Thanksgiving Tournament of the Turkeys

[Infinity]

Never in my wildest imagination would I have expected Harrison to give Snipes that kind of problem...... Whew!!

[mikehoudini]

Originally Posted by Infinity

Never in my wildest imagination would I have expected Harrison to give Snipes that kind of problem...... Whew!!

Harrison might may been angry because Snipes taunted his first name as unmanly!

[mikehoudini]

Harry Thomas vs. Embrell Davidson – After a feeling-out round where both men traded shots in an 8-8 round, Thomas came on strong in the 2^nd & 3^rd, winning 17-7 & 18-2. He fired off crosses and hooks to control the 2^nd, though Davidson did land a smashing hook! Harry used his hooks and crosses again in the 3^rd, rocking Davidson twice and causing Embrell’s right eye to swell horribly!

Embrell was much more effective in the 4^th, but Thomas kept on with the punches that had worked for him. On the strength of a huge cross, he won again, 15-10. Davidson opened the 5^th with a laser left that shook Thomas up. Harry growled and banged back with a cranium-crusher, then two straight rights. He dominated, 16-5, and was controlling every aspect of this fight. Davidson’ eye was looking even worse, and now his left eye was swelling as well. The vision impairment didn’t bode well for the future!

Thomas poured it on in the 6^th, landing 55 times, 35 being his patented crosses and hooks. He stunned Embrell early on with a thunderous right and an uppercut, and won going away, 24-7, as Davidson’s eyes were both now horrid! Embrell was again on the receiving end in the 7^th, staggering around from a sizzling combination and jarring cross. Exhausted, barely able to see, he threw caution to the winds, lashing out with a combination of his own that caught Harry rushing in! Thomas was hurt, and covered up. Davidson landed a few times, but Thomas weathered the storm, winning the round on the strength of his first two minutes, 15-8.

Davidson’s corner did their best between rounds, but his eyes were still a mess. He came out swinging in the 8^th, optimistic after hurting Harry the prior round! He built up a nice lead, helped by a crushing cross, but Harry had the last word with a cross of his own. Davidson captured a much-needed round on my card, 11-9. And, for once, his eyes were no worse at the end of the round!

Round 9 was ho-hum. A desperate Davidson opened with a winging right that caught Thomas. Harry came back with a sizzling left hook to the body. He ripped home an uppercut, and was using his hooks, but Davidson rallied with a body shot at the two minute mark that floored Thomas! Harry was up at the count of 5, and a suddenly rejuvenated Davidson, his eyesight a little better, connected with a wicked combination, sending Harry back to the canvas! Harry made it up, a bit wobbly, at the count of 6, and an excited Embrell clobbered him with a straight right. Thomas looked out on his feet, and Davidson smashed him with a cross just before the bell sounded, ane he dropped for the third time! Thomas jumped up at the count of 1, then was helped to his stool! Davidson had won the round of the tournament, 34-14, and had just missed ending the fight!

The two men looked like ancient gladiators as they staggered out for the 10^th round. Embrell had the fans on their feet the last round,. Who would strike first? Harry slipped a booming cross, then caught Davidson with an uppercut that he started at knee level! Now Embrell was in retreat, trying to steady himself, but the last round had taken a toll on his energy! Thomas crashed a cross home, and Davidson grabbed onto the ropes! Thomas fired a lightning shot to the body, and Davidson went down! He struggled mightily, and somehow got vertical at the count of 9! Thomas was staggering as well, but a clumsy wild overhand right found its target just before the round ended, and Embrell crumbled and fell! He struggled upright at the count of 8, and there was had only 1 second left. The referee had seen enough, and awarded a TKO at 2:59 of the 10^th to Harry Thomas!

The fans cheered the gallant Davidson, booing the stoppage. The huge Round 9 had made the fight close, and the result might have been different if there were 20 more seconds left. It had taken its toll on Embrell. He saluted Thomas, but did state in a post-fight interview that he’d been sick after eating some fruit he picked up while driving through Connecticut! Hmm!

