Gba

[Ian Lord]

Diary


Date: May 22nd, 2004
Venue: Canton Memorial Civic Center, Canton, OH

Tony 'TNT' Tubbs v Michael 'Dynamite' Dokes [10 x 3]
Eliminator for vacant GBA Ohio heavyweight title

James 'Buster' Douglas v Mike 'Hercules' Weaver [10 x 3]

Trevor Berbick v Larry Holmes [10 x 3]

James 'Bonecrusher' Smith v Derek Amos [8 x 3]

'Terrible' Tim Witherspoon v Jody Ballard [8 x 3]

'Big' John Tate v Derek Banks [8 x 3]

In the main event at the Canton Memorial Civic Center, Ohio natives Tony 'TNT' Tubbs and Michael 'Dynamite' Dokes box over ten rounds in an eliminator for the vacant Ohio title. The winner faces James 'Buster' Douglas for the vacant title, who already holds a win over Dokes.

In the co-feature, Ohio man James 'Buster' Douglas takes on Mike 'Hercules' Weaver. Both men are coming back from stoppage defeats.

Trevor Berbick takes on Larry Holmes. Holmes won his previous fight in devastating fashion whilst Berbick comes in on the back of a points defeat.

James 'Bonecrusher' Smith, 'Terrible' Tim Witherspoon, and 'Big' John Tate take on debutants Derk Amos, Jody Ballard and Derek Banks respectively. All men are looking for there first pro win.

[Ian Lord]

Date: May 22nd, 2004

Venue: Canton Memorial Civic Center, Canton, OH

In the main event, Tony 'TNT' Tubbs boxed Michael 'Dynamite' Dokes. Judging by their nicknames you would have thought there would have been a lot of explosive action in this bout. There wasn't. Both men showed good boxing skills for the first six rounds, at which the fight was even, then both fighters ran out of gas. It turned into a bit of a stinker from there on in. Dokes seemed to have a bit more left in the tank, winning the seventh, eight, and ninth, whereas Tubbs mainly wanted to clinch. Tubbs rallied in the last round, winning it, but by then it was two late. Dokes won by scores of 97-93, and 96-94, and Tubbs, surprisingly, got 96-94 on one judges card, giving the bout to Michael Dokes by split decision. Dokes will now face James 'Buster' Douglas over ten rounds for the vacant Ohio belt.

James 'Buster' Douglas beat Mike 'Hercules' Weaver in the co-feature by unanimous decision, all three judges scoring 96-93.Weaver dropped Douglas in the second with a punishing bodyshot, then in the fourth Douglas put Weaver on the canvas from a barrage of punches. The match was close, with Douglas having a tendency to clinch. If he had been boxing outside of Ohio, that wouldn't have gone down well with the judges.

Undercard Action:

Larry Holmes got his second win on the trot when he stopped Trevor Berbick in the third round. Holmes took the first two rounds, Dropping Berbick in the second with a wild overhand right. Holmes finished Berbick ni the next round after dropping his foe foe with a vicous uppercut. Berbick struggled to his feet at the count of nine, but was unable to defend himself and Holmes finished him off at the 2:47 mark.

James 'Bonecrusher' Smith won a unanimous decision against Derek Amos, losing only the fifth round. Smith, who gave us such excitement in his first bout with Tyson, has since turned into a dull, boring boxer to watch.

'Terrible' Tim Witherspoon destroyed Jody Ballard inside two rounds. He dropped his opponent in the opening stanza with a vicous combination of punches to the head and body, then finished him of for good in the second with a debilitating bodyshot, that put Ballard down for the count.

In the opening bout, 'Big' John Tate beat the game but limited Derek Banks by unanimous decision. It looked like it would all be over in the first round when Tate dropped Banks, but Banks got up, banged his gloves together, gritted his teeth, and saw it uot to the final bell.

