THE WEEKLY BYSTANDER (Covering the SimUniverse)

[HomicideHenry]

Jack Johnson became the WBC Heavyweight champion of the world after a see-saw cliffhanger with previously unbeaten Joe Louis with an 8th round stoppage; Johnson was ahead on two cards going into that round so it wasn't just a freak loss for the Brown Bomber.

"I've had a strategy since day one," remarked Johnson as he smiles his golden smile. "I have out smarted the biggest punchers, and I have embarrassed the stylists. And of course I have shown that I can stop the best around."

In his maiden defense he'll be going up against "The Brockton Blockbuster" Rocky Marciano, whose only loss was to George Foreman. The Italian Superman recently kayoed the slick Jimmy Ellis, raising eyebrows among the doubtful because Ellis is Muhammad Ali's chief sparring partner.

"I have alot of respect for Marciano," said Johnson. "However, at the end of the day we're looking at a man who is flat footed, slow, clumsy at times, and always coming forward. I've fought men like that my whole life. Marciano may be the strongest of the hitters, and the toughest, but you can't brush away reality."


The SimUniverse scene is an interesting one, to say the least, with Vitali Klitschko and Larry Holmes and Muhammad Ali as champions. We asked Johnson's thoughts on the other beltholders and his view on the other heavyweight contenders.


"Larry Holmes is calm under pressure, with a laser precision jab. He can box and punch. Good fighter. One of the best. But again... Like Jimmy Ellis... He's just the sparring partner of Muhammad Ali, so what's that say? Paper champion."

"Vitali Klitschko? He's tall. He's rangy. He's strong. He has an iron chin. But man oh man is he slow and ponderous. You ever see those wind up toys that walk around like Boris Karloff in Frankenstein? That's essentially him. Still, I respect him more than most."

"Muhammad Ali.... Runner.... Flicker.... Talker.... Clincher.... Backpedaling all the time.... How can THAT be the most effective style in boxing? He can't punch for nothing. He does nothing but unnecessary movements. If that's what it takes to be a first rate champion then Usain Bolt needs to switch over to our sport!"

"Jim Jeffries. Now there's a real challenge. Big as George Foreman and fights just like Tyson and tougher and stronger too. There's no let up in him. I'd stack him up against the other champions easily."

"James Toney! Ha ha ha! I love him! He's got the moves. He does everything right. My style of fighter. Too bad he's more interested in being the "other champion" (cruiserweight title) than being a real champion."

"Peter Jackson.... Pffffft.... Little Sam Langford could slap him silly.... Heck Ole Captain John could have beaten him."

"Jack Dempsey. Hahaha! Don't get me started on him. I chased him all over America and the Klondike and he didn't want none to do with me."

The champion, as always, sounds confident. Marciano, before entering training camp for the bout, when asked about his chances quipped: "If I said that I could beat him, you'd say that I was bragging. If I said that I couldn't, well then I'd be lying."

[BoxBuzz]

The truth is.........The facts are......

Ali was challenging each historical champion in chronological order......Johnson ran for the hills as did Jeffries when their names were called.


Drop your championship belt, Ali will do the same.....and let's do this. Or you may choose to hide behind the jewelry.....

If you choose the easy path.....please...in the future refer to Ali as ...."That fella I ran from".

[gilgamesh]

The truth is.........The facts are......

Ali was challenging each historical champion in chronological order......Johnson ran for the hills as did Jeffries when their names were called.


Drop your championship belt, Ali will do the same.....and let's do this. Or you may choose to hide behind the jewelry.....

If you choose the easy path.....please...in the future refer to Ali as ...."That fella I ran from".

You're just lucky that Kenny Norton and Holyfield got off to a slow start this season. They're coming for Ali in due time!

[HomicideHenry]

Tell you what BoxBuzz.... After this week... Let's do just that... You drop your belt and Johnson will drop his.... and we'll settle the question once and for all

[gilgamesh]

Tell you what BoxBuzz.... After this week... Let's do just that... You drop your belt and Johnson will drop his.... and we'll settle the question once and for all

[armageto]

The whole belt dropping thing, especially this early in the season, is pretty dumb. It's getting old and fast.

[BoxBuzz]

Well hell, how does one even respond to this?

I guess Jack Johnson's beating will have to wait until the civil rules of simulated pugilistic discourse allow for such a thing.

We are doomed to the cruel imposition of championship status.....with no way out until someone beats our belts off I suppose.

So because of geto's "intervention" we must be cricket about this.

