Thanksgiving Tournament of the Turkeys

[Infinity]

Originally Posted by PWillisTheMan

It's clear that Mike has no equals here. Lets see the brackets for the sixes and i'll tell ya'll who is going to win that.

Depends on which Weaver shows up. If he fights smart he'll win. If he tries to bang with Layne, Layne wins.....

[PWillisTheMan]

Originally Posted by Infinity

Depends on which Weaver shows up. If he fights smart he'll win. If he tries to bang with Layne, Layne wins.....

He already banged with him and left Rex a shell of his former self. Layne was barely audible as he muttered through his bloody swollen mouth, " Dear God, please, no more rematches."

[Infinity]

Hmmmm didn't Weaver earn his lone loss to Layne? Or was that another uni somewhere?....lol

[PWillisTheMan]

Originally Posted by Infinity

Hmmmm didn't Weaver earn his lone loss to Layne? Or was that another uni somewhere?....lol

That's what is known as a fluke.

[Infinity]

Time will tell my friend, time will tell....lol

Originally Posted by PWillisTheMan

That's what is known as a fluke.

[mikehoudini]

Originally Posted by Infinity

Time will tell my friend, time will tell....lol

Time just may tell, guys! I'll be putting up the draw for the Super Sixes soon. Layne is in Fight 17, Weaver in Fight 18, so they might meet if they best their respective 1st round opponents, Matt Skelton and Juan Carlos Gomez! And I've got your version of George Chaplin in, PWillis!

[mikehoudini]

This tournament will be conducted at beautiful Ruppert Stadium in Newark, New Jersey. Jersey-Jim and the Prof successfully lobbied for it to be held in their fair state! There were 51 level 6 fighters, plus I added one for George Chaplin, using PWillisTheMan’s ratings, which I liked. 12 level 5 fighters sets the field at 64. Amazingly, one Level 4 fighter has made it this far, Cedric Boswell. And, just for giggles, as of this moment I’m adding a 65^th entry, so two guys can battle for the last slot. And what two better guys than Andrew Golota and Joe Goddard, who battled in a major war (10 knockdowns, 7 for Goddard) before Goddard emerged the victor?

Here are the pairings:

Box-in Round:

Joe Goddard vs. Andrew Golota

Round 1:

Hubert Hilton (level 5) vs. Gerald Griffith
Johnny Arthur vs. Al Lewis
Monte Barrett vs. Lou Savarese
King Levinsky vs. James Smith
Vasily Jirov vs. Otto Von Porat
Owen Beck vs. Larry Donald
Oleg Machaev vs. Lawrence Clay-Bey
Tommy Gomez vs. Charlie Retzlaff

Bob Armstrong vs. Pat McMurtry
Tami Mauriello (level 5) vs. Corrie Sanders
Cedric Boswell (level 4) vs. Kirk Johnson
Audley Harrison vs. Renaldo Snipes
Harry Thomas vs. Embrell Davidson
Lance Whitaker vs. Simon Samil Sam
Goddard/Golota winner vs. Seignuei Lyakhovich
Hein Ten-Hoff (level 5) vs. DaVarryl Williamson

Rex Layne (level 5) vs. Matt Skelton
Mike Weaver (level 5 champion) vs. Juan Carlos Gomez
Luan Krasnigu vs. Nino Valdez
Nathan Mann vs. Fighting Bob Martin
Tony Galento (level 5) vs. George Godfrey
Mike Evans (level 5 runnerup) vs. Franz Botha
Larry Middleton vs. Vaughn Bean
Bruce Woodcock vs. Duncan Dokiwari

Ted Lowry vs. Joe Baksi
Herbie Hide vs. Billy Daniels
Joe Mesi vs. Natie Brown
Leroy Jones (level 5) vs. Phil Jackson
Francesco Damiani vs. Jess Willard
Tex Cobb vs. James Braddock
Amos Lincoln (level 5) vs. Fres Oquendo
Johnny Risko (level 5) vs. George Chaplin

How many of the Level 5 (and 4) fighters will make it past this round? Pick your favorites, and let the fights begin!

