Main Event
Harold Johnson vs Paul Briggs
Fight info: Knox Regional Netball Centre, Ferntree Gully, Victoria, Australia, 2013-07-13, announcer is Jim Fitzgerald, referee is Laurence Cole, the bout will be scored by three judges: Ricardo Bays (United States), Takeshi Shimekawa (Japan) and Brett Miller (United States), ring card girl is Amy Longlegs, this is not a title bout, the bout is scheduled for 10 rounds, IBF-rules are in effect, three KD rule is not in effect, save by the bell is not in effect, only the referee can stop the fight, mandatory 8 count is not in effect, fight stopped due to an accidental head butt: Tech. Draw through 4/Scorecard after 4, game will check for injuries, game will not adjust ratings for weight class, use judges bias is set to 'random', Scoring System is 10 Points
In the red corner: Harold Johnson - Record: 9-2-1 (2) - Career Stage: Prime - Conditioning: Top Condition - Trainer: Jeff Fenech - Cut Man: Danny Milano
In the blue corner: Paul Briggs - Record: 0-1-1 - Career Stage: Prime - Conditioning: Fights Too Frequently - Trainer: Alton Merkerson - Cut Man: Leo Flynn
Round 1
Time Commentary Points
0:00 Cole gives the fighters their final instructions. They touch gloves and return to their respective corners to await the bell for the start of Round 1. 0:0
0:12 Johnson looks to work the body, but Briggs covers up nicely. 0:0
0:26 The action slows for the moment. 0:0
0:33 Johnson is utilizing the ring to his advantage with constant movement. 0:0
0:42 Johnson wraps up Briggs. 0:0
0:47 Briggs works his way free! 0:0
0:59 Briggs moves to the center of the Ring taunting Johnson with his hands by his sides. 0:0
01:06 Johnson's jab connects to Briggs's head 2:0
01:20 Johnson is moving like a ghost out there, as Briggs trys in vain to corner him 2:0
01:38 Johnson has Briggs pinned! 2:0
01:38 The two fighters have chosen to work on the inside and it's Johnson who scores with a short hook to the chest. 4:0
01:52 Johnson is moving like he is walking on air tonight. 4:0
01:56 Johnson gets in close and comes straight up to the chin of Briggs with an uppercut. 6:0
02:11 Harold Johnson is dancing and flicking harmless punches at Briggs. 6:0
02:20 Johnson misses with that cross. 6:0
02:27 Johnson doubles up on the jab and he managed to score with the second one. 8:0
02:40 Johnson misses with what looked like a backhand. He's lucky. If that had landed, he might have drawn a warning. 8:0
02:47 Johnson pins Briggs in the corner! 8:0
02:47 Johnson lands the right hand. He's pretty effective with that punch when he sets it up right. 10:0
03:00 Johnson is giving Briggs a lot of side-to-side movement. 10:0
03:00 There's the bell ending Round 1. 12:1
Round 2
Time Commentary Points
0:00 Amy 'The Smile' Longlegs exits the ring to wild cheering. We await the bell, signaling the start of Round 2. There it is! 0:0
0:07 Hey, that ringcard girl was something else! 0:0
0:15 Briggs charges Johnson trying to get inside 0:0
0:19 Alton Merkerson seemed to pump up Briggs between rounds. 0:0
0:37 Johnson fires a light jab to the stomach 2:0
0:50 Johnson seems really focused on what he's doing this round. 2:0
0:57 Briggs seems to be protecting his body which is leaving his head vulnerable. He doesn't like body shots but I don't know anyone that does. 2:0
01:07 Briggs just comes up short with the uppercut. 2:0
01:09 Johnson lands two hard body shots that made Briggs grunt. 5:0
01:25 Johnson is protecting the body nicely as Briggs fails to score inside. 5:0
01:36 Johnson is staying at the center of the ring. 5:0
01:41 Cole has to pull the fighters away from each other as Johnson locks up Paul Briggs's arms. 5:0
01:50 Cole has to separate the two... 5:0
01:54 Briggs backs away and hitches up his trunks. 5:0
02:05 Not a lot of action in the ring right now. 5:0
02:12 Harold Johnson scores with a quick hook to the head of Briggs after Briggs missed with a wild shot of his own. 7:0
02:24 Briggs slides into his own corner... 7:0
02:24 Paul Briggs eats a jab from Johnson 9:0
02:41 Briggs misses with that punch. 9:0
02:43 Johnson lands a glancing, overhand right. He just missed landing that one square. 11:0
02:43 Briggs tries to clear his senses after after the fighters heads come together inside. 11:0