But his price could be that he needs to send Jim Jeffries to face either your man or ours. Immediately would be nice.

I mean it seems only fair that he should put some skin in the game, if he's going to throw shade in our direction, and make us feel guilty for expressing the freedom of choice.

[armageto]

You guys can do what you want. My point is the way some people toss belts away, why even fight for them in the first place? It wastes time setting up the eliminators and such. It's week 8 out of 40. The season isn't even 25% over.

Jeffries isn't in the top 15 so not eligible for a title shot.

Johnson agreed to your drop the belts idea, and you backed down.

Again, you guys can do what you want, but don't complain if nobody puts you in a title fight for a while.

[BoxBuzz]

Cripes...here comes geto the great "manipulator"

He knows we can't abide his "you backed down" garble, (a cleverly stated ruse, in order to guide Jeffries up the ladder at a later date.)

so.....

We are not backing down.......Henry.....I can't give geto the satisfaction of imagining that we backed down....when all I was doing was trying to fit into his stodgy "rules of fun and frolic, as it was intended by the grandest generation" gobbledeegook.

So....I'm afraid unless you also agree to respect tradition I will be forced to live up to your challenge.

But the old goat has a point. The tradition of the glittery and blindingly glorious belt goes back to our ancient forefoughters.........perhaps we should do them proud by NOT stepping on the cracks, thus saving out mother's backs.

Henry.....it's up to you.........the ways of the old and traditional......or the way of the disruptors and discourteous.

I'm leaning to following all the rules......and giving tradition it's tip of the stetson. But as everyone here is well aware, I am but one lone civil minded gentleman in a sea of pirates.

[HomicideHenry]

Johnson doesn't care either way. Belt or no belt, he'll always be at the tippy top. So whether he's crowned or uncrowned he'll be the best of the best. Legacy is everything, trinkets are not.

[HomicideHenry]

"Why Jack, really?"

[HomicideHenry]

Recently dethroned former WBC Heavyweight Champion Jack Johnson is certainly no stranger to tough challenges having fought the brutal quartet of Sonny Liston, Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano and now the seemingly invincible Drazen Durakovic.

Johnson, a betting favorite prior to his fight with newly crowned WBC Heavyweight Champion Rocky Marciano, lost in the 13th round against the "Brockton Blockbuster".

"I was out boxing him easily," said Johnson. "But he's just a wham, bam, don't give a damn kind of man. Always pressuring, always crowding. His persistence paid off. I congratulate him, but don't forget that fight was on even terms at it's conclusion."

But many in the SimUniverse are absolutely perplexed as to WHY Johnson is gunning for Russia's Drazen Durakovic, rated #12 overall whose professional record is an undefeated 4-0-0 (4) having defeated the likes of Young Stribling by viscous kayo inside of 8 rounds.

"He's big and he's strong, but I don't buy into the hype," Johnson boasts. "They say he never misses a punch, but look at the quality of competition he's faced. I believe I can beat him."

Most of the experts doubt it. Commissioner Fist has expressed his concerns, as has Commissioner Armageto. "He's a completely different level of fighter that the world's never seen, and we advise everybody to avoid him at all costs," says Armageto.

"Johnson's well respected by the SimUniverse and all it's managers: but we're saying right now our hands are washed of the whole thing. We're under no liability for whatever happens to Jack in this fight," retorts Fist.

Johnson's no stranger to being written off by the critics and experts historically. He's been down this road before. "Truthfully, I'm more concerned about my stablemate Tyson Fury against Holyfield than I am concerned about Jack going against this Russian kid," says manager Henry. "Fury is still a pup. He can afford to learn some hard lessons. Jack? He's already faced and beaten the best, and even when losing he gives them the toughest fight of their lives. This Durakovic boy? He's an enigma, sure, but that doesn't mean he's incapable of being humbled."


Durakovic and his management team did not grant us an interview for any response to the outcome of the fight, though a clip from his training camp did leak through to the media:



Durakovic has defeated the following individuals: Stribling (KO8), Dalton (KO4), McVey (KO2), Rosenbloom (KO2).

Johnson has defeated the following Individuals: Max Baer, Buddy Baer, Bob Fitzsimmons, Luther McCarty, Sonny Liston, Joe Louis, Jim Corbett. His only loss was to Rocky Marciano.*

Stribling lasted 8 rounds with Durakovic. Why is that? A combination of speed and toughness, ultimately. How good is Stribling? In the grand scheme of things, he's just a fringe contender, never quite breaking through the top 15-10.

