Thanksgiving Tournament of the Turkeys

[mikehoudini]

Boone Kirkman (6-1 1) vs. Luis Firpo (5-3 5) – Kirkman had defended himself in one challenge match, then used his boxing skills to beat Leon Spinks, John Lester Johnson, George Chaplin and Mario Schiesser to get to this Final Four matchup! Firpo was chafing at the bit after granting, and losing, two challenge matches, even though he needn’t have granted either. He just wanted to fight! His main fan, Bear from Bears Unstable, couldn’t make the fight, as his team was in the playoffs in the UTBA II. This fight shaped up as a classic boxer-slugger bout. Who would win?

Boone opened with a sharp left. Luis just shrugged and smiled, then bore in and connected with a straight right! Kirkman landed a hook and a jab, then Firpo clobbered him with a left hook to the body. Boone was shaken, and Firpo threw two huge crosses, and Boone staggered around as the round ended, on the short end, 18-8!

The second verse (well, round) was same as the first! Firpo won, 20-7, landing 34 times, 11 being uppercuts. He again had Kirkman almost out after a booming uppercut, a sonic right to the head and a vicious combination! Few thought Boone would be around much longer.

Boone’s left eye was beginning to swell as the 3rd started. He landed a few punches, then caught a Firpo hook and cross, and the eye was now much worse! He landed a sweet straight right of his own that backed the Wild Bull up, then the two exchanged blows the rest of the round. Kirkman landed more, 35-31, but may have lost the round on points, 16-14.

Kirkman’s eye swelled even more in the 4th, not helped by a Firpo savage combination. No quitter, Boone exchanged punches with Firpo, not necessarily the best strategy. Firpo landed 38 this round, Boone 35, and the crowd was on their feet when Kirkman floored the Bull for a 4 count at round’s end, earning a 16-16 points total! The fans were getting their money’s worth, but would that knockdown slow Luis down?

Boone was cautious in the 5th, and Firpo swarmed in and banged away, connecting 37 times, 11 being uppercuts. Boone was apparently biding his time, but the collective toll of the punches he was catching was alarming. He jabbed nicely to keep the round closer, 15-9, but his endurance was almost gone!

The Wild Bull of the Pampas sensed blood, and lashed out with a jarring hook to begin the 6th! He battered poor Kirkman without mercy, landing 40 blows, turning Boone's legs to jelly with a searing shot, then hurting him even more with two sets of combinations. Firpo won easily, 21-2, and Boone’s eye was a mess. It remined me of a saying we have at work. “The beatings will continue until morale improves!” Kirkman was taking a real drubbing, but did have that one knockdown!

The relentless Firpo bored in in the 7th, and Kirkman tried to keep him at bay. Boone’s eye was almost shut, he was exhausted, yet he somehow had enough instinct to slip and block punches, counter occasionally, and keep the round close, 9-6, and his head was still on his shoulders!

Luis went for the knockout in the 8th. Desperate, down at least 68-65, Kirkman threw caution to the winds and came out swinging himself. He caught the charging Firpo with a crushing cross, and Luis dropped like the stock market this week! The crowd was shouting, Kirkman standing in a corner wearily catching his breath, as the referee counted Firpo out for a KO at 1:25 of the 8th for Boone Kirkman! Luis had outlanded him, 235-172, had had many more power punches, but Boone had seized the moment and landed the perfect shot!

It was another disappointing moment for Firpo, who as always pleased the crowd, and Boone won his 5th successive challenge match and advances now to the finals!

[mikehoudini]

Sante Amonti (5-1 3) vs. Coley Wallace (6-1-2 1) - It turns out that Wallace has advanced by mistake. Jesse Ferguson won a challenge match and took on Wallace, who won, so Wallace was erroneously allowed to fight in the next round and beat Stan Ward. I’m not sure if Amonti should have fought Ward, Gus Dorazio or Wallace, but Coley’s the one who had this match, so it will stand, I guess, as he beat Ward and Dorazio.

