Thanksgiving Tournament of the Turkeys

[mikehoudini]

China Smith (3-2 3) vs. Tony Ross (0-1) – China had clobbered the highly-regarded Ed Mahone to get here, but had broke training to celebrate his win. Still, he felt he’d be able to handle Ross, and his Floridian fan base were there cheering their man! Starting with a jolting straight left, he amassed a bunch of points in the 1st, but Ross came back on the strength of a barrage of hooks in the last minute to triumph, 14-11!

Tony ruled the 2nd, 13-3, blocking China’s bombs, and again flurrying toward the round’s end! The 3rd was China swinging and Ross evading, but China landed enough for a 9-6 lead. Ross put on a boxing display in the 4th that Muhammad Ali or Willie Pep would have been proud of! He found the range with a whopping total of 82 punches, 24 being hooks and another 18 jabs, and China’s right eye was swelling badly from that onslaught, Ross winning on points, 24-3!

Tony continued on where he’d left off in the 5th, getting an easy 14-6 round, and China’s eye was getting worse, if that was possible. Tony’s crosses and jabs kept China befuddled and frustrated. China connected on a huge hook to start the 6th, but his impaired vision kept him from landing another, and Ross again landed many blows, one a sonic hook of his own to end the round, 19-8.

China needed a miracle at this point, and his fans were dismayed, as Ross put on another 7th round boxing exhibition, getting a whitewash, 22-0, landing 78 punches, 19 of them being hooks and another 19 crosses! The 8th was the last hurrah! China was tired, his eye almost closed, but he connected with a smashing uppercut and a pulverizing hook that shook Ross to the core! But China was too spent to land that needed KO blow, and the round ended, 9-8.

The judges scored the fight 77-75, 79-73 & 79-73, an easy unanimous decision for Tony Ross! I’m not sure which fight Judge 1, from Italy, was watching, but this was so one-sided, with Ross landing 394 times, to china’s 100, and at a 71% connect rate! You could stick a fork in China Smith, for he was done!

So there will be 4 fighters, James Beattie, Danny Wofford, Pedro Agosto and Keith McKnight advancing to Round 2, where some other challenge matches will be added! Lee Oma and China Smith are done.

[mikehoudini]

There were 6 matches scheduled in the 2nd round challenge matches. There was a good crowd at the DC Convention Center, and they weren’t disappointed, as the action, for the most part, was fast and furious. Brain London and Lee Savold were new challengers, joining James Beattie, Danny Wofford, Pedro Agosto and Keith McKnight, winners in their Round 1 challenges, in their quest to move forward and hopefully get a title shot!

Pedro Agosto (12-3-1 9) – vs. Fabio Moli (5-1-1 2) – Pedro had nudged Taurus Sykes to get to this round, and the question was whether the tournament runner-up, Moli, with his size, could neutralize Agosto’s punching power, which has been a little suspect since he’s stepped up to face the level 3 boxers.

Pedro opened nicely, landing a number of uppercuts against the taller Moli, who rallied at the end to get an 8-8 tie. Fabio found the range with 10 hooks in the 2nd, but Pedro got several power shots in. He landed a sweet cross, and ended the round with a awesome hook to take it on points, 10-8. The 3rd was quiet, both missing and moving, but Agosto won on the basis of a mighty hook that caused Fabio ta take a step back, 7-4!

Pedro boxed beautifully in the 4th, frustrating the bigger man with 9 hooks and 8 uppercuts. A searing straight right caused Moli to grab the ropes, and Agosto won easily, 12-4! It was all Agosto at this point, and his fans were raucous!

Moli caught Pedro with a hook early in the 5th, and he dropped for a 6 count. Back on his feet, he tried to evade the bombs Moli was launching, but a savage combination sent him back to the canvas, and he was just unable to beat the count! So, in what seemed like a heartbeat, Moli was the winner by a KO at 1:28 of the 5th! Agosto had been ahead 40-36 on all the cards, but Moli’s killer instinct was too much for him this day! Pedro said he’d be back, but that he was going to go back to the lower levels to hone his skills first!

Brian London (1-1) vs. Imamu Mayfield (5-1-1 3) – London was out to prove that his stoppage on cuts was a fluke. Mayfield has become an escape artist, with two wins coming after being way behind! They started with a feeling out round, where London got more points, 9-7, as he landed a smashing uppercut 10 seconds before the round ended.

They traded punches a number of times in the 2nd, London getting the better of most of them. Imamu landed 8 hooks, but London was far more active, with 17 crosses and 10 combos, and a huge straight right at the end, good for a 20-8 round! The 3rd was yet more exchanges, with Brian picking up a warning but scoring more points, 13-11. London kept his fine start going in the 4th, with a super uppercut and a left that took the starch out of Mayfield’s sails! He connected with 9 jabs in a 15-4 round, then got 13 more home in the 5th, along with a solid right and jarring hook, to take it, 19-2. At the halfway point, I had London with a whitewash. If he could avoid a cut, he was in great position. Then again, Houdini Mayfield had escaped from deficits like this twice!

