The Heavyweight Boxing Federation

[Romdawg88]

Wow, thats shocking. I never thought that Schmeling wouldn't be able to advance to the second round. I wouldn't want to be in the European Championship tournament cause you know Schmeling is going to be out to make up for his performance so far. You know Jack Sharkey is happy that there isn't anymore chance that he'll be the first number 1 seed to not advance.

[kenyan_cheena]

Originally Posted by Romdawg88

Wow, thats shocking. I never thought that Schmeling wouldn't be able to advance to the second round. I wouldn't want to be in the European Championship tournament cause you know Schmeling is going to be out to make up for his performance so far. You know Jack Sharkey is happy that there isn't anymore chance that he'll be the first number 1 seed to not advance.

Shocked me, too. I literally ran that card about an hour before I posted the review. When I saw Hamas beat Cobb and go to 6-0 it suddenly dawned on me that if Schmeling lost he was gone. He takes the first three rounds with Moran doing nothing and then in the fourth it just explodes, Moran tags him with some big shots, drops him and then makes Mercante stop it with a follow-up barrage.

I looked at the screen for a few seconds, my eyes focusing on "Moran is the winner by TKO!!!" and said to myself "What the hell just happened?" Reminded me a lot of the shock I felt after Johnson-Beckett.

He may have missed out on stage two, but this does make the European Championship tournament a lot more interesting. And if he wins the title (which is pretty likely) and successfully defends it five times, he'll earn a World Championship shot.

[kenyan_cheena]

The Yokohama Undercard

OPENING BOUT

England's Don Cockell fell to his second consecutive defeat, following up last month's hard-fought majority decision loss to Doug Jones with an uneven showing against the formerly winless Swede Olle Tandberg.

Cockell looked uninterested at verious stages during the fight and one had to wonder whether he knew what was at stake for his chances of progression. The Englishman appeared to be working his way into the fight in the third and fourth rounds but when he was floored for the first time in his career late in the fifth, all the fight went out of him and Tandberg cruised through the final round to secure a unanimous decision victory (58-55 on all three cards).

Now 4-2, Cockell would have to sit and wait to see if his chances of stage two progression would end later in the night: a Natie Brown victory in the Co-Feature would be enough to eliminate Cockell from progressing.

PRELIMINARY 1

Oklahoma City native George Johnson scored his first professional victory, defeating Floyd Cummings by split decision (58-57, 57-58, 58-57). As the cards indicate, it was a tight contest but Johnson finished in a more convincing fashion, taking the final two rounds on two cards to secure the win.

Having KO'd Randall Cobb in two rounds back in May, this was the second split decision loss in a row for Cummings. He had fallen to Joe Grim in his last fight and is now 1-5. Johnson improved to 1-4-1.

PRELIMINARY 2

In another competitive bout, Italian-born Pennsylvanian Joe Grim defeated Thad Spencer by majority decision (58-56, 57-57, 58-57) to improve to 3-3. It was Grim's second win in a row while Spencer, a native of Portland, Oregon, lost for the third time in four fights and fell to 1-4-1.

SUPPORT BOUT

Steve Hamas vs Randall Cobb (see post #1240)

CO-FEATURE

New York's Doug Jones continued to show that he is a serious contender in the 1st Defense tournament, defeating 10th seed Natie Brown by a comprehensive unanimous decision. Both men were undefeated coming into the contest with Brown (4-0-1) coming off a surprising draw against Olle Tandberg and Jones a tough majority decision win over Don Cockell.

This was expected to be a close fight but it was clear from the outset that Brown was going to be in for a hard night. Jones was simply too hungry, enthusiastic and aggressive and he didn't let his Washington DC opponent get within a sniff of victory. The scorecards favoured the tournament 7th seed 59-55, 60-54 and 59-55, with Brown appearing to receive a sympathy vote from two of the judges in the final round.

Jones was particularly impressive in rounds one, two and five where he really made Brown look silly. He would tag him with pinpoint combinations before moving out of range. A frustrated Brown would then find nothing but air with some wild lefts and rights.