03:00 The fighters are at ring center... 11:0
03:00 Johnson is flicking the jab, trying to keep Briggs at long range. 11:0
03:00 And that ends Round number 2. 11:2
Round 3
Time Commentary Points
0:00 Cole motions the fighters together as the bell sounds to begin Round 3. 0:0
0:07 Johnson got quite a pep talk in his corner; we'll see if Jeff Fenech's instructions work. 0:0
0:15 Johnson is moving laterally and not straight back, which is exactly what he should be doing. 0:0
0:24 Briggs misses wildly with the Hook. 0:0
0:26 Harold Johnson scores with a crisp uppercut inside. 2:0
0:43 Cole yells at the fighters to separate but Johnson and Briggs are a tangle of arms. 2:0
0:48 Briggs pushes Johnson away. 2:0
0:52 Briggs's corner is urging him on. They're really vocal tonight. 2:0
01:00 Each fighter is measuring the other. Now Johnson lets his hands go and scores several quick punches to the head of Paul Briggs. 4:0
01:17 Briggs telegraphed that shot and Johnson ducks under it easily. 4:0
01:19 Johnson lands the jab but comes up short with a second one right behind it. 6:0
01:29 Johnson gets the cross through Briggs's guard. 8:0
01:38 As high as Briggs is holding his gloves he is leaving his body wide open to a damaging body punch if Johnson takes advantage of it. 8:0
01:42 Johnson is trapped in Briggs's corner... 8:0
01:46 Briggs is holding. Well, he can't get hit if Johnson can't throw punches, I guess. 8:0
01:55 Briggs finally lets go of Johnson. 8:0
02:08 Briggs drops his shoulder as if to throw a right, then quickly rips a quick left hook to the body. 8:4
02:08 Johnson is clutching his side! 8:4
02:24 Johnson backs into the far corner. 8:4
02:24 Briggs launches an uppercut from way outside, grazing Johnson's jaw. Paul Briggs is vulnerable to a counter throwing that punch from a distance like that. 8:6
02:41 Briggs looks to land a uppercut but misses the mark. 8:6
02:43 Briggs ducks into an uppercut from Johnson. 10:6
02:52 Briggs doesn't have to look for Johnson this round. He is right there in front of him. 10:6
02:59 Briggs is trapped in the corner... 10:6
03:00 There's the bell, finishing Round 3. 10:6
Round 4
Time Commentary Points
0:00 Johnson looks to be in excellent shape as Round 4 gets underway. 0:0
0:13 Johnson gets off a jab to the solar plexus 2:0
0:17 Neither fighter shows any wear and tear at this point. 2:0
0:22 Alton Merkerson seemed agitated with Briggs, who stared at his shoes almost the entire minute. 2:0
0:22 Johnson scores with a beautiful cross that just missed landing flush on Briggs's jaw. 4:0
0:31 Both fighters are being extremely cautious in this one. We hadn't expected such a tactical battle. 4:0
0:34 There's a lead right hand that finds its mark. That can be a dangerous punch if Harold Johnson can land a solid one. 6:0
0:56 Harold Johnson does a great job of moving as Paul Briggs tries to work inside. 6:0
0:58 Johnson scores with a glancing cross. 8:0
01:29 Hide the china because Briggs is like a bull in there, charging forward with reckless abandon. 8:0
01:40 Johnson tries to go to the body but he can't find an opening. 8:0
01:50 Johnson brushes the ropes and quickly spins away, heading back to ring center. 8:0
01:50 Johnson finds a home for his jab, keeping Briggs at bay. 10:0
02:00 Johnson drives the hook home. 13:0
02:11 Johnson gets off a quick combination to the body 15:0
02:28 Johnson traps Briggs in the corner! 15:0
02:28 The fighters are tangled up inside. Johnson has a hand free and lands a little uppercut. 17:0
02:49 Johnson fires a left hand that Briggs takes high on the shoulder. 17:0
02:55 OH! Briggs landed the big hook flush! 17:4
02:55 Briggs sent Johnson reeling with that punch! 17:4
03:00 The bell ending Round 4 sounds and the fighters return to their corners. 17:6
Round 5
Time Commentary Points
0:00 We have reached the halfway point of the fight as Round 5 begins. 0:0
0:06 Alton Merkerson was screaming at Briggs between rounds trying to get him fired up. 0:0
0:07 Johnson gets his head on the chest of Paul Briggs as He tries to outmuscle him on the inside, scoring with a nice short hook to the head. 2:0
0:17 Johnson connects with an uppercut. He can make good use of that punch if he can continue to get inside. 4:0
