[mikehoudini]

George Godfrey (2-0 2) vs. Vaughn Bean (2-0-1 2) – Godfrey had stopped Mike Evans on an 8^th round KO, while Bean had TKOd Bruce Woodcock in 8, in a fight in which he was losing badly.

Round 1 – Godfrey tore into Bean, who rumor had it hadn’t trained for this matchup. George landed 42 times, mainly with hooks & crosses, in pitching an almost shutout, 15-2! Godfrey 10-9.

Round 2 – Bean evaded George, who was warned for a low blow, in a 7-7 round that had the fans booing. 19-19

Round 3 - Vaughn got untracked in the 3^rd, landing a booming hook. Godfrey was tentative, and Bean wasn’t, to the tune of a 10-4 round. 29-28 Bean.

Round 4 – Old Chocolate clinched in a boring first minute. He opened up with a solid hook, frustrating Bean and taking the lead, 9-4. 38-38

Round 5 – Bean did most of the clinching in this listless 8-4 stinker. Godfrey won it as he powered home one nice hook, 8-4. 48-47 Godfrey

Round 6 - Vaughn opened nicely with a series of uppercuts, George rallied in the second minute, then Bean landed at will in the last minute, a vicious cross cementing a 15-6 round. 57-57

Round 7 – Bean was trying to catch his breath. He landed a nasty uppercut in the opening minute, but was gasping for breath other than that. He conserved his energy, and energized the crowd with a colossal cross that floored Old Chocolate! George made it back up at the count of 6, suddenly looking old as he tried to cover up! Vaughn hammered at him with jabs and crosses, and he was on Bink Street, but refused to go down again. Bean won the round big time, 20-5. 67-65 Bean

Round 8 - Godfrey lay on the ropes, catching a rushing-in Bean with a cranium-cruncher! Bean was hurt, and George repeatedly found him with his crosses. Landing 38 times in all, he built a big lead. Bean landed a hard combination, but little else, in a 15-6 round! 76-75 Bean

Round 9 – Bean landed the first telling blow, a hard hook. Godfrey backed away, biding his time, suddenly lashing out with a savage combination that stopped Bean in his tracks. He dropped, staggering back to his feet at the count of 5, but it was clear he was hurt. Godfrey rained crosses on him as he tried to cover up, and one sent him down again, this time for a 4 count! George smashed him with a massive uppercut, and it was all Bean could do to hold on in a weak semblance of a bear hug! The bell sounded, and Bean had survived, but taken a 24-5 shellacking! 85-83 Godfrey

Round 10 - They traded shots in an exciting finishing round! Bean surprised George with a sweet combination. George regrouped and fired a hard hook, following on with some crosses. Godfrey now looked tired, and Vaughn just missed nailing him flush, but his hook jarred Godfrey and sent him backward! The round ended the two still swinging at each other, the score 16-12 in favor of Godfrey. 95-92 Godfrey

Godfrey had outlanded Bean, 257-182, and won it in the last 3 rounds, Bean’s conditioning taking its toll. The color commentator had George as well, 95-94. The judges scored it 95-93, 97-91 & 97-91, George Godfrey picking up the win! Once again, the Butterbean training regimen had backfired.

[mikehoudini]

Ted Lowry (2-0) vs. Phil Jackson (2-0 2) – Jackson had put Joe Mesi to sleep in 3, while Tiger Ted had narrowly won a split decision over Billy Daniels. Ted opened with 2 superb rounds, landing 92 times in a nice boxing exhibition, 15-2 & 14-2! Jackson regrouped and took the 3^rd & 4^th, 11-4 & 10-4, forcing the action and hurting Ted with a body shot and a crisp uppercut. The 5^th was dead even, Lowry landing 47 times, but Jackson getting the harder blows in.

Phil took a 10-2 6^th, countering well and landing a whistling winging right. Ted rallied in the 3^rd minute to arguably take the 7^th, 11-9, landing 32 times in the last minute! Phil took the 8^th, another 10-2 round, taking the starch out of Lowry’s attack with an opening combination.