When it was all over, Jones had landed a fantastic 206 of 434 punches (47.5%), Brown only 95 of 221 (43.0%). Jones had also booked himself a birth in stage two of the 1st Defense tournament and as a consequence kept the Englishman Don Cockell's chances of doing the same alive.

Standings at the top of Group Seven in the 1st Defense tournament:

1st: 1(7) Doug Jones 6-0-0
2nd: 2(10) Natie Brown 4-1-1

3rd: 3(18) Don Cockell 4-2-0(1)

Next month, Jones will fight Sweden's Olle Tandberg while Brown and Cockell duke it out with 2nd place and progression to stage two on the line...

[kenyan_cheena]

SUMMARY OF RESULTS
HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING FEDERATION FIGHT CARD
WEDNESDAY 23 JULY 2002
PACIFICO YOKOHAMA, YOKOHAMA, JAPAN


OPENING BOUT

HBF 1st Defense Tournament - Stage One - Group Seven
4(26) Olle Tandberg UD6 3(18) Don Cockell

PRELIMINARY 1

HBF World Championship Tournament - Stage One - Group Ten
8(119) George Johnson SD6 7(103) Floyd Cummings

PRELIMINARY 2

HBF World Championship Tournament - Stage One - Group Ten
5(71) Joe Grim MD6 6(87) Thad Spencer

SUPPORT BOUT

HBF World Championship Tournament - Stage One - Group Ten
3(39) Steve Hamas UD6 4(55) Randall Cobb

CO-FEATURE

HBF 1st Defense Tournament - Stage One - Group Seven
1(7) Doug Jones UD6 2(10) Natie Brown

MAIN EVENT

HBF World Championship Tournament - Stage One - Group Ten
2(23) Frank Moran TKO4 1(10) Max Schmeling

[kenyan_cheena]

Okay, folks, that's enough for today (here) / tonight (over there). I managed to cover two days of action in the HBF/IBL during these last six hours or so, which I'm happy about. More to come tomorrow while I'm at work.

See ya.

[kenyan_cheena]

"ALVAREZ IS FIRST ON MY LIST"

Thursday 25 July 2002

Story by David Gomez for espn.com

The Heavyweight Boxing Federation's recent auditions for their upcoming Qualifying League tournament succeeded in unearthing a number of potentially excellent fighters. There are many experts who believe that, within the next few years after all the initial federation tournaments are done and dusted, we'll be seeing many of them making rapid climbs up the rankings. Romy Alvarez, Scott Mundt and Yeti Yates are just some of the fighters who are expected to be household names in the future.

Of all those the federation discovered, the one who fascinated this journalist the most would be the big Indianapolis slugger, Mike Hanson. Known as "Hector" to his friends, this outgoing, brash 28 year-old is blessed with serious knockout power, something he displayed to devastating effect during the Conseco Fieldhouse auditions.

I was eager to learn more about Hanson and visited him while he was training at his local gym. A trio of his good friends were there with him, assisting as he unleashed upon the heavy bag, worked out with a fifteen pound medicine ball and went through a series of squats, sit-ups and push-ups. The atmosphere was easy-going but I was left in no doubt as to Hanson's seriousness in regards to his boxing career. The sight of him ripping into that punching bag is something to behold and I felt truly sorry for his friend David Reed (who was holding it) as the shockwaves reverberated through him with every sledgehammer right hand.

"I've kind of impressed myself," said Hanson, as he sat down to talk with me once the session was over. "My wife had some doubts over whether I'd be able to push myself like I have these last couple of weeks. It made sense for her to say that because it's been a problem for me for a long time. But something's really changed in my mindset since the auditions and I've lost ten pounds in the last three weeks. At the same time, I've become even stronger: been throwing my punches with even more force and speed behind them. I'm just jumping out of my skin to get in the ring for that first fight, I gotta say."

That first fight card for the Qualifying League is just under three weeks away and Hanson will feature on it. He was almost dismissive when I mentioned his debut bout opponent, the Frenchman Sylvain Ribery.