They traded leather in an active first round, Sante connecting 30 times, Coley 36. Coley reached Sante 3 times with power shots, throwing two devastating rights and a combination, and he carried the round, 19-11, on that power display! Wallace opened the 2nd with a nice cross, Amonti came back with one of his own and a sweet hook, but Wallace rallied to take the round, 14-10, on a sweet last-second uppercut that backed Amonti up.

The 3rd was more of a defensive round, but Wallace snuck a solid blow in, which Sante answered with another big hook and, at round’s end, an uppercut of his own to win, 12-8. Wallace came on like gangbusters in the 4th, landing two jarring bombs, a hook and a right, and firing his laser-like jab in 21 times among the 51 punches he connected on, dominating, 24-6!

Amonti was exhausted in the 5th after the beating he took the round before, but Coley was arm-weary from throwing so many punches, so it was a quiet 6-2 round punctuated by leaning and misses. Sante rallied in the 6th, catching Coley with a sizzling hook to open the round. Coley landed a brutal hook to the body, but Sante peppered him with a variety of punches. Only a last second left by Wallace made it close, 15-11! I had Wallace up by 2 rounds at the midway point.

Sante continued his charge in the 7th, landing 34 times, one a sweet uppercut, and won another, 14-8. Somehow he kept it going in the 8th, though he was clearly tired, as he rocked Wallace with a hook and a sweet straight right en route to a 14-5 round! I had it all even at this point!

Wallace still had something left in the tank, landing a jarring jab early in the 9th, then two wicked combinations. Amonti retaliated with a smashing uppercut, but Coley rocked him back with a left and took the round convincingly, 19-8! Coley landed the best punch of the fight early in the 10th, a blazing combination, and Sante crumpled to the canvas! He made it up at the count of 8, and somehow avoided further damage, slipping or dodging Wallace’s attempts to end the contest. The round ended 11-2, and Amonti was in trouble.

Amonti was game in the 11th, but Wallace was in control, landing 35 times and piling up a 14-5 points advantage. Sante belted Wallace with a ferocious hook in the 10th, but Coley kept his feet and avoided all further bombs, losing the round, 10-2, but not too worried.

I had Wallace winning, 115-112. He outlanded Sante, 284-236, had many more power punches as well as the big knockdown. The judges scored the fight 115-112, Wallace, 114-114 and 115-113, for Coley Wallace, the winner by a majority decision! The fans applauded both fighters for their spirited contest!

So now Boone Kirkman will take on Coley Wallace in the Challenge Match finals!

[mikehoudini]

Boone Kirkman (7-1 2) vs. Coley Wallace (7-1-2 1) – Boone had made an unbelievable comeback to stop Luis Firpo, while Coley had whipped Sante Amonti. With two boxers matching up, this fight looked like it would go the distance, but Kirkman did put away Firpo, so one never knows.

They alternated the first 4 rounds, Coley doing some damage with a straight right and a super combination, Boone landing 2 sweet hooks. The scoring, Kirkman first, was 3-8, 14-6, 6-15 & 10-2. Boone unloaded with an uppercut to open the 5th, later connecting on a searing straight right and with a wicked combination. Landing 37 times, he ruled the round, 18-6. He landed an uppercut to open the 6th, and Coley’s right eye was swelling. Wallace went on the attack with a wicked hook and an uppercut, and won the round, 12-6, evening the fight!

Boone’s hook was finding the range in the 7th, one a major shot, and Kirkman cruised, 12-2, while Coley’s eye was getting worse. Wallace came out swinging in the 8th, but caught a smashing cross, and he dropped for a 5 count! Boone poured it on, landing 41 punches for the round, many being crosses, and only a late rally made it respectable, 19-7!

Down and tired, Coley tried to mount a KO attack in the 9th, opening with a solid uppercut. But Boone dodged his other bombs, then his hook flashed and Coley dropped again. He was up at the count of 6, and avoided further damage, but lost the round on points, 9-4, and the two knockdowns had put him in a deep hole.

