Thanksgiving Tournament of the Turkeys

[mikehoudini]

Even as a four alarm fire is raging a mile down the road, it's break time to post some more results. Here they are for fights 21-24 of the opening round:

Corey Sanders vs. George Arias – Corey came into the bout with emotional issues, while Arias needed a payday. Corey shook off his woes to land a series of jabs and a sweet left, winning the opening round, 12-8. Arias rebounded with a string of combinations to take the 2nd, 10-4, then boxed brilliantly in the 3rd, 10-3!

Corey won the 4th, 10-4, as a vicious combination floored George for a 3 count, but he couldn’t do any further damage. The 5th was even, and Arias landed a big hook to counter Sanders’ combination to win the 6th, 14-10. Suddenly, it was all over in the 7th, as Arias floored Sanders, winning by a KO at 1:34 of the round! Looks like George’ll get to eat!

Jose Ribalta vs. Dangerous Danny Wofford (4-5-1 1) – The Cinderella Kid, Danny had nudged Lorenzo Zanon to earn his place, and he started off with determination written across his ample belly, connecting for a killer jab that shook Ribalta! Danny followed up with more jabs, taking the opener, 11-9, despite a big right from Ribalta!

Joe landed a solid hook to begin the 2nd, but Danny shook it off and nudged Jose, 8-7. The crowd senses an upset in the making. Danny, distracted, turned their way, and Jose clocked him with a sweet uppercut! Danny got to one knee, but couldn’t quite beat the count, so it goes into the record books as a KO at 0:41 of the 3rd for Ribalta! Danny was distraught, but the fans gave him a standing ovation for his efforts to date!

Johnny Paychek vs. Gerhard Zeck – Zeck was famous for another thread on this site that chronicled his career. Paychek, unimpressed, fired off a cranium-crushing cross to score a KO at 1:22 of the 1st! Zeck missed with all his 40 attempts. Obviously, Paychek didn’t miss. So long, Gerhard!

Denver Ed Smith vs. Chuck Wepner – The man from Denver took a slow 1st, 8-6, though Wepner rallied in the last minute to make it close! The 2nd round, 4-4, set boxing back a few years. The Bayonne Bleeder won the 3rd, 8-6, with a fine last minute featuring several combinations! Denver Ed boxed nicely to take the 4th, 11-3!

Chuck just did land enough in the 5th, 6-4, as both men clinched and rested up, but from what? Wepner poured it on in the 6th, finding the range with a serious combination and booming hook, good for a 14-4 round that had the crowd cheering! Denver Ed stepped up the action in the 7th, but Chuck boxed beautifully, connecting for a monster left and taking another round, 13-6!

Going for the KO in the 8th, Denver landed a huge hook, then one that rocked Wepner back on his heels, and finally delivered a massive cross, but Chuck kept his feet, even though he came out on the short end, 21-4!

I had Smith winning the 8th, 10-8, resulting in a 76-76 draw. The judges felt differently. They scored it 78-75 Smith, 77-76 Wepner and 78-75 for the winner by a split decision…Chuck Wepner! I can’t argue with the decision, as many don’t call a round 10-8 unless there’s been a knockdown, but it was a very close fight! Wepner’s aggressiveness won it, as did his lack of bleeding!

[Romdawg88]

Gutsy effort by Holman to shake off that broken hand and grab the win.

[bear]

After Phainting Phil my next favorite among nicknames in The Ambling Alp

[mikehoudini]

Originally Posted by Romdawg88

Gutsy effort by Holman to shake off that broken hand and grab the win.

He did show his courage, and stated that his injury will be healed before the next round, or he'll fight with one hand behind his back! With the marvels of modern medicine, I'm sure he'll be healed!

[mikehoudini]

Originally Posted by bear

After Phainting Phil my next favorite among nicknames in The Ambling Alp

And that's gotta be for Primo Carnera!

[mikehoudini]

Tom Cowler vs. Willi Fischer – Fischer fired out at the start, connecting on a giant uppercut, then followed with another, and he pounded Cowler, 18-3, for the round. Cowler regrouped, fighting a solid 2nd, connecting for a cranium-crunching blow to the top of the head, and for an uppercut of his own, to dominate, 12-5.

