The International Boxing League

[Romdawg88]

That was a tough loss. Do y'all even have any LBs left on the roster at this point. Until the Bengals start playing some defense they ain't going nowhere. New England is just on fire right now, those boys are going to be tough to beat.

[kenyan_cheena]

Sunday 25 August 2002

INTERNATIONAL BOXING LEAGUE
FIGHT CARD SCHEDULE
MONDAY 26/08/2002 - SUNDAY 01/09/2002 INCLUSIVE

MONDAY 26/08/2002
MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION: REGION - NORTH AMERICA CENTRAL
MELLON ARENA, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, USA

CHARLEY BURLEY vs PAUL PIRRONE
FRANK BATTAGLIA vs TED WRIGHT
GREG MOE vs TONY ZALE
MIKE O'DOWD vs STANLEY KETCHEL
WILFIE GREAVES vs JAKE MORRISON
HARRY GREB vs RONNIE HARRIS

TUESDAY 27/08/2002
MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION: REGION - EUROPE
CASINO DI CAMPIONE, LECCO, LOMBARDIA, ITALY

GRATIEN TONNA vs LAURENT BOUDOUANI
LUIS FOLLEDO vs ALAN MINTER
LEO STAROSCH vs MAURICE HOPE
NIGEL BENN vs ODDONE PIAZZA
MARCEL CERDAN vs RANDY TURPIN
NINO BENVENUTI vs TOM BOGS

WEDNESDAY 28/08/2002
MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION: REGION - NORTH AMERICA WEST
MGM GRAND HOTEL & CASINO, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, USA

MICHAEL OLAJIDE vs GEORGE DUKE
FREDDIE APOSTOLI vs LUPE AQUINO
BOBBY JONES vs BERT LYTELL
JAMES TONEY vs DENNY MOYER
MARCOS GERALDO vs FREDDIE STEELE
TERRY NORRIS vs JAVIER AGUIRRE

THURSDAY 29/08/2002
MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION: REGION - NORTH AMERICA EAST/CARIBBEAN
BOARDWALK HALL, ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY, USA

RUBIN CARTER vs HOLMAN WILLIAMS
KID TUNERO vs JOEY ARCHER
DONATO PADUANO vs YAMA BAHAMA
JEFF SMITH vs HARRY SMITH
MIKE MCCALLUM vs ELISHA OBED
MICKEY WALKER vs GENE ARMSTRONG

THURSDAY 29/08/2002
MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION: FUTURE CONTENDER SERIES - GROUP ONE
STADIO AM STCORA, CALGARI, ITALY

JULIO ALVARES vs LAURENT DAUTHUILLE
ARTIE LEVINE vs HASTINGS GAYLE
JOSE GONZALEZ vs SOLLY KRIEGER
HUGO CORRO vs TONY SIBSON
TIBERIO MITRI vs MICHAEL CRONJE
CARMELO BOSSI vs JAE-DO YUH

FRIDAY 30/08/2002
MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION: REGION - ASIA/OCEANIA/AFRICA
ARIAKE COLISEUM, TOKYO, JAPAN

DAVE SANDS vs TADASHI MIHARA
TROY WATERS vs GIOVANNI PRETORIUS
CHARLIE WEIR vs DICK TIGER
CEFERINO GARCIA vs LES DARCY
SHINJI TAKEHARA vs MASASHI KUDO
KOICHI WAJIMA vs MICHAEL DYSON

FRIDAY 30/08/2002
MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION: FUTURE CONTENDER SERIES - GROUP TWO
SURELERE STADIUM, LAGOS, NIGERIA

COLEY WELCH vs GUILLERMO CARRILES
CHARLEY JOSEPH vs DON FULLMER
DAVID GIBBS vs DIEGO KEMPES
STEVE BELLOISE vs MARIANO RONALDO
HIROMI KAMAMOTO vs LOMANA WAMBA
TEBIRO DIAW vs JUAN RIVERO

SATURDAY 31/08/2002
MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION: REGION - SOUTH AMERICA
OLYMPIA STADIUM, PANAMA CITY, PANAMA

JUAN ROLDAN vs MIGUEL DEOLIVEIRA
ANDRES SELPA vs FABIO AUTRAN
MIGUEL CASTELLINI vs KENNY BRISTOL
CARLOS HERRERA vs OMAR ENDARA
RODRIGO VALDEZ vs ROLANDO LOMBARDO
JOE GANS vs SANTIAGO LOPEZ

SATURDAY 31/08/2002
MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION: FUTURE CONTENDER SERIES - GROUP THREE
FUTUROSCOPE, POITERS, FRANCE