"Don't know anything about him but I know that he already knows about me," said Hanson. "We'll be in the same boat but the difference is I'll be walking into that ring with no fear. I think he's already going to defeat himself in his mind before the first punch is thrown."

Hanson revealed to me that he's developed a "Hit List" of fellow federation fighters, guys who he has in his sights and who will represent "measuring sticks" as he progresses through his career. He wouldn't reveal the list to me, but was happy to announce the first name on it.

"Alvarez is first on my list," said Hanson. "He's in my QL group and he's the guy that was really recognised as the standout from the auditions. If I wanna finish in the top two in the group, I'll probably have to get by him. You know, I've seen it in the news how he's hooked up with those Florida Alliance fellas and I take that as a sign of weakness. The fact that he has to throw himself in with a group of other fighters, that shows that he can't stand on his own two feet. It gives me even more confidence that I can take him out."

The federation's scheduling for the QL has the 5th and 7th seeds in each group (which Alvarez and Hanson are, respectively, in Group One) clashing in the seventh series, so Hanson will have to wait some eight or nine months before he steps into the ring against Alvarez. That doesn't worry him, though.

"That'll just give the guy more time to think about what I'm going to do to him," Hanson said, smiling. "He'll have to watch me tear through the rest of the group and know that the same thing awaits him. I wouldn't want to be in his shoes."

Hanson has always had a reputation for being extroverted and loud: in high school, through college and on into the years after, he's always been the "life of the party". It's clear from what I saw today that he's going to grab this opportunity that the HBF has given him by the scruff of the neck and if he can replicate the jaw-dropping punching power that he's displayed to date, I wouldn't want to be Sylvain Ribery come August 13...

[mh2365]

Yeah that's right!

[Romdawg88]

Well, now I'm just shaking in my boots. David Kane was talking the same kind of crap and look what happen to him at the auditions. The same fate lies ahead for you but I'm going to make sure to extend it all the way to the 6th before taking you out just to prove that I'm better beyond any doubt.

[kenyan_cheena]

And so it begins...

[mh2365]

No paid judges in this one Romy!

[Romdawg88]

I wouldn't even pay the judges if I could since you won't be lasting long enough for them to play a role. Like I said I'm going to embarrass you for five rounds then blast you out in the sixth. All the power in the world won't save you since you won't ever touch me.

[kenyan_cheena]

HAYNES HEADS FOR THAILAND

Thursday 25 July 2002

Florida Alliance member Terone Haynes jetted out to Thailand today for next week's vital South-East Asian Boxing League semi-final showdown against the Australian Jack Beckerman. "The Hastings Hammer" is a hot favourite to emerge victorious but Haynes is keenly aware of the importance of the bout. A loss will see him added to the field for the HBF's Qualifying League while a win puts him in the final and only a victory away from a place in the federation's World Ranking tournament. For those who end up in the WR tournament, a strong showing during it could see them ranked as high as #60 in the world once the federation's initial tournaments are concluded. So disaster in Thailand will literally add some two years to the time it takes for Haynes to reach the top of the HBF pile.

"Can't afford to take him lightly," said Haynes before boarding the flight. "Not for a second. Know y'all, the prize is the same for both o' us, so he gonna be goin' all out. I'm excited 'bout the challenge, no doubt."

The fight is just one of five big matchups for the Florida Alliance during August. On the 9th, Alliance leader Elmer Ray steps into the ring against Floyd Patterson with a birth in stage two of the World Championship tournament awaiting the victor. Tommy Gomez will be in an identical situation when he faces Canadian top seed George Chuvalo on the 14th, the night after new Alliance member Romy Alvarez makes his debut in the Qualifying League. The following week will conclude the group's schedule for the month when Oliver McCall, having already secured progression to stage two of the 1st Defense tournament, goes head-to-head with Tommy Morrison to determine who'll finish 1st in Group Three. It's a series of bouts that will really test the Alliance's ambitions for success in the HBF.