[Infinity]

Here's my Sweet 16 line up predictions:

Johnny Arthur vs James "Bonecrusher" Smith
Vasily Jirov vs Oleg Machaev

Corrie Sanders vs Renaldo "Mr." Snipes
Lance "Mount" Whitaker vs Andrew Golata

Rex Layne vs Nino Valdez
"2 Ton" Tony Galento vs Larry Middleton

Herbie Hide vs Leroy Jones
James Braddock vs Johnny Risko

Here are my Elite 8 Predictions:

James "Bonecrusher" Smith vs Vasily Jirov

Renaldo "Mr." Snipes vs Andrew Golata

Rex Layne vs Larry Middleton

Leroy Jones vs James Braddock

Here are my Final 4 Predictions:

Vasily Jirov vs Renaldo "Mr." Snipes

Larry Middleton vs James Braddock

And I fully expect that James Braddock will defeat Vasily Jirov for the title!

[mikehoudini]

How'd you find time to make these predictions with the time you're spending in your new thread? It'll be interesting to see how you fare! I think your good buddy PWillisTheMan might just disagree with you on the Rex layne front, favoring his man Weaver!

[Infinity]

Talent my friend, talent! Or simply a glutton for punishment as I'm still working on my Uni as well.....

Originally Posted by mikehoudini

How'd you find time to make these predictions with the time you're spending in your new thread? It'll be interesting to see how you fare! I think your good buddy PWillisTheMan might just disagree with you on the Rex layne front, favoring his man Weaver!

[Crimson]

Here's my predicts for elite 8:
Bonecrusher vs. Laurence Clay-Bey
Renaldo Snipes vs. Simon Samil-Sam
Juan Carlos Gomez vs. Tony Galento
Joe Mesi vs. Tex Cobb

[mikehoudini]

Good picks! I'll probably start things up tomorrow. May have either a broken or bruised little toe, and that could affect startup time. Oh, if only I wasn't so clumsy! If I'd kicked one of my cats, I'd probably be missing an arm. Hmm, my cats and Ice Tea......

[PWillisTheMan]

My heart is with Chaplin & Weaver, somehow my money is on Larry Donald.

Matt Skelton will starch Rex Layne, bet on that.

[mikehoudini]

Originally Posted by PWillisTheMan

My heart is with Chaplin & Weaver, somehow my money is on Larry Donald.

Matt Skelton will starch Rex Layne, bet on that.

You and I ARE the George Chaplin fan club! My 3 day class (at age 60) is done, I am much wiser (if I can remember any of it) and my toe is doing better, so it's at least an abbreviated fight night!

[bear]

If I pick someone, they'll be doomed.

I'll pull for my UTBA guy, Saverese at the risk of jinxing him.

[mikehoudini]

Originally Posted by bear

If I pick someone, they'll be doomed.

I'll pull for my UTBA guy, Saverese at the risk of jinxing him.

Go ahead and pick someone other than your guy. Your savvy knowledge and predictions are appreciated. And, yes, it will doom whomever you favor! Or you may break your streak!

[mikehoudini]

Joe Goddard (4-2-1 1) vs. Andrew Golota (3-2 3) – Goddard had won their previous war, a fight in which 10 knockdowns occurred, one per round, before the 10^th round stoppage. Would this fight be similar? The tournament begins now!

Golota rocked Goddard with a cross to open the bout, following that with a sizzling left! Joe landed a few counters, but Geets Golota stunned him with an uppercut just before the bell. Golota won the opener, 13-4. This fight was already living up to expectations.

Golota continued to pour it on in the 2^nd, flooring Joe with a savage combination! Joe bounced back up at the count of 3, and shocked everyone by covering up! Golota crashed a massive hook home, and a dazed Goddard slumped to the canvas again! He again was up at the count of 3, backtracking on his shaky sailor’s legs. Golota ripped a combination home, but the bell rang before he could finish his hapless opponent. He dominated the round, 23-3, and Goddard looked ready to go!

Golota landed a few jabs and hooks early in the 3^rd, then fired a searing straight right! A tired Goddard looked ready to crumble. Golota rushed in for the kill, and Joe surprised him with a rapacious combination! Seizing on Golota’s confusion, Goddard blasted home a body shot, and Andrew lurched forward and fell to the canvas! He was up at the count of 4, realizing he was in a fight! Goddard pressed the action, landing a few shots, then clobbered the covering up Golota with an uppercut, sending him tumbling to the tumbleweeds for another knockdown! Golota staggered upright at the count of 7, and lasted the round, but the momentum had shifted in a 24-7 shellacking by Goddard!