London poured it on in the 6th, hammering home 14 hooks, one of them a showstopper, and a crushing cross. Imamu rallied in the last minute with light jabs and combinations, but was on the short end of the points, 16-12. The 7th round was obscene, as London pounded Mayfield, 23-0, pasting him with 2 super hooks that made Imamu wobble! Imamu’s hands were low, where they remained for the rest of the fight, and his right eye was swelling badly.

Needing a miracle, Mayfield opened the 8th with a sonic uppercut that opened a cut inside London’s left eyebrow and caused a brief halt! Could this be déjà vu all over again? The fight was allowed to continue and, despite his eye swelling worse from a booming hook, Imamu took the round, 13-8.

Mayfield went after London’s eye in the 9th, and London went after Mayfield’s jaw, decking him for a 6 count! Brian then landed a barrage of uppercuts, culminating with a combination that dropped Imamu for an 8 count! Imamu created the new adage, “you can’t hit him when you’re on the floor,” and dropped the round, 22-6!

The final round was anticlimactic, as Mayfield couldn’t reach a defensive-minded London, and the points were 2-2. The judges scored the fight 99-89, a great win for Brian London! Mayfield’s Houdini magic was used up!

[mikehoudini]

Danny Wofford (5-6-1 1) vs. George Arias (2-1 1) – Danny somehow nudged Jose Ribalta on a majority decision to advance, and is almost at a 50% won/loss ratio! Chiseled, he came into this fight at 296 pounds, ready and raring to go!

In the 1st round, he flurried big in the last minute, and his 9 jabs and 8 hooks gave him a decisive round, 10-4! Arias was given a warning for low blows in the 2nd, a feat of itself since Danny is all of 5’ 7”! The somnambulant round was 4-4, too close to call, with many misses and clinches!

Danny arguably won the 3rd, 7-6, as his style definitely frustrated George, who was also cut above the right eyebrow. Wofford jabbed and hooked well in the 4th, but Arias found the range with 11 hooks and outpointed the burly slugger, 10-8! The fans cheered as they went toe to toe in the 5th, George’s 16 uppercuts neutralizing Danny’s 9 jabs, 12-7! Arias was one up at the turn.

The 6th was another round of swings and misses, both men striking out a few times, as the points were 7-6, Arias. George landed a big punch a hook to Danny’s ample midsection, and won the 7th easily, 10-2. Danny needed a comeback, and his fans were imploring their Man! Arias connected with a big hook in the 8th, but Danny was buoyed by the crowd noise and answered with a sizzling combination that backed Arias up. Landing 14 jabs over the course of the round, he belted Arias with an uppercut, reopening the cut, and won handily, 17-4!

Coming out for the 9th, Arias was still bleeding, and his right eye was also swelling. Both men took the round off, and the 4-4 score showed it. The fans wanted more, ideally from Wofford! Danny used the 10th to show off his rapier-like jab and ungainly but effective defensive skills. George’s cut was bleeding more as a result, and his swelling was worse. Reduced to endless clinching, he lost on points, 7-2, and the bout went to the judges.

Danny landed more punches, 215 to 174, and I had him winning a close fight, 96-95. The color commentator had it 96-94, Arias. The ones who count, the judges, scored it 96-94 Wofford, 96-94 Arias, and 96-94, for the winner by a split decision….Danny Wofford! The Belly of Jelly wins yet another in his charmed fight life in these tourneys! With Agosto’s surprising exit, Danny is the only level 1 fighter left!

[mikehoudini]

Lee Savold (1-1 1) vs. Frankie Swindell (2-2 2) – Savold had issued this challenge, and then Swindell lost to Keith McKnight in a prior round challenge, meaning McKnight was supposed to fight in Swindell’s place. Lee decided to take on both men, as he wanted to whup up on Swindell and prove something.

Savold was cut on the left eyelid at the inception of the fight, and his corner was worried that he was snake-bit! Frankie blasted a combination in to arguably take the opener, 10-8. Lee came roaring back in the 2nd, with a laser left. Swindell got a huge straight right in, but Lee connected on 14 hooks and 10 uppercuts, winning, 18-8!

Frankie rebounded in the 3rd. Lee was issued his second warning, and landed 8 hooks, but Frankie found the range with some big power punches, an uppercut, a cross and a scorching hook that wobbled Savold at round’s end, winning it 17-7! Lee lashed out in the 4th, bashing Frankie with a cranium-cruncher, but his cut was reopened and checked, and then Frankie floored him for an 8 count with a combination just before the bell, making the round Frankie’s, 13-12. 2 ½ great minutes of boxing were undone that quickly!

The 5th was a good action round, Swindell slightly getting the better of things, 13-10. A gonzo cross from Savold rocked Frankie to start the 6th, and Lee connected with 11 hooks and 9 jabs to win easily, 15-4. Needing the 7th, Savold could only rally in the last half minute to make it respectable, 9-6, and the fight was starting to get away from him.

Swindell socked Lee with a massive hook in the 8th, and held on to win a close affair, 11-9, but his right eye was swelling. Savold smashed a hook home to start the 9th, withstood a jarring uppercut, and came back in another close one, 8-6. Going all out in the 10th, with Swindell covering up, Lee connected and put him down. As the crowd roared, Swindell got back to his feet at the count of 7, and just hung on. Savold won clearly, 9-0, as Frankie showed no offense, but was it enough?