McCall has accompanied Haynes to Thailand, with the other members of the group staying put in Florida to prepare for their own bouts. The big slugger's girlfriend Lisa Watts has also made the trip and she was clearly excited about her first overseas journey before the entourage boarded the plane.

With only the two semi-finals on the card, the federation has arranged for the bouts to be staged as part of an extravaganza where there will also be six Muay Thai boxing matches held. It will certainly be a night where the spectators get their money's worth...

[CONN CHRIS]

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

Just a note to avoid any confusion: Chris requested a name change for his character and he is now called Scott Mundt. To reflect this, I've edited each post in both the IBL and HBF threads that feature him.

Reverting to the old family name pior to the flight from Europe.

Look out Romy!

[kenyan_cheena]

SHARKEY BLITZES BONAVENA IN
STUNNING SYDNEY PERFORMANCE

Friday 26 July 2002

Sixteen days ago, Jack Sharkey was arrested on a public intoxication charge at a Boston bar. It was an incident that seemed to indicate that the pressure of what has been a deeply disappointing World Championship tournament campaign was really affecting the 22 year-old. His 2-2-1 record was the worst amongst the tournament's top sixteen seeds and the unfortunate drunken incident brought even more doubt in regards to his chances of victory in his next bout, a must-win encounter against the tough Argentinian Oscar Bonavena.

Well, that bout took place today down in Australia and to say that the effort Sharkey produced was extraordinary would be a huge understatement. Defying both his recent state of mind and tournament form to date, Sharkey completely dominated the favoured Bonavena on the way to a 60-54, 59-55, 60-55 unanimous decision victory. His struggles since the tournament started made the victory all the more unlikely and awe-inspiring and those in the know at the Sydney Entertainment Centre could only watch in amazement as he chopped Bonavena to pieces. The first four rounds must certainly rank as the finest offensive display seen so far in federation competition, with Sharkey marching forward with an almost religious resolve. He was like a man possessed as he mercilessly tagged the Argentinian from all angles, a cold resoluteness in his eyes. As he sat on his stool following the fourth, Bonavena could only shake his head in dismay at the brilliance of Sharkey's onslaught, blood trickling from a cut under his swollen right eye.

At the end of round four Sharkey had already landed 202 punches and when the fight was over that total had reached an HBF record 268. He had thrown 351, making his connection percentage an outstanding 76.4. The game Bonavena had landed 100 of 326 (30.7%).

Sharkey had made his way to the ring sporting a freshly-shaven pate, the cut being made in the hours since he'd awoken that morning as he'd had a full head of hair at the previous evening's weigh-in. He was decked out in solid black: boots, socks, trunks and robe. It was all part of what was a clear attempt to "toughen up" his image, one that he backed up in devastating fashion once the contest started.

(to be continued)

[Romdawg88]

Wow, thats a beating. It looks like Sharkey is rebounding after hitting rock bottom with the whole getting arrest thing. To bad Sharkey couldn't start doing this earlier.

[kenyan_cheena]

Originally Posted by Romdawg88

Wow, thats a beating. It looks like Sharkey is rebounding after hitting rock bottom with the whole getting arrest thing. To bad Sharkey couldn't start doing this earlier.

I just think it's cool how, like with Johnson-Williams, the game co-operated with me again. I painted Sharkey as having no chance and then he goes out and produces THE best performance so far in the HBF. Classic.

He still has a slim chance of progressing to stage two, but even if he doesn't I'm hoping that this will be the start of an impressive form streak for him, something that will make his story even more interesting.

[Romdawg88]

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

I just think it's cool how, like with Johnson-Williams, the game co-operated with me again. I painted Sharkey as having no chance and then he goes out and produces THE best performance so far in the HBF. Classic.

He still has a slim chance of progressing to stage two, but even if he doesn't I'm hoping that this will be the start of an impressive form streak for him, something that will make his story even more interesting.