Ted put on another brilliant clinic in a 16-4 9^th, landing crosses & combinations at will, hurting Jackson twice with a surprising show of power. Jackson came back to take, maybe, a lackluster 10^th, 6-4. Lowry had outlanded Jackson, 276-191, 177 of those being crosses & combinations. I had Jackson by a whisker, 97-96. The judges called it 96-94 Jackson, 95-95 & 95-95, a majority draw!

Jackson dominated the 1^st in the rematch, 16-4, two hard hooks complementing 12 crosses. He may have won the 2^nd, 13-10, but was warned for holding & hitting. Lowry rebounded with a 14 combination, 35 punches total 10-2 round. He opened the 4^th nicely, then was tagged by a combination and sharp uppercut. Down, his fist flew in the last minute, as he rallied for a 12-10 round!

The 5^th was slow. Suddenly, Jackson erupted with a 5 punch combination! It was brutal, and Tiger Ted slept like a pussycat as he was counted out, Jackson winning by a KO at 1:05 of the 5^th!

[mikehoudini]

Francesco Damiani (2-0) vs. Amos Lincoln (level 5) (6-2 4) – Damiani had upset Jim Braddock, while Lincoln had won a unanimous decision over Johnny Risko in a fight that was ended because of a cut occurring by an unintentional head butt. Damiani decided to slug it out with the Big Train. Would this prove to be a wise decision?

Francesco set the tone in an 11-4 Round 1. He caught a Lincoln hook, but hurt Amos with a dazzling uppercut. Damiani started off well in the 2^nd, a hard cross and another uppercut giving him the upper hand at the two minute mark. Lincoln rallied with a solid last minute, punctuated by a daunting straight right. His uppercuts notted the points at 11-11, and would go a long way to influencing the judges.

Damiani clinched a lot in the 3^rd, frustrating Lincoln. Francesco stayed active when he wasn’t clinching, pulling away to an 11-2 round. He stunned Amos with a gigantic right to start the 4^th, then sent him staggering with a titanium cranium-crusher! Way down, Lincoln again staged a great rally in the last minute, hooking like there was no tomorrow. He nearly floored Damiani with a deadly hook to the body, and ended up just a point behind, 15-14! Again, his rally might influence the judges.

Francesco was cut over the left eye early in the 5^th, and the fight was halted temporarily before Doctor Jekkel said it could proceed. They trades shots for the first 2 minutes, Damiani landing another solid uppercut, Amos a whistling combination. Francesco’s cut was now gushing, and he attacked with a savage vigor in the ladt minute, nearly flooring Lincoln from the effects of a thunderous hook and combination. Damiani won going away, 20-8, and Lincoln was a tired train who looked like he’d run out of coal.

Francesco was still bleeding coming out for the 6^th, and this gave Lincoln new life. He blasted a combination home, followed by a vicious left hook to the midsection. Damiani waited for him to slow down, then tagged him with a laser left and sharp combination, doing enough to steal the round, 13-11. Lincoln’s fatigue was in evidence.

Amos opened the 7^th nicely, but a sizzling cross took the steam out of his engine. Francesco was tiring as well, but had enough left in the tank to drop Lincoln with a nasty uppercut. Amos was back up at the count of 3, and weathered the storm, but had squandered another opportunity in a 13-8 round.

Damiani’s cut was reopened from a Lincoln jab in the 8^th, and again the fight was halted. Once things resumed, they traded hard shots, Lincoln’s booming hook causing Francesco to clinch. Damiani recuperated, then started landing leather. A fantastic straight right nearly ended the fight, and soon after Lincoln went down, but it was ruled a slip! It ended 13-7, another good round for Damiani.

He went after Amos in the 9^th, taking the lead with a crisp hook, then mixing hooks and uppercuts. Late in the round he threw a titanic uppercut, and Amos was down again! He staggered to his feet at the count of 4, clearly on Bink Street, and somehow again weathered the storm. Damiani dominated, 21-4!

In the 10^th, he nearly leveled Lincoln with a straight right, then dropped him with a bruising cross. Amos sprang back up at the count of 3, but there was no fight left in him. Damiani pulled away to an easy 16-6 round, protecting his eye, just in case.

