Thanksgiving Tournament of the Turkeys

[mikehoudini]

King Levinsky vs. James (Bonecrusher) Smith – Both Infinity and Crimson picked Bonecrusher to make the Elite 8. Perhaps a bit overconfident after two such renowned experts made this prediction, Bonecrusher came in with some extra weight. He said he wanted to fight at a heavier weight and hit harder. He just looked fat at the weigh-in. King said that Smith wasn’t going to take his crown!

Bonecrusher landed a sonic right midway through a slow first, but King came back with a flurry of hooks to halve the round, 8-8. The 2^nd round was 2 ½ minutes of futility in terms of punches landed. Bonecrusher finally lived up to his name with a searing cross and hard combination at round’s end to take it, 13-2.

Levinsky boxed nicely in the 3^rd, connecting 34 times en route to a 14-6 round. He landed a hard uppercut, while Smith connected on another savage combination. Smith may have won a snoozer of a 4^th, 6-5. Both fighters were covering themselves in gory, not glory, so far.

King looked like one in a 13-4 5^th, landing 16 jabs, frustrating Bonecrusher, who couldn’t land any of his bombs. King opened the 6^th with a booming hook, followed by a sharp cross. Bonecrusher looked a little dazed, and Levinsky decked him with a pulverizing uppercut! James made it back up at 8, but was shaky, and tried to cover up. King picked up his second warning of the fight, for holding & hitting, then powered home a bunch of uppercuts and a gigantic cross that sent Smith into the turnbuckle! King truly ruled, 27-2, but Smith lived to fight another round!

Bonecrusher looked like a crushee as the 7^th began, his extra pounds taking a toll. When King rocked him with a snapping right hook, the end seemed near. Somehow, Smith sucked it up and came back with a hook and sweet uppercut! King grabbed him and hit again, getting a third warning. Smith pulled out the round, a badly-needed one, 16-12, landing a straight right at the bell.

Levinksy displayed some good ring movement in the 8^th. He bided his time, then caught the tired and clumsy Smith with a nasty hook, and Bonecrusher covered up! King kept cutting off the ring, stinging Smitty with hooks, landing 36 times in all, good for a 16-4 margin, and he earned no warnings for once!

Bonecrusher needed a knockout, and stunned a tired Levinsky with a nice cross, but King answered with a savage combination, and Bonecrusher went down again! He staggered upright at the count of 8, going immediately on the defensive, and King kept banging his hooks home, winning decisively, 17-6. Now Bonecrusher needed a miracle! Infinity and Crimson implored him to pour it on. Was there any gas left in his tank?

He landed a big hook to the body early in the 10^th, but couldn’t follow up. King stayed outside, tattooing him with a variety of punches. James landed a desperation winging right that hurt Levinsky, then belted him with a hook. The crowd was on their feet, cheering mightily, but that was it, as the bell ended a 12-12 round!
Levinsky had outlanded Smith 270-158, and I had him a 97-93 winner. The judges scored it 98-90, 97-91 & 98-91, a dominating win for King Levinsky! A potential Elite Eight member had bitten the dust!

[mikehoudini]

Vasily Jirov vs. Otto Von Porat – Infinity had Jirov going all the way to the final. Could he get past Otto? He landed a big jab to take an early lead, but a late set of twin uppercuts brought Otto back to an 8-8 tie! Von Porat landed another solid uppercut early in Round 2. Jirov got a good right in, but Otto was peppering him with hooks and crosses. In the last minute, Vasily pounded home a hook and a blazing combination. The combination was telling, as Otto’s right eye was suddenly swelling to an alarming proportion! Jirov landed some more shots to take a come-from-behind round, 18-13!

Von Porat’s corner was appalled at the damage, and it turns out they had no one with skill at reducing swelling. With such poor planning, Otto would need to open up an all-out assault or protect the eye. He blasted Jirov with a freight train hook, but caught a hard cross in return. His punch had done more damage, but his eye was getting worse. Otto boxed well after that and took the round, 13-4.

Otto attacked in the 4^th, while his inept corner twiddled their collective fingers. After catching a few uppercuts, he landed a textbook one of his own, and Jirov was hurt! He connected on a laser right cross, but Vasily came back with a cranium-crusher. It was a pick-em round at the two minute mark, but Jirov smashed an uppercut home, then, near round’s end, floored von Porat with a blast to the head. Otto was upright at the count of 3, but his eye was at least half-closed! The bell spared him further punishment, but he’d lost a key round, 28-13, and he was in danger from being vision-impaired. He staggered back to his corner and sat down, but his crew of stooges had set the stool upside down!