[mikehoudini]

Lance Whitaker vs. Sinan Samil Sam – Mount Whitaker, at 6 foot 8, hoped to tame the Bull from Bosporos. The Bull opened strong, ripping a cross home, but had a point deducted for low blows. Whitaker landed a solid hook and uppercut. Sinan had his uppercut working, and banged out a 13-10 round. He followed that up with a 16-8 2^nd, in which he landed a good hook and uppercut, roughing Lance up so that his right eye was swelling.

Whitaker regrouped and boxed crisply in a 14-6 3^rd, making Sinan miss while landing a nice combination and an even better hook. He took the 4^th, 14-2, on the strength of some crosses and three power shots, an uppercut, hook and straight right! They were even through the first minute of the 5^th, Lance having landed a laser left, but a Samil Sam hook increased the swelling considerably. Sinan kept hooking, lance landing one good hook to the body, but Sinan coming out on top, 19-9.

The Bosporos Bull was just that in the 6^th, throwing a lot of leather. Two hooks and a monster uppercut sealed the round, 20-6. He had a blistering second minute in Round 7, landing a wicked combination and a shot that almost caused Lance to drop. Lance stayed upright, but lost the round, 15-2, and Sinan’s hooks caused Lance’s eye to be more than half shut. The Bull had dominated the last 3 rounds!

Whitaker rallied with 2 brilliant minutes in the 8^th, highlighted by a deadly uppercut. Samil Sam drilled him with a ferocious hook to the body to make it close, 11-9. Lance punctuated a good 9^th with a gnarly hook, taking it, 12-7. The 10^th was pivotal, and neither guy did much, Lance rallying but coming up a bit short, 6-4.

It all depended on what the judges saw. I had it a 95-95 draw, the color commentator had it 95-94 for Whitaker. The judges scored it 97-92 each, a unanimous decision for Sinan Samil Sam! They must have seen a different fight, and the Whitaker camp saw red! But it is the Bull who advances! Do I hear the dulcet sounds of Sam the Sham and the Pharoehs?

[mikehoudini]

Joe Goddard (level 5) (5-2-1 2) vs. Sergey Lyakhovich – The first round was non-stop action! They had a number of spirited exchanges in the first 2 minutes. Sergey had a slight lead because of a jarring cross and laser jab, but then Goddard came on. He had been landing hooks and crosses. In the last minute, he hurt Lyakhovich with a gonzo right. A little more active (45-30 in terms of punches landed), Joe won the round, 20-16, and Sergey had a cut over his left eye!

Early in the 2^nd, Goddard was cut on the forehead. Sergey exploited the sudden drop in vision, landing 41 times, and a huge hook sealed the round, 16-5! The 3^rd round was low-scoring, Joe possibly having won it, 6-5, but his cut was reopened by an accidental head butt. Lyakhovich got the slight edge in the 4^th, 8-7, because of a sweet double hook! Goddard’s cut was again reopened and this time, the fight was halted to check it out!

Worried about the cut, Goddard went on the defensive in the 5^th, boxing nicely, and he pitched an 8-0 shutout! I had him up a round at this juncture. The 6^th began, and immediately a head butt took place, and the cut was reopened. The fight was halted, but this time the ring doctor waved his hands, as the cut was too deep. Lyakhoovich won via a TKO on cuts at 0:17 of the 6^th. A man of honor, Sergey agreed to a rematch once Joe had healed, and the fans cheered this sportsmanship! All 4 level 4/5 fighters in this bracket had lost. Only Hubert Hilton, from the first bracket, had advanced!

[mikehoudini]

Hein Ten-Hoff (level 5) (4-1) vs. DaVarryl Williamson – Williamson electrified the crowd with a titanic shot to the body that sent Hein crashing to the canvas! Hein was back up quickly at the count of 4, but decided to cover up to avoid more punishment. DaVarryl got some punches home, including a rocket cross, but Ten-Hoff fended off more trouble and countered with some jabs in a 23-7 opener!