How good is Johnson? By our estimation good enough to last the entire ten round scheduled distance with Durakovic. Whether Johnson can actually decision him, is another matter altogether.

We're predicting one of three things:

DQ, TKO, or DRAW.

Johnson is crafty enough, hard punching enough, to possibly force the young man into a dogfight causing a DQ loss. Because of the same factors Johnson may be capable of cutting Durakovic just like he did Joe Louis in their see saw cliffhanger. Or because of these factors, it'll go the distance just like the Sonny Liston battle with the margins so close it's anyone's guess... Maybe enough for a draw... Maybe even a split decision victory.


*Marciano's only loss was to George Foreman; though he did have a draw with Jack Dempsey.

[gilgamesh]

How about you make it a quintet of tough fights?

After Durakovic leaves you for dead, and Holyfield smashes up Fury this week. Holyfield would be more than happy to pick the bones of Johnson in Week 10...provided Johnson is still breathing that is

[HomicideHenry]

Win, lose, or draw.... Johnson will fight Holyfield in week #10 that'll certainly be fireworks but... Why not have Fury vs Norton III on the co-feature?

[gilgamesh]

Win, lose, or draw.... Johnson will fight Holyfield in week #10 that'll certainly be fireworks but... Why not have Fury vs Norton III on the co-feature?

Since you're agreeing to Holyfield vs Johnson in Week 10 no matter what, I'll agree to Fury vs Norton 3 to go along with it. I wanted to have that Rubber Match at some point anyway. Week 10 sounds good to me

[HomicideHenry]

IN THE BOOKS FOR WEEK #10

JOHNSON VS HOLYFIELD

FURY VS NORTON III

STABLE WAR

[Crease]

The whole belt dropping thing, especially this early in the season, is pretty dumb. It's getting old and fast.

I agree... It's pointless for the most part.

[Crease]

His persistence paid off. I congratulate him, but don't forget that fight was on even terms at it's conclusion."

FAKE NEWS

Judges scorecards were;
Hiroyuki Tezaki 116-113 to Marciano
Ferdinand Estrella 116-113 to Marciano
William James 114-114

[BoxBuzz]

The whole belt dropping thing, especially this early in the season, is pretty dumb. It's getting old and fast.

I agree... It's pointless for the most part.

Well.....you are in interesting company.....I would imagine that the CEO's of the WBA, WBO, IBF, WBC, ABC, NBC, DNA, VD, VA,GM, and AT&T would agree with you.

Just call me Oblio

For your edification, Doing the right thing sometimes requires thinking outside the belt.

[Crease]

For your edification, Doing the right thing sometimes requires thinking outside the belt.

Outside the belt... Outside the box... Outside the ionosphere... Outside of the multiverse... And outside of infinity....

But where does that leave you?

My best guess???

Perhaps somewhere in Tulsa...

[HomicideHenry]

Drazen Durakovic Jr. vs Jack Johnson

Fight info: San Francisco Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, CA, United States, 2018-6-12, announcer is Dean Stone, referee is Bela Florian, the bout will be scored by three judges: Paul Herman (United States), Jose Cobian (United States) and Ricardo Duncan (Panama), ring card girl is Amber Miller, this is not a title bout, the bout is scheduled for 10 rounds, Custom Rules-rules are in effect, three KD rule is in effect, save by the bell is in effect, referee or doctor can stop the fight, mandatory 8 count is in effect, fight stopped due to an accidental head butt: Tech. Draw through 50%%/Scorecard after 50%%, game will check for injuries, game will not adjust ratings for weight class, use judges bias is set to 'none', Scoring System is 10 Points
In the red corner: Drazen Durakovic Jr. - Record: 4-0-0 (4) - Career Stage: Prime - Conditioning: Broke Training Regularly - Trainer: Bill Gibson - Cut Man: Frank Bagley
In the blue corner: Jack Johnson - Record: 7-1-0 (2) - Career Stage: Prime - Conditioning: Top Condition - Trainer: Whitey Bimstein - Cut Man: Pete Brodsky