Otto fought defensively in the 5^th, and Jirov was content to pick his spots. A big uppercut sealed the round, 8-2, and Otto’s eye was now almost closed! Cyclops came out for the 6^th, tired and mauled, and Jirov surprised him with a classic body shot, and he fell to the floor! Otto was up at the count of 7, game to the end. Vasily teed off with an uppercut, and then a huge body shot, and the fight was stopped to check the eye. Otto begged for the fight to be allowed to continue, and got his wish! He lashed out, but couldn’t see his foe, who picked him to pieces. The fight was again stopped to check out the eye, and this time wisely halted.

The inability to control the swelling was pivotal, as Otto had made a good showing while he could see. Vasily Jirov was the winner by a TKO at 1:39 of the 6^th, and pleased the crowd when he said he’d happily have a rematch once Otto’s eye healed. That could be a long time away, as permanent damage might have been done.

[Infinity]

With James "Bonecrusher" Smith out, I'll pick Lou Savarese to make the Sweet 16, then on to the Elite 8 where he'll lose to Jirov, ressurecting the "Bear Curse".....

[bear]

Kingfish Levinsky won. wow. My dad used to tell me Kingfish Levinsky stories. I remember dad telling me that Kingfish would hang around Maxwell Street and offer to knock out a horse for a bottle of pop.
I've never been able to verify this but I grew up believing it since dad told me. His sister Lena was a character as well.

[mikehoudini]

Originally Posted by bear

Kingfish Levinsky won. wow. My dad used to tell me Kingfish Levinsky stories. I remember dad telling me that Kingfish would hang around Maxwell Street and offer to knock out a horse for a bottle of pop.
I've never been able to verify this but I grew up believing it since dad told me. His sister Lena was a character as well.

That would be your Aunt Lena? Oops, you meant Kingfish's sister. Great story. Your Dad would never lie to you! It might have inspired that one scene in Blazing Saddles!

And now Infinity is jumping on your Savarese bandwagon, sort of.

[mikehoudini]

Owen Beck vs. Larry Donald – The pride of Jamaica, “What the Heck” Beck hoped to trip up The Legend Donald, the non-sentimental pick of PWillisTheMan. Larry mad have won a desultory 1^st, 6-3. Beck landed a sharp hook in the 2^nd, but was cut on the left eye by a Donald jab! Owen rocked Larry with a hard cross and laser left, taking the round, 14-8.

Beck was landing with jabs and hooks in the 3^rd, a big hook contributing to a big lead. The Legend came back via a straight right, but ended on the short side, 17-8. Beck’s cut was reopened early in the 4^th, and the fight halted temporarily. Larry had a 10-2 lead at the two minute mark, but Owen, worried about the cut, caught fire. He ripped Donald with a combo, then staggered him with a hook to the body. Landing a few crosses, he finished up with a jarring uppercut, rallying for a 17-10 round!

Donald was the one who was cut in the 5^th, but it was just inside his mouth. Beck was trying to rest after his frenetic assault the prior round, so Larry cannily dropped some crosses home, good enough to win, 14-7. I had Beck up at the midway point.

Donald’s mouth was still bleeding as he came out for the 6^th, and Owen pounced, ripping two solid combinations home! He interspersed some hooks, then pounded another combo home. Larry countered with a nice cross, but his right eye was now swelling and his cut was worse. Beck took it, 18-9, and was establishing his dominance. The 7^th went in similar fashion. Beck won it, 14-6, and Donald’s eye was now ugly.

Donald landed a searing uppercut early in the 8^th, and suddenly Beck’s cut was reopened. It looked bad, and the ref called a temporary halt. The ring doctor took a look, then sadly shook his head from side to side. Larry Donald was declared the winner by a TKO on cuts at 0:40 of the 8^th! Beck had been up 68-66, 67066 & 69-64 (68-65 on my card) and had won his rounds in convincing fashion.

Beck shook his head in frustration. He had the fight well in hand and was not hurt at all. But it’ll go down in the books as a win for Donald, to PWillis’ delight. I sense a challenge match in the offing!

[bear]

Originally Posted by mikehoudini

That would be your Aunt Lena? Oops, you meant Kingfish's sister. Great story. Your Dad would never lie to you! It might have inspired that one scene in Blazing Saddles!

And now Infinity is jumping on your Savarese bandwagon, sort of.