The 3rd was a good round, Cowler belting Fischer with a booming cross to open the round, building up a big lead, then withstanding a last-minute flurry of hooks and uppercuts, one of which cut him under the left eye. He took the round, 13-9, but was not able to connect in the 4th but for one big hook, and Fischer hit him more, and landed a left that was electrifying, winning, 8-4.

The 5th was a nip and tuck round, Willi getting one big hook in, but Cowler smashed him with a right as the bell sounded to take the lead, 15-12! That punch must have affected Fischer, for Cowler tagged him with a strong cross to begin the 6th, then hit him at will (or Willi), finding the range with a huge uppercut and hook, and the round ended 21-5!

Willi was tired, and Cowler won the 7th, 11-6, landing several small combinations and one jolting hook! The 8th was anticlimactic, as Tom landed a series of lighter blows to offset Fischer’s one hard hook, 10-8.

I had Cowler the winner, 78-74. The judges scored the bout 79-74 Cowler, 77-77 (what fight was he watching?) and 78-76, Cowler the winner by a majority decision! De Ox went down to defeat as Cowler ruled the last half of the fight!

Leo Nolan vs. Jean-Pierre Coopman (4-1-1 2) – The Lion of Flanders was more of a tabby in the 1st round, as Nolan pummeled him, 20-6! Nolan connected for combinations in the 2nd & 3rd, winning those rounds, 11-6 & 10-8.

The Lion rallied in the next two rounds, outboxing Leo in the 4th, 11-8, and in the 5th, 8-2. It looked like a fight again, but Nolan landed just enough punches to outpoint Coopman in the 6th, 9-6, as Leo clinched more than he fought! Coopman had a strong 7th, firing off combinations and hooks to take the advantage, 10-4.

The 8th was the decisive round, and Nolan struck the key blow, a combination that felled the Lion for a 6 count. The round ended 13-4, and I scored the fight 77-75 for Nolan, as, wonder of wonders, did all 3 judges! The 8th truly was decisive, and Coopman joins the ranks of level 1 and 2 fighters that won’t make it to the 2nd round, though his fight was close!

Keith McKnight (5-1 3) vs. Frankie Swindell – For some reason, McKnight came in with emotional baggage, unusual in light of how well he’d been fighting. In the opening round, the Fighting Knight landed a searing right to the jaw of Swindell, who dropped like the stock market! He was back up at the count of 8, but McKnight pummeled him around the ring, winning the round, 24-7, but not getting the stoppage! Frankie’s eye was swelling badly after all the punishment he’d absorbed, and McKnight was surprised that the fight hadn’t been stopped!

Swindell was game, and clipped Keith with a booming hook to start the 2nd, and that seemed to take the wind out of McKnight’s sails! In a complete role reversal, Swindell landed blow after heavy blow, among them a jarring blow to the top of the head, and sweet uppercuts and hooks. It was 29-0 when the referee did stop the fight, Swindell the winner by a TKO at 2:50 of the 2nd!

The McKnight corner was incensed with the stoppage, as their boy was covering up but, in their words, still functioning. To boot, the ref hadn’t stopped the fight in the 1st round, when Swindell had been the helpless one! So we have a controversy in this tourney, and McKnight wants a rematch! Alas, for now the Lion sleeps with the fallen knight!

Jose Roman vs. Lee Savold – Backed by his Chicago contingent of supporters known as da Bears, Savold had a scintillating 1st, connecting on multiple hooks and jabs and two power shots, an uppercut and a thundering hook! The point totals were 17-2, and Lee carried his momentum into the 2nd, which was a defensive round, but he landed a bit more and blocked better, 8-5, as his hooks were the difference!

The 3rd round was quiet and similar to the 2nd, but Jose rallied in the last 30 seconds to take it, 7-5. Angry at himself, Savold showed his ring savvy in the 4th, landing a jolting uppercut and a bevy of other blows to take the round easily, 12-4. His fans were on their feet!