Hein landed a freight train left early in the 2^nd, and now it was Williamson covering up! Hein boxed nicely, carving out a 15-9 round, and won the 3^rd, 6-2, with a nasty uppercut. Hein landed another uppercut in the 4^th, and a bunch of crosses. He built up a huge lead, then Williamson came back with counterpunches to almost even it, 12-11. Round 5 was a reversal, as DaVarryl jumped to the lad, helped by a straight right, then it was Ten-Hoff rallying in the last minute to keep it close, 12-11, and his straight right hurt Williamson!

It was too close to call at this point, and the next two rounds didn’t clarify anything. Williamson was jabbing effectively in the 6^th, and landed a huge hook and hard cross. Hein was tired, but came back in the last minute with a series of crosses and a rapacious combination, to almost take it, 18-16. Hein was slightly more effective in a low-scoring 7^th, 8-6.

Williamson had worn Ten-Hoff down, and landed much more frequently in the 8^th, his crosses being his bread and butter weapon! He landed a massive uppercut, cross and hook, and Hein could only answer with one power shot, a right, as Williamson pulled away, 19-6! Williamson was clinching for most of the 9^th, frustrating Ten-Hoff. Williamson had a few flurries in the last minute that may have pulled it out, 5-2.

Both men went after each other in the 10^th. Hein landed a solid straight right, Williamson a sweet combination. Hein jumped out to the lead with a sharp cross, but landed a hook and vicious body shot, notting the score at 12-12.

This would be a tough one to score. They had landed about the same number of punches. Still, Williamson had the KD, and I scored it for him, 98-96. The judges all saw it my way, scoring it 97-93, 97-95 & 95-94, a unanimous win for DaVarryl Williamson. Ten-Hoff had acquitted himself very well, but another Level 4/5 fighter had bit the dust!

[mikehoudini]

Hubert Hilton (level 5) vs. Gerald Griffith, Hilton SD
Johnny Arthur vs. Al Lewis, Arthur KO6 (losing)
Monte Barrett vs. Lou Savarese, Savarese close UD
King Levinsky vs. James Smith, Levinsky UD
Vasily Jirov vs. Otto Von Porat, Jirov TKO6 Swelling
Owen Beck vs. Larry Donald, Donald TKO8 cuts (losing at time)
Oleg Machaev vs. Lawrence Clay-Bey, Machaev TKO4
Tommy Gomez vs. Charlie Retzlaff , Retzlaff KO5

Bob Armstrong vs. Pat McMurtry, McMurtry KO8
Tami Mauriello (level 5) vs. Corrie Sanders, Sanders TKO4
Cedric Boswell (level 4) vs. Kirk Johnson, Johnson UD
Audley Harrison vs. Renaldo Snipes, Snipes D, then SD
Harry Thomas vs. Embrell Davidson, Thomas TKO10 (1 second left)
Lance Whitaker vs. Simon Samil Sam, Samil Sam UD
Goddard (level 5) vs. Seignuei Lyakhovich, Lyakhovich TKO 6 cots
Hein Ten-Hoff (level 5) vs. DaVarryl Williamson, Williamson UD

5 of Infinity’s 8 men had come through, 2 of Crimson’s, PWillis’ Larry Donald, and Bear’s Lou Savarese (can Bear shake his jinx?). Alas, Connecticut’s own Lawrence Clay-Bey bit the dust, to Conn Chris’ dismay. Say hey, Clay-Bey! Maybe another day?

On to the bottom half of this round!
>>

[mikehoudini]

Rex Layne and Mike Weaver are up in the next 2 matches. If they win, they'll meet each other - again!

[Mad Bomber]

A good old fashioned trilogy. Those were the days.

[mikehoudini]

Originally Posted by Mad Bomber

A good old fashioned trilogy. Those were the days.

Maybe like the Good, the Bad and the Ugly, or the Mad Max trilogy! We'll see if it comes to pass!

[mikehoudini]

Rex Layne (level 5) vs. Matt Skelton – Infinity saw Layne going on to the Elite Eight. PWillisTheMan believed Skelton would box his ears off. If Rex were to win, he might meet Mike Weaver, PWillis’ main man, provided Weaver also wins. Skelton planned to prevent the recurrence of the third match in the Weaver-Layne trilogy!

