BoxRec

Il Duce wrote:Saturday Afternoon - September 17, 1977

The Spectrum - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

'Undercard' of the Roberto Duran vs. Edwin Viruet 'WBC Lightweight Championship'
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Billy 'Dynamite' Douglas, a 6' 0" hard-punching banger who was a 'dangerous opponent'
for anybody.

'Dynamite' (Age; 27 years, 6 months) brought in a record of 35-12-1 {26 KO's} in this
bout for the NABF Light Heavyweight Championship against Matt Franklin.
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Billy's 'Middleweight' career got off to 'mediocre start' in March 1967, as 'Dynamite' went
10-4-0 {7 KO's} in his first '14-Bouts', including '2' KO-Losses thru July 1969.

But, a great turn-around started in August 1969, and for the next 4-Years, Billy went
17-2-1 {12 KO's} in his next '20-Bouts'. His only 'blemishes' were disputed 'Hometown'
Majority Decision 'losses' to ***.

By June 1973 - the 23 year old - Billy 'Dynamite' Douglas was 27-6-1 {19 KO's}, and
ranked as the #9 Middleweight.

Il Duce wrote:Mr. Rover,

I posted them in the previous thread....

'WBA' Middleweight Elimination Bout in Tokyo, Japan

May 23, 1973

#8 WBA Middleweight - Billy Douglas 26-6-1 {18 KO's}
vs.
#5 WBA Middleweight - Steven 'Flasher Ishibashi' Smith 23-2-0 {22 KO's}.

Steven Smith, a Philadelphia 'Middleweight' moved to Tokyo, Japan in 1971.
He changed his name to 'Flasher Ishibashi', and had won the Japanese
Middleweight Championship in {February 1973}, and had moved up the
#5 WBA Middleweight.

The 'skinny', was that if Steven Smith defeated Billy Douglas, the Japanese
Promoters had Carlos Monzon lined up for a mid-1973 Title Defense in Tokyo.
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The Fight,

Billy 'Dynamite' Douglas didn't read the script,,,,,,, and pounded 'Flasher Ihsibashi'
into the canvas and scored a 'Knockout' {KO 3}.

Following the victory in Japan, Billy Douglas was moved up to the #5 WBA Middleweight.

Il Duce wrote:I was just checking up on the bout between

#8 WBA - Billy 'Dynanite' Douglas vs. #5 WBA - Steven 'Flasher Ishibashi' Smith

Tetsumi Promotions had offered Carlos Monzon (Manager - Tito Lecture) $250,000
to come to Japan.

The WBA would have 'sanctioned' the bout, if Steven Smith had defeated a Top 10
USA ranked Middleweight fighter first......

Il Duce wrote:Bill Miller was the Executive of the WBA.

The WBA felt that Steven 'Flasher Ishibashi' Smith (American-based in Japan)
was taking the 'easy way' to the Middleweight Championship by fighting in Japan....
and scoring 'easy' wins.

It was either Bennie Briscoe or Billy Douglas, who Steven Smith would have to 'knock off'
to get a 1973 Middleweight Championship bout.

orbtastic wrote:Maybe I missed it, but there's no fight report for the Franklin/Saad fight?

Il Duce wrote:Friday Night - February 6, 1976

Madison Square Garden - New York

Scheduled Light Heavyweight Bout

#5 Light Heavyweight ~ Tom 'The Bomb' Bethea ~ 21-14-3 {8 KO's}
vs.
#9 Light Heavyweight ~ Pedro 'El Astro' Soto ~ 13-1-1 {5 KO's}

Both New York Light Heavyweights are on good winning streaks, and this was a highly anticipated bout.
But, the 'Morning' of the scheduled bout - Gil Clancy (Manager of Tom Bethea) withdraws his fighter, as
Pedro Soto cannot make the 175 lb. 'contract weight'.

Pedro Soto has weighed in at 180 lbs., and despite an additional 'purse bonus', Gil Clancy refuses.