I had it 95-94, Swindell the winner by an eyelash, the color commentator had it a draw, 95-95! Lee had landed more punches, 248-185, but not many power punches. The judges went 95-93, 95-94 & 96-92(?), the winner by a unanimous decision, Frankie Swindell! Savold was disappointed at the decision, but then left to plan his second bout of the night!

Keith McKnight (6-2 3 vs. Lee Savold (1-2 1) – Savold hoped to do better in the nightcap, while the Fighting Knight was on a roll, having pummeled Swindell. Based on their common opponent, McKnight should win, but no one counted tough Lee Savold out, in particular his Bear fan from Shy-town!

Lee opened with a sizzling cross, and Keith answered with a nice hook, but Savold was a little better overall, taking it, 9-6! They exchanges hooks all through the 2nd, McKnight getting a few more home, and he evened the contest, 12-8! The 3rd was a letdown, McKnight getting a big left home, but Savold boxing a little better, winning a close one, 9-7.

The 4th was a huge round for McKnight, as he landed 51 blows! A gonzo hook backed Lee up, then Keith crashed a cross home, and a cranium cruncher that would have floored most fighters. He kept landing his hooks around these punches, and dominated, 26-8!

Keith landed another laser hook early in the 5th, some lighter punches, and then blasted one home to the body, and the tough Savold crumbled! He got to his knees, then stood up, but fell back, gasping for breath, and McKnight was declared the winner by a KO at 1:17 of the 5th! Lee was dejected at losing twice in one night, but did compliment McKnight on his punching power!

[mikehoudini]

James Beattie (2-1 2) vs. Tom Cowler (1-1) – Beattie has been making the best of this second chance with two stoppages to advance to the 2nd round. Cowler captured the 1st, 10-3, launching a nuclear uppercut that backed James up! Neither fighter did much damage in the 2nd, as they stalked each other carefully, but Cowler came out on top points-wise, 7-5. Beattie seemed to get into the flow in the 3rd, landing a titanic hook en route to a 10-4 round!

The 4th was action-packed, both men landing well. Beattie walloped Cowler with a straight right to start the round, then found the range with 11 jabs. Cowler made the round respectable with a thundering hook at the bell that shook Beattie up, the score going 16-11. The 5th was a pick-em round, 13-12 Cowler on points, as Tom connected on 11 combinations and an awesome cross! At the halfway mark, this fight was virtually even!

The 6th was quiet, but suddenly Beattie floored Cowler for a 2 count, and the fans were on their feet! Beattie couldn’t inflict any more damage, as Cowler ducked and blocked well, but he won the round handily, 12-4.

The knockdown must have had some effect on Tom, for Beattie came out in the 7th with a big left hook, then fired off two ferocious combinations. He landed punch after punch, and Cowler’s legs buckled when Beattie connected for a pulverizing head, body, head combination! Beattie looked at the ref, pleading with him to stop it, the points being 29-0, and the ref agreed, as Cowler was out on his feet! It goes into the record books as a TKO at 2:20 of the 7th for James Beattie, and his incredible run continues. The Cumberland Giant was leveled by an even bigger man!

[mikehoudini]

As the challenge matches conclude for Round 2, the successful challengers are ready to move on to the Sweet 16 round, which will be held at the Lincoln Theater! Lee Savold and Pedro Agosto went down to defeat, Savold twice, and have been eliminated!

Brian London has advanced and will meet Dan (Porky) Flynn, the man with the scary nickname! Keith McKnight and James Beattie have also advanced and, by some quirk of fate, will meet each other. Dangerous Danny Wofford also has advanced, continuing his improbable Cinderella Man story against Johnny Paychek. Joining them will be Tom McNeeley, who wants revenge against James Ellis. Jeremy Williams, the champ, has declined the challenge of Mike Schreck. On a lighter note, Gerhard Zeck and Joe Beckett, both of whom suffered first round KO losses, will meet to see who outlasts the other, unless they simultaneously knock each other out!

[mikehoudini]

The Lincoln Theater in our nation’s capital was the scene for the Sweet 16 challenge matches.

Tom McNeeley (2-1 2) vs. James Ellis (3-1 2) – They had engaged in a rock-em, sock-em brawl initially, with Ellis having the last word. He started this one by outboxing Tom in the first, landing 9 combinations and a sweet hook to offset 7 hooks from Tom, winning, 14-7. McNeeley took charge in the 2nd, ripping one savage combination among his 10 landed. He also got 12 crosses in, and won easily, 15-4! The 3rd was even, 6-6, easch landing one power punch, Ellis’ coming at round’s end. McNeeley started the 4th with a nasty cross, then held on as they traded misses in a 5-3 round that had the fans booing!

The fight became more of a brawl in the 5th. Ellis smashed an uppercut home, and soon after was warned for holding and hitting. McNeeley was angry, and fired off two sweet combinations. He connected on 15 uppercuts and a number of crosses, and dominated, 17-7. Ellis’ left eye was swelling up by the end of the round.

