BoxRec

Professional Boxing. An Inside Review of Major Bouts.



By Pat Dwyer




Major bouts in the sport professional boxing are its most

viable commodity. They offer an opportunity for fans and

media to see top notch show case action not available in

other sports. Such bouts due to their immense popularity

can not only make the cover of the sports sections but can

be the topics of discussions for years to come. For

boxers, they offer big paydays and the opportunity to

emerge and shine. Perhaps to even achieve the status of

being labeled a great fighter. Enclosed is a review of


several major bouts. All are bouts that greatly impacted

professional boxing and helped define the careers of the

fighters involved.



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1- Andrew Golota vs Riddick Bowe

2- Tommy Morrison vs Ray Mercer

3- Larry Holmes vs Gerry Cooney

4- Roberto Duran vs Davey Moore

5- Chris Byrd vs Ike Ibeabuchi

6- Muhammad Ali vs Sonny Liston

7- Marvin Hagler vs Thomas Hearns

8- Extras- Anatomy of a Fight Card.

Tribute to Cody Koch.




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(*Daniel West)




Andrew Golota vs Riddick Bowe


On July 7, 1996, Riddick Bowe was scheduled to fight

Andrew Golota at Madison Square Garden in New York

City. Two heavyweight forces would collide with only

one emerging as the winner. It was a bout hyped with all

sorts of fan and media interest. Bowe, a former champion

was the favorite. Golota, a relative unknown, was

stepping up in competition. He needed to prove himself

against a formidable foe. Who would win this highly

Anticipated contest? Who would come out on top?

Boxing can be the theater of the unexpected. No one

knew for sure what to expect. To find out conclusively,

they would have to fight. The bout would be broadcast

live on HBO.

As a pro-fighter Riddick Bowe was a known quantity.

He was a former heavyweight champion with only one

loss. Standing six foot five, and in peak condition he

weighed between 235 to 240 pounds. Because of his size

he was nicknamed "Big Daddy." In the ring he was

multi- talented. He could box well and was a

tremendous puncher. His trainer, the legendary Eddie

Futch, was a guru of boxing knowledge. He taught Bowe

the science of boxing well. Riddick entered the pro ranks

on March 6, 1989, in Reno, Nevada, against Lionel

Butler. He won in a second round knockout. He won

his first twenty one bouts which included victories

Over Bert Cooper, Art Tucker and Pinklon Thomas.

Eighteen of those first twenty one bouts he won via

knockout. He then faced veteran Tyrell Biggs in a

nationally televised bout. Biggs, an Olympic gold

medalist, had an excellent jab and once fought for a

title. He was a good test and Bowe fought well

against him. Despite being rocked early, Bowe kept the

pressure on Biggs. By the eighth round Biggs had all he

could handle and the bout was stopped. Bowe won

decisively. He then had a victory over Tony Tubbs

followed by a string of major victories. He knocked out

Bruce Seldon in one round with a left hook that left

Seldon delirious on the canvas. Bowe broke the jaw of

Puerta Rican heavyweight Rodolfo Marin in a second

round knockout and also beat Pierre Coetzer and then

Michael Dokes. In a 1995 bout Bowe showed how much

he had improved since his amateur days. He destroyed

his nemesis Jorge " The Giant” Luis Gonzalez in six

brutal rounds. Gonzalez had defeated Bowe in the

amateurs, but the pro ranks were different. Bowe now

was clearly a better fighter. He delivered such

punishment in that bout that upon completion of the

bout, the "Giant” Gonzalez could not rise from the

canvas for several minutes. His most famous bouts

were against Evander Holyfield in which he had a

trilogy. Holyfield, a Champion, was a true

professional. He went into every bout in great shape

and always came to win. Bowe won two of the bouts

with him and showed great heart and courage in all

three bouts. In the last bout with Holyfield, he was

knocked down and almost out, but with poise and

determination, he gamefully rose from the canvas. He

then scored an incredible eighth round knockout over

Holyfield. His off the canvas knockout of Holyfield

brought him new found status in the boxing world.

As a fighter Riddick Bowe was a phenomenon. He

was widely considered to be the best heavyweight in the

world, an assessment few boxing insiders disagreed

with. With a few more victories Riddick could achieve

the status of being a great fighter.

Heavyweight boxer Andrew Golota, originally from

Poland, was living in Chicago when he made his way to

the Windy City Gym. Standing six foot four and

weighing in the 240 range he was a great physical

specimen. He began sparring with some of the better

fighters there He moved well for a big man and had

good hand speed. Enthusiastic about boxing, his future

Looked bright. After a short while he made his pro

debut on February 7, 1992, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,

against Roosevelt Shuler. Golota won on a third round

knockout. From that point on, he kept winning and

improving as a fighter. Boxing is craft and he learned it

well. He progressed to where he could punch in

combinations and he learned to pace himself in the ring.

As a fighter he advanced beyond the generic stand up

fighting style most European fighters utilize. Out of

his first twenty three bouts he won all including victories

over one time California prospect Terry Davis, trial-

horse Marion Wilson and Darren Hayden. Twenty one

of twenty three of those bouts he scored knockouts.