There was no suspense in the verdict. Harold Lederman led the way in a 98-89, 97-90 & 98-89 unanimous decision for Francesco Damiani. The last of the Level 5 fighters had bit the dust, or perhaps more appropriately, tasted the canvas! Damiani had ruled from Round 5 on!

[mikehoudini]

Hubert Hilton (level 5) vs. Lou Savarese, Savarese TKO7
Vasily Jirov vs. Oleg Machaev, Machaev UD

Pat McMurtry vs. Renaldo Snipes, McMurtry MD
Harry Thomas vs. DaVarryl Williamson, Thomas KO7

Mike Weaver (level 5 champion) vs. Luan Krasniqi, Krasniqi UD
George Godfrey vs. Vaughn Bean, Godfrey UD

Ted Lowry vs. Phil Jackson, Jackson D, KO5
Francesco Damiani vs. Amos Lincoln (level 5), Damiani UD

All the Level 5 fighters have now been eliminated. On to the Elite 8!!!

[mikehoudini]

Lou Savarese vs. Oleg Machaev

Pat McMurtry vs.Harry Thomas

Luan Krasniqi vs. George Godfrey

Phil Jackson vs. Francesco Damiani

Who will prevail? I know who Bear is going with!

[bear]

Originally Posted by mikehoudini

Lou Savarese vs. Oleg Machaev

Pat McMurtry vs.Harry Thomas

Luan Krasniqi vs. George Godfrey

Phil Jackson vs. Francesco Damiani

Who will prevail? I know who Bear is going with!

He's already gone where no one I've rooted for has gone before.

[mikehoudini]

We'll soon see if he is Star Trek Savarese, boldly going where no man, or Bear, has gone before!

[mikehoudini]

Lou Savarese (3-0 1) vs. Oleg Maskaev (3-0 2) – Sweet Lou had savaged Hubert Hilton, stopping him on a TKO, while Oleg had ended the dreams of Vasily Jirov, dismantling him with a decisive unanimous decision. Bear was on hand, cautioning Savarese to fight as a boxer and not try to match salvos with Maskaev!

Lou got Oleg’s attention early on with a double hook, moving to an early lead. He was landing as well with uppercuts, and had Maskaev clinching in the second minute. Oleg took the lead with a sizzling combination, but Low came back at round’s end with an eye-popping uppercut, and took the round on my card, 12-10!

Neither man could get anything going in the opening minute of the 2^nd. Maskaev, frustrated by Savarese’s defense, tried an uppercut from way outside. It missed, and Lou countered with a bone-crushing cross! Oleg dropped like Enron, out cold! The referee started the count, then just shook his head and raised Lou’s hand. Showing surprising power, Savarese won via a KO at 1:30 of the 2^nd!

Perhaps Maskaev had tired himself out in destroying Jirov. Bear was dancing in the street, his man the first to advance to the Final 4!

[mikehoudini]

Pat McMurtry (3-0 1) vs. Harry Thomas (3-0 2) – McMurtry had won a majority decision over Mister Snipes, while Thomas had scored a 7^th round KO against DaVarryl Williamson. This had the makings of a classic boxer/slugger encounter!

Harry, who had come in a little less-toned, dominated the first 2 minutes. Landing a hard hook, a solid cross and a wicked straight right, he had Irish Pat in a bad way! Pat came back in the last minute, keeping Thomas at bay and scoring enough to make it respectable, 16-7. McMurtry was much more wary of Thomas’ power in the 2^nd. Landing a sharp hook, and a number of jabs, he punched his way to an 8-4 round.

Pat landed 3 hard shots in a row, then another crisp hook, to fashion a quick lead in the 3^rd. Harry staggered him with a lethal left, then they traded blows. Each landed 31 times, but Irish Pat scored a little better, 13-11! Like the 3^rd, McMurtry jumped out in the 4^th, helped by a sonic cross and a series of jabs and hooks. Then Harry began unloading the heavy artillery. A jarring cross started it, and then another. They again were trading punch for punch, 30 for each man, but a last second dazzling hook pulled it out for Thomas, 15-11! It was dead even!