[Ian Lord]

Results

Michael Dokes W10 Tony Tubbs
James 'Buster' Douglas W10 Mike Weaver
Larry Holmes TKO3 Trevor Berbick
James 'Bonecrusher' Smith W8 Derek Amos
Tim Witherspoon KO2 Jody Ballard
John Tate W8 Derek Banks

GBA Rankings for end of May

World Champion:
Title Vacant

1. Mike Tyson 4-0 [3]
2. Evander Holyfield 3-0 [3]
3. Riddick Bowe 3-1 [3]
4. Greg Page 2-1 [0]
5. James 'Buster' Douglas 2-1 [0]
6. Tony Tucker 2-1 [0]
7. Pinklon Thomas 2-1 [0]
8. Mike Weaver 1-2 [1]
9. Larry Holmes 2-1 [2]
10.Trevor Berbick 1-3-1 [0]

I will be in hospital until Wednesday so the next posting will be either Thursday or Friday.

[meade95]

Keep up the good work -

[Ian Lord]

Diary


Date: 12th June, 2004
Venue: Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, NV

Mike Tyson v Evander Holyfield [12 x 3]
Vacant GBA World Heavyweight title

Greg Page v Mike Weaver [10 x 3]

Tony Tucker v Pinklon Thomas [10 x 3]

John Tate v James 'Bonecrusher' Smith [8 x 3]

Gerrie Coetzee v Derek Amos [8 x 3]

Lennox Lewis v Derek Banks [4 x 3]

Six months after its formation, the GBA will crown it's first heavyweight champion when Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield go head to head in the main event.

In the chief support, highly ranked contender Greg Page takes on the dangerous but inconsistent Mike 'Hercules' Weaver.

Top ten contenders Tony 'TNT' Tucker and Pinklon 'Pinky' Thomas box each other in what should be a close fight.

John Tate and James 'Bonecrusher' Smith, both coming of a victory, box over eight rounds and the winless Gerrie Coetzee takes on Derek Amos.

In the opening bout, top amatuer Lennox Lewis makes his pro debut when he takes on Derk Banks over four rounds.

[Ian Lord]

Date: 12th June, 2004

Venue: Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, NV

TYSON HALTS HOLYFIELD TO BECOME HEAVYWEIGHT KING

Before a full house at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, New Yorks 'Iron' Mike Tyson stopped Evander 'The Real Deal' Holyfield of Atlanta, Georgia, in the seventh of a scheduled twelve.

Holyfield had been in control of the fight up until that point, winning every round except the second. Tyson, however, caught up with him in the seventh when Holyfield went down for a count of seven from a vicous hook. He got up but looked vacant and Tyson went in for the kill. Holyfield tried to clinch and it looked as though Tyson headbutted him from in the clinch. Holyfield staggered back, and Tyson followed, bulling Holyfield into his own corner. Tyson let loose a combination of punches, then let fly with a wild overhand right, just grazing the top of Holyfields head. Tyson then connected with an uppercut, a hook to the head, and a punishing hook to the body, and Holyfield crumbled to the floor. Somehow, in a display of pure courage, Holyfield pulled himself to his feet at the count of eight, but referee Richard Steele saw he had nothing left and saved him from further punishment by waving the fight of at the 2:44 mark, to make Mike Tyson the first GBA World heavyweight champion.

There were scenes of elation from Tysons corner, as his cornermen Kevin Rooney and Steve Lott jumped into the ring and mobbed the new champion. Holyfield looked dejected. Michael Buffer made the announcements and the blue and gold strap was placed around the new champions waist.

"I'm so happy," shouted an ecstatic Tyson. "I'm going to be a champion the public can be proud of, and I'm going to defend against all comers."

"Bring it on," came the shout from Riddick Bowe, who was sat in the front row and had been calling Tyson out for a rematch since their bout two months previously.

"Antime Riddick," Tyson called back, "anytime." And with that he went back to the changing room, ready for a night of celebrations.

