RIP Leavander

Foggy · Post by **Foggy** » 23 Sep 2005, 07:35

WOW, never thought it would come to this, really shocked, my heart goes out to his family. But also spare a thought for Chavez, he must be having an hard time of it.

Wales · Post by **Wales** » 23 Sep 2005, 07:39

RIP :(

Phenomenal-Nutrition · Post by **Phenomenal-Nutrition** » 23 Sep 2005, 08:23

Wow very sad moment, a man achieves his dream, gets some sort of money fight just to die because of it. It makes you put things in perspective and is a reminder lifes short and you need to do the things you believe in when you can.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 23 Sep 2005, 08:23

Does make you wonder about the sport at times like this.

I know it's their lives we're talking about, but with the news fighters like McCullough and Holyfield plan to carry on you do worry it's tempting fate sometimes...

Watching Corrales/Castillo, I was thinking this is beyond a sport - it looked like life and death in there, and I thought at the time the last thing these two need here is a rematch....and yet here we go again.
Very brave managers you might say.

Phenomenal-Nutrition · Post by **Phenomenal-Nutrition** » 23 Sep 2005, 08:27

MightyWarrior wrote:Does make you wonder about the sport at times like this.

I know it's their lives we're talking about, but with the news fighters like McCullough and Holyfield plan to carry on you do worry it's tempting fate sometimes...

Watching Corrales/Castillo, I was thinking this is beyond a sport - it looked like life and death in there, and I thought at the time the last thing these two need here is a rematch....and yet here we go again.
Very brave managers you might say.

It is a sport that most will take damage in. The individual has to decide if the damage/risks outweigh the perceived gains. Most won't get in as near the condition Levander got into. Most will talk a little slower.

Look at Eubank whos been in a few wars himself, he hasn't suffered any obvious brain damage, theres plenty more.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 23 Sep 2005, 09:06

MightyWarrior wrote:Does make you wonder about the sport at times like this.

I know it's their lives we're talking about, but with the news fighters like McCullough and Holyfield plan to carry on you do worry it's tempting fate sometimes...

Watching Corrales/Castillo, I was thinking this is beyond a sport - it looked like life and death in there, and I thought at the time the last thing these two need here is a rematch....and yet here we go again.
Very brave managers you might say.

Yes my thoughts too MW. What we call a 'great fight' is actually two men sustaining neurological damage.

Manos de Oro · Post by **Manos de Oro** » 23 Sep 2005, 09:06

MightyWarrior wrote:Watching Corrales/Castillo, I was thinking this is beyond a sport - it looked like life and death in there, and I thought at the time the last thing these two need here is a rematch....and yet here we go again.
Very brave managers you might say.

Yeah, been cringing at the thought of that one since... well, since Chico's hand was raised after he won. His speech has deteriorated since I started watching him years ago and he also looked bloated at those ESPY awards recently (meaning he's going to be cutting weight for this one). Not to mention he's been in so many wars (even in the gym) that a lot of people likely don't even know about.
The first Arce - Hussein bout was quite nasty as well and I see there's a rematch on the undercard. Face first Carlos 'El Famoso' Hernandez is also making an appearance against Pacman's wee brother, so expect wars all round.

Don't want to tempt fate but, IMO, fans should brace themselves for bad news on the morning of Sunday 9th October. There's a realistic chance. But hey, it brings in the $$$ so it had to happen.

Lenny · Post by **Lenny** » 23 Sep 2005, 09:13

Terrible news, RIP to a very brave fighter. Agree with those who have said it makes you feel a little guilty to be a fan and to have enjoyed the fight.