Yep, Leaping Lena.

[Infinity]

Originally Posted by mikehoudini

And now Infinity is jumping on your Savarese bandwagon, sort of.

Hey, you have any idea how hard it is jumping on a moving bandwagon?...nearly pulled my groin!

[mikehoudini]

Originally Posted by Infinity

Hey, you have any idea how hard it is jumping on a moving bandwagon?...nearly pulled my groin!

I know how hard it is to jump anywhere! My nickname in high school basketball days was Groundhugger.

[mikehoudini]

Oleg Machaev vs. Lawrence Clay-Bey – Crimson had Clay-Bey making the Elite Eight, but he had taken this fight on short notice. It went 10-10 in the 1^st, Clay-Bey ripping a combination to take the early lead, Machaev rallying behind a laser left!

Lawrence was all over Oleg in the 2^nd. A hammering uppercut to open the round set the tone, followed by a freight train hook. Oleg was staggering, and Clay-Bey tagged him with a sweet hook. Only a Machaev hook at the bell made it even respectable, 23-6! Oleg came back to win a low-scoring 3^rd, 8-4. He seemed able to shake off the effects of the punishment he took in the 2^nd.

After a solid minute in the 4th where there were several good exchanges, Machaev snaked a deadly combination home, and Lawrence dropped for an 8 count! He tried to cover up, but Oleg was tattooing him with jabs and crosses. A big hook rocked him, and it was all-Machaev. At 2:21 of the 4^th, down 30-4, Clay-Bey’s corner threw in the towel, and Machaev was the winner by a TKO. Another one bites the dust.

[mikehoudini]

Tommy Gomez vs. Charlie Retzlaff – Retzlaff was known as the Duluth Dynamiter, and he was just that in the 1^st, battering Tampa Tommy, 20-5, knocking him down for a 7 count and stunning him at round’s end with an uppercut! Tommy, using his hook and cross almost exclusively, came back to take a 10-6 2^nd, and might have won the 3^rd, 8-7, but Big Charley might have stolen it with a blistering combination just before the bell.

Tommy was landing his hooks and crosses in the 4^th, Charley opened with a big cross, closed with a big hook, and got the nod, 10-7. Retzlaff floored Gomez early in the 5^th for a 7 count with a combination, landed cross after cross and a giant uppercut in the 2^nd minute, then floored Tommy twice more in the 3^rd. Gomez stayed down after the 3^rd KD, and Retzlaff was the impressive winner with a KO at 2:39 of the 5^th! He hoped someone would take notice of him and root for him!

[mikehoudini]

Bob Armstrong vs. Pat McMurtry – The King of the Battle Royales, before wrestling usurped them, was Mister Armstrong, but he had his hands full with Irish Pat McMurtry. Pat won the feeling-out round, 8-4, then pummeled Bob in the 2^nd. Bob answered a big uppercut with a wicked combination, but that was all she wrote, as Pat ripped home two savage combinations of his own, winning big time, 21-5, as Armstrong ended trying to cover up!

They each went with their hooks in the 3^rd, Armstrong getting a reprieve, 12-10. McMurtry was jabbing and hooking in the 4^th, and landed enough to walk away with a 10-7 round. It was a good close round for 2 minutes in the 5^th, then Pat fired two monster hooks to win going away, 20-9. He had landed 50 punches, mainly hooks and jabs, and had Armstrong in trouble! The first half was almost all McMurtry.

Bob countered nicely in the 6^th, but Pat had his jab working well and stole another round, 11-7. After catching a double hook early in the 7^th, Armstrong ralled to win a much-needed round, 15-7, and McMurtry was the one covering up after a giant right hook!

Pat cleared his head during the break, but still fought a cautious opening minute in the 8^th. He saw an opening and stunned Armstrong with a rapacious hook, then floored him with a freight train hook! Bob got to one knee, then fell backward and was counted out. Pat McMurtry won via a KO at 1:45 of the 8^th. He won convincingly, landing as many hooks and jabs as Armstrong did punches!

[mikehoudini]

Tami Mauriello (level 5) (7-1-1) vs. Corrie Sanders – Tami had acquitted himself well in the prior tourney, and the Bronx Barkeep hoped to keep that momentum going! In lefty Corrie Sanders, he’d be starting with a tough opponent!