In the chief support, Greg Page dominated Mike 'Hercules' Weaver before knocking him out at the end of the third round. Page put Weaver down in the first round from a wild overhand right, then completely outboxed Weaver in the second, making his right eye begin to swell. The end came in the third when Page caught Weaver coming in with an uppercut. He then banged Weaver with another uppercut, sending him into the corner where he began to land a barrage of punches. Referee Eddie Cotton looked as if he was about to step in and stop the fight when Page landed a right cross which put his opponent down for the count at the very end of the third round.

Undercard Action.

Tony 'TNT' Tucker won a close but unanimous decision over Pinklon 'Pinky' Thomas, thanks in the most part that he dropped his foe in the sixth round with a right hand. Scores were 95-94 [twice], and 97-94.

'Big' John Tate decisioned James 'Bonecrusher' Smith over eight rounds in an absolute stinker of a fight. Scores were all 76-75 to the winner.

Gerrie Coetzee sored his first win by taking a unanimous decision over Derek Amos with scores of 78-73 [twice], and 79-72. Amos was dropped twice in the seventh.

In the opening bout, Lennox Lewis made a winning start in the pro ranks by winning three of the four rounds against the limited but durable Derek Banks. All three judges scored the bout 39-37.

[Ian Lord]

Results


Mike Tyson TKO7 Evander Holyfield
Greg Page KO3 Mike Weaver
Tony Tucker W10 Pinklon Thomas
John Tate W8 James 'Bonecrusher' Smith
Gerrie Coetzee W8 Derek Amos
Lennox Lewis W4 Derek Banks

GBA Rankings for the end of June

World Champion:
Mike Tyson 5-0 [4]

1. Greg Page 3-1 [1]
2. Riddick Bowe 3-1 [3]
3. Evander Holyfield 3-1 [3]
4. Tony Tucker 3-1 [0]
5. James 'Buster' Douglas 2-1 [0]
6. Pinklon Thomas 2-2 [0]
7. Mike Weaver 1-3[1]
8. Larry Holmes 2-1 [2]
9. Trevor Berbick 1-3-1 [0]
10.Michael Dokes 1-3-1 [0]

[Ian Lord]

Diary


Date: July 24th, 2004
Venue: Canton Memorial Civic Center, Canton, OH

James 'Buster' Douglas v Michael 'Dynamite' Dokes [10 x 3]
Vacant GBA Ohio heavyweight title

Tony 'TNT' Tubbs v 'Terrible' Tim Witherspoon [10 x 3]

Larry Holmes v Pinklon Thomas [10 x 3]

James 'Bonecrusher' Smith v Derek Banks [8 x 3]

Gerrie Coetzee v Jody Ballard [6 x 3]

Lennox Lewis v Derek Amos [6 x 3]

In the main event, Michael 'Dynamite' Dokes gets the chance to exact revenge for his DQ loss in January against James 'Buster' Douglas. The vacant GBA Ohio heavyweight title is on the line.

In the chief support, fellow Ohio native Tony 'TNT' Tubbs takes on 'Terrible' Tim Witherspoon.

Larry Holmes tries to keep his good run going when he takes on Pinklon Thomas. Thomas comes in on the back of a close points loss to Tony 'TNT' Tucker.

James 'Bonecrusher' Smith should win against the limited Derek Banks, as should Gerrie Coetzee against Jody Ballard.

Lennox Lewis makes his second pro outing against Derek Amos.

[Ian Lord]

TYSON TO TACKLE TUCKER


GBA World heavyweight champion Mike Tyson makes the first defence of his title against Tony 'TNT' Tucker in October. The venue has not been announced yet, but it is thought the fight will take place in Tysons home city of New York.

Greg Page and Riddick Bowe will box an eliminator in November to determine who will be the mandatory challenger for the World title. The vacant GBA North American heavyweight title will also be on the line.

[Ian Lord]

DOUGLAS DECISIONS DOKES

Date: July 24th, 2004

Venue: Canton Memorial Civic Center, Canton, Ohio

In the main event, James 'Buster' Douglas, Columbus, outpointed Michael 'Dynamite' Dokes, Akron, over ten rounds to win the vacant Ohio heavyweight title. The score were 96-91 twice, and 97-90, all for Douglas.

