The Heavyweight Boxing Federation

[kenyan_cheena]

With the completion of the Saltillo fight card, we're now exactly halfway through stage one of the World Championship/1st Defense tournaments.

I must admit that it feels like a bit of a breakthrough I've made getting to this point. The realisation that I have reviewed 56 fight cards, plus the ones in the feeder leagues (22 of those) is a little bit overwhelming.

When I started this thread back in October '04, I figured it might take me two years to document the entire tournament, but clearly it will take longer than that. I think it will speed up a bit once I complete the first stage, as there are only 28 fight cards in stage two.

However, I'll really have to get the contestants finalised for the IBL, as the selection trials are starting in it on Monday 6 May (universe date). I'll try and make some big in roads into that tomorrow.

I still have tremendous enthusiasm for the story I'm telling and I hope that you all continue to drop in and read about the happenings in the world of the Heavyweight Boxing Federation/International Boxing League.

Thanks.

k_c

[Ian Lord]

It's been a great journey so far KC. Keep it up.

[bigMatt]

Very entertaining....I'm looking forward to the selection trials. You're a natural storyteller - thanks for sharing.

Matt

[Romdawg88]

I agree with the two posters above me, it's been very entertaining following the progress of the HBF/IBF. The slower pace has really allowed us to get to know the personalities of the boxers in both of the leagues.

[kenyan_cheena]

Thanks for the kind words, guys.

I finalised the venues for all the IBL selection trials on the weekend, so that will help me to decide exactly who I'll be picking in each weight division. Rest assured, there will be some mouth-watering matchups once the thing gets started.

[CONN CHRIS]

It is indeed a fine story Dan, keep at it.

Christopher

[kenyan_cheena]

Sunday 5 May 2002

HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING FEDERATION
FIGHT CARD SCHEDULE
MONDAY 06/05/2002 - SATURDAY 11/05/2002 INCLUSIVE

MONDAY 06/05/2002 - HARRAH'S ATLANTIC CITY, ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY, USA

1D - G3: 4(30) TOMMY MORRISON vs 7(54) BILL LANG
1D - G3: 3(22) IBAR ARRINGTON vs 8(62) KING SOLOMON
WC - G6: 4(59) JAMES TILLIS vs 7(107) BOB BAKER
WC - G6: 3(43) BRUCE WOODCOCK vs 8(123) JAMES ELLIS
WC - G6: 2(27) JACK GARDNER vs 6(91) HEINZ NEUHAUS
WC - G6: 1(6) PETER JACKSON vs 5(75) JOHNNY DUPLOOY

TUESDAY 07/05/02 - EXHIBITION GARDENS, VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
THE CANADIAN BOXING LEAGUE

(8) BRETT ASHBY vs (12) JOE COX
(7) LOU BAILEY vs (11) TIM ANDERSON
(4) JOHN FERGUSON vs (9) CARMINE VINGO
(3) LARRY GAINS vs (10) BOBBY HALPERN
(2) ROBERT CLEROUX vs (6) JACK MUNROE
(1) LENNOX LEWIS vs (5) JOE LANNON

WEDNESDAY 08/05/2002 - RYOGOKU SUMO ARENA, TOKYO, JAPAN

1D - G3: 2(14) AMOS JOHNSON vs 6(46) RANDY STEPHENS
WC - G11: 4(54) BILLY DANIELS vs 7(102) MIKE DEJOHN
WC - G11: 3(38) CLARENCE HENRY vs 8(118) AL KAUFMANN
WC - G11: 2(22) JOHNNY SUMMERLIN vs 6(86) RON STANDER
1D - G3: 1(3) OLIVER MCCALL vs 5(38) GUS DORAZIO
WC - G11: 1(11) JOE JEANNETTE vs 5(70) CHARLES HORN

THURSDAY 09/05/2002 - SURELERE STADIUM, LAGOS, NIGERIA
THE AFRICAN BOXING LEAGUE

(8) ZOLILIE LETLAKE vs (12) ROY HARRIS
(7) DELBERT CRAW vs (11) CHARLES MBARGA
(4) GRANTHAM ABDUL-KAFAR vs (9) STANLEY DREXXON
(3) JAMES ELDREN vs (10) JOMO MOTLOUNG
(2) ANACLET WAMBA vs (6) OMOVO OKOCHA
(1) IKE IBEABUCHI vs (5) MARIEN NGUESSO

FRIDAY 10/05/2002 - MOHEGAN SUN CASINO, UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT, USA

1D - G6: 4(27) CURTIS SHEPPARD vs 7(51) JOSE ROMAN
1D - G6: 3(19) JOE CHOYNSKI vs 8(59) JURGEN BLIN
WC - G14: 4(51) KING LEVINSKY vs 7(99) LUIS FIRPO
WC - G14: 3(35) PHIL MUSCATO vs 8(115) MARTY MONROE
WC - G14: 2(19) JIMMY ELLIS vs 6(83) BERT WHITEHURST
WC - G14: 1(14) ERNIE TERRELL vs 5(67) AMOS LINCOLN