Wallace landed a booming hook in the 10th, causing Kirkman to cover up, and that strategy was successful. Boone lost the round, 11-4, but weathered the storm and still had a big lead. Coley opened the 11th with a sonic left, and tried to press his advantage, but Kirkman boxed nicely, countering with a sweet combination and then launching a cross that almost dropped Coley again! Boone won the round, 14-10, and Coley’s eye was even worse.

Needing a KO in the 12th, Wallace walloped away, but Boone slipped, blocked or dodged all of them, and pecked his way to a shutout round, 7-0. I scored the fight for Kirkman, 116-110, and the judges agreed. In a matchup of clever boxers, he dominated the 2nd half of the fight, completing his run through the challenge matches, virtually ensuring a spot in the next tournament with his fine showing!

[mikehoudini]

Alex Miteff (4-2-1 3) Champion vs. Cedric Boswell (7-1 5) – Miteff had shocked Boswell during the challenge matches, dethroning him. Graciously granting a rematch, it remained to be seen if his win was a fluke. Alex had drawn, lost a split decision to and then KOd in 10 Tandberg, their common opponent, while Boswell had scored a 4th round KO.

The bell rang and the two circled each other. Each feinted but both were cautious. Then Miteff saw an opening and fired a shot, and Boswell dropped like Wall Street. He was counted out, and Miteff was the winner and still champion with a KO at 0:42 of the opening round! It was a shockingly quick finish and signified the end of the Fantastic 4s matches.

Now it’ll be on to the Fabulous 5s (yay or snore say the readers)! And I've hit 600 posts!

[Jersey-Jim]

Originally Posted by mikehoudini

Alex Miteff (4-2-1 3) Champion vs. Cedric Boswell (7-1 5) – Miteff had shocked Boswell during the challenge matches, dethroning him. Graciously granting a rematch, it remained to be seen if his win was a fluke. Alex had drawn, lost a split decision to and then KOd in 10 Tandberg, their common opponent, while Boswell had scored a 4th round KO.

The bell rang and the two circled each other. Each feinted but both were cautious. Then Miteff saw an opening and fired a shot, and Boswell dropped like Wall Street. He was counted out, and Miteff was the winner and still champion with a KO at 0:42 of the opening round! It was a shockingly quick finish and signified the end of the Fantastic 4s matches.

Now it’ll be on to the Fabulous 5s (yay or snore say the readers)! And I've hit 600 posts!

I'm glad Wall Street was counted out!

[mikehoudini]

Originally Posted by Jersey-Jim

I'm glad Wall Street was counted out!

They are still counting Wall Street out. I was in angst trying to decide if I was going to retire January 2. Now that decision has been taken out of my hands for a few years or more!

[mikehoudini]

After a bit of a delay (okay, a long delay), I am very close to beginning the Fabulous Fives tournament. There were 63 Level 5 fighters that I found, and I’ll be conducting 6 box-in fights, featuring 7 Level 4 boxers and 5 randomly-selected Level 5 fighters.

The Level 4 fighters are Cedric Boswell, who won the Fantastic Fours tourney, Luis Firpo, who lost in the championship (and then several times in the challenge matches) and whose every fight was exciting, Mario Schiesser and Stan Ward, who lost in the semifinals, Boone Kirkman, who fought his way through the challenge matches, Coley Wallace, who lost to Kirkman in the challenge final and Alex Miteff, who dethroned Boswell and is the reigning Level 4 champion!

Ward’s fights all were about as exciting as watching cement dry, while the others all had some exciting bouts. I’ll choose the forum, unless someone out there has a preferred one, and we’ll get this started in the next day or so with the Box-in pairings! I hope there are still some viewers out there!

[mikehoudini]

Here is the draw for the 6 bout box-in round:

Alex Miteff (5-2-1 4, level 4 CH) vs. John Tate
Mario Schiesser (5-2-1 1) vs. Cesar Brion
Coley Wallace (7-2-2 1) vs. Orlin Norris
Boone Kirkman (8-1 2) vs. Buddy Baer
Stan Ward (4-2-1) vs. Luis Angel Firpo (5-4 5)
Cedric Boswell (7-2 5) vs. Carl Morris

How many of the Level 4 fighters will make it past this round?

