Classic fights I've watched recently

[NoScoutingReports]

Michael Nunn v James Toney, epic come from behind KO win for Lights Out. Great fight.

[handsofstone]

McWilliams Arroyo vs Carlos Cuadras

[Vlad]

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Firat Arslan vs Grigory Drozd

[Vlad]

[handsofstone]

Marcos Maidana vs DeMarcus Corley

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Devon Alexander vs Victor Ortiz

[handsofstone]

Andre Berto vs Devon Alexander

[handsofstone]

Guillermo Jones vs Johnny Nelson

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Guillermo Jones vs Firat Arslan

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Marco Huck vs Ola Afolabi 1

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Marco Huck vs Denis Lebedev

[bennie]

Interesting choice. Fernandez won the WBO title with a big performance in Italy against Valerio Nati but dropped the belt in his first defence to the smooth and clever Benavides, who in turn lost to our own Duke McKenzie.

[scartissue]

Interesting choice. Fernandez won the WBO title with a big performance in Italy against Valerio Nati but dropped the belt in his first defence to the smooth and clever Benavides, who in turn lost to our own Duke McKenzie.

Bennie, your mention of Benavides-McKenzie had me dwelling on this fight. I watched and scored this awhile back and I simply did not agree with the decision. I would invite everyone to watch this and chime in with their scores. This is what I wrote when viewing it:

Jesse Benavides v Duke McKenzie

Round 1: 10-10 Even
Round 2: 10-9 Benavides
Round 3: 10-9 Benavides
Round 4: 10-10 Even
Round 5: 10-9 McKenzie
Round 6: 10-9 Benavides
Round 7: 10-9 Benavides
Round 8: 10-9 Benavides
Round 9: 10-9 McKenzie
Round 10: 10-8 McKenzie (called a knockdown but a clear trip)
Round 11: 10-9 Benavides
Round 12: 10-9 Benavides

Total: 116-113 Benavides (actual scores: 115-113, 115-112 and an amazing 118-110 all for McKenzie)

Couldn't believe this. Even the very biased announcing team of Ian Darke, Glenn McCrory and Gary Mason (in the studio) all had Benavides a winner by at least 2 points. The knockdown was BS. I was surprised that the announcing team wouldn't call it as such even when they reviewed it twice. Both times you can clearly see McKenzie's foot hook around Benavides' and Jesse had no place to go but down. And let's talk about the Canadian judge Harry Mason for a second. 118-110???? What the hell! And of course he was penalized by the world powers for his ineptness by giving him a steady stream of plum assignments instead of pulling his license. Anyways, this is just me being annoyed when I see something like this. It was not a fantastic fight but it was a tough fight. A bit too much clinching, but not horrible to watch. And I would still like to hear others opinion on this decision.

[handsofstone]

Alexander Povetkin vs Carlos Takam

[bennie]

Interesting choice. Fernandez won the WBO title with a big performance in Italy against Valerio Nati but dropped the belt in his first defence to the smooth and clever Benavides, who in turn lost to our own Duke McKenzie.

Bennie, your mention of Benavides-McKenzie had me dwelling on this fight. I watched and scored this awhile back and I simply did not agree with the decision. I would invite everyone to watch this and chime in with their scores. This is what I wrote when viewing it:

Jesse Benavides v Duke McKenzie

Round 1: 10-10 Even
Round 2: 10-9 Benavides
Round 3: 10-9 Benavides
Round 4: 10-10 Even
Round 5: 10-9 McKenzie
Round 6: 10-9 Benavides
Round 7: 10-9 Benavides
Round 8: 10-9 Benavides
Round 9: 10-9 McKenzie
Round 10: 10-8 McKenzie (called a knockdown but a clear trip)
Round 11: 10-9 Benavides
Round 12: 10-9 Benavides

Total: 116-113 Benavides (actual scores: 115-113, 115-112 and an amazing 118-110 all for McKenzie)

Couldn't believe this. Even the very biased announcing team of Ian Darke, Glenn McCrory and Gary Mason (in the studio) all had Benavides a winner by at least 2 points. The knockdown was BS. I was surprised that the announcing team wouldn't call it as such even when they reviewed it twice. Both times you can clearly see McKenzie's foot hook around Benavides' and Jesse had no place to go but down. And let's talk about the Canadian judge Harry Mason for a second. 118-110???? What the hell! And of course he was penalized by the world powers for his ineptness by giving him a steady stream of plum assignments instead of pulling his license. Anyways, this is just me being annoyed when I see something like this. It was not a fantastic fight but it was a tough fight. A bit too much clinching, but not horrible to watch. And I would still like to hear others opinion on this decision.