0:26 Jeff Fenech was really animated in Johnson's corner and Harold Johnson was nodding in agreement. 4:0
0:26 Johnson flicks a jab to Briggs's stomach 6:0
0:41 Johnson is showing some fancy footwork tonight as he moves around Briggs. 6:0
0:51 Johnson picks off the combination by Briggs. 6:0
0:53 Harold Johnson lets a quick hook go, catching Briggs moving in. 8:0
01:05 Johnson pins Briggs in the corner! 8:0
01:05 Briggs walks in to a glancing hook from Johnson. 10:0
01:19 Johnson is holding Briggs tighter than most men do their wives -- or girlfriends! 10:0
01:24 Johnson and Briggs each take a step back. 10:0
01:32 Both fighters are circling, keeping their distance from each other. 10:0
01:40 Harold Johnson pins Briggs's arms against his body stopping him from throwing any punches. 10:0
01:49 Cole steps in and breaks it up. 10:0
01:59 You would think Briggs had a brick wall built aroud his midsection as futile as Johnson looked trying to score there! 10:0
02:16 Johnson is probing with his jab as he tries to find an opening in Briggs's defense. 10:0
02:23 Johnson throws the jab and it lands cleanly. 12:0
02:35 Johnson has Briggs cornered! 12:0
02:35 Johnson lands a rapier like jab to the head of Paul Briggs 14:0
02:45 The fighters are back at ring center... 14:0
02:45 Johnson flicks three quick jabs and at least one got through. 16:0
03:00 That's another round in the books as Round 5 comes to an end. 16:1
Round 6
Time Commentary Points
0:00 Round 6 begins as the bell sounds. 0:0
0:07 Jeff Fenech was extremely upbeat during the break with Harold Johnson providing some solid encouragement. 0:0
0:08 Johnson traps Briggs in the corner! 0:0
0:08 Johnson slips inside and lands a hook. 2:0
0:12 Johnson could come on because he looks stronger than Briggs. 2:0
0:20 Johnson has Briggs trapped in the near neutral corner... 2:0
0:25 Harold Johnson lets his hands go but his punches land on the arms of Briggs. 2:0
0:32 Briggs lands a devastating uppercut! 2:4
0:32 That punch may have stunned Johnson momentarily. 2:4
0:46 Johnson is bouncing on his toes, avoiding Briggs attempts to move inside on him. 2:4
0:50 The fighters are jockeying for position as both men try to gain the advantage here in the 6th. 2:4
0:59 Johnson is really fluid in his movement. 2:4
01:11 Briggs slides into the corner... 2:4
01:11 Johnson connects with an uppercut to the head of Briggs. 4:4
01:28 Johnson clamps Briggs's arms to his side and holds on until Cole breaks the hold. 4:4
01:33 Referee Cole separates the two... 4:4
01:38 Briggs retreats into a neutral corner. 4:4
01:42 Johnson is clinching. Cole better watch because some fighters aren't above doing some nasty head work when they're in close like this. 4:4
01:47 Briggs tries to get free... Here comes Cole to break them up... 4:4
01:56 Harold Johnson grabs Briggs. Too much of this kind of thing can have a negative affect on the scoring of the fight. 4:4
02:08 Cole separates the two fighters. 4:4
02:14 Not much happening at the moment. 4:4
02:17 Johnson goes to the head and the body, though neither punch had much on it. 6:4
02:30 Briggs takes a hook as he tries to work inside. 8:4
02:44 Briggs moves into a neutral corner. 8:4
02:44 Johnson scores with a nice right cross. 10:4
03:00 He cuts loose with a combination and the crowd roars, but the truth is none of those punches landed. Briggs had his elbows tucked in nicely. 10:4
03:00 It looks like Johnson has a pretty solid lead at this stage of the fight. 10:4
03:00 The bell sounds ending Round 6. 9:5
Round 7
Time Commentary Points
0:00 The bell starts the action as Johnson and Briggs leave their corners. 0:0
0:16 Johnson comes in low. Briggs puts a headlock on him. Cole knocks Briggs's arm off Johnson's head. 0:0
0:20 Cole separates the two... 0:0
0:28 Harold Johnson gives a nice head feint and then lands a hook to the head of Paul Briggs. 2:0
0:38 Johnson sneaks in a quick uppercut that lands cleanly. 4:0
0:52 Briggs wraps up Johnson... Neither fighter will break... 4:0
01:04 The fighters separate after a clinch. 4:0
01:09 Briggs and Harold Johnson lean on one another, neither willing to do any work for the moment. The referee pushes them apart and tells them to get on with the action. 4:0