[mikehoudini]

Alex Miteff (5-2-1 4, level 4 CH) vs. John Tate – Alex came in for this fight, held on July 1 at Comiskey Park in Shy-town, ready to rumble, having demolished Cedric Boswell in their rematch! In the first round, he demonstrated an incredible ability to smash Tate’s gloves with his face! Hammered with a jarring uppercut to open the fight, he stood there as Tate belted him with a sweet cross, then two more zapping uppercuts, and finally a monster hook.

The referee invoked the mercy or slaughter rule and called the fight, the points being then 30-0, so big John Tate won with a TKO at 2:51 of the first! Tate landed all 54 of his punches. Alex was equally consistent, missing on each of his 36 attempts. Miteff came in ready to rumble. He left ready to crumble, looking a lot like one very aptly-named Eric Crumble, a super-middleweight who went 0-31, being stopped 31 times, a true candidate for Bear’s Tomato Can thread!

Not a good start for the Level 4 fighters, to make an understatement!

[mikehoudini]

Mario Schiesser (5-2-1 1) vs. Cesar Brion – Schiesser started a little better than Alex Miteff had in the previous fight, as he at least lasted the 1st round, though being outpointed, 22-6. Brion connected 58 times, then came out charging and landing in the 2nd, hammering Mario with hooks. Schiesser rallied in the second half of the round with a series of crosses, and arguably won the round, 12-10. It was shaping up as more of a fight!

Brion landed 2 colossal punches in the 3rd, a cross and an uppercut, and Schiesser was staggered, but held on and got in some rabbit punching, earning himself a warning! Cesar’s 13 jabs paved the way to a clear 15-5 round. Cesar boxed nicely in the 4th, landing his punches more frequently. His hooks & uppercuts resulted in a 12-7 round.

Brion belted Mario with another sweet uppercut in the 5th. Mario retaliated by grabbing him, then getting warned for holding and hitting. Continuing his roughhouse tactics, Mario landed 11 crosses and 36 punches total, to take a needed round, maybe, 15-13, withstanding a late super hook!

His endurance squandered when the 6th commenced, Mario took a shellacking, losing 19-2. He was staggered by a hook, one of 14 that Cesar connected on, and the round ended with Mario’s left eye being badly swollen. Feeling a sense of urgency, he came out swinging in the 7th, alas, first holding Brion, and he was penalized a point. The two traded punches, Cesar landing a vicious hook to the body, and he took the round, 13-11, as Mario’s eye was getting even worse!

Brion took advantage of Schiesser’s hampered vision, rocking him with a left to open the 8th. He landed 46 more times, virtually closing the eye, pounding home hook after hook, good for a 20-4 mauling! The beating continued in the 9th, though Mario’s morale didn’t improve (slight takeoff on a saying we have at work “The beatings will continue until morale improves”). Mario came out with his hands low, and Cesar got in some punching practice, teeing off 38 times, almost ending it with a savage combination. The points went 22-6, and most of the fans were wondering why the ref didn’t stop the fight!

Cyclops Schiesser was valiant in the 10th, lashing out with a giant hook after catching an even more daunting one to start the round. Mario landed a few times and was rallying, far too little, too late, but a wicked combination that he never saw ended the round, Brion the 14-8 winner. Brion won the fight, 99-92, 98-92 & 98-92. He outlanded the game Mario, 376-203, and dominated the last half of the fight!

So the Level 4 boys are 0 for 2 so far!

[mikehoudini]

Coley Wallace (7-2-2 1) vs. Orlin Norris – When the Night Train came out with a savage left hook to the body to open the fight, it looked like déjà vu all over again! But the canny Coley recovered and boxed beautifully, ripping 12 jabs home among his 33 punches that landed, and he took the round, 11-6!

Coley landed the telling blow in a defensive 2nd, a ferocious hook, and he claimed that round as well, 9-6. The 3rd was another low-scoring affair, Norris being warned for holding & hitting, Coley connecting on a sweet right. Norris may have won this pick ‘em round, 9-8!