Skelton went right to work, firing crisp punches, catching Layne with a series of uppercuts, and established a nice lead. Then Rex began alternating hooks and crosses, and landed enough to close the gap to 9-8, anyone’s round! Skelton caught Rex coming in with a sweet counter early in the 2nd, decking the big man for a 6 count! Rex tried clumsily to cover up, but Matt staggered him with a nasty combination, and Layne held on for dear life! Rex lasted the round, losing 15-0, and maybe was guilty of looking ahead to his possible next encounter.

Skelton had taught Rex not to overlook him, and continued to press Rex as the 3^rd round began. Rex began to show some sign of recovery, throwing a bunch of hooks and uppercuts. One hook rocked Skelton, and Rex went into overdrive, landing 45 punches in total, cruising to an 18-3 round! Sexy Rexxy was awake!

The two exchanged punches in the 4^th, Layne being a bit more active and landing a bone-crushing uppercut. In the last minute, rex scored repeatedly with crosses, emerging as a 13-5 winner! Matt opened the 5^th with some sharp shots, but Rex launched a sizzling combination that caused Skelton to wince! Rex rocked Matt with two massive uppercuts, and suddenly Skelton was covering up! Rex just poured it on, firing a sweet combination, then a laser left, and, finally, as the round was ending, a cross that send Skelton spinning into the ropes! It was a huge 28-4 round for Layne, and most fans wondered if Skelton could last much longer!

Dead-tired, Matt clinched for the first minute of the 6^th, then starting firing some jabs and hooks. He hurt Rex with a solid cross, but was tired, and alternated clinching and punching in what was still a very effective 11-2 round!

Rex was stalking in the 7^th. Matt had expended a lot of energy, and still was tired. Rex bided his time, landing some hooks and uppercuts, then struck home with a savage straight right! Matt looked vulnerable and the Night Train Layne express was in full throttle (toot toot), a wicked right climaxing a 19-2 round for Rex!

Skelton somehow came back in the 8^th, as Rex was suddenly clinching. Matt landed a nice uppercut, then a sharp right, and did enough to possibly pull the round out, 10-8. Matt countered well early in the 9^th, but Layne landed two sledge-hammer hooks (anyone remember that TV show, Sledge Hammer?). It was dead even, 8-8, then Rex connected on a jarring head butt to possibly take the round, 10-8. The Skelton corner was incensed, but, other than the warning, Rex got away with it!

I had it even at this point. Rex landed a few hooks and crosses early in the 10^th, then an angry Skelton blasted him with an uppercut. Neither could do much more damage, and Rex may have pulled the round out, 7-6. Layne had outlanded Skelton, 260-148, and at a higher percentage of punches thrown, 34-28%. But Matt had that big 2^nd round KD.

The judges scored the fight 95-94 Layne, 95-95 and 95-94 for, the winner by a majority decision, Rex Layne! He had been awesome in the 3^rd thru 5^th & 7^th. To the cheers from Infinity, Rex advances. PWillis just shook his head in disgust. Now could Weaver come through?

[mikehoudini]

Mike Weaver (level 5 champion) vs. Juan Carlos Gomez – Mike (Hercules) Weaver was steaming. After Rex Layne narrowly beat Matt Skelton, he talked about what he’d do to Weaver if, “by some miracle” Layne’s words), he upset Gomez! Juan Carlos may have felt a little overconfident, as he came into the ring a bit rusty. So it was all systems go, Hercules versus the Black Panther!

Gomez landed first in a feeling-out round. Weaver came back with a left hook to the body, avoided any further punishment, and won it, 8-2. They had a number of exchanges in the 2^nd, Gomez landing more often, particularly with his hook. He pulled away to a 13-7 round! Weaver landed a hard hook in the 3^rd, but Gomez was far more effective, landing 30 times en route to a 12-4 round. Mike was cut on his lip, to boot.