Thomas got the jump in the 5^th, firing a colossal cross that stunned McMurtry! Pat was throwing, but missing, not quite able to put his punches together. Thomas was pouring in hooks & crosses. Pat came back in the last minute with a bunch of jabs, but Thomas was still landing (38 times in all for the round) and winning big time, 16-6.

McMurtry had some swelling in his right eye, and Thomas got out to an early lead in the 6^th.Pat landed a crushing hook, regaining the upper hand, then his hooks and jabs flew with fury. Landing 39 times in all, he frustrated Thomas for a 12-6 round, and things were all even again!

Thomas went on the offensive in the 7^th. He landed some, but missed on a lot. McMurtry countered with a hammering hook, slowing Harry down briefly. But Thomas was like an oxen, plowing ahead. McMurty looked tired, and Thomas seized the moment with a cranium-cruncher that sent Pat flying. Pat was game, making Thomas miss, but Harry had landed enough to take it, 11-7!

Pat seemed to be moving slower, and Thomas took advantage of that in the 8^th, landing a smash that sent Pat to the mat! He was back up at the count of 6, but visiting Bink Street, and a rejuvenated Thomas started banging away with his hooks and crosses. Pat blocked some, slipped a few others, but many more crashed home. Just as the bell sounded, Thomas unloaded with a classic cross, and Pat went down again. He struggled valiantly, but couldn’t quite beat the count, and Harry Thomas was the winner by a KO at 3:00 of the 8^th!

It was the second straight fight where Thomas had scored a KO at the end of the round, though this one went a round longer. McMurtry, who had been outlanded 237-193, had fought a good fight, and was hugged by a victorious Thomas. The crowd cheered this good display of sportsmanship. Would his power prevail against Savarese?

[CONN CHRIS]

Wow - Lou keeps chugging along.

[bear]

Originally Posted by CONN CHRIS

Wow - Lou keeps chugging along.

Huzzah for Lou

[mikehoudini]

He's looking like Superman Savarese, the Man of Steel!

[mikehoudini]

Luan Krasniqi (3-0 2) vs. George Godfrey (3-0 2) –Krasniqi had ended the quest of Level 5 champion Mike Weaver, winning on a unanimous decision. Old Chocolate had decisioned Vaughn Bean.

Luan took the 1^st, 7-4, stunning Godfrey with a terrific combination. Krasniqi 10-9

Godfrey asserted himself in the 2^nd with a hard straight right. George poured in jabs and crosses in a 12-6 round. 19-19

George boxed beautifully in a 16-6 3^rd. He landed a crisp cross, then dominated the last minute with a non-stop volley of crosses and jabs. Godfrey 29-28

Godfrey made it 3 in a row in the 4^th. Even at the two minute mark, he again put on a show in the last minute, using crosses and a surprising number of uppercuts, banging out a 15-6 round! He was looking impressive. Godfrey 39-37

Luan had been on the receiving end, barely able to generate any offense, but he was more effective in the 5^th, as George seemed to have temporarily punched himself out. Kras took it, 10-7, landing a bunch of uppercuts, winning a needed round. Godfrey 48-47

The 6^th round was a dull one. Krasniqi won it, 6-2, as Godfrey didn’t seem to be doing much of anything. 57-57

George woke up for the 7^th, jabbing nicely amidst a mix of other punches. He had Luan clinching, and hurt him with a late cross in a big 14-2 round. Godfrey 67-66

Krasniqi rocked Godfrey with a sharp uppercut early in the 8^th. He landed a few jabs and uppercuts, then rocked George with a cross. Going all out for the KO, he was dominating Godfrey, but that all went by the boards when Old Chocolate threw a lightning cross just before the bell that sent a wide-open Krasniqi to the canvas. He bounced up at the count of 3, and had scored more points, 14-9, but Godfrey had the KD. Godfrey 10-9 and 77-75

Luan was tired coming out for the 9^th, trying still for a big bomb. Godfrey picked most of them off, landing a punch or two. Luan, who had to clinch to rest up, may have pulled out the round in non-spectacular fashion, 4-3. Not on may card. Godfrey 87-85

George came out covering up like a turtle, and Paolino Uzcudun would have been proud. The only punch that landed in the first 2 minutes was a low blow by Krasniqi. George countered with a few jabs at round’s end to not things, 2-2, in an awe-uninspiring round! Neither man deserved to win this round. Godfrey 97-95

George had outlanded Luan, 204-168, and at a much higher clip, 51% as opposed to 23%. The last-seconf KD in Round 8 loomed large! The judges scored the fight 96-94, 96-93 & 95-94, a close unanimous decision for…George Godfrey! The Final Four is ¾ complete!