Also people mentioning Corrales v Castillo, i'm also shocked that people felt the rematch needed to happen so soon, I can't believe they are both going to be fully recovered.

knockout · Post by **knockout** » 23 Sep 2005, 09:17

Manos de Oro wrote:
MightyWarrior wrote:Watching Corrales/Castillo, I was thinking this is beyond a sport - it looked like life and death in there, and I thought at the time the last thing these two need here is a rematch....and yet here we go again.
Very brave managers you might say.
Yeah, been cringing at the thought of that one since... well, since Chico's hand was raised after he won. His speech has deteriorated since I started watching him years ago and he also looked bloated at those ESPY awards recently (meaning he's going to be cutting weight for this one). Not to mention he's been in so many wars (even in the gym) that a lot of people likely don't even know about.
The first Arce - Hussein bout was quite nasty as well and I see there's a rematch on the undercard. Face first Carlos 'El Famoso' Hernandez is also making an appearance against Pacman's wee brother, so expect wars all round.

Don't want to tempt fate but, IMO, fans should brace themselves for bad news on the morning of Sunday 9th October. There's a realistic chance. But hey, it brings in the $$$ so it had to happen.

funnily the ones you expect to end in casulties arent the ones that actually end that way....

G Man was meant to dispose of Benn quite easily
Watson was meant to box Eubank silly for 12 rounds
Spencer Oliver was just a routine defence

Holyfield V Tyson 1 there was real worry for Evanders health
etc etc

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 23 Sep 2005, 09:21

Yep. Gatti v Ward, Barrera v Morales, how much did these guys damage one another. Look at Bowe now and Holyfield, slurred speech, how much of that was from their trilogy together.

It's a tough time to be a boxing fan, and it's easy to see why so many people want to ban it.

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 23 Sep 2005, 10:03

Like i said in a previous post, sometimes i watch fights and as the leather pounds away it makes you think that this can't be doing either man any favours

Rest In Peace Leavander Johnson

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 23 Sep 2005, 10:09

knockout wrote:
Manos de Oro wrote:
MightyWarrior wrote:Watching Corrales/Castillo, I was thinking this is beyond a sport - it looked like life and death in there, and I thought at the time the last thing these two need here is a rematch....and yet here we go again.
Very brave managers you might say.
Yeah, been cringing at the thought of that one since... well, since Chico's hand was raised after he won. His speech has deteriorated since I started watching him years ago and he also looked bloated at those ESPY awards recently (meaning he's going to be cutting weight for this one). Not to mention he's been in so many wars (even in the gym) that a lot of people likely don't even know about.
The first Arce - Hussein bout was quite nasty as well and I see there's a rematch on the undercard. Face first Carlos 'El Famoso' Hernandez is also making an appearance against Pacman's wee brother, so expect wars all round.

Don't want to tempt fate but, IMO, fans should brace themselves for bad news on the morning of Sunday 9th October. There's a realistic chance. But hey, it brings in the $$$ so it had to happen.

funnily the ones you expect to end in casulties arent the ones that actually end that way....

G Man was meant to dispose of Benn quite easily
Watson was meant to box Eubank silly for 12 rounds
Spencer Oliver was just a routine defence

Holyfield V Tyson 1 there was real worry for Evanders health
etc etc

Was Watson favourite going into the Eubank fight, I don't remember that...

kevo · Post by **kevo** » 23 Sep 2005, 10:09

Poor sod, gutted.

RIP Leavander Johnson.

Sweet P · Post by **Sweet P** » 23 Sep 2005, 10:19

It's a bad day for my favorite sport, RIP L J you were a great champion and a tough man.

Barryboy · Post by **Barryboy** » 23 Sep 2005, 10:22

Yeah that's terrible, the reports were sounding optimistic too, my thoughts go out to his family & especially his kids.
It does get you thinking & with the news that Wayne McCullough is planning to continue fighting I hope someone saves him from himself.

R.I.P. Leavander Johnson.

black panther · Post by **black panther** » 23 Sep 2005, 10:31

Major respect to this man - he was always great to watch and beat some very good fighters in his time including an unbeaten sharma mitchell i think. I know everyone's wiser in retrospect but maybe he should have retired after getting stopped by javier jauregui, he was 35 which is pretty old for a lightweight. R.I.P Levander Johnson.

mickeybeard · Post by **mickeybeard** » 23 Sep 2005, 10:36

Horrible.