01:18 Briggs wants to go downstairs, but can't penetrate Johnson's defense. 4:0
01:30 Briggs is trying to free his gloves from under Harold Johnson's gloves. 4:0
01:34 Cole moves them apart. 4:0
01:42 Both fighters move to ring center. 4:0
01:42 Johnson unleashes a wild hook that just glances off the side of Briggs's head, if that had landed flush this fight might have been over! 6:0
01:52 Johnson feints downstairs, then lands an uppercut under Briggs's chin. 8:0
02:04 Briggs moves into the near corner. 8:0
02:08 Johnson ties up Briggs. Why would he want to clinch now? 8:0
02:13 Cole moves in to break the clinch. 8:0
02:22 Briggs lands a vicious cross! 8:4
02:22 And Johnson's in big trouble now! 8:4
02:37 Briggs is blocked in his own corner... 8:4
02:37 Harold Johnson snakes the jab through Briggs's gloves. He had some snap on that one. 10:4
02:46 Briggs retreats into the left corner. 10:4
02:51 Johnson is off target with that jab. 10:4
02:53 Paul Briggs shoots the right home. That's a sneaky punch. 10:6
03:00 Johnson tries a straight right that's blocked by the gloves of Briggs. 10:6
03:00 Round 7 of this scheduled 10 rounder ends as the bell sounds. 9:6
Round 8
Time Commentary Points
0:00 The seconds hurry out of Johnson's corner as the bell sounds for Round 8. 0:0
0:12 Briggs has Johnson trapped! 0:0
0:17 Paul Briggs misses. He had an opening and whiffed with the punch. 0:0
0:33 Briggs lands a devastating uppercut! 0:4
0:33 Johnson is hurt! 0:4
0:48 A cross lands for Johnson. Briggs didn't see that one coming. 2:4
01:02 A nice exchange of blows there, though neither fighter seemed to gain the upper hand. 4:6
01:13 Briggs has Johnson blocked in! 4:6
01:18 Briggs pins Harold Johnson's arms! The fighters are tied up... 4:6
01:22 Referee Cole steps in to break it up. 4:6
01:31 Briggs misses with an uppercut from way outside. That's a dangerous punch to throw. You leave yourself wide open for a counter. 4:6
01:38 Johnson slides into a neutral corner... 4:6
01:42 That's a pretty long clinch! Do these guys want to hug or fight? 4:6
01:54 Now they break clean. 4:6
02:03 Johnson is challenging Briggs to fight him and quit clinching. 4:6
02:08 Briggs uses his shoulder to force Johnson out of the clinch. 4:6
02:13 Briggs backs into a neutral corner. 4:6
02:18 Johnson is moving nicely, using every inch of this ring. 4:6
02:27 Briggs whiffs with the uppercut. 4:6
02:29 Harold Johnson lands with a short, quick uppercut in close. 6:6
02:47 Paul Briggs's misses as Johnson backpedals away. 6:6
02:50 Johnson drives home a potent uppercut to the head of Briggs. 9:6
03:00 Paul Briggs tries to double up on the jab but neither hit the mark. 9:6
03:00 Harold Johnson appears to have this fight under control. 9:6
03:00 The Referee has to get between Johnson and Briggs as they glare at one another. He sends them to their corners as the bell sounds to end the round. 10:6
Round 9
Time Commentary Points
0:00 With only two rounds of boxing left, it looks as if Briggs is going to need a knockout or at least a knockdown to win this fight. 0:0
0:06 Whatever Alton Merkerson said to him in the corner between rounds must have had some effect as Briggs has some spring in his step here in the 9th round. 0:0
0:06 Johnson follows a beautiful a double jab with a solid cross! 3:0
0:19 Briggs is pinned in his own corner... 3:0
0:23 Johnson brushes the ropes and quickly spins away, heading back to ring center. 3:0
0:36 They're coming back to the center of the ring now... 3:0
0:41 Briggs pins Johnson's arms. Now they move apart. 3:0
0:45 Briggs shoves Johnson away. 3:0
0:57 Briggs grabs Johnson's head, pulls it down, into his chest. Cole has to force Paul Briggs to let go. 3:0
01:06 Paul Briggs pushes Johnson away. 3:0
01:10 Johnson fires the jab. It finds its target. 5:0
01:26 Briggs throws a straight right that glances off the shoulder of Johnson but it's enough to keep him off-balance. 5:0
01:32 Briggs pushes Harold Johnson away to give himself a little more space to work with. 5:0
01:41 Briggs wings a big left hand at Johnson but the latter sidesteps the punch. 5:0
01:49 Johnson steals a quick glance at his corner. 5:0
02:00 Briggs misses with the left and then fails to connect with the right as well. 5:0
02:06 Johnson landed a sharp combination that rocked Briggs back on his heels! 10:0