Enter 'last minute replacement' the Full-Time 'sheet-metal worker' out of Colombus, Ohio -
#12 Light Heavyweight - Billy 'Dynamite' Douglas with a record of 31-9-1 {23 KO's}.
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Billy 'Dynamite' Douglas, one month shy of {Age 36}, accepts the offer on Friday Morning at 10:00 AM
while still in Ohio. Taking a flight out of Colombus at 1:00 PM, Billy arrives in New York City by 5:00 PM,
enough time to have a 'physical examination' by the NYSAC, and weigh in.

Billy, who has been in 'light training' comes at a tight 175 lbs., but will giving 5 lbs. and nearly 15 years to
the 21 1/2 year-old Puerto Rican.

This bout will be the 'Main Undercard' bout, before the Duane Bobick vs. Larry Middleton Heavyweight bout.

Not only is Billy a 'last minute replacement', but he will be fighting in front of {8435} pro-Pedro Soto fans in
Madison Square Garden.
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The Fight;

As what was thought, the 21 1/2 year-old 'younger and stronger' Pedro Soto {180 lbs.} rattles the veteran
Douglas {175 lbs.} with right hands bombs right from the start.

In Rounds 2, 3 and 4 - Billy Douglas is rocked back on his heels, and nearly goes down in each Round. The
Puerto Rican sweeps the 'first' 4-Rounds, and appears to be on his way to an 'easy win'.

But the 35 1/2 year-old veteran digs in, and fires back with hard left hooks, and at the {1:32 Mark} stuns
Pedro Soto with a 'picture-perfect' left hook. Moments later, Billy drops Soto with a right uppercut and
'two' follow-up left hooks. Soto is 'stunned' but escapes the Round by clinching and holding.

Suprisingly, it is Pedro Soto who is the 'effective aggressor' in Round 6, and Pedro scores with sharp
right hands to drive the visiting Ohio Light Heavyweight back.

But, in Rounds 7, 8 and 9 - Billy begins to wear down the younger fighter, and starts to score with good short
left hooks inside and stiff right-hand counters.

Entering the 'Final Round', Pedro Soto has a '1-Point Lead'.

Pedro comes out and wings away to try and steal the Round early, but Billy weathers the attack, and starts
to make his move at the {1:50 Mark}. A sharp left hook, and right uppercut stuns Pedro, and he wobbles
backwards. Billy starts to put some combinations together, and with the Round closing, at the {2:51 Mark}
Billy puts in a quick 'right-left-right' combination that 'drops' Pedro Soto.

Pedro gets up at the '4-Count', and staggers as Referee - Petey Della tolls off the 'Mandatory 8-Count'.

The 'Bell' sounds, saving an 'out-on-his-feet' Pedro Soto.

Scorecards;
* Referee - Petey Della.........5-4-1 in Rounds for Pedro Soto - {but 6-4 in Points for Billy Douglas}
* Judge - Bill Recht..............5-5-0 in Rounds 'Even'............ - {but 7-5 in Points for Billy Douglas}
* Judge - Artie Aidella..........6-4-0 in Rounds for Pedro Soto - {but 7-6 in Points for Billy Douglas}

* Associated Press...............6-4-0 in Rounds for Pedro Soto...The Asoociated Press did not give a 'Points' Scorecard.

Note; Billy Douglas received a $5000 'fight purse', which was the 'second highest amount' he had ever received in his career
up to that point.

Il Duce wrote:August 1976

Colombus, Ohio's - Billy 'Dynamite' Douglas has signed to fight WBA Light Heavyweight Champion -
Victor 'The Bull' Galindez of Argentina in the Champions's home country on Saturday Night - August 21, 1976.

This bout was to before the WBA Light Heavyweight Championship - but the WBA has gone back-and-forth
on whether they will sanction this bout as a Championship bout.

The 36 1/2 year-old - Billy Douglas was ranked as the #9 WBA Challenger following his last bout, a
{KO 8} win over Argentinian Light Heavyweight - Angel Oquendo on June 11, 1976.

Douglas, with a record of 33-11-1 {24 KO's} will leave for Buenos Aires on Thursday - August 12th,
and will engage in a one week training preperation in Argentina, prior to this bout.

Billy Douglas, "They told me it was for the WBA Championship. I was ranked #9 after I beat Angel Oquendo
in June. Now they tell me I have dropped out of the Top 10, without losing a fight. Boxing is really a
mixed-up World. I have been boxing as a Professional for 10-Years, and you would think I could catch
at least one break."