Round 1
Time Commentary Points
0:00 The fighters look anxious as they wait for Round 1 to start. The bell rings and its show time. 0:0
0:08 Both fighters come into this fight predicting a win... But neither is pressing the action right now. 0:0
0:19 Durakovic Jr. flicks a jab to Johnson's stomach 2:0
0:28 Johnson backs into the lower corner. 2:0
0:33 That combination from Durakovic Jr. lands with some authority! 7:0
0:33 Johnson looks to be in big trouble after that barrage! 7:0
0:42 The uppercut just landed by Durakovic Jr. is a nice weapon on the inside. 9:0
0:58 The fighters have worked their way back to the center of the ring. 9:0
0:58 Not a lot on that hook to Durakovic Jr.'s side, but it scored. 9:2
1:12 Durakovic Jr. lands a solid hook! 13:2
1:12 Johnson is suddenly in trouble! 13:2
1:21 There's a lot of excitement surrounding this fight and the crowd is really showing it. 13:2
1:29 Johnson lands a wicked uppercut! 13:6
1:29 Durakovic Jr. is going to need to regroup after that blow... 13:6
1:45 Johnson connects with a solid combination! 13:10
1:45 Durakovic Jr. is unsteady and looking to hang on as he took some shots! 13:10
1:54 Johnson slides into a neutral corner... 13:10
1:54 Durakovic Jr. lets his hands go again and gets in several scoring blows. 15:10
1:59 There seems to be a bit of puffiness under Johnson's right eye. 15:10
2:10 Johnson retreats into a neutral corner. 15:10
2:15 Durakovic Jr. lands a powerful uppercut right on the button! 19:10
2:15 Johnson takes a step back, obviously hurt! 19:10
2:26 Johnson moves into the lower right corner. 19:10
2:31 Durakovic Jr. connects with a violent uppercut! 23:10
2:31 Johnson appears to have been staggered by that punch... 23:10
2:48 Durakovic Jr. traps Johnson in the corner! 23:10
2:52 Durakovic Jr. is flicking the jab, trying to keep Johnson at long range. 23:10
2:57 Both fighters are landing well in this round. 23:10
3:00 Durakovic Jr. is doing a great job keeping his distance. 23:10
3:00 After the bell both fighters continued to throw punches forcing Florian to step in and break it up. 25:10

Round 2
Time Commentary Points
0:00 Johnson looks to be in excellent shape as Round 2 gets underway. 0:0
0:08 Whatever Pete Brodsky said to him in the corner between rounds must have had some effect as Johnson has some spring in his step here in the 2nd round. 0:0
0:13 Jack Johnson comes in low. Durakovic Jr. puts a headlock on him. Florian knocks Durakovic Jr.'s arm off Johnson's head. 0:0
0:17 The Referee breaks it up... 0:0
0:26 Durakovic Jr. has been watching too much wrestling, the way He's grabbing Johnson. 0:0
0:31 Johnson works his way free! 0:0
0:37 The fighters are at close quarters now as Johnson lands a hook downstairs. 0:2
0:50 Durakovic Jr. continues to come forward but he should be moving in behind punches. 0:2
0:55 Jack Johnson slides into the corner... 0:2
1:00 Durakovic Jr. is holding... 0:2
1:09 Florian separates the two... 0:2
1:18 Durakovic Jr. tries to get fancy with some subtle shoulder movement. When it's done right that kind of thing can throw off an opponent's timing. 0:2
1:23 Durakovic Jr. backs off to hitch up his trunks. 0:2
1:36 Durakovic Jr. lands a smashing hook! 5:2
1:36 Johnson is favoring his ribs, he's hurt!! 5:2
1:41 Johnson's swelling isn't getting any better; as a matter of fact it's even more swollen here in round 2. 5:2
1:50 Jack Johnson lands a devastating uppercut! 5:6
1:50 Durakovic Jr. was shaken by that blow! 5:6
2:02 Durakovic Jr. has Johnson cornered! 5:6
2:07 Durakovic Jr. clinches... Johnson gets an arm free! He should be punching with it! 5:6
2:16 Durakovic Jr. shoves Johnson away. 5:6
2:25 Durakovic Jr. is clinching... Johnson is trying to free his gloves... They are under Durakovic Jr.'s arms... 5:6
2:34 Jack Johnson pushes Drazen Durakovic Jr. away. 5:6
2:43 Durakovic Jr. slides along the far ropes. 5:6
2:48 Johnson is forced into his opponents corner... 5:6
2:52 Durakovic Jr. wraps up "Lil' Arthur". 5:6
3:00 Florian moves them apart. 5:6
3:00 I could count the punches they landed in that round on my Fingers! 5:6