Weaver needed to reverse his fortunes, so he pressed the attack on the inside in the 4^th. He was all over Juan Carlos from the bell, banging hooks and uppercuts home. He slammed a hard right home, then staggered Gomez with a nasty left! Juan Carlos landed several counters, but Weaver wasn’t missing too often. Gomez couldn’t cope with his swarming style, and he ripped 60 punches home, good for a 25-9 round, in a dominating performance! He wasn’t taking Gomez lightly, but rather was trying to pulverize him to get another chance at Layne!

Gomez was dragging as he came out for the 5^th, and half a minute later he was resting for a 9 count, courtesy of a thunderous shot from Weaver! Juan Carlos tried to cover up, but Hercules went through his defenses like a hot knife through butter, slamming a double hook home that had Gomez reeling, and pawing at a badly-swollen right eye. Mike pounded away, his cross being particularly brutal, knocking a defenseless Gomez from one side of the ring to the other. Pinning him on the ropes, Weaver was relentless, and the referee jumped in to prevent further injury before Gomez crumbled to the canvas!

Mike Weaver won on a TKO at 2:42 of the 5^th. The Black Panther looked more like a declawed little kitty after the beating he absorbed in the last 2 rounds. After a good start, he had been savaged! Weaver wasn’t smiling at the post-fight interview. He saw Layne, who had witnessed the fight, and challenged him to get in the ring now and have at it! Rex was willing, but Butterbean (no doubt lured by the fine food at the Ruppert) blocked him from entering the ring. Weaver shouted to Layne as he was being led away “You can run, but you can’t hide!” Order was restored, and Butterbean sank back into his triple-wide seat to finish his snack of a bucket of chicken.

So Layne, via a lucky draw, gets a third crack at Weaver. Who will win this one? Guaranteed: at least 1 level 5 fighter will advance to the Sweet 16!

[mikehoudini]

Luan Krasnigi vs. Nino Valdez – Infinity favored Valdez as making the Sweet 16, but he was stunned by a super cross and went down for a 5 count in the opening minute! Krasnigi tried for the KO, but Nino weathered the storm, losing 16-4. The tall Cuban bounced back against the equally tall German in the 2^nd, winning 14-8, on the strength of two solid lefts and a series of uppercuts.

Both men fought cautiously for the first 2 minutes of the 3^rd, then they had some spirited exchanges. Valdez hurt Luan with a laser hook, and punched more frequently for a 12-8 round. After a slow first minute, Nino dominated the 4^th. He hurt Krasnigi with a booming hook, then almost floored him with a left hook to the body and then one upstairs at round’s end. Landing 14 hooks & 45 punches, Valdez ruled, 21-4, and Luan’s left eye was swelling up.

Valdez poured it on in a 13-0 5^th, banging his hooks home, and Krasnigi’s eye was much worse. He looked exhausted, and Valdez bombed away in a 16-4 6^th, landing hooks and combinations as Luan staggered around, his vision impaired by the ugly swelling! Krasnigi put on a valiant performance in the 7^th, landing 30 times, uppercuts his main weapon. But Valdez was even more active, landing a savage combination, a bunch of hooks, and a sweet uppercut, winning his 6^th straight round, 17-10!

Valdez was dominating the fight after having suffered that opening round knockdown. He opened the 8^th with a deadly uppercut, garnering his first KD! Krasnigi made it upright at the count of 5, immediately covering up. Nino went for the KO and Luan seemed ready to go. Somehow, Luan hung on, causing Valdez to miss, while landing an occasional jab as a counter. He actually made the round close, 7-6, as Nino couldn’t touch him after the KD!

Valdez was tired coming out for the 9^th, as he’d expended a lot of energy firing his whiffs in the 8^th. A go-for-broke Krasnigi caught him flush with a hook, and he staggered back. Luan threw a wild overhand right that landed upside Valdez’s head, and Nino crashed to the canvas! He was back up at the count of 8, but glassy-eyed, and what a turnaround from one round earlier, when Luan looked ready to go! Kras landed a searing right, easily getting by Nino’s attempt to cover up. Revitalized by the roar from his fans, Kras landed a thunderous uppercut, and Nino was wobbling around on sailor’s legs. Luan uncorked a herculean hook and Valdez was down and out, out, out!