Duke admits that the knockdown was a trip (but says he made his own luck). He was always a tough fighter to beat because he did a lot of grabbing and stuck the nut in and because he was talented. Moreover, he was always the house fighter. Mickey Duff, who really liked Duke, staged the fight in a tiny arena in south London, largely because Duke didn't sell tickets but it was a bit like fighting in McKenzie's front room and the judges were suitably swayed. I remember when Duke lost to Dave McAuley at Wembley in the summer of 1989, the judges had it remarkably close after McAuley had pounded a weight-drained McKenzie for much of the fight. Benavides was bewildered by the verdict but Duke surprised the Americans by getting stuck into Benavides after previously moving and boxing against Kronk bantamweight Gaby Canizales. I need to sit through it like you.

[scartissue]

Interesting choice. Fernandez won the WBO title with a big performance in Italy against Valerio Nati but dropped the belt in his first defence to the smooth and clever Benavides, who in turn lost to our own Duke McKenzie.

Bennie, your mention of Benavides-McKenzie had me dwelling on this fight. I watched and scored this awhile back and I simply did not agree with the decision. I would invite everyone to watch this and chime in with their scores. This is what I wrote when viewing it:

Jesse Benavides v Duke McKenzie

Round 1: 10-10 Even
Round 2: 10-9 Benavides
Round 3: 10-9 Benavides
Round 4: 10-10 Even
Round 5: 10-9 McKenzie
Round 6: 10-9 Benavides
Round 7: 10-9 Benavides
Round 8: 10-9 Benavides
Round 9: 10-9 McKenzie
Round 10: 10-8 McKenzie (called a knockdown but a clear trip)
Round 11: 10-9 Benavides
Round 12: 10-9 Benavides

Total: 116-113 Benavides (actual scores: 115-113, 115-112 and an amazing 118-110 all for McKenzie)

Couldn't believe this. Even the very biased announcing team of Ian Darke, Glenn McCrory and Gary Mason (in the studio) all had Benavides a winner by at least 2 points. The knockdown was BS. I was surprised that the announcing team wouldn't call it as such even when they reviewed it twice. Both times you can clearly see McKenzie's foot hook around Benavides' and Jesse had no place to go but down. And let's talk about the Canadian judge Harry Mason for a second. 118-110???? What the hell! And of course he was penalized by the world powers for his ineptness by giving him a steady stream of plum assignments instead of pulling his license. Anyways, this is just me being annoyed when I see something like this. It was not a fantastic fight but it was a tough fight. A bit too much clinching, but not horrible to watch. And I would still like to hear others opinion on this decision.

Duke admits that the knockdown was a trip (but says he made his own luck). He was always a tough fighter to beat because he did a lot of grabbing and stuck the nut in and because he was talented. Moreover, he was always the house fighter. Mickey Duff, who really liked Duke, staged the fight in a tiny arena in south London, largely because Duke didn't sell tickets but it was a bit like fighting in McKenzie's front room and the judges were suitably swayed. I remember when Duke lost to Dave McAuley at Wembley in the summer of 1989, the judges had it remarkably close after McAuley had pounded a weight-drained McKenzie for much of the fight. Benavides was bewildered by the verdict but Duke surprised the Americans by getting stuck into Benavides after previously moving and boxing against Kronk bantamweight Gaby Canizales. I need to sit through it like you.

Let me know what you think when you do watch it. Thanks, Bennie.

[handsofstone]

Odlanier Solis vs Monte Barrett

[bennie]

Bennie, your mention of Benavides-McKenzie had me dwelling on this fight. I watched and scored this awhile back and I simply did not agree with the decision. I would invite everyone to watch this and chime in with their scores. This is what I wrote when viewing it:

Jesse Benavides v Duke McKenzie

Round 1: 10-10 Even
Round 2: 10-9 Benavides
Round 3: 10-9 Benavides
Round 4: 10-10 Even
Round 5: 10-9 McKenzie
Round 6: 10-9 Benavides
Round 7: 10-9 Benavides
Round 8: 10-9 Benavides
Round 9: 10-9 McKenzie
Round 10: 10-8 McKenzie (called a knockdown but a clear trip)
Round 11: 10-9 Benavides
Round 12: 10-9 Benavides

Total: 116-113 Benavides (actual scores: 115-113, 115-112 and an amazing 118-110 all for McKenzie)

Couldn't believe this. Even the very biased announcing team of Ian Darke, Glenn McCrory and Gary Mason (in the studio) all had Benavides a winner by at least 2 points. The knockdown was BS. I was surprised that the announcing team wouldn't call it as such even when they reviewed it twice. Both times you can clearly see McKenzie's foot hook around Benavides' and Jesse had no place to go but down. And let's talk about the Canadian judge Harry Mason for a second. 118-110???? What the hell! And of course he was penalized by the world powers for his ineptness by giving him a steady stream of plum assignments instead of pulling his license. Anyways, this is just me being annoyed when I see something like this. It was not a fantastic fight but it was a tough fight. A bit too much clinching, but not horrible to watch. And I would still like to hear others opinion on this decision.