These two men met in January, when Douglas won by disqualification. He was trailing on all the judges cards at the time, and Dokes was fuming, so this was his chance to get even. Considering Dokes said he really wanted to beat his opponent, you would have thought he would have come into the ring in better shape. He looked grossly out of shape. Anyway, to the fight.

The opening round was close, with both men showing neat boxing skills. Dokes just edged it.Douglas came out and won the next two rounds, suffering a cut over his right eye in the third which was stemmed by some good cornerwork between rounds. Dokes won the fourth, then Douglas won the fifth, by peppering Dokes with the jab, and making his left eye begin to swell. The sixth was a 10-8 round to Douglas when he dropped Dokes with a barrage of punches to the head. Dokes was up at seven and managed to shake it off as he won the next round. After the seventh though, Dokes was finished. He ran out of gas and began to carry his hands low. Douglas won the next two rounds and going into the final round Dokes looked like he needed a stoppage to win. A stoppage nearly happened, but it was Douglas who nearly scored it. Halfway through the round, he dropped Dokes with a strong combination of punches to the head. Dokes got to his feet only to be dropped by another barrage of punches. He again got to his feet and looked ready to be finished. The referee waved Douglas in and he trapped Dokes in the corner, landing a right-left combination to the head, just as the bell went, thus saving Dokes.

Douglas was in an upbeat mood after the bout, as he had the Ohio heavyweight title belt strapped around his waist. "I want Tyson next," he kept repeating. His father/trainer, Billy Douglas said he feels his son is now ready to take on Tyson, but with Tyson fighting Tucker first, and then a mandatory defense against the Page-Bowe winner, he knows his son will have to play the waiting game. "We'll probably take a keep busy fight in the meantime, against a Weaver or a Thomas." Then he left the ring to take a rest.

In the chief support, Tony 'TNT' Tubbs, Cincinnatti, won a questionable decision over Philadelphia's 'Terrible' Tim Witherspoon. The scores were 97-94 Tubbs, 96-94 Tubbs, and 95-95. "A hometown decision man," an irate Witherspoon claimed after the bout, and he's probably got a point.It was a close match, with Witherspoon throwing the more punches than his opponent, who just seemed content to throw one punch at a time. Witherspoon took the opening stanza, opening up a cut over Tubbs' left eye in the process. The cut was worked on between rounds and didn't cause Tubbs any further problems. Witherspoon took the second round, with Tubbs winning the third. The fourth was close, with the Philadelphian just edging it with his greater work ethic. Tubbs then won the fifth, Witherspoon the sixth.

Tubbs took the next two rounds, the eight close, but by now there was more clinching than punching and the crowd grew restless. This carried on in the last two rounds with aeach man winning a round apiece, and a draw looking a fair result. Then Tubbs was announced the winner.

"I felt I won," Tubbs said after the bout. "I threw the more punches." He didn't.

"Philadelphia, I'll fight you in Philadelphia." Witherspoon called.

"Anytime, anyplace man," Tubbs called back, before both men exited the ring.

Undercard Action.

Larry Holmes continued his good run of stoppage wins by halting Pinklon Thomas in the tenth and final round. It was a close fight until that point, with Holmes just edging it by landing the harder shots. Then in the tenth, Holmes dropped Thomas for a count of seven. Thomas clambered to his feet, and Holmes rained blows on his stricken foe. A left hook again put Thomas down after a delayed reaction. Thomas again got to his feet and the action resumed, only Holmes was the only one throwing any punches. Holmes was landing punches at will and motioned for the referee to stop the contest. Padilla, seeing that Thomas was putting up no resistance done the sensible thing and stopped the fight at the 2:19 mark.

"I want Weaver next, then I'm going for Tyson," Holmes said after the fight. Mike Weaver is the only blot on his 3-1 [3] record.

