The Heavyweight Boxing Federation

[Romdawg88]

Originally Posted by CONN CHRIS

What's my name?!

Originally Posted by CONN CHRIS

What's my name?!

Hm, my post has seem to touch a nerve with Chris. I must say KC that I will be very disappointed if Chris and I fight and I don't drop a Connie on him.

[CONN CHRIS]

Originally Posted by Romdawg88

Hm, my post has seem to touch a nerve with Chris. I must say KC that I will be very disappointed if Chris and I fight and I don't drop a Connie on him.

I'll carry him through the middle rounds to give ample time for the point to be made.

[kenyan_cheena]

Originally Posted by Romdawg88

Hm, my post has seem to touch a nerve with Chris. I must say KC that I will be very disappointed if Chris and I fight and I don't drop a Connie on him.

The way I have the groups set up for stage two, Group Four will include the winner of Group Twelve and the runner-up from Group One, so the possibility of a Mundt-Alvarez or Mundt-Hanson matchup is quite high.

[Romdawg88]

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

The way I have the groups set up for stage two, Group Four will include the winner of Group Twelve and the runner-up from Group One, so the possibility of a Mundt-Alvarez or Mundt-Hanson matchup is quite high.

Well, in that case I hope Hanson drops the Connies on him.

[mh2365]

Originally Posted by Romdawg88

Well, in that case I hope Hanson drops the Connies on him.

We won't meet that early since we will both be champs or our groups.

[Romdawg88]

Originally Posted by mh2365

We won't meet that early since we will both be champs or our groups.

Ya keep thinking that if you want buddy but everyone else knows there ain't no chance of you taking our group.

[mh2365]

Originally Posted by Romdawg88

Ya keep thinking that if you want buddy but everyone else knows there ain't no chance of you taking our group.

By everyone I assume you are talking about the MENSA group that is the Florida Alliance?

[kenyan_cheena]

Damn, this is some prolific trash talking. I can't wait to see what happens when our other community members step in the ring.

[kenyan_cheena]

(continuation of post #1410)

Support Bout

Of all the 64 competitors who failed to reach the semi-finals of the federation's feeder leagues, Utah's Rex Layne could probably consider himself the most unlucky. He started his career in explosive fashion with a trio of stoppage victories, all coming within three rounds. It looked like he would run through the preliminary stages of the South-East Asian Boxing League with a perfect record but it all fell apart very quickly. A close unanimous decision loss to the New Zealander Tom Heeney was followed by a draw against Australia's Jack Beckerman and Layne's 3-1-1(3) record was only good enough for a 3rd place finish.

Speaking in the last few days, the native of Lewiston had described his disappointment over missing the semis, saying how much he would have liked to take on Terone Haynes.

"I was really looking forward to that," said Layne. "I don't fear anyone and I would have taken the fight right up to the guy. But it hasn't worked out that way so now I have to focus on what's in front of me, and that's the QL."

Layne's opening Qualifying League opponent was a man who had also experienced disappointment during his feeder league stint. Canada's Larry Gains accumulated a 2-1-2 record and finished 4th in Group B of the Canadian Boxing League, the highlight being holding 2nd seed Robert Cleroux to a draw in June.

Eager to make a winning start to their campaigns, Layne and Gains produced an entertaining tussle and when it was all over the Utah slugger was declared the winner by split decision (58-55, 56-58, 58-55).

It was one of those fights where neither combatant could maintain momentum. Gains started strongly before Layne dominated round two. The Canadian then had the better of an exciting round three but Layne fought back strongly and looked like a winner after the fourth. He then floored Gains midway through the fifth with a body shot but was almost KO'd himself in the final stanza as Gains went all out for victory, connecting with a series of punishing blows.

"I've got no doubts about my chances in this tourney," said Layne afterwards. "I'm confident that I can finish in the top two and tonight was a great start for me."

(to be continued)

[Romdawg88]

Originally Posted by mh2365

By everyone I assume you are talking about the MENSA group that is the Florida Alliance?

Well, yeah them and everyone else with a set of eyes and a brain. You're a big, powerful, slow slugger with a weakness against fast boxers and I just happen to be a fast skilled boxer hm I wonder what will happen when we fight. There ain't no shame in finishing second to the guy who's going to win this whole damn show so keep your head up and be proud that you'll one day be able to tell your kids that you gave me a decent struggle before falling like everyone else.