ROBERT VILLEMAIN vs JIMMY BEAU
TONY JANIRO vs JESUS ENAMORADO
CLAUDIO FERNANDEZ vs ANTHONY JONES
DAVEY MOORE vs VINCENT PETTWAY
DWIGHT DAVISON vs FRANZ SZUZINA
DAVE SHADE vs RENE JACQUOT

SUNDAY 01/09/02
MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION: FUTURE CONTENDER SERIES - GROUP FOUR
RUBEN RODRIGUEZ COLISEUM, BAYAMON, PUERTO RICO

ERNIE VIGH vs VITO ANTUOFERMO
FREDDIE HENNEBERRY vs JOE DENUCCI
RALPH DUPAS vs WALTER GOMEZ
WILLIE MONROE vs FRANK MOODY
ROCKY CASTELLANI vs ROBBIE SIMS
JOSE BASORA vs AHMET DOTTUEV

[kenyan_cheena]

Just a note on how I'll be handling the IBL cards...

The ones for the regional qualifiers will be, in most cases, about as detailed as the ones for the HBF's WC/1D tourneys. However, with the ones for the future contender series I'll only be covering the main event and co-features and simply posting the results of the other fights.

I think that everyone can appreciate that if I devote the same level of detail to the FC series we'll never get to the end of these tournaments.

I'll be making one post to summarise the feelings of anticipation on the eve of the IBL tourneys and then we'll be ready to set foot into the busiest week yet in the short history of the HBF/IBL...

[Ric915]

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

Just a note on how I'll be handling the IBL cards...

The ones for the regional qualifiers will be, in most cases, about as detailed as the ones for the HBF's WC/1D tourneys. However, with the ones for the future contender series I'll only be covering the main event and co-features and simply posting the results of the other fights.

I think that everyone can appreciate that if I devote the same level of detail to the FC series we'll never get to the end of these tournaments.

I'll be making one post to summarise the feelings of anticipation on the eve of the IBL tourneys and then we'll be ready to set foot into the busiest week yet in the short history of the HBF/IBL...

Awesome Glad to see the IBL getting started.

[Romdawg88]

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

Just a note on how I'll be handling the IBL cards...

The ones for the regional qualifiers will be, in most cases, about as detailed as the ones for the HBF's WC/1D tourneys. However, with the ones for the future contender series I'll only be covering the main event and co-features and simply posting the results of the other fights.

I think that everyone can appreciate that if I devote the same level of detail to the FC series we'll never get to the end of these tournaments.

I'll be making one post to summarise the feelings of anticipation on the eve of the IBL tourneys and then we'll be ready to set foot into the busiest week yet in the short history of the HBF/IBL...

I completely understand why your doing it this way. Truthfully, I'm surprised that you didn't start doing something similar with some of the weaker feeder leagues and such to speed things up some. I can't wait to get the IBL going should be fun times.

[kenyan_cheena]

Originally Posted by Ric915

Awesome Glad to see the IBL getting started.

Originally Posted by Romdawg88

I completely understand why your doing it this way. Truthfully, I'm surprised that you didn't start doing something similar with some of the weaker feeder leagues and such to speed things up some. I can't wait to get the IBL going should be fun times.

Thanks, guys. I guess it was more difficult than I thought it would be to not be so detailed. I set a precedent and it was hard to let go of that. If you look back through the thread you'll see that I've written at least a couple of lines about every fight that has happened so far in the HBF. I'm looking forward to the upcoming period in the story as I get the chance to write about a whole new group of fighters.

[kenyan_cheena]

"IT'S LIKE CHRISTMAS EVE CAME EARLY"

Sunday 25 August 2002

Anyone who has doubted the current popularity of boxing would certainly have their opinion swayed if they were to get in their car and take a drive along Mario Lemieux Place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, past the dome that is the Mellon Arena. The venue will host tomorrow's opening fight card of the International Boxing League's World Championship regional qualifying tournaments and ever since Thursday night, crowds have been gathering outside of the forty year-old building in anticipation of the event, many of them staying through the night. They purchased their tickets weeks ago so the purpose of this gathering has nothing to do with acquiring the best seats. No, it's all about the sense of community and excitement that boxing has brought to so many cities in America and around the world since the unveiling of the Heavyweight Boxing Federation just on twelve months ago. The gathering is similar to what happened in Japan back in May when some 300 people camped out near the Osaka Dome leading up to the country's selection trials.