James 'Bonecrusher' Smith won a unanimous decision over eight rounds against Derek Banks. The scores were 79-72 twice, and 80-72. Smith dropped Banks in the seventh round.

Gerrie Coetzee, behind on all three scorecards, stopped Jody Ballard with two seconds left in the fifth round.

Lennox Lewis put on a devastating display of strength to KO Derek Amos at 2:36 of the opening stanza. He dropped his opponent with a strong combination right at the beginning of the bout, then didn't let his opponent off the hook, and knocking him out at the 2:58 mark.

[Ian Lord]

Results


James Douglas W10 Michael Dokes
Tony Tubbs W10 Tim Witherspoon
Larry Holmes TKO10 Pinklon Thomas
James Smith W8 Derek Banks
Gerrie Coetzee TKO5 Jody Ballard
Lennox Lewis KO1 Derek Amos

GBA Rankings for end of July

World Champion:
Mike Tyson 5-0 [4]

1. Greg Page 3-1 [1]
2. Riddick Bowe 3-1 [3]
3. Evander Holyfield 3-1 [3]
4. James 'Buster' Douglas 3-1 [0] Ohio champ.
5. Tony Tucker 3-1 [0]
6. Mike Weaver 1-3 [1]
7. Larry Holmes 3-1 [3]
8. Pinklon Thomas 2-3 [0]
9. Trevor Berbick 1-3-1 [0]
10.Michael Dokes 1-4-1 [0]

[Ian Lord]

Diary

Date: August 21st, 2004
Venue: Hammerstein Ballrooms, New York, NY

Riddick Bowe v Michael 'Dynamite' Dokes [10 x 3]

Mike 'Hercules' Weaver v Tony 'TNT' Tubbs [10 x 3]

James 'Bonecrusher' Smith v 'Terrible' Tim Witherspoon [10 x 3]

'Big' John Tate v Anthony Willis [8 x 3]

Gerrie Coetzee v Derek Banks [8 x 3]

Lennox Lewis v Gary Winmon [8 x 3]

Riddick Bowe makes his first ring appearance, since being stopped in the 10th in April against current World champ Mike Tyson, when he takes on durable trial horse Michael 'Dynamite' Dokes in front of his hometown fans.

Tony 'TNT' Tubbs hopes to break back into the top ten, when he takes on ranked contender Mike 'Hercules' Weaver, who hasn't won since his shock KO over Larry Holmes back in January.

James 'Bonecrusher' Smith boxes 'Terrible' Tim Witherspoon over ten rounds.

'Big' John Tate and Lennox Lewis take on debutants Anthony Willis and Gary Winmon respectively and Gerrie Coetzee faces the limited Derek Banks.

Evander Holyfield will make his first outing since being stopped by Tyson in June next month [September], against an as yet unnamed opponent.

[Ian Lord]

BIG DADDY'S BACK

Riddick 'Big Daddy' Bowe made a return to the ring in front of his homefans at the Hammerstein Ballrooms, New York, and outpointed Michael 'Dynamite' Dokes in what could be fight of the year.

Both men went toe to toe for the opening round, throwing punch after punch. Bowe landed the heavier shots, but Dokes connected more often, and the round was even. How neither of them went down is a mystery.
Dokes reverted to his boxing skills in the second round, working behind a stiff jab, yet Bowe took the round by landing the more telling blows. Dokes took the next two rounds by fighting smart and peppering Bowe with the jab. However, Bowe's heavier shots made Dokes' left eye begin to swell up. A clash of heads in the fifth round saw both mens faces get cut, Bowe over his left eye, and Dokes under his right eye. Dokes seemed groggy after the clash, and Bowe took advantage by punching Dokes around the ring before the bell saved Dokes from any further punishment.
Bowe took the next round as well, although Dokes managed to open up a cut underneath his left eye. Bowe eked the seventh round and the eighth round was even.
Riddick Bowe came out looking for the shot that would finish his opponent in the ninth round, bloodying Dokes' nose and causing his right eye to begin swelling.
In the tenth, Dokes by now not being able to see clearly, used the jab to try and keep Bowe at bay and hear the final bell. Bowe landed the more punches though and took the round, the last ten seconds both men going toe to toe again.
Both of these men looked as if they had been in a war after the bout, and embraced each other out of respect.
Bowe won by unanimous decision with scores of 98-93, 98-94, and 97-94.