Krasnigi, who had been down by 5 or 6 rounds on all cards, suddenly was the winner by a KO at 2:58 of the 9^th! What a turnaround from a fight in which Valdez had thoroughly been thumping him! Valdez was crushed after the fight, having boxed so well but then caught by a punch, the wild overhand right, that he never saw coming. Luan Krasnigi smiled broadly, making a muscle, as he would advance!

[PWillisTheMan]

Infinity and i shall have our day. Weaver is going to manhandle Layne. It's worth mentioning that i had it 97-93 for Skelton from home. He wont last long enough to rob Mike.

[mikehoudini]

Originally Posted by PWillisTheMan

Infinity and i shall have our day. Weaver is going to manhandle Layne. It's worth mentioning that i had it 97-93 for Skelton from home. He wont last long enough to rob Mike.

I think the gauntlet has been thrown!

[mikehoudini]

Nathan Mann (Connecticut) vs. Fighting Bob Martin – Martin used his 4 inch height advantage to get extra leverage for a tough hook and uppercut to take round 1 from the battling Nutmeg State fighter, 10-7. Mann, fighting as a boxer, landed rapid-fire jabs and crosses in the last 2 minutes to take the 2^nd, 11-7. Martin rode a laser left to take an early lead and then hold on in an 8-6 3^rd. Nathan launched a sweet uppercut early in the 4^th, then Fighting Bob lived up to his name with a booming hook and massive uppercut. Even at the 2 minute mark, Mann rallied with some crisp jabs, and iced an 18-8 round with a hook that staggered Martin.

The 5^th should have been Martin’s round, as they were trading rounds. It was, 14-8. He built a 14-2 lead, then Mann rallied behind a series of crisp crosses. Neither fighter did much in a 6-6 6^th. Too much said! They traded punches in the first 2 minutes of the 7^th, Martin landing 2 crunching uppercuts, Nathan a sonic cross. The Nutmeg State fighter just kept banging away with crosses and jabs, and dominated the last minute, pulling away to a 20-10 round! He landed at will on Bob, with 26 crosses, 15 jabs & 60 punches total. Martin was the recipient of a gash on the forehead, which halted the beautiful boxing exhibition being put on by Mann for a short time.

Fighting Bob looked more like Flaggin Bob as he trudged out for the 8^th. Mann ripped a cross home, and the gash reopened, blood spurting. Doc Holliday took a quick look and shook his head. Fighting Bob would fight no more on this day, Nathan Mann winning by a TKO on cuts at 0:13 of the 8^th! It had been a close fight, though the machine gun rapidity of Mann in the 7^th resulted in him winning the punches landed battle, 221-132. The fight had been dead even on the judges cards.

So a Connecticut fighter advanced. Take note, Conn Chris!

[mikehoudini]

Two-Ton Tony Galento (3-4 2) (level 5) vs. George Godfrey – Galento had been entertaining in the previous tournament, and had snuck into this draw, though Infinity had him advancing. He rushed out to throw his signature hook, but Godfrey beat him to the punch, nailing him flush with a resounding uppercut! Tony was stunned, and George fired in a classic 5 punch combination and, just that quick, Galento was in big trouble in a small ring! Tony shook out the cobwebs and began trading punches, but Godfrey was the one to land a whistling hook! George kept punching, and then the referee jumped between the two, waving his arms. Godfrey was declared the winner by a TKO at 2:57 of the 1^st.


A riot almost ensued. Tony had been behind, 24-7, but still was throwing leather, and landing some, and the crowd lustily booed what seemed like a premature stoppage! Tony was beside himself, refusing to leave the ring for about 20 minutes, but then Partial Eclipse Butterbean was able to impose his bulk and calm him down. The crowd was still restless after that officiating.

