The Pastime Boxing Association

[EMSoccerCoach]

Title Fights - October 2009

Heavyweight


John L. Sullivan (19-4, 18 KO) vs #10 Sultan Ibragimov (9-3, 8 KO)

Sullivan lost three straight fights before the championship tournament began, knocking him from participation. One was a DQ loss, one was a decision, and one - to Ibragimov - was due to cuts. Sullivan wanted to avenge that loss, and basically openly invited Ibragimov to challenge him for his newly won title, figuring he SHOULD dominate Ibragimov and exact his revenge.

Which is why the crowd was stunned when, after 6 rounds, Ibragimov had completely dominated the fight. Sullivan seemed to have taken Ibragimov lightly, and now didn't know what he was supposed to do with him.

The fear of losing his title woke Sullivan up. He won a hard fought 7th, dominated the 8th and floored Ibragimov in what at that point was a tight 9th round.

But Ibragimov responded for an even 11th and won the 12th decisively. The 13th was even as well, and despite Sullivan's comeback in the second half, Ibragimov's dominance early and recovery after Sullivan's onslaught made a shocking title change a real possibility.

A minute into a dull 14th, Sullivan ended that possibility, as Ibragimov was obliterated by a jab/hook combination that sent him crashing to the mat, unable to rise.

Sullivan retains by knockout at 2:30 of round 14.

Middleweight


Winky Wright (15-0, 11 KO) vs #1 Sergio Martinez (18-1, 9 KO)

Wright takes on the mandatory here in what was expected to be an outstanding fight. The result instead is complete domination by Wright, whose defensive mastery stifles Martinez - he mustered on 2 8+ "point" rounds the entire fight.

In the end, Wright takes a unanimous decision 150-139, 149-140, 148-140.

The fight everyone wants now is for Wright to fight Ketchel, who should be the new #1 when the next rankings come out January 1.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Highlighted Top 10 Fights - November 2009

Jr. Bantamweight

#7 Ivan Hernandez (15-3, 11 KO) vs #5 Jose Carita Lopez (12-1, 11 KO)

Questionable one here, as Hernandez sets a frenetic pace early on and giving Lopez problems when he's cut right in the middle of his forehead in the third. It opens as the round proceeds, gets wider in the 4th and in the 5th the ringside doc says enough is enough. Hernandez up 40-36 on one card, even on two at the stoppage.

Featherweight

#6 Manuel Medina (15-4, 4 KO) vs #4 Frankie Toledo (12-1, 3 KO)

Medina controls the first half of the fight and suddenly decides to abandon all efforts at offense in the second half. Going so defensive costs him, as Toledo's pressure, despite never really having Medina in trouble, gets him much of the second half of the fight. Medina wins 96-94 on one card. But the other two have it 95-95, resulting in a majority draw that Medina certainly had the opportunity to win.

Lightweight

#3 Juan Diaz (14-3-1, 4 KO) vs #5 Battling Nelson (9-2-1, 6 KO)

Diaz gets out of the blocks quickly, taking the first two rounds. But from there this one is all Nelson, who answers everything Diaz throws at him and matches his pace. Diaz, frustrated, loses points in the 6th and 7th, turning a clear decision into a blowout one. Nelson wins 97-91 on all cards.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Title Fights - November 2009

Cruiserweight

David Haye (15-2, 9 KO) vs #6 Jean-Marc Mormeck (10-3-1, 9 KO)

It's taken a while, but the champ finally defends and does so fabulously. A virtuoso performance, limiting Mormeck to landing 14% of his punches while Haye lands nearly half. Mormeck is dropped twice in the 7th, once in the 9th and again in the 10th, when he doesn't get up. Haye wins by KO at 0:58 of round 10.

Jr. Flyweight

Ulises Solis (23-1, 19 KO) vs #4 Jose Victor Burgos (12-1, 8 KO)

Arguably the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Solis makes his second defense here. He dominates Burgos in round 1, but Burgos gets the best of a slugfest in round 2, and it seems unlikely we're going the distance here. That's proven right when, after Solis wins the 3rd easily, Burgos eats canvas twice in the 4th and is on his way down again before the ref stops the bout at 2:45 of the 4th.

Jr. Lightweight

Joel Casamayor (13-1-1, 10 KO) vs #7 Edwin Valero (12-2, 12 KO)

Valero's stunning knockout of #1 contender Yodsanan Nanthachai last month gets him a quick turnaround shot at the belt here, Casamayor figuring the defense will look impressive given Valero's last bout, while he gets to take advantage of Valero's short rest.

It doesn't quite go as planned. Valero starts off taking the first two rounds before Casamayor warms up a bit and works Valero over during the next 5 rounds, getting the best of toe-to-toe battle with a more accurate attack as Valero fights a cut suffered in the second. It opens more in the 7th, and seems to trigger a sense of urgency in Valero. He comes out blasting in the 8th, and lands his shot, sending Casamayor to the canvas. He rises, but the round is Valero's.

Casamayor squelches the momentum with a strong defensive effort in the 9th, and Valero seems back to square one when the round ends. Casamayor takes the 10th as well, but hits the deck again in the 11th, and then goes down twice more in the 12th as Valero's power lasts deep into the fight - something Casamayor didn't count on.

A minute and a half into the 13th, though, the wound over Valero's eye has become a flowing mess. Because the cut was from a but, albeit back in the second round, when the doc calls a surprising halt to the bout we head to the cards.

There, on the strength of his 4 late knockdowns, Valero takes a unanimous decision - 114-110 (x2), 113-111. Bloody and batters, Valero is the NEW CHAMPION.

[SAL]

Originally Posted by EMSoccerCoach

Jr. Lightweight

Joel Casamayor (13-1-1, 10 KO) vs #7 Edwin Valero (12-2, 12 KO)

Valero's stunning knockout of #1 contender Yodsanan Nanthachai last month gets him a quick turnaround shot at the belt here, Casamayor figuring the defense will look impressive given Valero's last bout, while he gets to take advantage of Valero's short rest.

A minute and a half into the 13th, though, the wound over Valero's eye has become a flowing mess. Because the cut was from a but, albeit back in the second round, when the doc calls a surprising halt to the bout we head to the cards.

There, on the strength of his 4 late knockdowns, Valero takes a unanimous decision - 114-110 (x2), 113-111. Bloody and batters, Valero is the NEW CHAMPION.

This bout screams rematch!!!!!!!

[EMSoccerCoach]

Originally Posted by SAL

This bout screams rematch!!!!!!!

Oh there will be. Within six months, new champs must defend against the guy they beat for the strap. If they fight someone other than the former champ and lose, they lose their own right to a rematch on the premise they ducked the former champ.