"I have to say, it's like Christmas eve came early," said Pittsburgh resident Mike Johnston, who is apparently responsible for what's being called The Igloo Gathering. "Look at all the people here. There's just a tremendous feeling of friendship and anticipation amongst us all. People who might have seen each other a hundred times before but never exchanged a word have become friends."

The IBL has only added to boxing's popularity since its April birth and the organisation's first week of competition will feature bouts in the Middleweight division, with hometown favourites Charley Burley and Harry Greb to be the featured attractions come tomorrow night.

"There's gonna be some absolutely fantastic fights on the card," said an animated Johnston. "But the guys most of us will be there to see are Charley and Harry, of course. We know how excited they are to be making their debuts at home and we'll be doing everything we can to get them over that finish line as winners."

***

Las Vegas has seen something akin to a "Mexican invasion" during the last week as hundreds of Javier Aguirre supporters have flooded the city in anticipation of Wednesday's card at the MGM Grand. Aguirre will take on Texas-born Californian Terry Norris in the main event and Mexico's most admired fighter will have plenty of support amongst the crowd.

"Javier is our guy, no doubt," said Emilio Sanchez, one of the many who have made the journey to Vegas. "He's got a tough road ahead of him during the regionals so he'll need as much support as possible. We're gonna give it to him."

The clash between Norris and Aguirre figures to be one of the highlights of the first week of action in the IBL and is not to be missed.

***

(to be continued)

[Ric915]

And so it begins. Great writing KC

[kenyan_cheena]

Originally Posted by Ric915

And so it begins. Great writing KC

Thanks, Ric. After I complete that last post the week's action will kick off like so:

Monday 26 August: HBF fight card, Osaka, Japan
Monday 26 August: IBL fight card, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Tuesday 27 August: IBL fight card, Lombardia, Italy
Tuesday 27 August: HBF fight card, Derbyshire, England

Wednesday 28 August: HBF fight card, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Wednesday 28 August: IBL fight card, Las Vegas, Nevada

As you can see it's based on the world time zones, with Osaka being 13 hours ahead of Pittsburgh, Italy one ahead of England and AC four ahead of LV.

[kenyan_cheena]

(continuation of post #267)

Atlantic City will play host to not one but two fight cards this week, with the HBF in town on Wednesday at the Trump Taj Mahal before local favourite Mickey Walker headlines Thursday night's Boardwalk Hall IBL event. Both nights will be huge for Jersey Pride, the entourage headed by HBF fighter Joe Jeannette. No less than three members of the group will be in action and fans have said they'll make their presence felt in and outside of both venues.

"It's gonna be a fantastic couple of days for boxing in Jersey," said Jeannette. "Knowing that we'll have plenty of support is really goin' to pump up the guys, no doubt."

Jeannette has been heavily involved in Mickey Walker's preparation and speaks highly of the 18 year-old.

"The kid is like a sponge with the information he absorbs," said Jeannette. "I got a real good feeling about him as far as this tournament goes and I'm thinking we're gonna see something special from him on Thursday night."

***

Japan and Italy are also hosting two fight cards each during the coming week. This busy seven days of boxing action kicks off tomorrow with a Heavyweight Boxing Federation card at the Osaka Castle Hall before the moment that Japanese boxing fans have been waiting for finally arrives on Friday when Tokyo's Ariake Stadium welcomes the IBL. It will be the first time that a Japanese fighter will step into a boxing ring competitively for either the IBL or HBF and there will be a grand total of four of them in action with Olympic bronze medallist Koichi Wajima headlining what should be a fantastic fight card.

"The build up to this week has been amazing," said Japan Times journalist Hiroshi Nakajima. "Everyone knows how popular boxing has been here thanks to the HBF but the IBL will be something else entirely. Our fight fans will be able to cheer for their fellow countrymen and it's just going to be an incredible night."

By contrast, boxing has struggled to gain a foothold in Italy. The football mad nation has not taken to the sport with anything near the enthusiasm of places like Japan but some of its HBF competitors have found success in recent weeks, none moreso than Sante Amonti in the federation's World Championship tournament. Administrators of the sport are hoping that those breakthroughs, coupled with International Boxing League fight cards on Tuesday and Thursday, will be the start of a climb in boxing's popularity throughout the land of the Caesars.

"I'm jealous of those Japanese fighters," said Nino Benvenuti, the Sydney gold medallist who will appear in Tuesday night's main event. "They're going to have such great support behind them. That's not something we can say here, at least not yet. I'm hoping we can change that during the course of these tournaments."