"He was one tough son of a gun," Bowe said afterwards. "And I can't understand why he don't win more fights than he does."

"He hit's hard, really hard," Dokes said after the bout. "Greg Page had better watch out."

Bowe fights Page in an eliminator for the World title in November. The vacant North American trinket will also be on the line.

In the chief support, Tony 'TNT' Tubbs KO'd Mike 'Hercules' Weaver in the third of an explosive match up. Weaver won the first round, then came out and put Tubbs down in the second from a vicous left hook to the body. Tubbs beat the count and survived the round, though it was clear he was winded. Weaver got caught by surprise in the third wwhen Tubbs came charging out of his corner at the opening bell, looking to finish his foe of. He KO'd Weaver with a devastating uppercut after thirty two seconds.

Undercard Action.

James 'Bonecrusher' Smith beat 'Terrible' Tim Witherspoon by unanimous decision. All judges scoring 95-94 to the winner. Smith dropped Witherspoon in the fifth, and it was that that won him the fight.

'Big' John Tate used Anthony Willis as a punchbag before kayoing him at the end of the second round.

Gerrie Coetzee won a majority decision over the durable Derek Banks with scores of 77-76, 78-75, and 77-77.

Lennox Lewis KO'd Gary Winmon in the third round with a debilitating bodyshot. Winmon took the opening round, but it was all Lewis from then on.

[Ian Lord]

Results


Riddick Bowe W10 Michael Dokes
Tony Tubbs KO3 Mike Weaver
James Smith W10 Tim Witherspoon
John Tate KO2 Anthony Willis
Gerrie Coetzee W8 Derek Banks
Lennox Lewis KO3 Gary Winmon

GBA Rankings for the end of August

World Champion:
Mike Tyson 5-0 [4]

1. Riddick Bowe 4-1 [3]
2. Greg Page 3-1 [0]
3. Evander Holyfield 3-1 [3]
4. Tony Tucker 3-1 [0]
5. James 'Buster' Douglas 2-1 [0] Ohio champ.
6. Pinklon Thomas 2-3 [0]
7. Larry Holmes 2-1 [2]
8. Trevor Berbick 1-3-1 [0]
9. Michael Dokes 1-5-1 [0]
10.Tony Tubbs 5-2 [1]

[Ian Lord]

Diary

Date: Sept 18th, 2004
Venue: Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ

Evander Holyfield v Tony Tubbs 10 x 3

Greg Page v Trevor Berbick 10 x 3

James 'Buster' Douglas v Larry Holmes 10 x 3

John Tate v Derek Amos 8 x 3

Lennox Lewis v Jody Ballard 8 x 3

Tim Witherspoon v Derek Banks 8 x 3

Holyfield makes his first ring appearance since losing to Tyson in June when he takes on Tony Tubbs.
Greg Page faces a tough tune-up before his November showdown with Bowe when he takes on the durable Trevor Berbick.
James 'Buster' Douglas and Larry Holmes meet in what should be an intriguing clash.
John Tate, Lennox Lewis and Tim Witherspoon fill out the undercard when they meet Derek Amos, Jody Ballard, and Derek Banks respectively.

[Ian Lord]

THE 'REAL DEAL' RETURNS


Evander 'The Real Deal' Holyfield made a winning return to the ring, blasting out Tony 'TNT' Tubbs in the third of a scheduled ten. The difference in class was obvious from the opening bell, as Holyfield pressed from the opening bell, and Tubbs was boxing innefectively of the back foot. Holyfield dominated the first two rounds, then finished his opponent of in the third, when a thudding cross made Tubbs' legs buckle and he went back into the ropes. Holyfield followed up with a short, clean combination and Tubbs went. He was counted out at the 1:03 mark.