And rightly so, as their hero hammered Roman with an uppercut to open the 5th, and Jose toppled to the canvas, like the Romans did initially when facing Vercingetorix! Back up at the count of 3, Jose fought back but was hit by many blows, and a savage combination and rip-tearing hook almost sent him back down, but he survived the round, though down, 23-8!

Savold was a bit tired in the 6th, and the round was even, but Jose found the range with a major combination to come out on top, 11-7. The two men went toe to toe in an excellent 7th! Roman landed the best punch, a classic uppercut, but Lee landed more frequently and scored more points, 12-10. He had the added benefit of cutting Roman inside in left eyebrow, which caused a temporary halt.

Jose knew he was well down on points, and fought a vigorous fight in the 8th, until Savold saw an opening and decked him with a sweet combination. Jose staggered to one knee, then fell back again, Savold declared the winner by a KO at 2:03 of the 8th! The Shy-town contingent were on their feet saluting Savold for his decisive win!

As the crowd settled back into their seats, only 4 fights were left in this opening round!

[bear]

Savold came through!


If you haven't seen the post in Highlander, your man Uzcudun was ousted.

[bear]

Originally Posted by mikehoudini

He did show his courage, and stated that his injury will be healed before the next round, or he'll fight with one hand behind his back! With the marvels of modern medicine, I'm sure he'll be healed!

He might do better if they just put his hand in a cast that he can utilize as a cestus.

[bear]

You'd be able to use the line "It's cestus against them."

[mikehoudini]

Originally Posted by bear

Savold came through!


If you haven't seen the post in Highlander, your man Uzcudun was ousted.

Savold fought well and had a convincing victory! He'll go against Frankie Swindell next.

Re Uzcudun, "say it ain't so, Paolino!" Yes, I saw where he had fallen, but to make it to the final 64, out of somewhere around 5-6,000, is impressive. The Basque Woodchopper done well!

[mikehoudini]

Originally Posted by bear

You'd be able to use the line "It's cestus against them."

Very punny!

[aaaaaaaaa]

Will you keep doing this until you reach faboulous 15?

[bear]

Originally Posted by mikehoudini

Very punny!

Have been a notorius punster for ewers. It is a hard urned reputation

[mikehoudini]

Originally Posted by aaaaaaaaa

Will you keep doing this until you reach faboulous 15?

I might, as it has been a good tool for me to learn about the lower-rated fighters. Tournaments ahould be much quicker as the levels increase and the quantity of fighters per level decreases. Then again, viewers may not be all that interested as the higher levels are reached, as those fighters have been busy in forums such as yours!

[mikehoudini]

Archie McBride vs. Mike Schreck – They traded the first 4 rounds. McBride landed a few hooks and a savage cross to win the 1st, 13-6. Schreck outpunched Arch in the 2nd, and connected for a sweet hook, 10-4. McBride was active in the 3rd, 17-2, landing a jarring cross as well as many lighter punches, mainly hooks. Schreck boxed beautifully in the 4th, not at all like an ogre, and got a 14-2 margin with good defense!

Schreck absolutely hammered Arch in the 5th, 18-2, with 3 power punches, a hook to start the round, an uppercut that backed McBride up, and a combination that had Archie hanging on! Both fighters looked tired as they started the 6th, and it showed from then on as they connected on far fewer punches. Mike won a dull 6th, 6-4, then threw combinations in the 7th before being tagged by a savage one from McBride, which narrowed the points differential to 7-6.

Schreck danced and boxed in the 8th, avoiding any fusillades attempted by Arch, countering nicely and winning, 11-1! He landed almost twice as many punches, and I had it 78-75. The judges went 78-74, 78-74 & 77-75, a unanimous decision for Mike Schreck. Puss in Boots may be fighting next!

Ray Austin vs. Dick Richardson (1-0 1) – Richardson landed a cranium-crunching cross to start the fight, and punished a wobbly Austin, 18-0, showing all his punches! Austin landed several uppercuts in taking the 2nd, 9-4, but Dick floored him in the rd for a 3 count with a savage combination, going upstairs and downstairs, and Austin was lucky to have a little rally at the end to make the points respectable, 12-7!