Tami landed a sweet uppercut to start the fight, but then Corrie frustrated him with his southpaw style. Tami fired a straight right that made Sanders blink, but couldn’t follow up. Corrie ripped a combination home, then cut Mauriello inside the right eyebrow. Tami lunged forward with a hard cross, and arguably took the round, 13-11, as his power shots offset Sanders’ more frequent punches.

Corrie boxed beautifully in the 2^nd, landing a hard left and combination, and only a last-second hook marred his shutout, 11-4. Tami landed a straight right and jarring hook to take the 3^rd, 10-7. He wasn’t landing as much, but his shots were major salvos!

Tami led early in the 4^th on the strength of a sharp cross, but then Corrie hurt him with a lightning combo and an uppercut that drove Tami into the ropes! Sanders blasted a hook to the body, then went upstairs and reopened Tami’s cut. Corrie was landing punch after punch, and the referee had seen enough, jumping in and awarding Sanders the win by a TKO at 2:53 of the 4^th!

The Mauriello camp was steamed, as they insisted their man was resting, and had only another 7 seconds left! A rematch may be imminent!

[CONN CHRIS]

Originally Posted by mikehoudini

At 2:21 of the 4^th, down 30-4, Clay-Bey’s corner threw in the towel, and Machaev was the winner by a TKO. Another one bites the dust.

Admit it, you just hate all things Connecticut!


I saw Lawrence's last bout live - he made a wise choice in hanging them up when he did. It was fun while it lasted though.

[PWillisTheMan]

The unimpressive march of Larry donald begins.

[mikehoudini]

Originally Posted by CONN CHRIS

Admit it, you just hate all things Connecticut!


I saw Lawrence's last bout live - he made a wise choice in hanging them up when he did. It was fun while it lasted though.

No, just Hebron and Diggstown! I guess I should thank you guys for teaching me humility by your thumpings of the Binks! So thank you! Some day, maybe I'll only lose by single digits!

[mikehoudini]

Originally Posted by PWillisTheMan

The unimpressive march of Larry donald begins.

Truer words were never written! We'll see how far he progresses. I hope your heart picks do well!

[mikehoudini]

Cedric Boswell (level 4) (12-6-1) vs. Kirk Johnson – The Bos has been the Little Engine That Could, fighting 2 levels above his own, and his fights have been exciting! But Kirk Johnson is a tough Canadian (probably a redundancy).

After a slow start, Boswell delighted his fan(s) by staggering Johnson with a classic hook! He landed a bunch of hooks and backed Kirk up with a sweet combination, almost getting a first round stoppage, 19-2! Johnson looked ready to go after Cedric smashed him with a right to open the 2^nd, followed shortly thereafter by a nasty combination! Tired, Kirk dug deep, exploding with a right hook, but Boswell was effective with hooks and uppercuts, and a major uppercut won the day and almost the fight, 18-11!

Johnson came to life in the 3^rd, riding a string of combinations and jabs to an 11-2 round, slowing the Boswell express. He strung together hooks and uppercuts early in the 4^th, but was briefly stunned by a Boswell left! Boxing nicely, he switched to jabs, and kept Boswell at bay while piling up a 14-6 round!

Cedric stalked and landed a monster cross in the first minute of the 5^th, while Kirk used his jab. Kirk blocked a hook and countered with a deadly combination, and Boswell was down! He was up at the count of 4, but shaky, and Kirk pounced, ripping jabs and combinations home to bury a covered-up Boswell, 19-4. It looked as if Johnson had settled in and he led for the first time in the fight!

He landed a brutal combination to partially offset some Boswell punches in the 6th, and the Bos suddenly looked tired. Banging a gnarly hook home, he was hurting Cedric, evinced by the big swelling to Boswell’s right eye! The two had the fans on their feet with some great exchanges, but Johnson was slightly better, 16-12!

The 7^th was a war, both men landing titanic straight rights. Johnson’s combinations and crosses were getting home as Boswell’s vision became worse from his now-ugly eye! Still, Cedric fought on, uppercuts his weapon of choice. His eye was half-closed, and he came out on the short end of a 22-15 score, but his fans were cheering!

Bos came out for the 8^th with his hands low, and Johnson took advantage, building up a 13-0 lead at the two minute mark. Desperate, Boswell uncorked two ferocious uppercuts and had a suddenly-tired Johnson on the ropes. The bell sounded just before a huge uppercut was delivered by Johnson. Boswell went down, jumping back up immediately, anguish written all over his face as that controversial punch wiped out an amazing rally, as he lost the round, 22-10!

