fred Lenhart 12-1-0 KO3 Lonnie Bennett 13-3-0
HW Kevin Isaac #6 21-11-0 UD12 Louie Santamaria #15 14-15-0
WW Tombstone Smith 13-1-0 KO3 Oscar Munoz 11-2-0

Had to figure it was only a matter of time for Righetti once some of the more talented heavies came up. Good thing we got that photo for Righetti while he was still champ! Pretty soon my guess is that he will be merely a footnote in the WWBU.

[Gunsmoke]

I hope not as I had fun watching Righetti win and then retain his title. Thanks for reading mate, I just wish I had a bit more time to work this at the moment...

[Gunsmoke]

Ok after a long period of inactivity I will be bringing the WWBU out of mothballs... it may take me a while to get everything back straight in my head and where we were, but look for the continuing story shortly.

Mark

[mh2365]

bout time LOL

[CONN CHRIS]

Originally Posted by mh2365

bout time LOL

Ditto.

Glad to see you active again Mark.

[Gunsmoke]

Thanks boys... didn't take long before it all started to click again. I've been playing around with different uni ideas since my enforced break due to work. But nothing beats a history you've spent a while building up. Everything just doesn't work quite as well or is ever quite as interesting.

[Gunsmoke]

31-12-1903 WWBU LW Title Tourney Final, Jack McAuliffe v Isaac Hlatshwayo

Jack McAuliffe (#1, 23-1-1), known as much for his larrikin lifestyle as for his prodigious boxing skill is the overwhelming favourite against the surprising South African Isaac Hlatshwayo (#2, 18-4-1). Hlatshwayo provided a stunner when he knocked out Larry Boardman in the seventh round of their eliminator bout. Boardman was a late replacement for George Lavigne whom Hlatshwayo had defeated in July. Hlatshwayo undoubtedly packs a wallop but does he possess the ability to get to McAuliffe. Conversely the question remains McAuliffe’s dedication to training in the lead up to the bout McAuliffe was seen frequenting nightclubs and bars.

McAuliffe starts the bout out quickly establishing his offence early and often as he has Hlatshwayo puzzling as to how to attack the dazzling Irishman. After a second round of rough and tumble (McAuliffe had been warned twice for holding and hitting) Hlatshwayo landed the first meaningful punch of the bout with a sizzling counter right hook. It served only to wake McAuliffe up as he responded with a rapid assault of hard left and right hands that left the South African reeling. Hlatshwayo would further test McAuliffe’s chin in the fifth with two more fearsome blows, but the Irishman took it in his stride continuing to outbox his opponent and punishing him from all angles. By the seventh there had been no sign of McAuliffe’s supposed lack of dedication to training and Hlatshwayo was looking the worse for wear. Within a minute of the start of the round McAuliffe landed a devastating uppercut that saw Hlatshwayo down for a count of three. Back on his feet and against the ropes he naught but an inviting target as McAuliffe unleashed his fury on him forcing the referee to step in to save the South African with nine seconds remaining in the round. McAuliffe is the first WWBU Lightweight world champion with a seventh round TKO victory.

Undercard
FW Jackie Graves #8 16-2-0 UD12 Yankee Schwartz #5 15-2-2 (Schwartz doiwn twice in 11th)
MW Paul Delaney 15-5-1 UD10 Blair Richardson 13-4-1 (Delaney down in 5th)
FW Stevie Cruz 12-0-2 KO6 Arthur Altimirano
LW Jewey Cooke 14-1-0 TD7 Davey Abad 13-6-1 (Abad cut via an accidental headbutt)
LHW Brian Kelly 15-1-1 KO4 Ian Moss

[Gunsmoke]

Other Results of Note
HW Maurice Harris #9 18-4-1 UD12 Walter Neusel #4 17-6-1 (Neusel not in shape, Harris knocked down in second)
HW Al Fay #12 18-4-2 UD12 Tom Kennedy #7 16-10-0 (Kennedy looked fat and slow)
HW Duncan Dokiwari #8 17-2-0 KO7 Denver Ed Martin #11 16-3-0 (Martin down in round 2 and 7)

LHW Johnny Roberts #8 16-5-0 TKO10 Albert Cauley

WW Felix Trinidad #1 24-2-0 TKO10 Billy Backus #3 19-2-2

LW Mel Middleton #8 16-3-1 SD12 Mario Trigo #3 16-3-2

FW Floyd Robertson #6 17-3-0 UD12 Jeremy Rumsey
FW Victor Callejas 13-0-0 UD10 Leo Roy 12-3-1 (Roy down in 3rd and 9th Rounds)

BW Ruben Olivares #1 20-1-0 KO2 Steve Spinks

FLY Tancy Lee #3 20-2-1 KO2 Duncan Demery

Retirees
None

[Gunsmoke]

Current Rankings and Analysis

Heavyweight Division
Champ – Greg Page
1. Alfio Righetti
2. Rex Layne
3. Audley Harrison
4. Kevin Isaac
5. Frankie Daniels
6. Maurice Harris
7. Walter Neusel
8. Al Fay
9. Duncan Dokiwari
10. Jimmy Clark

Page is the new champion after defeating Righetti who falls to #1, Isaac rose to #4 with his win over Santamaria, Harris takes #6 after defeating Neusel who fell to #7, Fay rose to #8 after defeating Kennedy, Dokiwari falls to #9 despite defeating Martin.

Light Heavyweight Division
Champ – Vacant
1. Michael Bennett
2. Don LaLonde
3. Victor Robledo
4. George Nichols
5. Jacob Mofokeng
6. Leslie Stewart
7. Brian Kelly
8. Danny Nardico
9. Johnny Roberts

Kelly debuts at #7.