Duke admits that the knockdown was a trip (but says he made his own luck). He was always a tough fighter to beat because he did a lot of grabbing and stuck the nut in and because he was talented. Moreover, he was always the house fighter. Mickey Duff, who really liked Duke, staged the fight in a tiny arena in south London, largely because Duke didn't sell tickets but it was a bit like fighting in McKenzie's front room and the judges were suitably swayed. I remember when Duke lost to Dave McAuley at Wembley in the summer of 1989, the judges had it remarkably close after McAuley had pounded a weight-drained McKenzie for much of the fight. Benavides was bewildered by the verdict but Duke surprised the Americans by getting stuck into Benavides after previously moving and boxing against Kronk bantamweight Gaby Canizales. I need to sit through it like you.

Let me know what you think when you do watch it. Thanks, Bennie.

I sat through it. The first half was not great and bloody awful to score with McKenzie fighting in spurts between clinching and dropping the head. Benavides tried to pressure him but found himself tied up and when he did unload, he looped his punches, which disappointed me. McKenzie's work was shorter and sharper and that gave him the edge for me, but there were barely any straight shots on show. Neither man seemed to know what a jab is.
Fortunately, things took a dramatic turn from round seven and I would describe the final half as thrilling. I gave the seventh, eighth and ninth rounds to Benavides, who found a nice rhythm, but then came the disputed knockdown in the 10th and McKenzie's best round of the fight, in my opinion. He pushed the American back and really looked the part. Benavides shared the 11th and edged a frantic last, but that knockdown cost him dear on my card.


Round one: 10-9 Benavides
Round two: 10-9 McKenzie
Round three: 10-9 McKenzie
Round four: 10-10 Even
Round five: 10-9 McKenzie
Round six: 10-9 McKenzie
Round seven: 10-9 Benavides
Round eight: 10-9 Benavides
Round nine: 10-9 Benavides
Round 10: 10-8 McKenzie
Round 11: 10-10 Even
Round 12: 10-9 Benavides

Total: 115-114 McKenzie.


PS. I checked the official scores in the Ralph Citro yearbook and the score of 118-110 was actually 117-110. It must have been added up wrongly on the night. Official scores 115-113, 115-112 and 117-110 all for McKenzie.

[scartissue]

Duke admits that the knockdown was a trip (but says he made his own luck). He was always a tough fighter to beat because he did a lot of grabbing and stuck the nut in and because he was talented. Moreover, he was always the house fighter. Mickey Duff, who really liked Duke, staged the fight in a tiny arena in south London, largely because Duke didn't sell tickets but it was a bit like fighting in McKenzie's front room and the judges were suitably swayed. I remember when Duke lost to Dave McAuley at Wembley in the summer of 1989, the judges had it remarkably close after McAuley had pounded a weight-drained McKenzie for much of the fight. Benavides was bewildered by the verdict but Duke surprised the Americans by getting stuck into Benavides after previously moving and boxing against Kronk bantamweight Gaby Canizales. I need to sit through it like you.

Let me know what you think when you do watch it. Thanks, Bennie.

I sat through it. The first half was not great and bloody awful to score with McKenzie fighting in spurts between clinching and dropping the head. Benavides tried to pressure him but found himself tied up and when he did unload, he looped his punches, which disappointed me. McKenzie's work was shorter and sharper and that gave him the edge for me, but there were barely any straight shots on show. Neither man seemed to know what a jab is.
Fortunately, things took a dramatic turn from round seven and I would describe the final half as thrilling. I gave the seventh, eighth and ninth rounds to Benavides, who found a nice rhythm, but then came the disputed knockdown in the 10th and McKenzie's best round of the fight, in my opinion. He pushed the American back and really looked the part. Benavides shared the 11th and edged a frantic last, but that knockdown cost him dear on my card.


Round one: 10-9 Benavides
Round two: 10-9 McKenzie
Round three: 10-9 McKenzie
Round four: 10-10 Even
Round five: 10-9 McKenzie
Round six: 10-9 McKenzie
Round seven: 10-9 Benavides
Round eight: 10-9 Benavides
Round nine: 10-9 Benavides
Round 10: 10-8 McKenzie
Round 11: 10-10 Even
Round 12: 10-9 Benavides

Total: 115-114 McKenzie.


PS. I checked the official scores in the Ralph Citro yearbook and the score of 118-110 was actually 117-110. It must have been added up wrongly on the night. Official scores 115-113, 115-112 and 117-110 all for McKenzie.

Wow, we agreed on only 6 out of the 12. It was obviously that kind of a fight.

[handsofstone]

Denis Lebedev vs Roy Jones Jr

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Brian Castano vs Michel Soro

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Jaime Munguia vs Gary "Spike" O'Sullivan

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Bernard Dunne vs Ricardo Cordoba

[handsofstone]

Juan Carlos Payano vs Anselmo Moreno