[kenyan_cheena]

(continuation of post #1429)

"I expected a tough night and that's exactly what Larry gave me," said Layne. "We were both in the same boat, really. Each of us only lost once in the feeder leagues and I'm sure he felt the same as I did about how important this fight was."

It will be interesting to see if Layne can gain himself a measure of redemption during the Qualifying League tournament. Tonight's win was certainly a good start.

Co-Feature

2nd seed Leotis Martin had been more or less untroubled during his run through the prelims of the Pacific Coast Boxing League, accumulating a spotless 5-0(1) record and establishing himself as the class of the league. The Philadelphian had scored an eye-opening 2nd round KO of fellow semi-finalist Jim Flynn last month and was expected to be too good for his opponent tonight, New York's Graham Jefferson. The native of Gotham had snuck into the semis with a 3-2 record, having overcome back-to-back split decision defeats before a victory over David Bey and some assistance from elsewhere allowed him to achieve a 2nd place finish in Group A.

Yes, Jefferson had made it seemingly against the odds and he wasn't going to let the opportunity slip through his fingers. Continuing a night of entertaining action the two men duked it out for six exciting rounds before Martin was awarded a well-earned unanimous decision victory (58-56, 58-57, 58-56).

The Pennsylvanian started on fire and after a damaging opening round it looked like being a short fight. But Jefferson rallied strongly and during the next four rounds the pendulum swung back and forth. The combatants went toe-to-toe for extended periods, bringing appreciative applause from the audience. Jefferson connected with a trio of crisp combinations in the bottom half of round two with Martin producing a similar effort in the third. Rounds four and five were the pick of the bunch, Jefferson bringing the crowd to their feet with a number of bone-rattlers in the fourth before the two sluggers went blow for blow for much of the fifth, Martin asserting himself in its closing stages and carrying that momentum into a more dominant final stanza.

"The brother gave me one helluva workout," said a relieved Martin afterwards. "I really had to dig deep in those last couple of rounds to win it. I've got a lot of respect for Graham and I hope he can make a fist of his time in the QL. I'll be wishin' him all the best."

Main Event

The PCBL's top seed Rosco Toles stepped into the ring tonight on the back of an uninspiring effort against Terry Daniels in his final preliminary bout, a contest where he fell to his first defeat. It had concluded a trio of fights in which the Detroit native had struggled (a draw, a split decision win and a UD defeat) and there were many who were predicting that he'd have a difficult time avoiding a second consecutive defeat against Colorado's Jim Flynn in tonight's main event. Flynn had been a perfect 4-0 before suffering a 2nd round KO loss against Leotis Martin last month but even taking that into account, he climbed through the ropes with a superior record to the #1 seed.

As it would turn out the two produced a fight of entertaining, willing exchanges. Toles took a split decision verdict (59-56, 55-60, 58-57), booking himself a long-awaited matchup with Martin in the tournament final. As the cards indicate, it was a difficult fight to score. Toles landed his punches with more accuracy and in greater volume but Flynn connected with a good number of punishing, hard shots. On several occasions Toles would pepper his man with a succession of jabs only to eat a hard right from Flynn on the counter. Looking at them afterwards, Toles appeared the worse for wear. He was cut and bruised around the left eye while Flynn had some swelling under his right.

"I don't know what else I had to do," said the disappointed Colorado slugger. "I caught him with a lot of good shots and I was the aggressor throughout the fight. I don't know."

Unsurprisingly, Toles was of the opposite opinion.

"I outboxed him, outworked him and outfoxed him," he said. "And he's saying he was the aggressor? Come on, man. I didn't stop workin' all night long. All he was doin' was loadin' up with that right hand. I don't know what fight that judge was watchin', but it wasn't this one."

***

Considering their form throughtout the tournament and including tonight, it figures to be a fascinating clash when Toles and Martin take to the ring against each other in five weeks. It would seem that the 2nd seed will be a favourite as he has been the more impressive of the two and will bring a perfect 6-0 record into the clash...

