'El Torito' - Page 15

hamed2 · 09-01-2011, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian Lord

Nunn would be a really difficult fight for Ayala I feel.
I always felt that Kalambay was vastly underated.

Totally agree, Nunn's size & speed - he's a lefty too. Not a good matchup for Tony @ all!

Ian Lord · 09-01-2011, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hamed2

Totally agree, Nunn's size & speed - he's a lefty too. Not a good matchup for Tony @ all!

I simmed the Ayala - Kalambay fight last night. Hopefully get the write-up done over the next few days.

Ian Lord · 09-02-2011, 01:59 PM

San Antonio Express-News

SO CLOSE
by Tex Bacon

The heading says it all. The Tony Ayala-Sumbu Kalambay unification match ended up being closer than anyone expected. It was also so close to not coming off.

Both men came into the fight as champions of different governing bodies. Ayala was the IBF middleweight champ, whilst Kalambay held the WBA strap. The WBA had recently cut their championship fights down from fifteen rounds to twelve, along with the WBC. The IBF were still sticking with the fifteen round championship limit. It looked as though this would scupper the fight. In the end it didn't. The WBA refused to sanction it over fifteen, but the IBF relented, and agreed to cut it to twelve. This could be the end of the fifteen rounders. After all the haggling, it was down to the fight. Caesar's Palace was packed out.

Both men entered the ring in excellent condition, with the first round being a bit of a cautious feeling out process. It was a solid second round for Kalamabay, pumping his stiff jab into the face of Ayala, then catching the shorter man as he tried to bull his way inside. Then Kalambay seemed to coast in the third, with Ayala swinging some big shots at his foe. He landed with a few, which was enough to take the round, but most of his swings were wide of the mark, with his timing woefully out.

Kalambay was warned early in the fourth for hitting below the belt. He went on to have another good round, where he outboxed Ayala. Up until now the fight lacked the fireworks that people have come to expect from an Ayala fight. That was until the fifth. Ayala came steaming into his foe, getting inside and landing to body and head. At first Kalambay looked shaken, but then began catching Ayala with some good shots of his own as he came in. Plenty of leather was thrown and landed, with Kalambay probably just edging the round. Ayala's right eye had some severe swelling beneath it as he walked back to his corner, whilst Kalambay had a huge mouse under his left eye.

Kalambay took the sixth, again working behind his jab, with Ayala taking the seventh. The eighth was a big, big round for Ayala. Spiteful blows landed to body and head of Kalambay, who wasn't fighting back. His lefte eye began to balloon. The bell sounded, and Kalambay staggered back to his corner, with his cornermen looking relieved.

The minute's rest must have done Kalambay the world of good, as he came out throwing punches and keepeing Ayala at bay in the ninth. An advancing Ayala was unable to get inside Kalambay's jab, and he was picked off as he came forward. Kalambay's round.

Again the same in th etenth, although Ayala did manage to get in close on numerous occasions and land some hurtful shots.

Ayala's trainer/father, Tony Snr could see his son losing the fight, and between rounds was screaming encouragement into his sons face. It payed dividends. Ayala came out looking for the big shot that would end it. Kalambay was playing cagey, then, with a minute remaining in the round, Ayala landed a solid hook to the body, hook to the head combo. Kalambay wobbled. Ayala was on him, landing hard blows for the remainder of the round. Kalambay remained on his feet, but it was a big round for Ayala. The bell sounded for the last round. Ayala summoned his remaining energy and was looking to finish his foe of. Kalambay, looking spent, was pawing at Ayala, and tring to keep him at bay. Ayala began to land at will. The sweat was flying of Kalambay's head, as punch after punch landed. His left eye was virtually closed, and the referee called a halt for it to be inspected. After a few tense moments it was allowed to continue. Ayala was back on his prey, and was landing at will when the bell sounded to signal the end of the fight. Both warriors embraced at the bell, and they now had to wait for the judges verdict.

The first card was read out as 115-113 Kalambay, while the second judge had it even at 114-114. When the third score was read out at 115-113 "with the winner by majority decision, and new WBA and IBF middleweight champion of the world, SUMBU KALAMBAY," Kalambay was elated, whilst Ayala's shoulders slumped. Post fight Ayala paid homage to the victor, then declared "if it had been a fifteen rounder I'd have won, no problem. I was coming on strong, he was wilting, but hey, that's boxing." Ayala will now go back to being a former champ again.

CONN CHRIS · 09-02-2011, 02:10 PM

What a finish. He just needed another 30 seconds.

Good write-up Ian!

Ian Lord · 09-02-2011, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CONN CHRIS

What a finish. He just needed another 30 seconds.

Good write-up Ian!

Thanks Chris!

CONN CHRIS · 09-02-2011, 03:44 PM

So, where to from here?

I find in my own game-play that after a fight like this the winner will inevitably pound out a lop-sided win if there is a rematch.

Ian Lord · 09-12-2011, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CONN CHRIS

So, where to from here?

I find in my own game-play that after a fight like this the winner will inevitably pound out a lop-sided win if there is a rematch.

Be interesting to see how a re-match would go between these two, providing they meet again.