SATURDAY 11/05/2002 - GRAN STADIUM, HAVANA, CUBA

1D - G6: 2(11) MIKE WEAVER vs 6(43) CHARLEY MITCHELL
WC - G3: 4(62) MANUEL RAMOS vs 7(110) PAT VALENTINO
WC - G3: 3(46) RENALDO SNIPES vs 8(126) JOE BECKETT
WC - G3: 2(30) CLEVELAND WILLIAMS vs 6(94) PEDRO LOVELL
1D - G6: 1(6) RON LYLE vs 5(35) JOHN LESTER JOHNSON
WC - G3: 1(3) JACK JOHNSON vs 5(78) FRANCO CAVICCHI

[kenyan_cheena]

Sorry about being MIA lately, folks. Just haven't been in the right frame of mind for writing during the past week. That and a bout of lazziness. I'll probably dive back in tomorrow.

[kenyan_cheena]

TRIPLE J WEEK

Sunday 5 May 2002

They're three young men who have little in common, save for an identical surname initial and a realistic shot at being the Heavyweight Boxing Federation's inaugural World Champion.

During the coming week, Peter Jackson, Joe Jeannette and Jack Johnson will resume their quest for that ultimate prize, stepping in the ring for their fourth World Championship tournament bouts with nothing but victory in their sights.

***

#6 seed Peter Jackson makes his New Jersey debut tomorrow night when he clashes with Johnny DuPlooy in the Main Event at Harrah's in Atlantic City. It's a must-win contest for the 22 year-old Australian, as he's currently in a three-way tie for 1st place in his group with a pair of determined Englishmen, Jack Gardner (27th seed) and Bruce Woodcock (43rd seed).

"They're both ready to pounce, there's no doubt about that," said Jackson. "I have to say that the three of us aren't on speaking terms. They are deadly serious about the tournament and they're treating me, and each other, as an enemy."

Jackson's South African opponent in tomorrow night's bout has made a admirable start to his career but has yet to score a victory. DuPlooy held 59th seed James Tillis to a draw on debut before losing close decisions to both Gardner and Woodcock.

"Oh, he's a dangerous opponent," said Jackson. "I've taken a good look at his first three bouts and there's a few things I'll have to keep an eye out for. He's gonna be hungry to get that first victory, so I'll have to give him the right amount of respect."

Following his last bout in Yokohama, Japan, Jackson returned home to Australia with a 3-0 record. In the intervening five weeks, the Caribbean-born slugger has continued to solidify his celebrity status in his adopted homeland and earn a reputation for being a man who is selfless with his time. In partnership with future International Boxing League competitior and Olympic Featherweight bronze medallist Jeff Fenech, he arranged a free boxing training session for some fifty underprivileged children in the inner-Sydney suburb of Redfern.

"This is the type of thing that success leads to," said Jackson. "It gives you the chance to help people that you might not have been able to otherwise. Jeff and I are good buddies and what we did in Redfern is just the beginning. We want to do all we can to make boxing a premier sport in Australia."

With men such as Jackson and Fenech leading the charge, there's little doubt that their ambitions for boxing in Australia will come to fruition...

***

(to be continued)

[Romdawg88]

It's good to see ya back and writing, you lazy bastard. Man, it's like every group leader is in a dogfight to keep the top spot, fun times.

[kenyan_cheena]

[kenyan_cheena]

(continuation)

On Wednesday, New Jersey's Joe Jeannette will become the latest World Championship tournament 1st seed to headline a Japanese HBF fight card. With the International Boxing League's regional selection trials starting tomorrow in Osaka, it will be an absolutely huge week for boxing in the country.

It's Jeannette's second visit to the Asian region in ten weeks. He scored a 1st round KO against Mike DeJohn back in February when the federation visited the Philippines and will be hoping for a similar kind of success when he steps into the ring against Charles Horn at the Ryogoku Sumo Arena in Tokyo.

A native of San Francisco, California, Horn will come into the bout with a record of 1-2. His losses have come against Johnny Summerlin and Clarence Henry, the 2nd and 3rd seeds in Group Eleven, with Horn being ultra-competitive and close to causing an upset in both contests.

"That's true, he really gave them both a fright," said Jeannette. "I think against Johnny it was like a single point on each card and when he fought Henry, one of the judges gave him the verdict. So the guy can fight, that's for sure."

Like so many HBF competitors before him, Jeannette has been blown away by the level of fanaticism the sport of boxing enjoys in Japan.

"It really is just incredible," he said. "They treat us all like rock stars. I never experienced anything like it. It's a pretty big thrill for a guy from North Bergen, New Jersey, I gotta say. I'll really do my best, to ... give all these wonderful people a good show on Wednesday night."