[kenyan_cheena]

SUMMARY OF RESULTS
HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING FEDERATION FIGHT CARD
TUESDAY 13 AUGUST 2002
ALADDIN RESORT & CASINO, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, USA


OPENING BOUT

HBF Qualifying League - Stage One - Group One
7(84) Mike Hanson UD6 8(96) Sylvain Ribery

PRELIMINARY 1

HBF Qualifying League - Stage One - Group Twelve
7(73) Hugh Phillips UD6 8(85) Lee Q. Murray

PRELIMINARY 2

HBF Qualifying League - Stage One - Group One
5(60) Romy Alvarez UD6 6(72) Antonio Serioux

PRELIMINARY 3

HBF Qualifying League - Stage One - Group Twelve
6(61) Scott Mundt KO2 5(49) Kalolo Umaga

PRELIMINARY 4

HBF Qualifying League - Stage One - Group One
3(36) Shakes Qoboza UD6 4(48) Delbert Craw

SUPPORT BOUT

HBF Qualifying League - Stage One - Group Twelve
3(25) Rex Layne SD6 4(37) Larry Gains

CO-FEATURE

U.S. Pacific Coast Boxing League - Tournament Semi-Final
(2) Leotis Martin UD6 (4) Graham Jefferson

MAIN EVENT

U.S. Pacific Coast Boxing League - Tournament Semi-Final
(1) Rosco Toles SD6 (7) Jim Flynn

[kenyan_cheena]

Damn, I'm glad to have finished that card. I really enjoyed doing the write-ups for our community member's fights but those last couple were a bit of a chore. I'll be glad when these feeder league tourneys are done and dusted.

[mh2365]

Bring on round two!!!

[Romdawg88]

Wow, only one KO on the whole card the crowd really get their money worth for this card.

EDIT: Like Mike said Bring on Round 2. Lets see if Mike will show off some of the power he supposedly has.

[kenyan_cheena]

Can't believe it took me eleven days to write-up that card and that it's spread out over three pages. I think in future I'm going to try and avoid the (to be continued)'s and not post unless I have a full card or a large chunk of it ready for everyone to read in one go.

Gonna have to look back on what was happening before this card just to make sure there isn't anything I have to cover newswise in the uni before diving straight into the Wednesday night Atlantic City card.

One thing I will be doing is a post in the IBL thread which will feature our friend Mr. Plunkett. Expect that in the next day or two, folks...

[Romdawg88]

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

Can't believe it took me eleven days to write-up that card and that it's spread out over three pages. I think in future I'm going to try and avoid the (to be continued)'s and not post unless I have a full card or a large chunk of it ready for everyone to read in one go.

Gonna have to look back on what was happening before this card just to make sure there isn't anything I have to cover newswise in the uni before diving straight into the Wednesday night Atlantic City card.

One thing I will be doing is a post in the IBL thread which will feature our friend Mr. Plunkett. Expect that in the next day or two, folks...

This card is in the running for the largest and most spread out fight card of all time for sure. Can't wait to find out if Tommy made it into the second stage.

[kenyan_cheena]

JOHNSON PARTIES WITH MCVEY
AND CO. IN LOS ANGELES

Wednesday 14 August 2002

Three weeks ago, it was reported that Texas-born Heavyweight Boxing Federation competitor Jack Johnson had decided to move to California. Sick of the attitude that many of his fellow Texans held towards him, the man known as "The Galveston Giant" announced that he'd be relocating to Los Angeles.

"Maybe the folks in LA will appreciate my style and my talents for what they are," Johnson had said. "This time next week, I'm-a be on the beach in Malibu. Gonna be great times, no doubt."

Flash forward to the present and it appears that Johnson is having some "great times" in his new hometown. The #3 seed in the federation's World Championship tournament was spotted last night partying at the popular Hollywood Boulevard nightclub "Mood" along with fellow HBF competitor Sam McVey, McVey's model girlfriend Claudette James and a particularly attractive young Asian lady, amongst a group of many.

When he was selected to take part in the World Championship tournament last October, Jack Johnson was thrust from anonimity straight into the national spotlight, his striking good looks and cheeky charisma making him one of the more fascinating competitors in the tournament. The fact that he could fight a bit didn't do him any harm, either. According to the man himself he's always had a way with the ladies but being the subject of so much media exposure has allowed the public to follow almost every move he makes.