Round 3
Time Commentary Points
0:00 Drazen Durakovic Jr. didn't sit in the corner between rounds and he comes out quickly to begin Round 3. 0:0
0:05 Bill Gibson was really animated in Durakovic Jr.'s corner and Durakovic Jr. was nodding in agreement. 0:0
0:11 Durakovic Jr. bores in determined to maul Jack Johnson 0:0
0:24 Durakovic Jr. cranks up the hook and connects to Johnson's jaw, that one had bad intent behind it! 4:0
0:24 Durakovic Jr. sent Johnson reeling with that punch! 4:0
0:28 That swelling under the right eye of Johnson is definitely getting worse. 4:0
0:45 There's a hard shot off the top of Durakovic Jr.'s head! 4:4
0:45 That shot buckled Durakovic Jr.'s legs and he is really unsteady now, like he could go down at any moment! 4:4
0:54 * Johnson is blatantly hitting Durakovic Jr. while they are locked up and Florian has stopped the action to scold him 4:7
1:12 Johnson is really focused in this round. 4:7
1:28 Durakovic Jr. lands a paralyzing hook! 8:7
1:28 Johnson is trying to reach for the ropes! His legs have turned to jelly! 8:7
1:42 Johnson wraps up Durakovic Jr.... Neither fighter will break... 8:7
1:52 It looks like the fighters heads came together as they were tangled up inside. 8:7
1:52 It appears as if Durakovic Jr. has the makings of a tiny mouse under his left eye. 8:7
2:02 Durakovic Jr. dips as if to launch a body shot, then goes upstairs with a quick hook to the head that puts Johnson back on his heels! 12:7
2:02 Johnson was rattled by those shots and he is in a world of hurt! 12:7
2:13 Johnson shoots the jab into the chest of Durakovic Jr.. 12:9
2:30 Johnson has Durakovic Jr. trapped in the lower neutral corner... 12:9
2:47 Durakovic Jr. frees himself from Johnson's clutches! They move to ring center now. 12:9
2:57 Durakovic Jr. backs into a neutral corner. 12:9
2:57 Johnson likes to use the hook but he'd better get a little closer when he throws it or Durakovic Jr.'s going to beat him to the punch and hurt him! 12:11
3:00 There's a nice round of applause from the crowd as the round comes to an end. 13:11

Round 4
Time Commentary Points
0:00 Jack Johnson is getting his full rest as he remains on his stool as the Round 4 bell sounds. Now he's up and his corner scrambles to exit the ring. 0:0
0:05 Johnson got some great advice from Pete Brodsky between rounds, let's see if he puts it to use here in round 4. 0:0
0:05 Johnson's corner didn't ignore the swelling he's suffered so far in this bout; however, even with the attention that they gave it, the puffiness doesn't look lessened much, if at all. 0:0
0:06 That hook to the body from Johnson had some power behind it. 0:3
0:20 Johnson takes a tremendous hook to the jaw! 4:3
0:20 Johnson was just battered in that exchange, he is reeling and has no clue where he is. 4:3
0:40 * Johnson just landed a short, clean uppercut that caught Drazen Durakovic Jr. flush. Durakovic Jr. dropped like he'd been shot. 4:3
0:43 Florian stands over Drazen Durakovic Jr. and begins counting... 4:11
0:43 1 4:11
0:44 2 4:11
0:45 3 4:11
0:46 The count is at 4 as Durakovic Jr. struggles to his knees. 4:11
0:47 5 4:11
0:48 6 4:11
0:49 7 4:11
0:50 8 4:11
0:51 9 4:11
0:52 10! 4:11
0:52 * Durakovic Jr. can't beat the count! It's over! Durakovic Jr. has been stopped in round 4. 4:11

Fight Result

We go to the ring where Dean Stone is ready with the call...

Ladies and Gentlemen! The end comes at 0:58 of round 4. The winner by knockout!!

Jack Johnson!

[Fist of Legend]

Drazen should have taken Jack more serious and not break his training regularly, none the less its a huge win for Jack and my jaw dropped to the floor when it happened and I stared at the screen in amazement for a good 5 minutes.

Congrats on stepping up and getting the victory

[HomicideHenry]

I took the gamble... It paid off... It was an educated guess but holy hell I was nervous reading the first two rounds, I thought Jack was a cooked goose.

I would have thought beating Durakovic would have bumped Jack into the top three, but alas we're still sitting at #6. Oh well, it was a challenge nobody wanted.

[HomicideHenry]

William James was the only honorable judge that's our story and we're sticking to it.

[gilgamesh]

Excellent win for sure. Doubtful anybody else is able to pull off a victory over Durakovic, and that would include Jack Johnson himself in rematches.

Definitely a bit of a fluke, but kudos is still well deserved to Johnson because he was taking a shellacking up until he landed the Homerun shot.