[mikehoudini]

Phil Jackson (3-0-1 3) vs. Francesco Damiani (3-0) – Phil had KOd Ted Lowry in 5 after drawing with him, while Damiani had won over Amos Lincoln.

With the exception of Round 2, Damiani ruled the first 5 rounds. Taking the opener, 17-7, he was shook up by a late Jackson cross. When Phil opened the 2^nd with another cross, the cobwebs set in, and Damiani was slow-moving as Jackson fired uppercuts and hooks to take it, 15-2. Francesco then cleared his head, and was a different fighter, winning 14-2, 10-2 & 12-4, jabbing nicely, landing the occasional hard shot, and making Jackson look overmatched.

Francesco opened the 6^th with a shot to the body, but Jackson saw an opening and answered with a brutal right hook, stunning Damiani. He landed a searing straight right, then a hard hook, and suddenly Damiani was covering up! Jackson tried to end it, but was clumsy, and Damiani slipped all salvos and countered smartly, rallying back to a much closer 13-10 round!

Jackson may have punched himself out trying to end the fight, and he looked tired sitting on his stool. After a slow first minute, he felt refreshed and tagged Damiani again with a hammering combination. Sticking with that weapon, he pounded out a 13-8 round, and was getting back into the match!

Damiani slowed his charge with a good combination of his own opening the 8^th. Phil retreated, then unleashed a solid cross and pile-driving straight right! Damiani, wobbling, showed his mettle by uncorking an equally-powerful right. His endurance was fading, and he caught a few jabs, as Jackson may have done enough to win it, 15-13! The fight was now even!

Throwing caution to the wind in the 9th, Jackson caught Damiani with a colossal uppercut, and Francesco covered up, hurt! Jackson fired and missed, then showed he had learned his lesson, slowing down and picking his punches. He sent Damiani flying into the ropes with a larruping left, then made him sag against the turnbuckle with a murderous hook! Damiani lasted the round, losing 17-2, but his left eye was beginning to swell, and he looked in a bad way!

Jackson attacked in the 10^th, Damiani retreated and countered. Neither could get the upper hand in a 6-6 round, but Francesco’s eye was now a mess. This was going to be close. I had Jackson winning, 96-95. They had both had their moments, landing about 200 punches, but Rounds 6-9 were huge for Jackson. The judges scored the fight 95-95, 95-95 and 96-94 Damiani, a majority draw! They’d go at it again!

[mikehoudini]

Somehow, Jackson seemed out of shape coming in for the rematch. He dropped the 1^st round, 11-2, as Damiani was boxing nicely, then came back with 12-2 & 11-2 rounds in the 2^nd & 3^rd. His jab was working well, and he was out-boxing the boxer! Francesco won a crowd-pleasing 4^th, 18-11, landing a sweet right and 38 punches all told. Jackson won a slow 5^th, 7-3, but his left eye was beginning to swell.

Phil took the 6^th, 10-2, finding the range with a good uppercut, causing Damiani to clinch, then finishing the round with a sharp left! He was up 2 rounds on my card. Damiani began to hook big-time in the 7^th, and Jackson’s eye was getting worse. Francesco took it, 11-6, and then built a good lead in the 8^th, as Jackson’s lack of conditioning was beginning to tell. Jackson landed a desperation hook at the end of the round, but still fell on the south side, 10-6, and I had the fight even!

The 9^th was precision boxing by Damiani against the long bombs attempted by Jackson. Phil landed a stupendous hook and a hard cross, but Francesco was like a surgeon, landing 39 precision-like punches, 16 crosses that had Jackson’s eye a mess! I had Damiani winning a good round, 15-13.

Damiani came out covering up for the 10^th. He countered a Jackson bomb with a laser jab, and suddenly Phil was cut over his right eye! He kept tossing his bombs, but his vision was impaired, and Damiani gracefully slipped and countered, winning an artistic round, 6-2.