James was warned yet again for holding and hitting early in the 6th, and McNeeley blasted a straight right home that staggered Ellis for a bit. But he recovered and put on a boxing clinic, landing 54 punches, including 14 combinations. He jarred Tom with a left, and connected for a sonic hook as the round ended, 24-5! McNeeley’s right eye was now swollen worse than that of Ellis!

James hammered another big hook home in the 7th, and then pasted a cross right on Tom’s jaw, and Tom dropped with a thud! On one knee at the 8 count, he couldn’t quite beat the count, sparking potentially another controversy, but Ellis goes into the books as the winner by a KO at 1:39 of the 7th! Once again, Ellis just seemed to have a little more left as the fight went along, enough to hammer Tom!

[mikehoudini]

Brian London (2-1) vs. Dan (Porky) Flynn (2-1-1) – Dan may have won a slow 1st, 6-5, as he got 9 light hooks past London’s gloves. Brian connected on 8 crosses and an awesome hook to take the 2nd, 11-8. Dan boxed nicely in the 3rd, moving well and scoring on a quantity of crosses and hooks for a 12-5 advantage. The 4th was dull, Flynn arguably winning, 6-4, as London couldn’t connect on his bomb attempts.

Porky Dan excelled in the 5th, staying busy as he landed 65 punches, 16 of them crosses, to take the round, 19-11, but London got in one fine hook at the end in a round where he generally caught leather! London was well behind, and needed a much better 2nd half of the fight.

The 6th was a spirited round. London landed a telling combination that made Dan wince, and got 11 jabs home in building a big lead. Dan rallied at the end on the strength of 12 hooks to make it respectable, 12-8. Could Brian sustain this charge? He fought a beautiful 7th, with 11 uppercuts and 9 jabs, winning convincingly, 15-8, but he also was cut over his right eyebrow. The 8th was yet another good round in the London rally, as he snaked another 9 jabs in, as well as a solid left, good for a 12-5 margin!

Flynn cut the rally short, hammering London with a series of crosses, one that caused the cut to be reopened and checked, and took the 9th, 9-4. I had the fight even at this point. In the 10th, London went all out for the KO, while Flynn, thinking he had the fight well in hand, covered up! Brian got a sweet uppercut in, and scored enough to win the round, 10-2.

I scored the fight 96-95, London, though Flynn outlanded him 277-224. The judges scored the bout 96-95, 94-98 & 96-95, the winner by a split decision, Brian London! I’m not sure why Flynn covered up in the 10th, as that strategy seemed to backfire!

[mikehoudini]

Keith McKnight (7-2 4) vs. James Beattie (3-1 3) – This was truly a Battle of the Titians! The Fighting Knight stood 6’6” and weighed 230, but had to look up at Beattie, who stood 6’8” and weighed 240! Rarely had two men this tall squared off. Often, two men with more girth met, particularly if the fight included Butterbean or Danny Wofford.

Both came in with impressive power credentials, and neither had been knocked off his feet! McKnight had 16 knockdowns in his 9 fights, while Beattie had 5 in 4 fights. The 1st round was low-scoring, 7-6 in favor of McKnight, but indicative of how the fight would go. Beattie landed a savage combination, then reeled back from what appeared to be an intentional head butt, his eye swelling! Nothing was done by the referee, and the action continued, but Beattie’s corner was dismayed. McKnight took advantage of the loss of focus, and hammered home a savage hook.

The 2nd round was a dull 7-2 affair, won by Beattie, as both men stalked and moved and threw punches, most of which didn’t land. The action began to heat up in the 3rd, as Beattie smashed a nice uppercut home, and Keith came back with a booming hook. McKnight arguably won this close 9-8 round, but he clinched a lot, which could affect the judges’ scoring.

The 4th was a donnybrook! McKnight started with a vicious uppercut, followed by a series of hooks, two of which hurt Beattie! Beattie’s eye was swelling even worse, but he nailed Keith with an uppercut on the button, as well as 10 jabs. McKnight scored more points, 18-15, in what was a wild round!

The 5th was all-McKnight, 19-3, as he socked James with a jolting uppercut to start the round, then belted away with 16 good hooks, and landed another sweet uppercut as Beattie’s eye was now a mess.

Tired, James came back in the 6th. McKnight was warned for holding & hitting, then had a point deducted for a head butt that never occurred, according to most observers. He was finding the range with a series of crosses and uppercuts, piling up points, but Beattie rallied, launching a sonic hook that floored McKnight! On the canvas for the first time in his career, he bounded up at the count of 4, a little bewildered. Fortunately for him, Beattie was tired and couldn’t land the big follow-up blow, and the points for the round were 12-11, Beattie!

Both men took the 7th off to rest and regroup, McKnight getting one nice combo in for a 6-4 points advantage. They traded power punches in the 8th, Beattie starting with a combination, Keith answering with one of his own, then Beattie with yet another! McKnight got a searing left in, and the round ended, the points 15-12, Keith! I had McKnight ahead at this stage of the war, the only question being how far ahead, as some of the rounds were very close! At least Beattie’s eye was no worse! The fight crowd were on their feet cheering this exciting contest.