The 4th was a good action round, but Richardson landed more frequently for a 12-7 advantage. Dick got a classic hook in early in the 5th, but a desperate Austin found the range with a series of combinations at the end to tie the round points-wise, 10-10!

The two traded leather in the 6th, but it was Austin who ate more of it! He did land a powerful uppercut, but Richardson connected for one of his own, then a searing cross, and finally knocked him into the ropes with another uppercut. The points went 21-15, and the fans cheered both men for the non-stop action!

Ray attacked in the 7th, but Richardson met his charges with rapier-like jabs, many of them, and yet another monster uppercut at the end, 25-7. Austin had taken a lot of punishment the last 2 rounds, but still was on his feet! The 8th showed Austin throwing caution to the winds, and having his best round of the night! Going for the KO, he landed a huge hook, a sweet combination and a jolting straight right, but Richardson weather the storm, 22-4! The fans cheered both men as they awaited what seemed to be a foregone conclusion re the verdict!

I had it 78-74 for Richardson, who landed 279 punches, as opposed to 191, with 90 being cross and 75 jabs! The judges scored the bout 78-74, 78-75 & 77-75, a unanimous decision for Dick Richardson!

Arthur Pelkey vs. Jeremy Williams – Williams landed a jolting jab, but Pelkey came back with a booming right and several combinations to win the opener, 13-6. Williams landed early in the 2nd, but Pelkey fought a furious 3rd minute to salvage a 12-12 split! Williams landed a big hook to take the 3rd, 14-6, then another at the end of the 4th to tilt the scales in a back and forth round, 15-12!

The 5th was the round of the big punches! After abosrbing a monster hook and freight train right, Pelkey landed a smashing cross, but Williams countered with yet another hook for a 19-5 round!

Pelkey came on strong in a 17-10 6th, a vicious combination his best blow! After connecting for a wild right and absorbing a jamming uppercut, he got a 1 count KD at the end of the 7th, 18-9! The 8th was a slugfest, Williams landing an uppercut, Pelkey answering with a searing cross amid other punches for a nice lead, then Williams landing the last telling blow a 5 count KD on a winging right! Pelkey had more points for the round, 16-14, but the knockdown could be critical in the eyes of the judges!

I scored it 76-76, a draw! The judges went 76-74 Williams, 76-74 Pelkey and 76-74, for the winner by a split decision...Jeremy Williams! This was a crowd-pleasing brawl that neither deserved to lose!

Bernard Thebault vs. Ben Foord – Thebault came out throwing heavy leather, landing two major crosses, one of them a cranium-crusher, but Foord kept jabbing away, and connected for one at the end of the round that made Bernard stagger, and he won in terms of total punches landed and points, 13-11. Foord avoided all bombs in the 2nd and found the mark with numerous crosses, winning 12-6.

The 3rd round was dull. Thebault landed another thunderous cross, but nothing else, and Foord tapped away for a 6-4 advantage. The 4th was the best round of the fight, as the two traded punches, Thebault coming out on top when he decked Foord at the bell for a 2 count, 16-13. The 5th was even-Steven, 11-11, Thebault rallying at the end, but it was his last hoorah!

Foord put on a boxing clinic in a 16-2 6th, connecting on a variety of punches. The 7th was a repeat, 16-2, and Bernard’s frustration was growing even as he couldn’t connect against Ben, who used hooks as his chief weapon. Fighting a controlled 8th, Foord embarrassed Thebault by putting him down for an 8 count with a sweet uppercut, taking the round, 19-4, and dashing Thebault’s hopes of victory!

I had it 77-73 Foord, and the judges went 78-73, 77-73 and 77-74, an easy unanimous win for Foord, who dominated from the 6th on!

This fight concluded the action in the first round. None of the level 1 and 2 fighters advanced. Summary results and the next round’s pairings will be issued shortly. Three of the fighters supported by avid forum members advanced, John Holman, Johnny Paychek and Lee Savold!

[mikehoudini]

Originally Posted by bear

Have been a notorius punster for ewers. It is a hard urned reputation

We had a guy in college who thought (operative word) he was a punster. Does the name Bennet Cerf ring a bell?