Middleweight Division
Champ – Mike O’Dowd
1. Daniel Santos
2. George Abrams
3. Robin Reid
4. Denny Moyer
5. Rocky Graziano
6. Johnny Wilson
7. Esteban Cervantes
8. Eric Lucas
9. Rocky Mosley Jr.
10. Charley Burley

O’Dowd is the new champion after defeating Abrams who falls to #2, Burley claims #10 rank after Cooper falls out.

Welterweight Division
Champ – Packy McFarland
1. Felix Trinidad
2. Sharmba Mitchell
3. Rueben Shank
4. Billy Backus
5. Paul Fugii
6. Vince Martinez
7. Jimmy Doyle
8. Lefty Flynn
9. Jimmy Leto
10. Teddy Reid

Backus falls to #4 with loss to Trinidad #1. Fugii rises to #5 with win over Reid #10.

Lightweight Division
Champ – Jack McAuliffe
1. Isaac Hlatshwayo
2. George Lavigne
3. Wallace Smith
4. Mel Middleton
5. Mario Trigo
6. Larry Boardman
7. Tracy Harris Patterson
8. Tyrone Crawley
9. Courtney Burton
10. Masa Ito

McAuliffe wins championship over Hlatshwayo who becomes #1. Smith debuts at #3, Middleton rises to #4 with win over Trigo who falls to #5.

Featherweight Division
Champ – Vacant
1. Vuyani Bungu
2. Baby Arizmendi
3. Jaime Garza
4. Ricardo Cardona
5. Floyd Robertson
6. Jackie Graves
7. Yankee Schwartz
8. Gerardo Espinoza
9. Kid Tano

Bungu claims #1 with win over Cardona who falls to #4. Arizmendi rises to #2 with win over Garza who fell to #3. Robertson rises to #5 with win, Garves claims #6 with win over Schwartz who fell to #7.

Bantamweight Division
Champ – Vacant
1. Reuben Olivares
2. Jiro Watanabe
3. Felix Friedemann
4. Mark Johnson
5. Billy Peacock

Peacock debuts at #5.

Flyweight Division
Champ – Vacant
1. Little Dado
2. Rosendo Alvarez
3. Tancy Lee
4. Betulio Gonzalez
5. Duke McKenzie
6. Yul-Woo Lee
7. Fermin Gomez

Dado claims #1 with win

[Gunsmoke]

WWBU Monthly,
Volume 22, January 1904

Greg Page will take on dangerous slugger Rex Layne in what should prove to be an exciting first defense of Page’s WWBU Heavyweight championship. Page should retain easily and betting has reflected that opinion with Page the very short priced favorite.

Kicking off this month is the Light Heavyweight WWBU Championship tournament with the semi-finals. The first bout sees top ranked Michael Bennett facing George Nichols, who is young but talented. In the other bout budding superstar Don LaLonde will fight the tough Argentinean Victor Robledo. LaLonde should have far too much power for Robledo.

[Gunsmoke]

07-01-1904 WWBU HW Title, Greg Page (Champion) v Rex Layne

Greg Page (Champ, 32-1-0) makes his first defence against the game but limited Rex Layne (#2, 19-7-0). Layne has a dubious recent record holding two wins against fellow top ten contender Kevin Isaac bracketing a decision loss to Audley Harrison. Both fighters appeared to have good quality camps and enter the fight ready for action. The two fighters have fought twice previously and neither contest has lasted beyond the third round with Page winning both of them.

Layne started the contest fast, stunning Page with an early right hook that had Page shaking his head. However all this did was aggravate the champ as he slugged with Layne mid ring and winning the exchanges with flashes of heavy leather. The second round was a mirror of the first with Layne coming fast at the bell and then Page finding his range and letting loose. Layne however did not weather the storm as well the second time and took a fearful beating on the ropes in the last half of the round. Many in the crowd were starting to worry about Layne’s health while marvelling at his fortitude and bravery. The next round saw more clinching as both fighters sought a respite from the early fireworks, however the fourth was all Page as he punctuated his good work with a knockdown from a hard uppercut that landed Layne on the seat of his pants late in the round. The crowd in a frenzy expected the coup d’gras in the fifth but found Page to be surprisingly passive. Layne emboldened by this went after Page, hitting pay dirt with a left cross the landed on the button, sending Page down for the count of five. Page was able to survive the round but the crowd finally knew that there was a real fight going on.

The sixth round saw a suddenly re-energised Layne take the fight to Page as he found the momentum of the bout finally flowing his way. With a barrage of power shots, Layne had the defending champ on the back foot for the entire stanza. After a rest on his stool, Layne emerged from his corner like a man on a mission and came after Page from the outset of the round. Layne however had overestimated the damage that had been done to Page and as he began his first real salvo of the round, Page launched and landed a double left hook combination that deposited Layne on the canvas for the full measure. Page retains his belt with a knockout victory in the seventh round.

Undercard
FLY Fermin Gomez #7 17-4-0 TKO11 (Cuts) Rosendo Alvarez #2 20-5-0 (Alvarez winning easily when cut badly in the tenth)
LW Courtney Burton #9 17-3-2 KO12 Wallace Smith #3 16-3-1
LHW Danny Nardico #8 16-2-0 KO5 Brian Kelly #7 15-2-1
HW Duncan Dokiwari #9 18-2-0 KO6 Jamie Sampsel
WW Tombstone Smith 14-1-0 UD10 Allan Vester 14-6-2 (Smith down in 1st, Vester down twice)