It seems like TBCB is plugged in with ya and making sure things work out in a way to fight with your story. Someone needs to tell Bonavena that you're allow to block punches with something other then your face, granted he isn't the greatest defensive fight in the world but letting someone land 76.4% of their punches is pathetic. I'm hoping for whatever craziness that needs to happen for Sharkey to advance to happen. I think it would be a great story if he was able to sneak in to the second round and maybe advance further.

[kenyan_cheena]

(continuation of post #1254)

The Boston native was quite emotional afterwards, clearly overwhelmed by the extent of his performance.

"It hasn't been the easiest time for me during the tournament," said Sharkey. "But when I woke up this morning I just said to myself "Screw it, I'm going to fight back." I know what I'm capable of and I think I came close to perfection tonight. It was like in basketball when a guy gets in the zone. That's how it felt."

Sharkey was asked about his chances of progressing to stage two.

"Well, it's still out of my hands, really," he replied, shrugging. "I'll need some help from Seldon, plus I'll have to beat Lowry and even if that happens it might not be enough. We'll just have to wait and see how it pans out but I'm not going to die wondering. And if it turns out that I don't make it then there's gonna be some worried guys once that American tournament kicks off."

***

Earlier in the evening, England's Gary Mason succeeded in his quest of achieving a spot in stage two when he was too good for Florida's Tony Alongi. It was a bout that was mostly uneventful save for some impressive work from Mason in rounds one and three. He took a 60-56, 58-56, 59-57 unanimous decision verdict, improving his record to 5-1(1) and also securing a 1st place finish in Group Fifteen.

Alongi had recently trained with the Florida Alliance at the home of Elmer Ray but whatever it was he took from that experience, it clearly didn't help him tonight. Alongi struggled to get out of second gear, his efforts disappointing and surprising considering that a win would have seen him move into at least a tie for 2nd place in the group. But the loss sees his record fall to 3-3 and also ends his chances of progression. He'll now have to focus on the Continental Americas Championship tournament. Mason landed 122 of 316 punches 938.6%), Alongi 87 of 292 (29.8%). The muscle-bound Brit was on a high afterwards.

"HBF seeded me down at 66 but I showed they were wrong," he said, excited. "They underestimated me and look what's happened? I'm going to the second stage and I'm not gonna be satisifed with just showing up."

Mason is just one of a number of English fighters who may find themselves in stage two of the World Championship tournament. From Group Six there will be either Jack Gardner or Bruce Woodcock while Frank Bruno has a great chance of finishing top two in Group Seven, as does Alex Stewart in Group Nine.

"The more of us the merrier," said Mason, laughing. "Me mates back home have been sending me a lot of messages and Franky's been my biggest fan through the whole thing. I can't wait for stage two to start, really I can't."

***

In the Co-Feature, Atlantic City's Bruce Seldon kept his chances of progressing alive with a solid unanimous decision win over Ted Lowry (59-56, 58-57, 59-56). Seldon was victorious for the first time since beating Alonzo Johnson in April and improved his record to 3-2-1 (identical with Sharkey).

Lowry tried to stay competitive but with the exception of sections during rounds three, four and six, he was simply overmatched. Seldon will clash with Bonavena in series seven and will need a win to have any chance of a spot in stage two.

***

The Canadian Arthur Pelkey improved to 3-3, scoring a unanimous decision victory against the winless Pennsylvania native Alonzo Johnson. Pelkey sits alone as the only 8th seed in the tournament with three wins, two of those coming against Sharkey (on debut) and Seldon. He won't be involved in stage two but he'll definitely be a contestant in the American tournament, not a bad achievement for the 114th seed.