Back in November he was spotted on more than a couple of occasions with a trio of blonde beauties and in May he had tongues wagging after his brief affair with a popular and curvaceous Havana TV personality named Mayra Santamaria. He stated when back in America that the liason had been "just some fun" and Johnson has not spoken to Santamaria since. Now it appears he has moved on to a new conquest and judging by the intimate fashion in which he and his sexy Asian friend were interacting, it looks quite serious.

One aspect of this news that might raise a few eyebrows is the fact that Johnson was out with Sam McVey. They looked to be getting along quite well during the evening, by all reports. At the time Johnson announced his move to California, he had been asked what the chances were of him joining McVey's clique of fighters, known as USC. He had replied in the negative, saying that he didn't "really go in for that kind of stuff." But if his association with McVey can be taken as any indication, it could just be that USC have themselves another member. With fighters like Ken Norton, Mike Weaver and promising International Boxing League competitor James Toney already a part of the group, the addition of Johnson would surely make USC the strongest, most talented "entourage" in the sport...

[kenyan_cheena]

LAST CHANCES...

Wednesday 14 August 2002

Action in the seventh and final series of stage one in the Heavyweight Boxing Federation's World Championship and 1st Defense tournaments continued tonight at Caesars Atlantic City, the card featuring a quartet of bouts that would have direct consequences on progression to the tournament's second stages.

In Group Five of the 1st Defense tournament, Cesar Brion and Nino Valdes would know either triumph or sorrow by the end of the evening as one of them would join Pasadena's Carl Morris in stage two. The Argentinian Brion had to defeat Morris in the Support Bout to make his dreams come true but if he failed a win for Valdes against Gus Ruhlin would be all the 5th seed needed to qualify.

The stakes were high in the World Championship tourney, with progression from Group Twelve to be decided by a pair of bouts. If Jacksonville's Ray Mercer could defeat Al Jones in the third bout of the night he would seal himself a stage two berth. However, if he was to suffer an unlikely defeat he'd have to sit and wait and hope that Canadian tough man George Chuvalo could get at least a draw against Florida Alliance member Tommy Gomez. This trio of competitors had shown skill, courage and determination throughout the tournament but one of them was going to finish 3rd and, along with federation president Michael Vincennes, a capacity crowd was in attendance to witness all the action...

Opening Bout

California's Reuben Vargas was able to hold Philadelphia native Al Ettore to a draw in an entertaining bout (58-56, 57-57, 56-58). Neither man was in the picture as far as tournament progression is concerned but that didn't stop them from putting on quite a show.

After Ettore dominated the opening round Vargas assumed control through until the end of the fourth, appearing to outwork Ettore by just enough in each round. The Pennsylvanian came on strong in round five but Vargas dug deep in the final stanza, his efforts swaying two of the judges to award the round to him.

The 85th-seeded Vargas ends his time in the World Championship tournament with a 1-5-1 record, though it must be said that tonight's showing was his best. As for Ettore, there's no doubt he'll be disappointed by this result. He had been eliminated from progression last month when surprisingly TKO'd by Brian London but would have been confident of a win tonight. After starting his career with a 2-1-1 mark (victories against Tommy Gomez and Al Jones), he's gone winless in his last three fights, certainly not what he would have been hoping for.

Preliminary 1

Bringing a three fight undefeated streak into the evening, New York's Tommy Jackson saw his stay in the World Championship tournament end on a low note as his fight against the Englishman Brian London was stopped due to a cut over Jackson's right eye in round two. Having lost his first five fights, London scored his second consecutive stoppage victory after TKOing Al Ettore late in the final round last month.

The Englishman made an impressive start to the fight, hurting Jackson with two seperate uppercuts and a straight right in the opening round. He continued to dominate in the 2nd and it was a left hook that opened the New Yorker up two minutes into the round. The fight was called off at the 2:04 mark.

Jackson had some memorable moments in the tournament, including a fantastic performance in defeating top seed George Chuvalo back in May and his absolute classic against Al Ettore the following month. Even so, he'll probably look at his 3-3-1 record and find some disappointment. Nonetheless, the New York native will be one to look out for during the Continental Americas tournament.

Preliminary 2

Despite being put in his place by top seed George Chuvalo last month, Florida's Ray Mercer was still in a good position to qualify for the second stage of the World Championship tournament. The 1992 Olympic gold medallist had been taught a lesson in humility by the no-nonsense Canadian but even so, his record was still an impressive 4-1-1(1). All he needed to do to book a spot in stage two was defeat his disappointing fellow Florida native Al Jones, which didn't look like that difficult a task when Jones' 2-4 record was taken into account.