The 4th started out as a carbon copy of the prior two rounds, but Norris saw an opening and blasted Wallace with a cross that left him a bit loopy. He landed a series of uppercuts, pressing his advantage, and then decked Coley with a combination as the round was ending. Coley was up at the count of 2, way in trouble, on Bink Street, even, but the round ended to save him!

The Night Train charged out to open the 5th and ran right into a searing left! Coley then peppered his foe with a series of jabs (19 in all) & combinations (13), landing 53 times en route to pitching a shutout, 20-0! I had Wallace the leader at the midway point!

Norris rallied in the 6th with a nice left, and jabbed effectively, respecting how his tactics had misfired the previous round. He outpointed Wallace, 10-9, in another even round, Coley hurting him with a solid uppercut as the round ended. Coley caught him with a sonic left to open the 7th, and connected time after time. He almost floored Norris with a cross, then caught a sweet hook to the body, but came back with a ripping combination, taking the round, 19-6! He was extending his lead on my card with his solid boxing.

Coley was fatigued coming out for the 8th, and Norris sought to take advantage of that. It was an even round, but Norris flashed his power with a booming hook, and Wallace was wobbly. Norris won the round, 12-6, and the issue was who had something left in the tank as the 9th opened. The Night Train was roaring, and a devastating blow to the body floored Wallace. He stood at the count of 4, but was rocked by a sizzling straight right. He landed a huge hook of his own at the end of the round, but came out on the short end, 18-4!

Norris blasted path Wallace’s defenses in the 10th, ripping a savage combination in, as well as some lighter blows. As the round was ending, he tagged an exhausted Wallace with a hook, and Coley rested for a 7 count! The 21-2 shellacking, after a similar one in the 9th, almost guaranteed Norris the win.

I scored it 95-93, Norris the winner, as Coley’s lead evaporated with the 2 knockdowns. The judges scored it a unanimous 96-92 win for Orlin Norris. His comeback in the 8th through 10th was the margin of victory. Wallace had made a good showing until he tired, but the Level 4 boys were now 0-3!

[mikehoudini]

Boone Kirkman (8-1 2) vs. Buddy Baer – Baer came out blasting, socking Kirkman with a hook. Boone fought back, landing a vicious combination that caused a major cut over Buddy’s right eye. Never cautious, Baer through any defensive strategy to the winds, slamming home a solid left. Boone showed his fortitude, willing to slug it out with Baer, and landed a sweet hook, then a gonzo straight right at the bell that slowed big Buddy down! Kirkman took the round, 16-10, and the crowd cheered both men!

Buddy landed a few punches early in the 2nd, while Boone was trying to ward off his attempts and counter. Boone missed with a cross, and Baer slammed a hook home to the body. Boone winced and dropped to the canvas, in great pain! The fans stood there, shocked, as Kirkman was counted out, though he almost beat the count. The brutal body blow brought Baer a KO win at 1:46 of the 2nd!

Kirkman was dejected in a post-fight interview, acknowledging that he had got careless and given Baer an opening, and paid the price. He said he hoped for a rematch, but realized that the prospects for such may be remote. The Level 4 fighters are now 0 and 4. One will win for sure in the next fight, as the contestants are both Level 4!

[CONN CHRIS]

Mel Turnbow Boxer History, Facts, and News



Look at the bottom Mike. Recent 'news' concerning Mel!

[mikehoudini]

Originally Posted by CONN CHRIS

Mel Turnbow Boxer History, Facts, and News



Look at the bottom Mike. Recent 'news' concerning Mel!

Unbelievable! Who'd have thunk it? We are keeping our main man in the limelight! As we are Danny Wofford! Maybe I need to have them challenge in the Fab 5s! Thanks, Chris

[mikehoudini]

Stan Ward (4-2-1) vs. Luis Angel Firpo (5-4 5) – To date, every fight involving Firpo was a crowd-pleaser, and every one in which Ward fought was a crowd-snoozer. Which type would prevail in this contest between a classic boxer and a wild slugger?