***

The first week of regional qualfiers comes to a conclusion at the Olympia Stadium in Panama City where silver medallist Joe Gans will start his quest to capture the IBL's World Middleweight Championship. The Caribbean-born 18 year-old is a hero in the central American nation and along with Lightweight Roberto Duran will be carrying the hopes of all Panamanian boxing fans on his shoulders...

[kenyan_cheena]

I'll be finishing off the Osaka HBF card in the next couple of hours. Tomorrow I'll be running the first ever IBL card and writing up the review. Expect to see at least the first couple of fights from it in about 30 hours from now (possibly less).

[Ric915]

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

I'll be finishing off the Osaka HBF card in the next couple of hours. Tomorrow I'll be running the first ever IBL card and writing up the review. Expect to see at least the first couple of fights from it in about 30 hours from now (possibly less).

Sweet Taters.Looking forward to it

[kenyan_cheena]

Originally Posted by Ric915

Sweet Taters.Looking forward to it

Just about to run the card...

[kenyan_cheena]

INTERNATIONAL BOXING LEAGUE
DEBUTS IN PITTSBURGH

Monday 26 August 2002

Weeks of build up and anticipation came to an end tonight as the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh hosted the debut fight card of the International Boxing League. Sold out weeks ago, the venue was packed to its 18,000 seat capacity, many of those in attendance there to cheer for Pittsburgh natives Charley Burley and Harry Greb as they started their quest to qualify for the league's Middleweight World Championship tournament.

Before the start of the evening's first contest IBL Chief Director James Molk climbed into the ring and addressed the crowd, looking sharp in a charcoal suit, matching tie and white shirt. The audience gave him a warm and extended round of applause.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen," said Molk, smiling. "It's so wonderful to see you all here tonight for this special event. As you know, back in early April we revealed our existence as the International Boxing League to the world. In the time since we've spent countless hours trialing and selecting competitors to take part in our regional qualifying tournaments and Future Contender series and last month, on July the 22nd, we announced who had made the cut and who hadn't. That was a very memorable night at the MGM Grand, a night where, in my own words, we were "introduced" to the world. Since then we've continued to work hard to make sure that everything we've planned for our tournaments goes off without a hitch and tonight, we've finally arrived!"

At this the crowd cheered and applauded, Molk nodding and clapping in return.

"Well, I know you're all looking forward to tonight's card," continued Molk. "I'll make myself scarce so that the excitement can begin. I know all of you will be cheering hard for Charley Burley and Harry Greb so I'm hoping that they can add to your enjoyment by giving you all some good results tonight."

With that Molk departed the ring, waving to the crowd. He took up his seat at ringside beside his wife and less than a minute later the combatants for the opening bout were on their way to the ring...

(to be continued)

[Romdawg88]

IT BEGINS.

Sweetness, it's great to see the action in the IBL get started. Congrats to you KC for reaching another milestone in this story.

[kenyan_cheena]

Originally Posted by Romdawg88

IT BEGINS.

Sweetness, it's great to see the action in the IBL get started. Congrats to you KC for reaching another milestone in this story.

Thanks, Romy. I'm going to post the entire card in one post so it won't be ready tonight. Probably tomorrow.

[Romdawg88]

Well, I won't be home all weekend as I'll be in Tampa watching the Tampa Bay/Jacksonville game. First time I get to watch my team live and we're starting Quinn F'n Gray fun times yep damn it. So I look forward to reading the card come Sunday night.

[kenyan_cheena]

(continuation of post #274)

Opening Bout

When hometown favourite Charley Burley made his way to the ring for the very first bout in IBL history the crowd almost lifted the roof off the Mellon Arena, so enthusiastic was their applause. Burley paid tribute to the town's beloved Steelers with a robe and trunks of black with gold trim, his opponent Paul Pirrone of Cleveland prowling the ring anonymously as the audience heaped praise upon their man. When he stepped between the ropes Burley shouted, flipped his hood off and raised his right fist into the air, nodding acknowledgement to the crowd.

Announcer Wally Jackson took up the microphone and introduced the two combatants, the audience letting loose with another deafening roar for Burley. Jackson then made the crowd aware of the rules that the IBL's bouts would be fought under, rules that differentiated it from the Heavyweight Boxing Federation in an number of ways.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the three knockdown rule, is not in effect," said Jackson. "A fighter cannot be saved by the bell in any round. The mandatory eight count is not in effect. Only the referee or ringside doctor can stop the fight and in the case of the contest being stopped due to an accidental headbutt, a technical draw will be ruled within three rounds and the scorecards will be referred to from the 4th round and onwards. Scoring will be by way of the ten point must system."