Beattie came out blasting in the 9th, connecting on 10 uppercuts, a ramrod jab and a solid right, winning, 13-2, as McKnight could barely land a blow. Fighting desperately, with a savage fury, Beattie beat McKnight to the punch in the 10th, nailing him flush with an uppercut, then firing off a five punch combination that sent Keith back to the canvas. Unused to being knocked down, McKnight was back up at the count of 2, and caught another searing combination before he could adequately cover up! The round ended with Beattie scoring far more points, 19-2, and feeling jubilant in his comeback!

The color commentator, Jim Trunzo, had McKnight the winner, 95-94, while I had Beattie as the Man, 96-95. Keith had connected on 201 punches, Beattie on 190, including the 2 knockdowns, but this was close in any case, so we went to the only persons whose scoring mattered, the judges! They had it 94-94, 95-93 Beattie & 94-94, a majority draw! So this battle was done but the warriors would fight once again (at least) to see who’d win the war!

[mikehoudini]

While McKnight and Beattie left to recover and get ready for their rematch, the next contest took place.

Danny Wofford (6-6-1 1) vs, Johnny Paychek (3-1 1) - God and the computer alone knew how Danny had made it this far! “Determination” was written on Danny’s stomach, and there was plenty of room for other words, yet he came in at a trim 302! Paychek had fought well in the Thundering 3s, and was Danny in above his head?

Johnny solved Danny’s peculiar but oft effective defense in the 1st, peppering him with 10 hooks for a 10-2 advantage! Landing a picture-perfect hook, as well as many other hooks and crosses, he took the 2nd as well, 14-4, and Danny had dug himself a hole! Danny won a desultory 3rd, 6-4, shining defensively and jabbing when needed.

Paycheck went back to his hook in the 4th, pasting Wofford with 9 of them, but also clinching a lot, as he took the round, 9-4. Danny has a unique abilty to make a puncher look bad! The action heated up in the 5th, Danny firing in 10 jabs and the same number of hooks to build up a nice lead, then Johnny smashing him with a straight right to make it close, 12-10! At the midway point, I had Paychek up by a round.

The 6th was all Paychek, as he apparently solved Danny’s defense, clobbering him with a sweet hook and landing 16 crosses 7 12 hooks, good for an easy 18-6 round. The 7th was more of the same, Johnny hooking and crossing, Danny absorbing the punishment, and it was a 17-2 round. Things looked bad for the plucky slugger!

Danny’s loyal but vocal fans were silenced in a 10-0 8th, as Paycheck landed a gonzo uppercut and evaded all Danny’s efforts. Danny went for broke in the 9th, and instead caught a savage combination that sent him crashing to the canvas. He was up at the count of 8, but things, including the 14-2 points total, looked bad for our hero. It ended in the 10th, as a thunderous punch was thrown, alas not by Danny, and Paychek was the winner by a KO at 0:45 of the 10th. Danny’s amazing run is now is now over, but he went far further than anyone imagined!

[mikehoudini]

To give McKnight and Beattie a little extra time to recover, there was a fight between 2 guys who had been knocked out in the 1st round, a battle of pride.

Gerhard Zeck (0-1) vs. Joe Beckett (3-1 2) – Zeck banged a big hook in to start the fight, and soon after drove Beckett to the canvas with a wicked body shot! Joe was up at the count of 8, and absorbed more punishment, a series of hooks and uppercuts, but survived the round, 19-0, to not suffer the ignominy of being KOd twice in a row in the 1st round! The 2nd round was slower, Beckett staying on the defensive, but a searing combination got through near the bell to put him on ths short end again, 11-6!

Beckett landed 2 strong blows in the 3rd, but Zeck’s one was a doozy, as Joe was floored for a 4 count by a savage hook! Zeck took the round, 13-8. and arguably took a close 4th, 10-9, as he landed a nice combination, but Joe came back with a super hook! Zexk dominated the 5th, 13-4, landing a bevy of uppercuts and a jolting cross, and he had a huge lead as they reached halfway!

Beckett came back to take the 6th, 11-6, landing a monster uppercut, but he couldn’t do much in a dull 7-7 7th! Things were right in the 8th until he landed a big left, capturing the round, 11-6, but he was still way down.

Going for broke, he ran into 2 gigantic uppercuts tossed by Zeck, then a jarring left, and was in big trouble! Zeck floored him with another uppercut for a 6 count, then put him down and out with a crushing combination! The points were 36-0 at the time, Zeck being the winner by KO at 2:58 of the 9th! Vindication was earned by the valiant german, while Beckett earned a long vacation!

[mikehoudini]

The McKnight-Beattie rematch closed out the night, and it started off with a bang, as there was no need for any feeling the other fighter out! They traded punches in the 1st, Keith with 12 hooks, James with 11 uppercuts. Beattie connected as well on a smashing uppercut and bone-jarring hook, and finished the round ahead 23-10 on the strength of a sweet combination that floored Keith for a 7 count, similar to the one that’d decked him in Round 10 of their draw! Keith also suffered a cut above his right eyebrow, and the fight was halted temporarily. Beattie had been on the losing end in the 1st round of their prior battle with a swollen eye. Would this cut play a role as the fight unfurled?