This time I had Damiani the winner, 96-94 Again, they’d both landed almost the same amount of punches, nearly 200. The judges scored it 97-93 Damiani, 95-94 Jackson, and 98-92 for, the winner by a split decision,…Francesco Damiani! Surely a rematch will be in order!

[mikehoudini]

Lou Savarese vs. Oleg Machaev, Savarese KO2

Pat McMurtry vs.Harry Thomas, Thomas KO8

Luan Krasniqi vs. George Godfrey, Godfery UD

Phil Jackson vs. Francesco Damiani, Damiani D, then SD

[mikehoudini]

Lou Savarese vs. Harry Thomas

George Godfrey vs. Francesco Damiani

And then there’ll be two! Which two? Will one be Sweet Lou?

[mikehoudini]

Lou Savarese (4-0 2) vs. Harry Thomas (4-0 3) – These matched were expanded to 12 rounds. Savarese had shocked all by KOing Oleg Maskaev in 2, while Thomas had taken 8 rounds to do the same to Pat McMurtry. Bear had brought a loyal bus of Savarese fans to cheer on their man! Rumor has it that Lou, if he makes it to the finals, will come out of retirement in an alternative universe.

Savarese decided to fight as a boxer, to see if he could neutralize Harry’s power. His strategy reaped benefits in Round 1, as he landed 30 times, one a massive uppercut, to start with a bang, 13-4. 10-9 Savarese

After a slow minute 1 in the 2^nd, Savarese stormed back with a hard cross. Suddenly Harry’s right eye was swelling to an alarming proportion, as the cross caught him in the eye! They traded leather, Thomas going with hooks & crosses, Lou using every punch equally. A last-second combination stunned Thomas, winning the round for Lou, 16-9. 20-18 Savarese

Thomas looked a little shaky coming out for the 3^rd, and Lou tagged him with a hard hook and then a crisp cross! Picking his shots, but then throwing them with power, Lou bashed him with an uppercut, then a bruising left hook to the body that nearly doubled Harry over! Thomas covered up, and Savarese, fighting under control, jabbed away, landing 30 punches in all (for the third round in a row), whitewashing poor Harry, 20-0. His eye was now reaching almost half-shut, affecting his sight. 30-27 Savarese

The crowd was shouting “Lou! Lou!” He had nearly derailed a game Thomas with his precision boxing. He turned his head to acknowledge Bear and his fans, and was nearly decapitated by a thunderous uppercut! Harry fired a few more bombs, but Savarese was blocking and retreating. He took a step to the side, blasting a hook deep into Harry’s midsection. He landed a jab with some steam on it, then a mind-numbing cranium-crusher! Just when it seemed Harry was about to drop, he threw a desperation picture-perfect hook, and now Savarese looked hurt! The bell was about to sound when Thomas uncorked a gigantic shot to Lou’s midsection, and Lou dropped like a little lamb! Bear said a few “Hail Mary’s” as Lou struggled and got upright at the count of 6, then staggered over and fell onto his stool. With two major blows, Thomas had come back to triumph, 16-12. 38-37 Savarese

They both came out cautiously for the 5^th, Thomas with his eye still half-closed, Savarese with a new respect for Harry’s power. Lou landed a hard cross 45 seconds into the round, but Thomas came back with a sizzling hook. They circled each other, having several spirited exchanges, Thomas’ hooks keeping Lou at bay! Lou connected on a few light jabs, but Harry had landed more for the round, 28-24, and scored more points, 12-11. I had Thomas the narrow winner. 47-47

Thomas had staged a remarkable comeback, but it had cost him, as he looked tired, still vision-impaired as the 6^th began. Savarese landed a blistering hook, but Thomas got a few lighter ones in as counters. Lou began to target Harry’s eye with a series of crosses. He hurt Harry with a hard uppercut, then sent him reeling from a furious right and another uppercut. The bell sounded, possibly saving Thomas, who had absorbed a 23-3 pasting. Savaraese was punching with authority, and Harry was now almost 65% closed in his right eye. 57-56 Savarese