Il Duce wrote:Following the 'loss' to Victor Galindez (August 1976)

Billy 'Dynamite' Douglas retired for '10-Months'.

But the 37 1/2 year-old returned, with bouts in a 'small club venue' in Columbis, Ohio
* June 11, 1977.........{KO 2}... Don Rucker
* July 16, 1977..........{KO 1}... Al Bell

With a record of 35-12-1 {26 KO's}, Billy was back in Ring Magazine's Light Heavyweight
listings at #17.
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September 17, 1977

The 'opportunity' came for a bout with 'new' NABF Light Heavyweight Champion -
23 year old 'rising star' - Matthew Franklin, a hard-banging 'wide-open' puncher out of Philadelphia.

Matthew Franklin, with a record of 16-3-2 {10 KO's} had won the NABF Championship
only 7-Weeks earlier, in an 'all-out war' with Marvin Johnson.

This bout was to be held in Franklin's 'Hometown of Philadelphia' at The Spectrum, and the
main undercard of the - Roberto Duran vs. Edwin Viruet - WBA Lightweight Championship bout.

And the bout, was to be part of the National Television broadcast.

Il Duce wrote:Mr. Rover,

ABC-TV Broadcast,,,,,,,,

Highlights of the Matthew Franklin and Billy Douglas bout were broadcast on ABC-TV.

But,,,,,,,,, the entire fight was re-broadcast in Philadelphia about 3-Weeks later on one of
those Midnight showings.

The Fight;

The 37 year-old veteran - Bill Douglas took it right to the younger Matthew Franklin, and couldn't miss
with his left hook.

Billy bounced left hooks off of Matthew's chin in Rounds 1, 2 and 3 - that should have dropped him, but
Matthew was his 'typical' resiliant self with the 'Warrior-style'.

In Round 4, Matthew 'turned-the-tide', and started to get through with his hard lefts-and-rights, and Billy
started to 'wilt-a-bit' a under the heavy attack.

In Round 5, Matthew continued with his 'two-fisted attack', and had Billy in some trouble mid-way through
the Round, but he couldn't put him down. Matthew continued with his 'wide-open' assault, but was leaving
himself open.

Around the {2:20 Mark}, Billy caught a wide-open Matthew with a hard counter left hook to the point of the chin,
and Matthew 'crashed' to the canvas. He struggled up at the '5-Count', and looked out of it.

Billy attacked with everything he had, but couldn't find the finisher as Matthew somehow hung on until the
Bell ending Round 5.

Thru 5-Rounds, the Scorecards read;
* 24-21......(Billy Douglas)
* 23-21......(Billy Douglas)
* 23-21......(Billy Douglas)

Il Duce wrote:Round 6,

Billy came out for Round 6, and started 'bombing away', with both hands. But Matthew
rolled with the punches and absorbed whatever 'Dynamite' Douglas could toss.

Slowly Billy began to get arm-weary, as he had punched himself out around the {1:30 Mark}.

Then, Matthew started to counter with hard punches, and put in some heavy hands that drove
Billy backwards into the ropes.

There, Matthew then unleashed a '9-Punch Flurry' at the {2:15 Mark}, and Billy crashed
into the ropes after getting hit with a big right hand.

Referee - Hank Cisco stopped the bout at {2:27} of Round 6, as Billy was defenseless along
the ropes.

Billy Douglas didn't complain.

It goes down as a TKO 6.

orbtastic wrote:I didn't realise until recently that Billy was/is "Buster" Douglas' father.

Il Duce wrote:Billy 'Dynamite' Douglas,

Still a decent Light Heavyweight at Age; 37 1/2 in late-1977....

Maybe not Top 10,,,,,,,,but easily a Top 20 Challenger.

Good puncher, with a hard left hook, and right uppercut.

Despite losing to the 'young slugger' Matthew Franklin on September 17, 1977,
impressed many with his good effort, and near 'Upset KO' of the future WBC Champion

6-Weeks later (Russel Peltz) of The Spectrum brought 'Dynamite' Douglas back
to Philadelphia, to face another 'heavy-handed bomber' - Marvin Johnson.