"I'm confident of stitchin' this thing up," the 29 year-old Mercer had said at yesterday's weigh-in. "Georgie C gave me a bit of a touch-up last month but that ain't gonna happen tomorrow night. I'm gonna show that I deserve to be in stage two."

So in the eyes of most, it appeared a pretty straight-forward task for Mercer. But those who predicted an easy night for him didn't take into account the determination of a fighter carrying a huge chip on his shoulder into the ring with him. Al Jones had gotten all Rodney Dangerfield on the media during the week, claiming that he didn't get any respect and that he'd be trying his hardest to change that against Mercer.

"Y'all gonna see that South Florida can roll jus' as hard as those fellas up north," Jones had said.

It was difficult to take him seriously, considering the number of ordinary performances he had produced during the tournament. But in the opening round the 25 year-old Miami native gave a hint of what was to come as, using his five inch height advantage to the fullest, he established an effective jab. Despite absorbing a hard Mercer uppercut two minutes in Jones finished the round strongly, a trio of salvos finding their target during the final thirty seconds.

If Mercer didn't know he was in against a different Al Jones after the opener, he must have been fully aware in round two as Jones caught him with a crushing uppercut just seconds into the round and then continued to work with that jab, peppering Mercer with several scoring shots. The Jacksonvillian found the mark with a left hook midway through but did little else and Jones was on track to win the round with ease until Mercer unleashed a smashing right hook a second before the bell. Jones went down onto the seat of his pants but was saved by the bell.

One would have expected Mercer to take control from that point, that the knockdown would be just the boost he needed to get himself in the fight. It didn't happen, though. Jones went right back on the attack in round three and even though Mercer rallied late in the piece, the 6'6" Jones had done enough early to take what was a highly-entertaining round. It was only in the fourth that Mercer looked like having a chance as he stepped up his aggression and hurt Jones with a number of power shots, including a left hook that was chased by a flush uppercut two minutes into the round.

But as mentioned earlier, this was a different Al Jones to the one who had disappointed his followers in previous fights. With assured ease he dominated round five, raining that jab down onto Mercer and adding to what was already some serious swelling around the 21st seed's right eye. Mercer could only shake his head in a bemused fashion as he returned to his corner with the sound of the bell. He looked defeated and out of ideas and fought with a similar disposition during the final round, Jones continuing to control the contest behind the jab. He didn't try for a knockout, content to use his superior reach to keep his cowed opponent at bay.

Despite Jones' apparent dominance of the contest, the final scorecards were much closer than one would have expected. The Miami giant was the winner by unanimous decision but only by 57-56 in each case. The judges had scored round two 10-8 in Mercer's favour, despite the fact that the knockdown had come at the very end of what had been a dominant three minutes for Jones.

"Don't bother me none," said the gentle giant, a smile from ear to ear. "I showed all o' y'all tonight that I've got the skills to compete in this organisation and I'm gonna keep showin' y'all during the American tourney. Y'all better watch out for me. Elmer Ray better watch out, too, 'cause I be gunnin' for the kid, you know?"

Jones was shocked and a little bit overwhelmed when told soon after that he had set a new HBF record for punches landed in a fight, his 277 surpassing the 268 landed by Jack Sharkey against Oscar Bonavena back on July 26.

"Really can't believe that," Jones aid, chuffed. "I knew I was landing a lot of punches but that's just incredible."

A deeply dejected Mercer was in no mood to talk and after offering his congratulations to Jones departed the ring while the victor was still being interviewed. Having let a chance for automatic progression slip through his fingers, Mercer would now have to take up a seat in the dressing rooms and wait to see the result of the evening's main event. His defeat meant that George Chuvalo had now qualfied for stage two, regardless of the outcome of his pending clash with Tommy Gomez. But a victory for Gomez would see the Florida Alliance member finish in 2nd place and, as a conseqeunce, relegate Mercer to the confines of the Continental Americas Championship tournament. As he plodded disappointed up the aisle, Mercer must have known that he'd be in for an excruciating next couple of hours.

(to be continued)

[Romdawg88]

HA HA HA HA, way to go Al Jones. Thats what Ray Mercer gets for talking crap, now we just need Tommy G t