Holding his hands low to begin the 2nd, Keith threw a bunch of uppercuts, some of which got through, and a right that dazed Beattie. James came back in the last 30 seconds, but McKnight outpointed him 11-6. The 3rd was a huge round for McKnight, as he was protecting his cut by pummeling Beattie. He landed a gonzo cross as the round started, then found the range with hook after hook, 14 in all, one that had Beattie clutching the ropes for support in a 19-0 round!

Continuing his onslaught in the 4th, Keith went to his uppercut, banging 11 of them home along with a ripping combination, and he took this round easily, 14-5. His punching in the last 3 rounds clearly gave him the momentum!

But momentum is a fickle thing, and Beattie caught him flush on the jaw with an uppercut to open the 5th, then swarmed all over him with 12 crosses and two damaging hooks, good for a 20-4 momentum-breaking round! McKnight was covering up at the end of the round to escape further punishment! I had the fight even at the halfway point!

McKnight landed the first big blow in the 6th, a rocking right, but Beattie answered with another of his big combinations. He then walloped Keith with a hook, and Keith’s cut was reopened and checked by the doctor. The cut deemed not sufficient to stop the bout, McKnight felt a sense of urgency and plastered Beattie with a hook, and Big Jim tasted the canvas for the first time in his career! He waited and arose at the 8 count, and parried McKnight’s bombs for the remainder of the round, losing, 13-8.

Keith hammered a sweet combination home to start the 7th, but Beattie again responded after blocking the next few attempts, delivering a wake-up hook! Big Jim connected on a signature uppercut, and then stunned Keith with a huge right! McKnight might have gone down then, but caught a major break, as Beattie winced after connecting on another punch, and he appeared to have hurt his left hand! Beattie outscored Keith for the round, 20-8, but how bad was that hand?

The pace couldn’t continue, and it didn’t, as both warriors tried to catch their breath in the 8th. Beattie got a huge uppercut in just before the bell sounded to take the round, 11-6! I had the fight very close, maybe even even, at this juncture.

McKnight’s right eye was now swelling as they came out for the 9th, and soon he was bleeding, as his mouth was cut by a vicious head, body, head combination. He connected with a few punches, then Beattie threw a laser straight right that staggered Keith for a moment, and then the cut over his eye reopened. Beattie was ahead, 15-5, and this time the doctor stopped the fight, so Beattie was declared the winner by a TKO at 1:46 of the 9th!

It was a spectacular fight, the momentum shifting, much as their first brawl, and neither man deserved to lose! McKnight landed more punches, 218 to 189, using hooks and uppercuts for half his blows. Beattie landed more power punches, and it was a shame that this fight couldn’t have continued on without a cuts stoppage!

After warring for 19 rounds, both fighters praised each other, and they hugged, too drained to retain any animosity. When asked if he’d grant McKnight a rematch, Beattie replied “Certainly, but I’m no idiot. It won’t be for a while, as he took me to my limit! I want to finish this challenge set, and it wouldn’t be sporting to take him on until his cuts have healed. He’s a great fighter, and I’m in no hurry for another war right now!” The fans went home happy after their two wars, and McKnight can take pride in a great performance!

[mikehoudini]

There has been a few days delay in posting and it will continue a few more, as my Aunt Pat passed away up in my hometown, Frederick. She was either 79 or 80, and had been in a nursing home for 3 years suffering from a type of palsy that robbed her of her balance and ability to speak. She could understand everything, but couldn't really communicate her thoughts. While her time of passing was imminent, it still is hard on those of us who cared for her. She loved my annual crab feast, as crabs and beer were two of her favorites!

Her funeral is tomorrow, so, soon after, I hope to get back in the swing of things, possibly finishing the Thundering Threes challenge matches and starting up the Fantastic Fours

[Romdawg88]

Sorry, to hear that man. Best wishes to you and your family.

[mikehoudini]

Originally Posted by Romdawg88

Sorry, to hear that man. Best wishes to you and your family.

Thanks, Romy. Aunt Pat is now in a better place, though we all still were sad at her passing. We had a typical Irish wake afterwards, with the O'Connors, O'Learys, McCaffreys and Murphys. I kidded some out of towners that there was a huge sinkhole that had just occurred that would affect their driving route to the Baltimore airport. In a truth is stranger than fiction, the next morning there in fact was a sinkhole that caused a 5-8 mile delay on a major highway, the one I had used to get there for the funeral. If it had occurred 24 hours earlier, several of us would have missed the funeral, and they'd have had to scramble around for pall bearers.

In any event, thanks again, and the challenge matches are continuing, and I'm sure one of your guys may be in one!

[mikehoudini]

Two challengers, namely Brian London and James Beattie, have advanced to the Elite Eight. London is due to meet Ed Mahone, who has already challenged Imamu Mayfield (who London beat earlier in the challenge rounds), while Beattie is scheduled to meet the Tourney champion, Jeremy Williams, who would only agree to this match if it were a non-title one! Finally, John Holman’s challenge in this round was accepted by Johnny Paychek, so there will be four fights, with Mahone needing to win both of his in order to advance.