With his achievements in the ring, he caught the

eye of the Duva family and joined their organization. His

first major test and his introduction to the boxing public

came on May 16, 1995, against Samson Po'uha on USA

Tuesday Night Fights. The fight was a see-saw battle

from the beginning till the end. Both fighters absorbed a

lot of punishment and kept coming back. Neither

fighter seemed willing to give in. Each had their

moments. It as an exciting contest and Golota

eventually rose to the occasion and after putting Samson

Po'uha down for the fifth time, the bout was stopped.

Golota showed in that bout his tremendous resolve to come

out on top. Also, he showed he could take a punch and

still fight back. He had a solid chin. The bout was a major

test and he passed. His next bout was against West

Turner. He won in a first round knockout in which he

landed an incredible five- punch combination that sent

Turner to the canvas. Turner never beat the count.

Fans and media were starting to take notice of Andrew

Golota. Some in the boxing media were beginning to

call him the hardest puncher in the heavyweight division.

He then soundly defeated Danell Nicholson in a eighth

round knockout. How far in the heavyweight division

could the Golota express go? Could he win a bout

with former champion Riddick Bowe? His management

team, the Duvas felt he could. Opinions in the boxing

community varied. So far as a fighter Polish sensation

Andrew Golota was a breath of fresh air in the division.

The bout was set for July 11, 1996, at Madison Square

Garden in New York City. However, the bout was

almost cancelled when Andrew Golota’s camp realized it

was going to be twelve rounds instead of ten as they had

thought. The contract stated ten or twelve rounds. To

compensate Golota an additional $50,000 dollars was

Added to his check and he accepted the twelve round limit.

The bout was on.

The night of the bout Madison Square Garden was full.

Many were Polish fans anxious to see Golota, while many

were Bowe fans as well. The boxing media was there in

full force. The big question amongst them was could

Golota take Bowe's punch? During the pre-fight

introductions Andrew Golota was a rock solid 243

pounds with an impressive record of 28 wins, 0 losses and

twenty five knockouts. Bowe, who weighed 253 pounds

had a record of 38 wins, 1 lose, 1 no contest and had

thirty two knockouts. That was his highest weight for a

pro-bout ever and could potentially be a significant

factor in the bout. During the final instructions by the

referee you could really see the tremendous size of these

giants as they faced each other in a brief staredown.

The referee and corner men who accompanied them to the

center of the ring seemed unusually small around them.

Round one began. Golota came out using his jab and

consistently landed it. Bowe came forward a few times

but just lunged and missed. Golota landed a three punch

combination and really dictated the pace by using his

hand speed. In the second round Golota used his jab

again and began punching to the body. He went low

and was warned by the referee. In the center of the ring

there was intense action with both fighter's landing and

absorbing shots. The best action came when Golota

landed a combination on Bowe and wobbled him. Golota

seemed to get the better of Bowe so far in both rounds.

In round three Golota was sharper and quicker early in the

round and then landed some good body shots. He also

was warned for a low blows and next time would result

in a point deduction. Towards the end of the round Golota

landed a two punch combination while Bowe landed a

left hook. Round four had Golota boxing and using the

ring, and taking the initiative. Bowe could not land any

solid blows. At one point he was hit and fell backwards

into the ropes. Also Bowe was beginning to be struck

low repeatedly. Then Golota struck low again and a point

was deducted from the scorecards. Bowe was on the

canvas due to the low blow, he rose and the round ended

quickly. Round five was Golota all the way. He actually

Had Bowe on the ropes and repeatedly rocked his head

and landed body shots. In round six Golota used his jab

overtime but still hit low and another point deduction

took place. Bowe continually advanced but could not get

any type of rhythm going, he was just hit too much.

Round seven Golota again used his jab effectively and

again went down low and another point was deducted.

Frustrated, Bowe began hitting Golota behind the head.

Golota boxed for a short while and then struck Bowe

low again, Bowe went down and Golota was

disqualified. The bout was over.

Upon the disqualification all sorts of trouble erupted.

Bowe's entourage stormed the ring and a cell phone was

broken over Golota's head. The ring became packed

quickly and Golota and his corner were under attack.

Golota smartly exited the ring and made his way to his

dressing room. A riot the likes of a televised boxing

show audience had not seen before broke out. New York

police and riot squad were called in. It was a full thirty

minutes before the broadcast went off the air and the riot

was still in progress. In review of the fight, Golota had

risen to the occasion. As a fighter he beat Bowe

convincingly and were it not for the low blows which

leading to his disqualification he was en route to a well

deserved victory. Despite technically losing, he really

Won. The bout propelled his career forward. Boxing

fans and media were intrigued by this new power

punching Polish sensation. He had good boxing skills

and he seemed to just burst onto the scene during this bout.

His new found status gave him a higher ranking and

he appeared on numerous talks shows. For his next

fight he would receive a bigger payday and there was

already talk of him dominating the division and perhaps

someday fighting "Iron" Mike Tyson. The Golota

express was achieving momentum.

Riddick Bowe on the other hand had a stale outing.