The Wild Bull rushed out at the opening bell and connected with a pile-driving uppercut, sending Stan against the ropes! Luis pressed his attack, while Ward used ring movement, blocking the bombs and landing jabs and crosses as counters. This technique was successful, and Stan made a major comeback to seal the round, 14-5!

Firpo picked up a warning in the 2nd, a round dominated by clinches. He landed a major hook, and took the stanza, 11-4. Ward used his rapier-like jab and crosses to control the 3rd, 15-8, and Firpo was bleeding badly from a cut inside his mouth. Ward was fighting a controlled fight to this point, seemingly in command.

Throwing caution to the winds, like always, Firpo landed a straight right flush, following with a massive cranium-crusher! Landing 47 times, including a sweet hook and savage combination, he almost got a stoppage, winning 25-2, and Ward had substantial swelling forming under his right eye. The Wild Bull was not to be denied!

When Luis landed another monster uppercut to open the 5th, many felt the fight was all but over, but Ward clinched and moved, getting the cobwebs out, and came back to make the round respectable, 10-6! Firpo clinched for most of the 6th, once pounding Ward with a cross, and won an ugly round, 8-2, as Stan’s eye was swelling even worse!

Stan rallied in the 7th, avoiding most of Firpo’s shots, but two giant uppercuts got through his defenses, one at round’s end, and it was an 8-8 pick-em round. Ward showed moxie in the 8th. Dead tired, he was tagged by a gargantuan hook, and his eye was now a mess, but he jabbed and landed crosses to take the round on my card, 10-9.

Luis was fresher in the 9th, getting yet another uppercut home, and carried the day, 11-6. Stan rallied and fought a spirited 10th, landing a few nice shots, but a Firpo combination at the end made Luis the leader on points, 8-6.

I had Firpo the winner, 97-94. The judges scored it 97-94, 96-95 & 96-95, a split decision for…Luis Firpo! Ward landed more punches, but Firpo all the power shots, and judge 2 must have been watching another fight! This was Firpo’s first win that went the distance. As promised, a level 4 fighter finally advanced. Will his fan Bear be there for his next contest?

[mikehoudini]

Cedric Boswell (7-2 5) vs. Carl Morris - Carl stunned Cedric with a booming jab to open the fight, then stepped in and threw a wicked hook, and Boswell fell like McCain! Staggering to his feet at the count of 8, he was blasted by a cross and almost dropped again. Morris landed a blistering combination, but Boswell somehow had just enough left to survive until the bell rand, losing big-time, 21-2. It looked like a short night was in store for the Bos!

Boswell rode his bike for the first minute of the 2nd, then surprised Morris with a nice uppercut. Seizing the moment, Bos rained home 42 punches for the round, winning handily, 19-3, a nice comeback! The 3rd saw both men connecting, Boswell with a big uppercut, Morris with more punches, and he won the round by a narrow margin, 13-11!

Early in the 4th, Morris was warned for holding and hitting, and Boswell reacted, throwing a picture-perfect uppercut that floored a dazed Morris! Carl was back up at the count of 6, but Boswell got a few more punches in to win the round decisively, 14-5. He was making a good fight after a terrible start!

Morris threw a winging right that landed early in the 5th, but Boswell moved well after that, rallying with several combinations to take it, 10-8. At the halfway point, I had Boswell winning, and the crowd was enjoying the fight!

The Bos landed a huge hook in the 6th, and then a jarring uppercut. Connecting 54 times, the last a razor-sharp right, he had Morris staggering around on Bink Street, and the referee, heeding his pleas, stopped the fight at 2:09 of the 6th, Boswell the winner by a TKO over a helpless Morris! Bink Street was not a good place to be, and the Level 4 fighters had their 2nd man advance, and the first true one against a Level 5 opponent!