With the sound of the opening bell a wave of excitement enveloped the arena and the crowd gave Burley plenty of encouragement. Some may have thought he was going to lay Pirrone out within three minutes but by the time round two had concluded the crowd had been all but silenced. Pirrone made a fantastic start to the fight, holding his own throughout a deafening opening round and hurting Burley late with a hard straight right. He then won the 2nd after the Pennsylvanian had rocked him early with a left-right salvo. Pirrone landed a pair of damaging hooks as the round entered its final minute and then shook Burley up with a five punch flurry, four of the punches landing cleanly. Through two rounds Pirrone had outlanded Burley 54-23, all three judges scoring both rounds in his favour.

Sitting in his corner during the intermission Burley wore a perturbed, bemused expression. This wasn't how the fight was supposed to go and some in the crowd had become restless, many imploring him to get his act together. Starting in round three that's exactly what he did, putting his foot to the floor and dominating the round with some spectacular power punching. Burley turned the tables and landed 33 shots in those three minutes, staggering his opponent on three separate occasions: a smashing uppercut one minute in, then another one near the two minute mark and a flush, jolting right hand twenty seconds later. The rally brought the crowd back into the fight and they cheered enthusiastically as Burley returned to his corner.

The hometown hero continued his fightback in round four, getting the better of a more competitive stanza even though Pirrone wobbled him with a sharp combination near its end. Pirrone was clearly tiring by the time round five was in motion and he offered little resistance. Burley was able to pepper him with a piston-like left jab and unleashed some punishing shots to the body aswell. The contest now appeared to be in his keeping and while Pirrone controlled the opening two minutes of the final round a fantastic last sixty seconds was enough for all three judges to award it to Burley. Stunning Pirrone with a furious flurry of punches, Burley came close to flooring his man with a crunching uppercut, Pirrone having to grab onto the ropes to keep himself vertical.

The verdict gave the crowd what they wanted, a victory for their man: Burley by majority decision, 58-56, 57-57, 58-57. Burley had connected with 141 of 469 punches (30.1%), Pirrone 101 of 263 (38.4%).

"Been waiting so long for this and it just feels great to have finally started," said a smiling Burley. "Gotta give props to Pirrone for the effort he put in. The dude really made me work my ass off and if he can keep going like that he'll get some wins in this tournament."

Burley went on to thank the crowd for their "fantastic support" to which they replied with another round of applause. He was then asked how it felt being the first man to win an International Boxing League bout.

"Feels great," he replied, laughing. "You know, gonna be something I can look back on down the road and say that I was the first. That'll be nice."

The 19 year-old departed the arena soon after, waving to the crowd and pumping a victorious fist, a smile showing from ear-to ear. Like all the other competitors he would have to wait until the end of the night to find out who his next opponent would be but that appeared to be the last thing on his mind as he disappeared into the back areas of the building.

(to be continued)

[kenyan_cheena]

(continuation)

Preliminary 1

The second bout of the evening featured a pair of fighters who aren't expected to threaten for a top four spot. Even so, Canada's Frank Battaglia and Detroit native Ted Wright showed enough during an entertaining slugfest to confirm that they'll at least test the more fancied competitors in their group.

Rounds one and two were fiercely competitive with both men teeing off at will, punches thrown with knockout intentions bringing appreciative applause from the audience. Battaglia enjoyed a slight edge, his aggression and superior workrate putting him in the driver's seat going into the 3rd. But that was when Wright took the fight by the scruff of the neck, dominating the 3rd and, in an even more comprehensive fashion, the 4th also. The intensity coming from these two young men was impressive to see, both having come ready to go to war. Looking at them during the intermission it appeared that Wright was going to continue on and prevail: he looked upbeat and enthusiastic while Battaglia's countenance showed that he was ruing losing control of the fight.

Battaglia wore a nasty cut on the bridge of his nose, the wound coming from a smashing right hand from the Michigan slugger early in round four. Clearly apprehensive that it could cost him a victory the Canadian came out with renewed fire in round five, tagging Wright with a series of hard, punishing shots. The Motor City native was fading as the round drew to a close and with the final seconds of it ticking off Battaglia pounced, stepping in and landing the punch of the fight. It was a textbook-perfect left hook that jolted Wright's head around on his shoulders, taking his legs out from under him. As the bell was sounding he fell to the canvas like he'd been shot. Barely moving for its duration, Wright was counted out and Battaglia declared winner via 5th round knockout. If this had been a HBF bout Wright would have been saved by the bell but, as ring announcer Wally Jackson had revealed earlier, no such security blanket exists in the International Boxing League.

Battaglia jumped in the air jubilantly, pumping his fist and shouting as his corner crew swarmed the ring to cel