[mikehoudini]

Mike Evans (6-1 4) (level 5 runnerup) vs. Franz Botha – Mighty Mike had done fine, losing only to Mike Weaver in the prior tourney, but how would he fare against the White Buffalo? Franz landed the first real blow, a nice cross, but Evans came back, helped by a super uppercut, to take the opener, 11-7. Botha landed a brutal hook to the midsection in the 2^nd, then connected on a set of combinations, pulling away, 15-4.

Evans landed a few uppercuts and jabs early in the 3^rd, then erupted with a sizzling straight right. The ref stopped the fight, deducting a point from Botha for an invisible head butt. The crowd roared at this ineptitude, throwing pairs of glasses into the ring. The ring was swept clear, and the fight began again after a plea to the unruly fans. Evans chugged along, tossing his uppercuts and jabs, winning in a resounding fashion, 19-4!

Mighty Mike was throwing some smoking jabs and hooks, jumping out to an 11-0 lead in the 4^th, and inflicting a nasty cut on Botha’s right eyebrow! Evans was relentless, stunning Franz with a straight right, building the lead to 21-0, and now Botha’s right eye was swelling in addition to the cut! In the last second of a 53 punch round, Botha uncorked a jarring hook, scoring a 1 count flash knockdown! The round ended 21-7, Evans, and it would be interesting to see how the judges scored it.

Franz took the initiative in the 5^th, building a 10-2 lead partway through the round, one shot a gnarly uppercut! But Evans rallied, firing rapid-fire jabs and other punches to barely overtake Botha, 11-10. Botha’s eye was now worse.

Franz started quickly in the 6^th, building a 9-2 lead in the first minute, a hard left his major punch. But then along came Mike, sweet-talking Mike, landing a flurry of jabs and uppercuts, the last uppercut flooring Franz for a 3 count! Botha’s eye was swelling even worse, and Evans pounced like a big fat cat, tattooing his opponent with a variety of punches. When the dust settled, it was because Evans had landed 54 times en route to a 24-9 round, and the fight had been stopped to check Botha’s reopened cut. It was amazing, considering the damage to Franz’s eye, that the fight wasn’t stopped.

Evans had controlled 3 of the last 4 rounds, though that flash knockdown he suffered would have to be factored in. Both men were tired as they slogged through a 9-8 7^th, arguably won by Botha. Franz fought a great 2 minutes in the 8^th, staggering Evans with a cross and building up a 14-2 lead. Mike rallied a bit after that, but Botha got the nod, 16-6, though his eye was now half-shut.

A desperate Botha again jumped out in the 9^th, staggering Evans on the cumulative blows of a straight right, dandy cross and sweeping hook, 13-2! In the last seconds, Evans plastered Botha with an uppercut, dropping him like a shot! Franz was up at the count of 6, but wobbly as he was led back to his corner. He led on points, 13-9, but Evans had scored the KD, and Botha looked the worse for wear!

The fight crowd, won over by the great display of courage put on by both men, roared as they touched gloves, ready to do battle in the 10^th. Botha threw bombs, but they were almost slow-motion, and Evans blocked and slipped them, albeit with some effort, as he was tired, too. The round was anti-climactic, Evans outscoring Franz, 6-2. It was all up to the refs.

Mighty Mike Evans had landed far more times, 286-189, his uppercuts and hooks his favorite weapons. But the scoring in 2 of the 3 KD rounds could be all over the map. I had it Evans, 97-93. The color commentator had him as well, by a 96-94 margin. The judges scored it 94-93 Evans, 94-94 & 94-93 for, the winner by a majority decision, Mike Evans. Another Level 5 fighter had advanced!

[Infinity]

Originally Posted by PWillisTheMan

Infinity and i shall have our day. Weaver is going to try to manhandle Layne. It's worth mentioning that i had it 97-93 for Skelton from home. He wont need to last long enough to rob Mike.

I noticed you made some errors in your statement so took the liberty of helping you out.... Layne by KO in 5!

[PWillisTheMan]

Originally Posted by Infinity

I noticed you made some errors in your statement so took the liberty of helping you out.... Layne by KO in 5!

Where is the I don't thank you button?