[mikehoudini]

Ed Mahone (4-2 4) vs. Imamu Mayfield (5-2-1 3) – Mahone had hammered Mayfield before Imamu surprised all with his 6th round KO. Ed started off with a fury, banging home a cranium-cruncher to start the fight. Rocking Imamu with a hook, he further punished him with a smoking straight left, good for a 14-6 start!

Mayfiled boxed beautifully in the 2nd, landing uppercut after uppercut. Only a booming hook following many misses kept Mahone close, 12-8. Angry at having lost a round, and frustrated for over 2 minutes in the 3rd by Mayfield’s defense, Mahone finally blasted a hook home to take the 3rd, 11-4.

Mayfield came back with 2 nice minutes in the 4th, then ran into a Mahone uppercut and, worse, dropped after a bell-beating cross for a 3 count, so the points scoring for the round was 10-8, Mahone. Imamu had wasted a golden opportunity to capture the 4th and even the fight!

The 5th was a slugfest. Imamu landed 10 hooks, but the power punches were all Mahone’s. He landed a searing combination, a brutal left hook to the body, and jarring uppercut, landing 10 combinations & 12 uppercuts that round, good for a 23-14 advantage! As an added benefit, Imamu’s right eye was swelling badly, but he had a good corner man, Ace Morotta, waiting to work his magic!

Ace did well, but Imamu was pasted with punch after punch in the 6th. Mahone hammered him with 15 uppercuts and 11 hooks, making Mayfield’s eye swell further with two vicious combos and a savage cross. 25-8, Mahone, for the round. The 7th was almost a carbon copy, 23-7, Mahone delivering a gonzo cross to open the round, and soon after a searing right hook that drove Mayfield back! Imamu bloodied Ed’s nose with a hook of his own, then tasted the canvas after an angry Ed fired a ferocious shot to the body! Up at the count of 9, Imamu was happy when the bell rang!

Needing a knockout, just like their last fight, Mayfield went for broke, and connected with a powerful combination that sent Mahone topsy-turvy. Barely getting up at the count of 9, Ed as always eschewed covering up and met Mayfield’s charge with a booming left! Trading punches, Mahone’s was far the better, as he landed his own combination, and Imamu was the one to drop! Up after an 8 count, he caught another combination and sagged and dropped again!

Somehow, Mayfield regained his feet, and the round was set to end, but Mahone clocked him with a cross just as the round ended. Mayfield lay there, battered, as the ref counted him out. Mahone was declared the winner by a KO at 3:00 of the 8th! Leading 34-12 in the 8th and way ahead on all cards, he handily avenged his prior loss! The beating he had given Mayfield in the 5th through 8th rounds was brutal!

[mikehoudini]

Brian London (3-1) vs. Ed (The Hammer) Mahone (5-2 5) – They had both taken care of Imamu Mayfield, and guest commentator Danny Cahalin figured this would be an interesting match-up, though he wouldn’t predict a winner!

London landed a lashing hook to open the bout, and soon after a smashing uppercut. The Hammer took these blows, then connected with an uppercut of his own that rocked Brian back! Throwing combination after combination, he had London a bit dazed at round’s end, a 20-11 affair! Mahone continued to pound London with heavy shots in winning the 2nd, 15-6. An uppercut, a winged right and a ferocious cross had London in a bad way.

London blocked Mahone’s bomb to start the 3rd, and answered with a crushing combination. Landing 48 punches for the round, including 16 crosses, London poured it on, rocking Ed with a straight right and uppercut, then belting him with a hook to win in dominating fashion, 25-0! What a turnaround!

Mahone’s left eye was swelling badly even as the 4th began, so he came out smoking, firing a booming hook to the body that would have crumpled a lesser foe! London took this punch and hit a wide open Mahone with a sweet cross that sent him heels over head! Up at the count of 9, Ed refused to cover up, and waded in, just as he had with Mayfield. London poured in punch after punch, and their cumulative effect was telling, so much so that the ref stopped the fight, declaring London the winner by a TKO at 2:39 of the 4th!

Mahone’s corner was incensed, but their man had taken quite a pasting in the 3rd and 4th, and the stoppage may well have prevented more serious damage. Still, Mahone said he’ll be looking for a rematch! London has done well, advancing to the Final Four, so any rematch isn’t imminent!

[mikehoudini]

John Holman (4-2 2) vs. Johnny Paychek (4-1 2) – They had ought a very close first match, and guest commentator Andreas Raht noted that both men came into the ring with determined expressions on their faces. Paychek opened this bout quickly, slugging Holman with a cross, which Holman answered with one just as powerful. Holman then put on a boxing clinic, connecting 49 times, 14 each being jabs and combinations, and he won decisively, 17-6.

The 2nd round was much more defensive, both fighters parrying and missing and moving. Holman landed just enough at the end to arguably take the round, 8-6. Holman landed a telling combination in the 3rd, but Paychek found the range with 11 crosses, taking the round, 11-8.

Holman got a straight right home to begin the 4th, and was active in building up a nice lead through the 2 minute mark, but Paychek then stepped inside and delivered a paralyzing uppercut that toppled Holman! John got to his knees, but couldn’t make it upright and, that quickly, it was over, Paychek the winner by a KO at 2:41 of the 4th!