***

Following series six, the standings in Group Fifteen of the World Championship tournament look like this:

1. 5(66) GARY MASON (ENGLAND), 5-1-0(1)
2. 2(18) OSCAR BONAVENA (ARGENTINA), 4-2-0

3. 1(15) JACK SHARKEY (USA), 3-2-1
4. 3(34) BRUCE SELDON (USA), 3-2-1
5. 6(82) TONY ALONGI (USA), 3-3-0
6. 8(114) ARTHUR PELKEY (CANADA), 3-3-0(1)
7. 4(50) TED LOWRY (USA), 2-4-0
8. 7(98) ALONZO JOHNSON (USA), 0-6-0

To determine that Sharkey is in 3rd, the federation have had to go to the third tie-breaker, which is the combined seeding of the opponents they've defeated. The two fought out a draw last month and their strength of victory records are an identical 7-11, but Sharkey has an edge in the third tie-breaker, 198-214 (Sharkey's victories: Bonavena (#18), Alongi (#82), Johnson (#98). Total = 198. Seldon's victories: Lowry (#50), Mason (#66), Johnson (#98). Total = 214.).

The scenario for series seven will have Bonavena taking on Seldon and Sharkey clashing with Lowry. If Bonavena wins, then he'll join Mason in series two and it won't matter what happens when Sharkey steps in the ring against Lowry in the main event. BUT, if Seldon was to upset Bonavena and Sharkey does what is expected and beats Lowry, then things become terribly intriguing. While their strength of victory records are currently both 7-11, those will change depending on what happens in the other series seven bouts. It's possible that we won't know until after the main event who ends up qualifying, which makes for a fantastically exciting final series of bouts for Group Fifteen...

***

The first two contests on the card were 1st Defense tournament bouts, neither of which had any bearing on stage two progression. In the opener Kevin Isaac and Jack Roper had to be content with a drawn result before Wim Snoek kept Chuck Wepner winless in the 1st prelim, scoring a unanimous decision victory.

[kenyan_cheena]

SUMMARY OF RESULTS
HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING FEDERATION FIGHT CARD
FRIDAY 26 JULY 2002
SYDNEY ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA


OPENING BOUT

HBF 1st Defense Tournament - Stage One - Group Two
7(55) Kevin Isaac D6 8(63) Jack Roper

PRELIMINARY 1

HBF 1st Defense Tournament - Stage One - Group Two
6(47) Wim Snoek UD6 5(39) Chuck Wepner

PRELIMINARY 2

HBF World Championship Tournament - Stage One - Group Fifteen
8(114) Arthur Pelkey UD6 7(98) Alonzo Johnson

SUPPORT BOUT

HBF World Championship Tournament - Stage One - Group Fifteen
5(66) Gary Mason UD6 6(82) Tony Alongi

CO-FEATURE

HBF World Championship Tournament - Stage One - Group Fifteen
3(34) Bruce Seldon UD6 4(50) Ted Lowry

MAIN EVENT

HBF World Championship Tournament - Stage One - Group Fifteen
1(15) Jack Sharkey UD6 2(18) Oscar Bonavena

[kenyan_cheena]

DOUBLE ACT:
LISTON AND JEFFRIES ALL CLASS
IN BUENOS AIRES

Saturday 27 July 2002

Top seeds Sonny Liston and James Jeffries brought series six of the HBF's World Championship and 1st Defense tournaments to a bloody, powerful ending tonight at the Luna Park in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Fighting in the evening's Co-Feature, Jeffries rebounded from last month's upset defeat at the hands of Johnny Williams to score a dominant unanimous decision win over Kentucky's Marvin Hart. Clearly in a foul mood, Jeffries took his frustrations out on the unfortuante Hart, who fell to his second consecutive defeat. Hart was cut on three separate occasions (and in three different locations) during the fight and was a bruised, swollen and bloodied mess at its conclusion.

Jeffries (5-1(2)) was awarded the decision by scores of 59-55, 60-54 and 59-55 and booked himself a spot in stage two of the 1st Defense tournament with the win. But he appeared dissatisfied in the moments after.

"I was intent on destruction tonight and I didn't achieve that," he said, shaking his head. "I didn't even knock the guy down, so I've still got a lot to work on."

The Californian was stung by comments that claimed he was overrated and egotistical after his loss to Williams. He'd complained before that bout about the media attention given to 1st Defense tournament #1 seed Rocky Marciano but had failed to bac