BigBoyBrackey · 09-13-2011, 11:13 PM

Kalambay!

09-02-2011, 02:10 PM	#284 (permalink)
CONN CHRIS Global Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 23,721 Thanks: 703 Thanked 565x in 405 posts	What a finish. He just needed another 30 seconds. Good write-up Ian! __________________ REC World Prizefighter Rankings Challenge my Brute!

09-02-2011, 03:44 PM	#286 (permalink)
CONN CHRIS Global Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 23,721 Thanks: 703 Thanked 565x in 405 posts	So, where to from here? I find in my own game-play that after a fight like this the winner will inevitably pound out a lop-sided win if there is a rematch. __________________ REC World Prizefighter Rankings Challenge my Brute!

09-13-2011, 11:13 PM	#288 (permalink)
BigBoyBrackey All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Buffalo, N.Y. Posts: 854 Thanks: 36 Thanked 42x in 42 posts	Kalambay! __________________ He Coulda Been a Champion: A Greg Page Memorial Uni (Imagining a world of 1980s heavyweights without Don King) The Greatest of This Time: Present-day division-by-division tournaments The Big Fellows (Various and Sundry Heavyweight Tournaments) Shoulda' But Didna': Great Fights That Never Were

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09-02-2011, 01:59 PM	#283 (permalink)
Ian Lord All Star Starter Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Coventry, England. Posts: 1,672 Thanks: 270 Thanked 29x in 29 posts	San Antonio Express-News SO CLOSE by Tex Bacon The heading says it all. The Tony Ayala-Sumbu Kalambay unification match ended up being closer than anyone expected. It was also so close to not coming off. Both men came into the fight as champions of different governing bodies. Ayala was the IBF middleweight champ, whilst Kalambay held the WBA strap. The WBA had recently cut their championship fights down from fifteen rounds to twelve, along with the WBC. The IBF were still sticking with the fifteen round championship limit. It looked as though this would scupper the fight. In the end it didn't. The WBA refused to sanction it over fifteen, but the IBF relented, and agreed to cut it to twelve. This could be the end of the fifteen rounders. After all the haggling, it was down to the fight. Caesar's Palace was packed out. Both men entered the ring in excellent condition, with the first round being a bit of a cautious feeling out process. It was a solid second round for Kalamabay, pumping his stiff jab into the face of Ayala, then catching the shorter man as he tried to bull his way inside. Then Kalambay seemed to coast in the third, with Ayala swinging some big shots at his foe. He landed with a few, which was enough to take the round, but most of his swings were wide of the mark, with his timing woefully out. Kalambay was warned early in the fourth for hitting below the belt. He went on to have another good round, where he outboxed Ayala. Up until now the fight lacked the fireworks that people have come to expect from an Ayala fight. That was until the fifth. Ayala came steaming into his foe, getting inside and landing to body and head. At first Kalambay looked shaken, but then began catching Ayala with some good shots of his own as he came in. Plenty of leather was thrown and landed, with Kalambay probably just edging the round. Ayala's right eye had some severe swelling beneath it as he walked back to his corner, whilst Kalambay had a huge mouse under his left eye. Kalambay took the sixth, again working behind his jab, with Ayala taking the seventh. The eighth was a big, big round for Ayala. Spiteful blows landed to body and head of Kalambay, who wasn't fighting back. His lefte eye began to balloon. The bell sounded, and Kalambay staggered back to his corner, with his cornermen looking relieved. The minute's rest must have done Kalambay the world of good, as he came out throwing punches and keepeing Ayala at bay in the ninth. An advancing Ayala was unable to get inside Kalambay's jab, and he was picked off as he came forward. Kalambay's round. Again the same in th etenth, although Ayala did manage to get in close on numerous occasions and land some hurtful shots. Ayala's trainer/father, Tony Snr could see his son losing the fight, and between rounds was screaming encouragement into his sons face. It payed dividends. Ayala came out looking for the big shot that would end it. Kalambay was playing cagey, then, with a minute remaining in the round, Ayala landed a solid hook to the body, hook to the head combo. Kalambay wobbled. Ayala was on him, landing hard blows for the remainder of the round. Kalambay remained on his feet, but it was a big round for Ayala. The bell sounded for the last round. Ayala summoned his remaining energy and was looking to finish his foe of. Kalambay, looking spent, was pawing at Ayala, and tring to keep him at bay. Ayala began to land at will. The sweat was flying of Kalambay's head, as punch after punch landed. His left eye was virtually closed, and the referee called a halt for it to be inspected. After a few tense moments it was allowed to continue. Ayala was back on his prey, and was landing at will when the bell sounded to signal the end of the fight. Both warriors embraced at the bell, and they now had to wait for the judges verdict. The first card was read out as 115-113 Kalambay, while the second judge had it even at 114-114. When the third score was read out at 115-113 "with the winner by majority decision, and new WBA and IBF middleweight champion of the world, SUMBU KALAMBAY," Kalambay was elated, whilst Ayala's shoulders slumped. Post fight Ayala paid homage to the victor, then declared "if it had been a fifteen rounder I'd have won, no problem. I was coming on strong, he was wilting, but hey, that's boxing." Ayala will now go back to being a former champ again.