[mikehoudini]

Here is the summary of Opening Round activity (records are pre-fight) in the Thundering Threes Tourney:

James Ellis UD 8 over Jake Kilrain
Phil Scott KO 8 Bill Tate (6-1 1)
John Louis Gardner UD 8 over David Bostice
Tom McNeeley TKO 4 Mike Koranicki

Taurus Sykes MD 8 over Pedro Agosto (11-2-1 9)
Fabio Moli UD 8 over Marty Monroe
Nick Barone (1-0 1) Draw Marvis Frazier
Marvis Frazier (0-0-1) UD 8 over Nick Barone (1-0-1 1)
Battling Jim Johnson MD 8 over Vittorio Campolo

Joe Alexander KO 1 Steffen Tangstad (5-1-3 3)
Dan Flynn Draw Sam Berger
Dan Flynn (0-0-1) MD 8 over Sam Berger
Imamu Mayfield Draw James Broad
Imamu Mayfield MD 8 over James Broad
Brian London SD 8 over Dante Cane

Faruq Saleem UD 8 over Kent Green
Joe Beckett TKO 6 (cuts) Lee Oma (7-0 3)
Al Kaufmann UD 8 over Domingo D’Elia
Ed Mahone (1-0 1) KO 3 Tony Ross


John Holman MD 8 over George Johnson
John Ferguson MD 8 over Pat Valentino
Terry Daniels KO 6 Charley Mitchell
Jim Barry KO 4 Young Jack Johnson

George Arias KO 7 Corey Sanders
Jose Ribalta KO 3 Dangerous Danny Wofford (4-5-1 1)
Johnny Paychek KO 1 Gerhard Zeck
Chuck Wepner SD 8 over Denver Ed Smith

Tom Cowler MD 8 over Willi Fischer
Leo Nolan UD 8 over Jean-Pierre Coopman (4-1-1 2)
Frankie Swindell TKO 2 Keith McKnight (5-1 3)
Lee Savold KO 8 Jose Roman

Mike Schreck UD 8 over Archie McBride
Dick Richardson (1-0 1) UD 8 over Ray Austin
Jeremy Williams SD 8 over Arthur Pelkey
Ben Foord UD 8 over Bernard Thebault

There were 9 KOs and 3 TKOs, 10 unanimous decisions, 7 majority decisions, 3 split decisions and 3 draws. Gerhard Zeck, whose career was detailed in another thread, was eliminated the quickest! All the level 1 and level 2 fighters have been eliminated after their great showing in the box-in round. Pedro Agosto and Keith McKnight may seek rematches after the tourney proper is concluded, as will Danny Wofford!

Three fan favorites remain, John Holman, the pride of Florida, Lee Savold, the choice of da Bear from Chicago, and Johnny Paychek, he of the Connecticut support! Battling Jim Johnson made the cut, but not Young Jack Johnson or George (Scrapiron) Johnson.

Round 2 pairings will be announced shortly.

[bear]

Originally Posted by mikehoudini

We had a guy in college who thought (operative word) he was a punster. Does the name Bennet Cerf ring a bell?

Yes, and my best friends when I was an undergrad used to sign, and say Bennet Cerf isn't dead whenever I opened my gob.

I think my most memorable time was telling an elderly Japanese man that the prevailing form of theatre in Japan was comedy because they have noh dramas. He kept insisting that they have dramas and never got it.

[bear]

Originally Posted by mikehoudini

We had a guy in college who thought (operative word) he was a punster. Does the name Bennet Cerf ring a bell?

Grew up watching What's My Line? also. Cerf must have been a hoot to work with at Randon House.

[mikehoudini]

Originally Posted by bear

Grew up watching What's My Line? also. Cerf must have been a hoot to work with at Randon House.

I grew up equidistant from Baltimore and Washington. For some reason, our TV only got 2 of the 3 main stations, so I rarely saw What's My Line, but it was enjoyable when I did.

Alas, this was way before cable TV days, and I don't remember if the TV was color or black and white! At least I know that Danny is far older (almost 10 years) than I!