They were both content to hold and hit early in the 7^th, each drawing a warning. Savarese flashed a mighty left hook, and Thomas staggered sideways! Lou kept hammering away with his hooks. Harry looked like Rocky on a bad day, his eye almost shut, but he refused to quit! He landed a few shots, but Savarese’s firepower was too much, resulting in an 18-6 round. 67-65 Savarese

Battered, befuddled and bruised, the game Thomas had not tasted the canvas, and came out for the 8^th with the fans cheering his efforts. Lou missed with a jab, and Harry countered with a straight right that had some mustard on it! Lou danced back and went on the defensive, frustrating Harry by slipping and blocking some bombs. Thomas landed a few more times, winning the round, 8-3, but had missed out on a great opportunity. Savarese 76-75

It was still a very close fight as they came out for the 9^th. Savarese landed a few light combinations, then a crushing uppercut. Thomas was firing bombs, Lou cannily countering with hooks and combinations, and he won going away, 14-0, as harry at times seemed to be conserving his strength. Savarese 86-84

They both looked tired in the 10^th. Lou connected on a hard uppercut, Harry with a few jabs, the round near even through the first two minutes. Thomas saw an opening and fired a whistling hook, which Savarese slipped, countering with an uppercut that caught the wide-open Thomas flush on the jaw! Harry took a step backwards and a step to the side, then crashed to the canvas, his gallant heart unable to sustain any further! Somehow, he staggered to his feet at the count of 9, then shocked everyone by motioning to Lou to bring it on! Lou backed Harry into a corner and started blasting away. Not all of them made it through, but enough did for the ref to jump in and halt the fight at the 2:53 mark, Savarese being declared the winner by a TKO in Round 10.

There had only been 7 seconds remaining in the round, but Thomas was in a bad way. Lou had outlanded him, 288-136, landing at a near 50% efficiency level. Lou went over and hugged Harry, then raised his hand. The crowd roared at this great display of sportsmanship. Lou said he’d grant Harry a rematch anytime, then saluted him again before departing the ring. Bear was hoarse but elated at his man’s magnificent performance! Could he go all the way?

[mikehoudini]

George Godfrey (4-0 2) vs. Francesco Damiani (4-0-1) – George had won a decision over Luan Krasniqi, while Francesco had won a split decision over Phil Jackson. Old Chocolate had come into this bout a little under-trained. Was he taking the light-hitting Damiani lightly?

George may have taken the opener, 6-5. He landed a hard cross, then was stunned by a rare power hook from Damiani. Francesco put on a rare power display in the 2^nd. He landed a straight right, then later an uppercut and crisp combination! All told, he connected 52 times in almost ending the fight, 22-0!

Francesco landed a vicious straight right early in the 3rd. Godfrey, trying to shake off the cobwebs, went on his bicycle. He boxed brilliantly, uppercuts finding the range, and may have pulled the round out, 10-8. He continued this trend in the 4^th, jabbing effectively and keeping Damiani on the defensive, good for a 10-4 round.

They traded punches for most of the 5^th, Godfrey in the lead despite catching a hard combination. George seemed to be controlling the action except for Round 2. Godfrey seemed to get distracted, and Damiani unloaded a picture-perfect hook, and George was down! He struggled to get back up, and was wobbly at the count of 9, but couldn’t quite make it, and Damiani was the surprise winner by a KO at 2:44 of the 5^th!

Godfrey cursed himself for that momentary distraction. Damiani will meet mighty Lou Savaerese for the title!

[mikehoudini]

Lou Savarese (5-0 3) will be taking on Francesco Damiani (5-0-1 1). Savarese got this far by taking a close UD from Monte Barrett, then getting a MD against King Levinsky, TKOing Hubert Hilton in 7, shocking Oleg Maskaev with a KO in Round 2, and finally by stopping Harry Thomas on a 10^th round KO.

Damiani opend with unanimous decisions over Jess Willard and Jim Braddock, then getting another against Amos Lincoln, beating Phil Jackson by a close SD, and finally by the 5^th round KO of George Godfrey.

Who will prevail in this Clash of the Titans? I know who Bear will be rooting for! Do I hear a chant “Lou, Lou, Lou?”