Greg Page put on an impressive performance in his last bout before meeting Riddick Bowe, when he stopped Trevor Berbick in the eighth round. Page dominated the bout, winning all but the third, and making both of Berbicks eyes swell virtually shut, which was the cause of the stoppage. By the eigth round, Page was landing blows at will, due to the fact Berbick could hardly see, and Page pleaded the referee to stop the fight. This he did at the 2:47 mark, but not before Berbick landed a shot that drew blood over Page's right eye, in perhaps a final act of defiance. It was a dominating display from Page, who now meets Bowe in two months time in a World title eliminator. The vacant North American and US belts will also be on the line.

Larry Holmes won by unanimous decision against James 'Buster' Douglas, with scores of 96-93 twice, and 95-95. By the sixth round, Douglas was ahead after winning four rounds, but Holmes took the last four rounds, due in part that Douglas' left eye had swollen, and won the fight.

"I'm ready for Tyson now," a delighted Holmes said after the bout. "But I know I've got a bit of a waiting game to play first.

Fringe contender 'Big' John Tate knocked his opponent, Derek Amos out at 1:08 of the third, following an uppercut to the jaw. His trainer, Ace Miller, said they would now be looking at getting Tate into the top ten.

Lennox Lewis retained his unbeaten record by beating Jody Ballard by scores of 79-71, 79-70, and 78-71. He dropped his opponent twice in the second, and then again in the seventh.

'Terrible' Tim Witherspoon won by unanimous decision against Derek Banks. The scores were 79-73 twice, and 78-75. Banks went down in the sixth.

[Ian Lord]

Results

Evander Holyfield KO3 Tony Tubbs
Greg Page TKO8 Trevor Berbick
Larry Holmes W10 James 'Buster' Douglas
John Tate KO3 Derek Amos
Lennox Lewis W8 Jody Ballard
TimWitherspoon W8 Derek Banks

GBA Rankings for the end of September

World Champion:
Mike Tyson 5-0 [4]

1. Greg Page 4-1 [1]
2. Riddick Bowe 4-1 [3]
3. Evander Holyfield 4-1 [4]
4. Larry Holmes 3-1 [2]
5. Tony Tucker 3-1 [0]
6. James 'Buster' Douglas 2-2 [0] Ohio champ.
7. Pinklon Thomas 2-2 [0]
8. Trevor Berbick 1-4-1 [0]
9. Michael Dokes 1-5-1 [0]
10.Tony Tubbs 5-3 [1]

[Ian Lord]

Diary

Date: October 23rd, 2004
Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

Mike Tyson V Tony 'TNT' Tucker [12 x 3]
[Champion] [Challenger]

Evander Holyfield v Michael 'Dynamite' Dokes [10 x 3]

Pinklon Thomas v 'Big' John Tate [10 x 3]

James 'Bonecrusher' Smith v Gerrie Coetzee [8 x 3]

Lennox Lewis v Anthony Willis [8 x 3]

Mike 'Hercules' Weaver vDerek Banks [8 x 3]

Mike Tyson makes the first defense of his GBA World title when he takes on Tony'TNT' Tucker.

Evander Holyfield takes on tough trial horse Michael 'Dynamite' Dokes over ten rounds.

Fringe contender 'Big' John Tate hopes to break into the top ten when he takes on Pinklon 'Pinky' Thomas.

James 'Bonecrusher' Smith takes on South Africa's Gerrie Coetzee over eight rounds.

Lennox Lewis hopes to take his unbeaten run to 5 when he takes on Anthony Willis over eight rounds.

Mike 'Hercules' Weaver hopes to score his first win since January when he takes on durable journeyman Derek Banks over eight.