Golota fired off a humongous hook early in the 4^th, but Joe ducked under and countered with a crushing cross! Landing a series of crosses, he soon had Golota in a bad way. Throwing crisp punches, he decked Geets with a wicked combination. Golota was up at the count of 8, wobbly but still winging, and Goddard stepped back to avoid a hammering hook. Joe feinted and threw a wild overhand right, and Golota was like a deer in the headlights and crashed to the canvas! My, how the complexion of this fight had changed! Goddard threw punch after punch, and the referee stepped in to save a helpless Golota, Goddard getting the TKO at 2:42 of the 4^th!

This time, there were 6 KDs in 4 rounds, and Goddard had prevailed yet again with a resiliency and some sharp punches! Joe Goddard advances to the round of 64! The fans at Ruppert had gotten their money’s worth, and then some!

[mikehoudini]

Hubert Hilton (level 5) (4-2-1 1) vs. Gerald Griffith – Hilton was hoping to make a statement for the level 5 fighters, while Griffith had possibly over-trained. Hilton landed a sharp cross to possibly take the 1^st, 8-7. He landed a bunch of hooks and a solid combination to pull away, 12-2, in the last minute of the 2^nd. Griffith landed a crushing right hook midway through the 3^rd, and was using his hooks very effectively. In the last minute, Hilton rallied on a string of his hooks to halve the round, 11-11!

Griffith again started strongly in the 4^th, a big cross and some extracurricular rabbit punches building his lead. He was landing hooks and crosses, but then Hubie fired a smoking cross, dropping him for a 4 count! Gerald covered up, and Hilton banged away with some hooks, then threw a searing combination, dropping him again at round’s end for a 1 count! Hube came back from a 4-14 deficit to dominate, 22-14, and almost stopped his rival!

Griffith was tired as the 5^th began, and fought cautiously. He landed a hard hook, but caught a jarring combination. Boxing nicely, he recovered, countering with hooks and crosses to emphatically take the round, 17-6! The 6^th was a quiet round, 9-9, as both men seemed to rest, a deadly hook evening things out for Griffith, as Hilton’s legs buckled briefly.

They both looked tired coming out for the 7^th, but had some spirited exchanges, Hilton pulling out the round, 12-9, on a late hook! Hubie seemed on the verge of pulling off an upset!

Griffith started strongly in the 8^th with a nasty hook, and with a series of hooks and crosses, and he took it, 12-9, despite being tagged by a stunning cranium-cruncher. He hooked his way to a 16-6 9^th, beating a tired Hilton to the punch and almost flooring him with a big left!

Hilton came out covering up in the 10^th, daring Griffith to tag him! Gerald took the dare, throwing a blistering combination that Hilton couldn’t block, sending him crashing to the canvas! Hube was up at the count of 8, but spindly-legged, and Griffith charged in for the kill. He banged away with hook after hook, but Hilton weathered the storm, dropping the round, 17-7.

That great rounds 8-10 comeback evened the fight for me, 94-94. The color commentator had Hilton winning, 97-92. How about the judges? They scored the fight 94-93 Griffith, 95-92 Hilton & 96-91 for, the winner by a split decision….Hubert (the Happy Wanderer) Hilton! Griffith was shocked at the verdict, and I don’t blame him. He landed more, 286-226, and ruled the action from the 5^th round on! Still, it is Hubie Hilton, the gutty level 5 fighter, who advances, though I see a challenge match in the offing!

[mikehoudini]

Johnny Arthur vs. Al Lewis – A boxing expert, Infinity, has predicted that Johnny Arthur will advance to the Sweet 16. Blue Lewis had no such advocate. Arthur blocked a Lewis jab, then countered with a terrific hook that drove Al back! Lewis regrouped, connecting on some jabs and crosses, negating the big hit. Seeing an opening, he twisted and threw a textbook cross, Arthur falling to the canvas! Johnny bounced back up at the count of 2 and started covering up. Lewis made that decision a bad one, landing more jabs and crosses. Now Arthur was on Bink Street, and a snappy combination sent him reeling into the ropes! Al poured it on, landing 66 times in all, but he couldn’t put his plucky foe away, though he dominated, 24-7. Infinity sat in disbelief!