James Beattie (4-1-1 4) vs. CH Jeremy (Half-Man, Half-Amazing) Williams (6-0 4) – Beattie had fought extremely well in advancing this far via the challenge route. Williams had no intention of accepting this bout, but was forced to, since Beattie had won challenge matches in each of the prior rounds. He did insist that his title was not on the line, and Beattie agreed, eager just to fight!

Andreas Raht again was the guest commentator, and mentioned the two battles Beattie had fought with Keith McKnight, and how impressed he had been by Beattie’s punching power.

Big Jim was aggressive as the bout commenced. He caught Williams with a ferocious cross in the first minute after a short feeling-out period. Connecting on a series of lesser crosses, he found another opening and hammered Jeremy with a sweet combination, then a right that rocked Jeremy back on his heels! Showing no respect for the champion, Beattie shocked the crowd by flooring him for a 7 count! While Williams avoided any more serious damage, he took a lot cumulatively, losing the round 27-0, landing no punches!

The one minute respite between rounds did little for the champ, as Beattie connected on a wicked five punch combination to start the 2nd, and Jeremy was back on the canvas! He was up, barely, at the count of 9, and Beattie had plenty of time to finish Williams, if he could be patient!

Jeremy covered up, and Andreas noted that Beattie was patient, as he set himself up, found an opening, and blasted a hook past Jeremy’s gloves that moved him back. Pouncing like a big cat, Beattie went upstairs, downstairs and back up again with a searing combination, and Williams dropped again, like my stocks have done all year! Courageous, he was up at the count of 3, and Beattie continued to move and punch when he saw an opening! After another big hit, he implored the ref to stop the fight, and the ref did, Beattie the winner by a TKO at 1:36 of the 2nd! He was leading 26-0 at the time, and Williams had yet to connect with a punch!

Beattie had pounded Williams, landing 72 punches to 0, yet he seemed to hold a little back as he begged the ref to stop it. Had this been a fight with Williams’ title on the line, Andreas questioned if the ref would have stopped it this quickly! He was quick to add that, with so much time left in the 2nd round, the decision was warranted here! Beattie now has 11 knockdowns in 7 fights, and has only been knocked down once! As mentioned before, he did well enough in another 60s uni to challenge Muhammad Ali for the title!

So London and Beattie have advanced to the Final Four, and the reigning champion has been ousted along the way!

[mikehoudini]

Brian London and James Beattie have fought their way to the semifinals in the challenges version of the Thundering Threes Tourney. London put away a game Ed Mahone, while Beattie demolished the champion, Jeremy Williams. And, in a Mike error, Johnny Paychek was the challenger and conqueror of John Holman, and not vice versa, so he advances.

This is gonna get a bit tricky. Brian London will be taking on Fabio Moli. James Beattie should have taken on Johnny Paychek, but in fact fought John Holman, so he’ll have to go back, maybe tonight, and fight Paychek! It was a tough week for me last week, so I’m writing up the challenge matches that were held, even though at least one needs to be done against the right fighter, so Beattie either lucks out (if he lost to Holman) or has to fight again (if he beat Holman). Anywho, here’s how the semi semi-finals played out:

Brian London (4-1 1) vs. Fabio Moli (6-1-1 3) – London attacked the bigger man from the opening bell! Jolting him with his first punch, he backed Moli up with a nice left, a bruising combination, and finally a searing cross! The 1st round was all London, 18-3, and Moli knew he was in for a fight!

Brian was even better in the 2nd, landing 50 punches, cutting Moli on the forehead, and rocking him with a straight right and then another right. He connected on 13 hooks and 12 crosses in a marvelous display of boxing, winning 23-4! London was tired after hammering Fabio through the opening rounds, and Moli deftly won a dull 3rd, 6-4.

Rested, London tattooed Fabio with 52 punches in the 4th, for a 20-11 round, and Fabio’s cut was reopened twice, the fight halted temporarily the 2nd time. Fabio landed a booming hook to the body, but London’s incessant hooks and uppercuts had him in a bad way!

Hands low and still bleeding, Fabio showed the moxie in the 5th that got him to the finals, landing a jarring hook and 10 combinations to outbox London, 11-7. Despite the beating he had received, he was only a point down! He started off great in the 6th, with another big hook, and had a nice lead going, but London rallied in the last minute with a series of uppercuts, one of which caused another halt to check the reopened cut. The point total were 12-10, London, on the basis of his rally, and Fabio’s cut was definitely worse!

Moli won the 7th, 11-6, keeping the fight close, and benefited when London was cut inside his left eyebrow by an accidental head butt. London was infuriated by what he thought was an intentional head butt, and came out slugging in the 8th, bashing Moli with a left and a crushing cross, connecting on 11 uppercuts, and dominating the round, 14-2!

In the 9th, Moli’s cut was reopened yet again at the start of the round and the fight was stopped, London declared the winner by a TKO on cuts at 0:51 of the 9th! Moli was unhappy with the stoppage, but the cut was a mess, and London had outpunched him, 252-138, and was leading at the time of the stoppage. London said he’ll consider a rematch, but still was unhappy at the head butt!