[Ian Lord]

TYSON BLOWS TUCKER AWAY

ALSO: UPSETS ON THE UNDERCARD

New York, NY: In the main event of the evening, Mike Tyson, making the first defence of his GBA World title,put challenger Tony 'TNT' Tucker away in the third of a sceduled twelve round fight. Tucker had a good opening round, keeping Tyson at bay with his stiff jab, but after that, it was only a matter of time before the defending champion put him away for the night. Tyson finally managed to get inside in the second round, and dropped his opponent for a count of three with a wild overhand right. Tucker then boxed the rest of the round on the back foot, with a rampaging Tyson following him around the ring, looking to put him away. The end came in the 53rd second of the third round, with a crippling left hook to the body. Tucker stood no chance.

In an upset in the chief support, Michael 'Dynamite' Dokes stopped top contender Evander 'The Real Deal' Holyfield in the fifth of a scheduled ten.Holyfield got off to a good start, dropping Dokes inthe first round with an overhand right. Dokes managed to recover and took the next two rounds. Holyfield pressed the action in the fourth and was doing the same in the fifth when he walked onto an uppercut that put him down for a count of five. He should have stayed down for a bit longer as he got up groggily and Dokes saw his chance. He put Holyfield down for another count following a barrage of punches. Again Holyfield beat the count, but he was unsteady on his feet, and Dokes took his chance, firing a hook/uppercut to Holyfields jaw, and forcing him into a corner, where he unleashed two hooks to his body, a hook to his head, then another hook to the body. By now, Holyfield was holding onto dear life, with no fight left in him, and the referee waved it over at 2:46.

A delighted Dokes said it was about time he got a victory after coming close so many times, and that there would be no holding him back now. When asked if he wanted a rematch with James 'Buster' Douglas for the Ohio title, he shook his head and stated that he's got bigger fish to fry.

Larry Holmes, who was watching in the crowd, felt that this could be a wake up call for Holyfield to go onto bigger and better things. "Look at me," he said. "I lost my first fight to Weaver, which I was supposed to win, and I haven't lost since. I haven't got that World title shot yet, but I know it's pretty close.

Underd Action

Fringe contender 'Big' John Tate stopped Pinklon 'Pinky' Thomas in the sixth of a scheduled ten.Tate dropped Thomas in the third from a bodyshot, then again in the sixth from a hook. Thomas beat the count but was saved from further punishment when Tate trapped him in the corner, landing at will.

Gerrie Coetzee took a unanimous decision against James 'Bonecrusher' Smith. Smith won the first three rounds, but then Coetzee came on strong and took the next five to win the fight.

In another upset, Anthony Willis knocked out hot prospect Lennox Lewis in the fourth round. The opening round was even, as both fighters sussed each other out, then Lewis came on strong and looked to be controlling the fight, before getting complacent and walking onto an uppercut at the end of the fourth round.

In a minor upset, derek Banks stopped Mike 'Hercules' Weaver due to a cut eye in the third. Weaver struggled to find his range while it lasted, and Banks opened up a cut over his right eye in the third which affected his vision, resulting in the referee stopping the fight.

[Ian Lord]

Results


Mike Tyson KO3 Tony Tucker
Michael Dokes TKO5 Evander Holyfield
John Tate TKO6 Pinklon Thomas
Gerrie Coetzee W8 James Smith
Anthony Willis KO4 Lennox Lewis
Derek Banks TKO3 Moke Weaver

GBA Rankings for the end of October

World Champion:
Mike Tyson 6-0 [5]

1. Greg Page 4-1 [1]
2. Riddick Bowe 4-1 [3]
3. Larry Holmes 3-1 [2]
4. Tony Tucker 3-2 [0]
5. James 'Buster' Douglas 3-2 [0] Ohio Champ.
6. Michael Dokes 2-5-2 [1]
7. Evander Holyfield 4-2 [4]
8. Trevor Berbick 1-4-1 [0]
9. Tony Tubbs 5-3 [1]
10.John Tate 5-2 [3]