The 9^th was another heart-breaker. Cedric scored a big hook to the body, and a laser left that sent Kirk flying, but Kirk danced and jabbed, a rapier-like one at round’s end possibly giving him the round, 12-11. Johnson stayed outside in the 10^th, catching smaller punches as Boswell built up a nice lead, then countering effectively as Bos tried for a KO. A vicious uppercut at round’s end sealed yet another round for Johnson, 15-9!

There was little doubt as to how the decision would go. Johnson had too much firepower for his gallant foe. He had outlanded him, 309-205. The judges scored the fight a unanimous decision for Kirk Johnson, 98-90, 97-92 & 98-90. Kirk hugged Boswell, and the fans roared at this great display of sportsmanship for a game fighter! Barring a miracle, Boswell’s great run was done! Mad Bomber was happy with Johnson’s performance and class!

[mikehoudini]

Audley Harrison vs. Renaldo Snipes – Audley hoped to wipe the “Mister” off Snipes’ nickname, “They Call Me Mister Snipes!” Infinity had Snipes going to the Final Four, so he was impressed by Mr. Snipes! Crimson had him losing in the Elite Eight.

Audley opened nicely with a string of hooks to take the 1^st, 9-5. Mister Snipes staggered him with a hook to start the 2^nd, and Harrison covered up! Snipes won the round, 11-4, but couldn’t inflict any more damage. Audley threw more, missed more, but landed just enough to take the 3^rd, 8-6, a buzzing combination doing most of the damage.

Snipes was effective in the 4^th throwing jabs and crosses as counters, but Harrison ripped another combination home near the end of the round to possibly take it, 11-9. Renaldo used his cross effectively, and landed a sweet uppercut, to bounce back in the 5^th, 10-6.

Audley took the 6^th & 7^th, 13-10 and 10-6, and had a big lead on my card! He landed a hard hook and snappy combination in the 6^th, Renaldo making it closer at the end with a rapid-fire combo. A big hook sealed the 7^th, but Harrison looked tired at round’s end!

Sniped had a furious rally that may have won him the 8^th, 10-8, as his jabs kept getting through. He kept his Ali-like jab going in the 9^th, and hurt Audley with a late series of two uppercuts, capping a 15-8 round. Harrison’s left eye was swelling after all the jabs, and the fight was now very close!

Harrison landed a straight right cross with some mustard on it in the 10^th, which ended even, 6-6. He’d been outlanded, 240-195, but I had him beating Snipes, 96-95! The judges scored it 95-95, 96-94 Snipes and 95-95, a majority draw! The crowd that was awake booed the decision.

[mikehoudini]

Snipes shut out Harrison, 8-0, in the 1^st of the nightcap, landing a hard cross. Harrison almost returned the favor in the 2^nd, keying on a monster hook to take a big lead, but a savage straight right from Snipes at round’s end made it close, 9-5.

Audley boxed beautifully in Rounds 3-5, frustrating Snipes and winning each round, 11-4, 12-2 & 11-3. When he arguably won a sleeper of a 6^th, 5-4, he seemed to have an insurmountable lead! Snipes went on the offensive in the 7^th, throwing jabs and crosses that kept landing. Audley finally found an opening and plastered Renaldo with a cross, causing him to cover up. Harrison could do no more damage, and lost the round, 14-5, to boot!

Renaldo rocked a tired Harrison with a hook, then decked him with an uppercut. Audley was back up quickly at the count of 2, and weathered the storm, but Snipes’ jabs and that KD earned him a big round, 15-4! Plus Harrison’s left eye was now swollen! Snipes continued his rally into the first minute of the 9^th, building a nice lead with his rapier-like jabs. But Harrison rallied, stunning a wide-open Snipes with a combination and then a thundering uppercut! Renaldo covered up, and Audley’s jabs and hooks propelled him to a 17-6 round, breaking missee Snipes momentum.

Harrison chose to cover up in the 10^th, and Snipes was stymied for two minutes. He rocked Audley with a gnarly uppercut at round’s end, earning an 11-2 round. I had that round pulling out a 95-95 draw for Snipes, who outlanded Harrison, 189-163. The judges scored the fight 97-92 Harrison, 95-94 Snipes and 96-94, for, the winner by a split decision…Renaldo Snipes! Infinity and Crimson looked a little ashamed by the decision as they hurried from the stadium. Harrison must have felt he'd been to a snipe hunt, and had aquandered a golden opportunity. Snipes hadn’t justified his nickname, and that one KD must have swayed the judges. There has to be a challenge on this outcome!