RIP Leavander

Barrabas · Post by **Barrabas** » 23 Sep 2005, 10:46

CAN SOMEBODY BE BLAME FOR HIS DEATH? R.I.P. LEAVANDER JOHNSON! :(

knockout · Post by **knockout** » 23 Sep 2005, 11:08

jamesmcdonnell wrote:
Was Watson favourite going into the Eubank fight, I don't remember that...

cannot remember the exact odds but nearly everyone thought he won the first so i am guessing he was favourite.....

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 23 Sep 2005, 11:34

Oh shit of course, was thinking of the 1st fight where he was underdog.

It was a terrible rip off that second fight.

Watson fought a different fight in the 2nd, trying to take Eubank's head off and took some serious punishment.

Guess you could blame the judges for his present condition indirectly.

Manos de Oro · Post by **Manos de Oro** » 23 Sep 2005, 11:46

knockout wrote:
Manos de Oro wrote:
MightyWarrior wrote:Watching Corrales/Castillo, I was thinking this is beyond a sport - it looked like life and death in there, and I thought at the time the last thing these two need here is a rematch....and yet here we go again.
Very brave managers you might say.
Yeah, been cringing at the thought of that one since... well, since Chico's hand was raised after he won. His speech has deteriorated since I started watching him years ago and he also looked bloated at those ESPY awards recently (meaning he's going to be cutting weight for this one). Not to mention he's been in so many wars (even in the gym) that a lot of people likely don't even know about.
The first Arce - Hussein bout was quite nasty as well and I see there's a rematch on the undercard. Face first Carlos 'El Famoso' Hernandez is also making an appearance against Pacman's wee brother, so expect wars all round.

Don't want to tempt fate but, IMO, fans should brace themselves for bad news on the morning of Sunday 9th October. There's a realistic chance. But hey, it brings in the $$$ so it had to happen.

funnily the ones you expect to end in casulties arent the ones that actually end that way....

G Man was meant to dispose of Benn quite easily
Watson was meant to box Eubank silly for 12 rounds
Spencer Oliver was just a routine defence

Holyfield V Tyson 1 there was real worry for Evanders health
etc etc

That's true mate, you can never 100% predict a tragedy (or else they'd be easily preventable of course). Just had to mention the bad feeling I've got for that card - sort of an itch that needed to be scratched. Touch wood it all goes smooth and everyone goes home healthy and rich.

Interesting side note about Holyfield - Tyson 1: I was watching it the other day for the first time in donkey's years, and noticed something I didn't at the time: 1) the fight was basically over after Holyfield came back from being rattled in the first 10 seconds to land his own combo 2) Tyson tired badly after around 1:30 of the first - he's lucky he came out of it alright.

Manos de Oro · Post by **Manos de Oro** » 23 Sep 2005, 11:49

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Guess you could blame the judges for his present condition indirectly.

Yeah I see what you mean - even though I think it was getting karate chopped by the bottom rope and then knocked out late that hurt him - his corner (a hairy Dean Powell among them) probably would have pulled him out in retrospect, but it's understandable what they did being up in the scorecards and in the heat of the moment.

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 23 Sep 2005, 12:18

Very sad news.

Rest In Peace Champ.

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 23 Sep 2005, 12:32

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Oh shit of course, was thinking of the 1st fight where he was underdog.

It was a terrible rip off that second fight.

Watson fought a different fight in the 2nd, trying to take Eubank's head off and took some serious punishment.

Guess you could blame the judges for his present condition indirectly.

Watson shouldn't have been let out for the 12th... he was out on his feet.... the trouble was he had a good points lead so they let him out.
He also suffered quite a nasty knockout in his fight with Mccallum which may have contribuited somewhat to the injuries he suffered against Eubank.

I don't know why the Corrales vs Castillo rematch is taking place so soon... they must both have very brave managers because if the rematch is anything like the first bout it could well finish both fighters.

Wrists · Post by **Wrists** » 23 Sep 2005, 12:49

RIP

Never saw Leavander fight but if a good guy like Dibella sings his praises then thats good enough for me

Makes you put things into perspective and some of the petty politics of the sport seem insigificant.

thoughts to leavander's family and also Chavez

Regards Wrists

RIP Leavander

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