***

(to be continued)

[kenyan_cheena]

(continuation)

The Heavyweight Boxing Federation will take their show to Cuba for the first time with the Gran Stadium in Havana hosting this coming Saturday night's fight card.

Appearing in the main event will be one of the federation's biggest stars, World Championship tournament 3rd seed Jack Johnson. The Texas native will be looking to build on the momentum from his impressive victory against Argentina's Pedro Lovell, achieved five weeks ago in Johnson's home state.

That win seemed to be an indicator that Johnson is on the right track following his shocking debut loss to England's Joe Beckett and an unconvincing KO victory over California's Pat Valentino. The man who is known as "The Galveston Giant" is confident of winning his third consecutive bout on Saturday night.

"We've had a great preparation," Johnson said. "No distractions, just a really effective three weeks. I think I'm in the best shape of my life at the moment and I'm confident of a good win on Saturday. Thanks to what happened back in January, I'm in a position where I can't afford another loss, so I'm not thinkin' of anything but a good win."

Never far from the headlines, Johnson was in the news last week when he made known his opinion on Ohio's Earnie Shavers, calling the 32nd seed in the HBF's World Championship tournament a "classless punk" following comments Shavers made to top seed Gene Tunney that set off a wild brawl at a Caesar's Palace press conference. Shavers has not come up with any kind of public retort since Johnson's words of last Sunday, something that the Texas slugger is unconcerned about.

"What the hell was the guy gonna say?" said Johnson. "He knows that what he did was low, cheap. Anything he said would o' just been like a child arguing, man. The brother doesn't matter to me. At all."

Johnson will fly to Havana tomorrow and is looking forward to promoting Saturday's event.

"It's a really vibrant city and we been told that they're gonna roll out the welcome mat," Johnson said. "It'll be a great week, for sure. I think that there's only three Cuban fellas in the federation, so if our scouts can get a look at some new talent while we're there, it'll just be a bonus."

It can not be overstated how important this bout is for Johnson. His fellow Texan and tournament 30th seed Cleveland Williams currently sits in 1st place in Group Three with a 3-0 record. Mexico's Manuel Ramos (62nd seed) is right behind him at 2-0-1, and then comes Johnson at 2-1(1). Another stumble like the one he made in his debut will surely open the door to the real possibility that Johnson could miss out on the tournament's second stage all together...

[Romdawg88]

Hm, I'm going to have to bet that Jack Johnson will be in the next stage though it would be some fun times if he didn't make it. Regional tournments are next right, damn just picture a pissed off Johnson in the regional tournment if he misses the second stage, I'd feel sorry for those poor bastards stuck in the tournment with him. As for Jack's desire to see more Cubans, well he doesn't have to worry I've got a good feeling that the HBF is going to discover a slick boxing Floridian of Cuban descent in the next round of tryouts.

[CONN CHRIS]

Going to Cuba didn't work too well for Johnson at one time.

[kenyan_cheena]

Originally Posted by Romdawg88

Hm, I'm going to have to bet that Jack Johnson will be in the next stage though it would be some fun times if he didn't make it. Regional tournments are next right, damn just picture a pissed off Johnson in the regional tournment if he misses the second stage, I'd feel sorry for those poor bastards stuck in the tournment with him. As for Jack's desire to see more Cubans, well he doesn't have to worry I've got a good feeling that the HBF is going to discover a slick boxing Floridian of Cuban descent in the next round of tryouts.

Ha ha, yeah it would be pretty amusing if the 3rd seed in the WC tournament failed to qualify. But it is a possibility, one that just makes the upcoming card (and each subsequent one) something to look forward to. If he somehow doesn't make it through, the GG will have to be content with trying to become the first HBF Continental Americas Champion. I could see that happening pretty easily. And the thing with the regional championship is that if the champ successfully defends it five times, he gets a mandatory shot at the World Championship...

As for those tryouts, just stay tuned (all of you who signed up in my general discussions thread). They might be announced sooner than you think...

[Romdawg88]

Originally Posted by CONN CHRIS

Going to Cuba didn't work too well for Johnson at one time.

What don't you kown that he "threw" the fight, he just decide to wait until the 26th round because he was enjoying the burning hot sun and he was working on his tan.

[kenyan_cheena]

Originally Posted by CONN CHRIS

Going to Cuba didn't work too well for Johnson at one time.

Hopefully this bout won't turn out the same way.

However, I do have something in store for him (storyline-wise) while he's over there. Something that could turn quite interesting...???

[Romdawg88]

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

Hopefully this bout won't turn out the same way.

However, I do have something in store for him (storyline-wise) while he's over there. Something that could turn quite interesting...???

Sweet wonder what is going to go down over there, look forward to finding out.

[CONN CHRIS]

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

However, I do have something in store for him (storyline-wise) while he's over there. Something that could turn quite interesting...???

The gallery awaits