The 2^nd round was déjà vu, all over again, as a tired Arthur absorbed a barrage of jabs, hooks and crosses. He rallied briefly, but 59 punches took their toll, and his left eye was swelling as the bell sounded, saving him in a 21-6 debacle!

Johnny came out for the 3^rd with his hands low. This round he was able to generate some offense, landing 14 crosses, but his eye was more swollen. He might have taken the round, 12-11, but still was far the worse for wear! The 4^th was a dull round, 6-6, Arthur firing and missing, blue a bit tired from all the punches he had been throwing – and landing!

After a first minute of inactivity in the 5^th, Lewis hurt Arthur, alas with a low blow. He peppered Johnny’s face with crosses, and now the swelling was downright ugly. Blue won big, 11-4, and was in the catbird’s seat at the halfway point.

Lewis picked up a second warning early in the 6^th for holding and hitting. He was landing plenty of legitimate punches, 43 in all, building up a 13-5 advantage, while Arthur’s eye was swelling to bad proportions. That all changed when an exhausted Arthur put everything behind a desperation cross and it exploded home, causing Lewis to topple! Al got to one knee, then stood, alas a second after the count of 10. Johnny Arthur had come from behind, winning on a KO at 2:34 of the 6^th!>>

Johnny had been taking a beating, being outlanded, 250-120. Neither fighter landed a power shot from the 2^nd through 5^th rounds, but Arthur’s face showed the cumulative effect of Blue’s pinpoint punching. A distraught Lewis gamely saluted his foe, then asked for a rematch. Arthur said he’d consider it after the tournament concluded. Infinity was all smiles, though he admitted things had looked bleak for his pick!

[mikehoudini]

Monte Barrett vs. Lou Savarese – Bear was hoping that his UTBA mainstay Savarese would triumph, but his selections had all fallen victim to the Bear’s Jinx, something almost as deadly as Bink Fever!

After a slow first minute, Savarese landed a ferocious hook. He was well up after 2 minutes, then Barrett unloaded with a hook of his own, and a monster cross, and suddenly Lou was on Bink Street, not a good place to be, as he tried to cover up. With his booming rally, Barrett took the round, 16-8. Could Lou bounce back?

Lou caught Monte with a nice hook early in the 2^nd, then landed a series of uppercuts, one stunning Monte for a moment! Monte fought back with some uppercuts of his own, but Lou was more productive, taking the round, 14-11. Savarese was warned for holding & hitting in the 3^rd, then built a nice lead, which evaporated into a 12-12 round on the strength of a Barrett sonic cross at round’s end.

Lou used a power uppercut and a bunch of hooks to control the 4^th, 14-4, Monte rallying a bit with a sweet hook. The 5^th was Savarese swinging and missing, and Barrett pecking his way to a 6-3 round. Lou had a huge last minute in the 6^th to regain the fans’ attention. A bunch of hooks and a dazzling cross put him in command, 13-2.

The 7^th was another low-scoring affair, but a Savarese uppercut right on the button at round’s end won it for him, 9-6. Scoring was low halfway through the 8^th, then Barrett seized the moment with a lightning combination, a hard uppercut and a right cross. Lou’s right eye was suddenly swollen, and he staggered back to his corner after a 115-2 beating.

Savarese opened the 9^th with a gnarly uppercut and looked to be cruising, then Monte nailed him flush with an uppercut, followed by a series of hooks. Lou’s eye was worse, he looked exhausted, and he’d been Monte-handled, 15-6! This fight was up for grabs!

Monte came out for the 10^th covering up, believing he had done more than enough to win. For 2 minutes, he avoided a desperate Savarese’s bombs. Then Lou threw a wild overhand right that Monte never saw, dropping him like a shot! Barrett was up at the count of 6, but staggered backwards as low caught him with a jet right and a laser left. The bell sounded, ending the fight, but the 18-0 round, with the big KD, may well have won it for Savarese!

They’d both landed about the same number of punches. I had Savarese winning, 96-94, on the strength of that last round. The judges each scored the fight 95-94, a close unanimous decision for…Lou Savarese! That last round had snatched him a victory from the jaws of defeat. Barrett’s strategy enabled him to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Bear was ecstatic that his man had made it to the second round!