02:06 Briggs was staggered by those punches! 10:0
02:15 Johnson fires a jab to the body 12:0
02:28 Johnson backs into his own corner... 12:0
02:28 Briggs forces his way inside and he lands a nice uppercut to the chin of Harold Johnson. 12:2
02:38 Harold Johnson scores with a hook to the side of the head. 14:2
02:54 Briggs will tie a guy up if he has to. 14:2
03:00 Cole separates them. 14:2
03:00 Cole motions the fighters to their corners as the bell sounds to end Round 9. 16:1
Round 10
Time Commentary Points
0:00 As the bell sounds for the final round, it looks as if the scorecards will determine the outcome of this fight. 0:0
0:12 Paul Briggs fires away but finds nothing but air. 0:0
0:14 A straight cross from Johnson gets through Briggs's guard. 2:0
0:22 Johnson looks like he could go ten more rounds. 2:0
0:34 Briggs throws a flurry of punches but Johnson either blocks or slips them. 2:0
0:36 Johnson bangs a right cross off the face of Briggs. 4:0
0:48 Johnson retreats into the left corner. 4:0
0:52 Briggs doesn't connect with the hook. 4:0
0:59 Johnson retreats into his own corner... 4:0
01:04 Briggs can't find the range as he tries to work the body. 4:0
01:06 Johnson is trying to put his punches together and he tags Briggs with a nice combination of punches. 6:0
01:21 Johnson seems really focused on what he's doing this round. 6:0
01:28 Briggs appears to be trying to load up on his punches. 6:0
01:39 Briggs does a great job with subtle movement to avoid Johnson's punches in close. 6:0
02:03 Both fighters are holding here. It's a tangle of arms and Cole is going to have to sort this out. 6:0
02:08 Cole has to break them apart. 6:0
02:22 Johnson ties up Briggs. 6:0
02:31 Cole has to break the clinch. 6:0
02:41 Johnson grabs Briggs again. If this were football, there'd be a penalty flag for holding. 6:0
02:45 Cole separates the two... 6:0
02:52 It's a knowledgeable crowd tonight. They are letting the fighters know they want to see some action and when it slows down they are quick with their show of displeasure. 6:0
03:00 Johnson works free! He backs to ring center, with Briggs following. 6:0
03:00 Johnson seems to have done enough to win this fight. 6:0
03:00 And the bell sounds ending the round and the fight. This one's gone the distance and we'll await the decision of the judges. 5:1
Fight Result
Here's Jim Fitzgerald with the call...
Ladies and Gentlemen, the judges have tallied their scorecards and here is your decision...
Ricardo Bays, United States scores the bout 100 to 90
Takeshi Shimekawa, Japan scores the bout 100 to 91
Brett Miller, United States scores the bout 98 to 92
The winner by unanimous decision is Harold Johnson!
Score Cards
Ricardo Bays Round Total
United States 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Harold Johnson 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 100
Paul Briggs 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 90
Takeshi Shimekawa Round Total
Japan 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Harold Johnson 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 100
Paul Briggs 9 9 10 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 91
Brett Miller Round Total
United States 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Harold Johnson 10 10 10 10 10 9 10 9 10 10 98
Paul Briggs 9 9 9 9 9 10 9 10 9 9 92
Round Totals Round Total
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Harold Johnson 30 30 30 30 30 29 30 29 30 30 298
Paul Briggs 27 27 28 27 27 28 27 28 27 27 273
Statistics
Categories Harold Johnson Paul Briggs
Knockdowns scored 0 0
Jabs / Round 6.60 0.70
Hooks / Round 7.10 1.00
Crosses / Round 6.10 1.30
Combinations / Round 6.00 1.00
Uppercuts / Round 6.00 1.00
Punches Landed / Round 31.80 5.00
Punches Missed / Round 30.20 55.30
Punching Accuracy 51.3% 8.3%
Total Number of Fouls 0 0
Suffered Accidental Head Butt 1
No cuts occured
Strategies (demanded/followed)
Cover Up 0 / 0 0 / 0
Fight Inside 0 / 0 4 / 4
Fight Outside (Offensive) 0 / 0 2 / 0
Fight Outside (Defensive) 9 / 5 0 / 0
Go for KO 0 / 0 0 / 0
Go All Out for KO 0 / 0 3 / 3
Protect Cut 0 / 0 0 / 0
Take a Round Off 0 / 0 0 / 0
Title Bout Championship Boxing 2.5 - Copyright © 2008 OOTP Developments