[mikehoudini]

Round One was set for July 8 at beautiful old Comiskey Park. The citizens of Chicago were all abuzz at hosting the opening round of this prestigious tournament. The pairings are as follows:

Amos Johnson vs. Jorge Luis Gonzalez
James Tillis vs. Lem Franklin
Tom McMahon vs. Tami Mauriello
Dominick Guinn vs. Patsy Perroni
Michael Grant vs. Charles Shufford
Lou (Super) Nova vs. Amos Lincoln
John Tate vs. Willie James
Obed Sullivan vs. Willie Meehan

Turkey Thompson vs. Manuel Ramos
Marcelo Dominquez vs. Marvin Hart
Franco Cavicchi vs. Hubert Hilton
Harold Carter vs. Tommy Jackson
Don Cockell vs. Johnny DuPlooy
Bob Foster vs. Henry Clark
Pierre Coetzer vs. Cesar Brion
Andre Purlette vs. Mike Evans

Joe Grim vs. Tyrell Biggs
Joe Goddard vs. Eliecer Castillo
Andrew Golota vs. Bob Devere
Joe Choynski vs. Ibar Arrington
Wayne Bethea vs. Leroy Jones
Henry Cooper vs. Tony Alongi
Cedric Boswell (level 4) vs. Robert Davis
Karl Mildenberger vs. Young Bob Fitzsimmons

Hein Ten-Hoff vs. Mac Foster
Jim Maloney vs. Earl Walls
Henry Akinwande vs. Piero Tomasoni
Tony Galento vs. Luis Firpo (level 4) (shapes up as Jersey-Jim versus Bear)
Buddy Baer vs. Rex Layne
Mike Weaver vs. Gary Mason
Tye Fields vs. Johnny Risko
Orlin Norris vs. Charles Horn

Pick your favorites. Round 1 will soon commence!

[bear]

Galento vs. Firpo! Not fair. I wanna root for both guys.

[mikehoudini]

Originally Posted by bear

Galento vs. Firpo! Not fair. I wanna root for both guys.

What are the odds that they'd meet in the first round? Curse that scheduler! I didn't see a filter for fan favorites!

[mikehoudini]

Amos Johnson vs. Jorge Luis Gonzalez – Amos controlled the action in the first 3 rounds, being more aggressive and better defensively. He landed 30 or more punches each round and blocked most of Jorge’s attempts. Gonzalez landed a nifty left hook to the body in the 4th, and was leading, 9-4, but Amos rallied on a series of hooks and crosses to arguably take the round, 10-9.

Johnson slowed down a bit in the 5th, only landing 28 punches. Jorge landed a sweet cross and, at round’s end, a pile-driving uppercut, giving him the nod, 11-8. The 6th round was exciting. Johnson landed 34 times, but Gonzalez found the range with three power shots, an uppercut, a straight right and a monster hook. He won the round, 16-12, and Amos suddenly had some major swelling under his right eye!

Jorge was tired coming out for the 7th, and Amos peppered him with 44 punches, good for a 13-2 advantage. Jorge connected early in the 8th, and Johnson’s swelling was worse. He kept on the attack and decked Jorge for an 8 count, winning the round, 17-2. At this point, he was seemingly in control.

Gonzalez was exhausted, and his corner knew he needed a knockout, so he came out swinging in the 9th. He caught Amos with a booming hook to start the round, then followed up with a sizzling jab, his first real punches since the 6th round! Johnson’s eye was getting to be a mess, and Jorge’s fans were on their feet when he pasted Amos with an uppercut that sent him staggering into the ropes. Jorge was there to greet him as he careened off the ropes, and he dropped Amos with a thunderous shot! Amos regained his feet at the count of 8, but he was shaky, and his eye now was a mess! He covered up, but Gonzalez smashed a ferocious uppercut past his defense, and Amos toppled and fell!

The Johnson fans sat there, stunned, as he struggled to his feet but couldn’t make it! Jorge Luis Gonzalez was declared the winner by a KO at 2:52 of the 9th, completing a miracle comeback! Johnson had been well ahead, had landed far more punches, 281-132, but he ran into a desperate buzzsaw and that was all she wrote!