He showed an inability to slip punches and during the

bout and never established any type of momentum. He

seemed like a different fighter in there that night. Gone

were the days of scoring incredible knockouts over his

opponents. Some felt his conditioning for the bout had

been overlooked or he had just underestimated Andrew

Golota. Others felt his tendency to gain weight in

between fights was affecting his reflexes. Some people

thought his big fights with Evander Holyfield had used

up all his physical and mental resources. No one really

knew for sure. As a fighter Bowe still had a good

resume, it just did not include a valid victory over

Andrew Golota. The first Golota bout really spelled the

beginning of the end for him careerwise. His heart and

courage began to outweigh his diminishing skills and he

was taking too many punches. He had a quick rematch

with Golota and the bout was a repeat of the first, the

only real difference was Golota was knocked down once.

Again a disqualification for low blows and Bowe was on

the receiving end of way too many head and body

shots. His management team wanted him to discontinue

fighting all together for his own benefit and most boxing

insiders agreed. He later got into legal trouble and spent

three years in jail and is currently doing a comeback at

age 37. Being heavier, older, as well as slower it is

believed his comeback will fall short of achieving any

legitimate progress. He has won two fights in his

comeback. His most recent was a split decision victory

over Billy Zumbrun. For that bout Bowe was easily hit

and weighed a career high 280 pounds. Some felt he lost

the bout and got a gift decision. In the ring he appeared

to nowhere near the skill level he once had in the mid

1990’s when his career was peaking.




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Tommy Morrison vs Ray Mercer


Tommy Morrison was an exciting fighter. A

former toughman competitor, he could really punch. He

grew up fighting in tough man competitions throughout the

state of Oklahoma. He had a rather interesting

background. A former football player, he was from the

small town of Jay, Oklahoma. With his boyish looks and

a down-to-earth nature, he was popular with the media.

He began his pro career on November 10, 1988, with a

knockout in one round over William Muhammad. He

won his first eleven bouts all by knockout and then got a

lucky break when his bout against Steve Zouski was

televised nationally. He won that bout via decision in

four rounds. Morrison showed the viewing audience his

trademark left hook in that bout and for Tommy “The

Duke" as he was nicknamed, it was a good solid

introduction to the public. An injury to his shoulder

prevented him from using his right hand effectively.

To compensate he developed a tremendous left hook. He

had the ability to get his whole body behind this punch

giving it incredible power. He also could land it quickly

often surprising his opponents. Boxing fans as well as

the media were intrigued by this youngster from

Oklahoma. They wanted to see more of him. Provided

he kept winning his future as a fighter looked bright. He

eventually became associated with Mike Tyson’s former

manager Bill Cayton. From there his career entered a

new stage. He was matched carefully to allow him to

develop his skills while simultaneously not be rushed.

He began to make appearances on cable outlets and

developed a fan base. He was matched against tough

veteran Pinklon Thomas in a bout in which he won in a

first round knockout. He then fought trial-horse James

Tillis and put on a clinic on how to land left hooks. He

sent Tillis to the canvas three times before the bout was

stopped in the first round. He then had a battle with Yuri

Vaulin in which he took several big shots, but he

again used his left hook to stop his opponent. Tommy

Morrison seemed more than a boxer, he was a fantastic

draw. Whenever he fought on televised bouts, ratings

went up. He was a promoter’s dream. Morrison even

tried out for and won a starring role in Rocky IV.

Surprisingly he acted quite well despite his lack of

experience. He now had new found status in the

entertainment industry which made him not just a

heavyweight prospect but a movie star as well. His career

and life were moving forward, perhaps too fast. Could

he maintain his focus on boxing.

Ray Mercer started boxing late. While in the army

he took up the sport and boxed in the amateur ranks.

Ironically, he actually beat Tommy Morrison for the

Olympic spot to represent the USA in the heavyweight

division in the Seoul games in Korea. As a fighter,

Mercer had a tremendous chin and good power, but not

much else. He was known for absorbing too many shots

and being too stationary in the in the ring. As a draw

to fans Mercer was limited and but did have a strong will

to win. He entered the pro ranks on September 10, 1988,

in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He won in a second

round knockout against Jesse McGhee. Mercer won his

first fifteen bouts which included a nationally

televised grueling contest with Bert Cooper. In that

bout the boxing public was first introduced to Mercer’s

style of fighting. It was different. Mercer would take

two punches for every one he landed. Some felt he had

the best chin in the heavyweight division. He was then

matched against Italian boxing sensation Francesco

Damiani who had never lost before. Damiani, a good

boxer, outboxed Mercer throughout the early rounds.

Mercer never quit and with a single punch sent Damiani to

the canvas and won by a ninth round knockout. It

was the biggest win of his career and his status in the

heavyweight division rose quickly. How he would fare

against other top ten challengers was questionable. So

far Mercer was undefeated in all his bouts, but could

his style of just taking punishment and outlasting his foes

take him to the top? Time was going to tell. Boxing

fans and media were curious about Ray Mercer. His style

of boxing was much different than previous quality

fighters. How would he fit into the heavyweight picture?

Ray Mercer and Tommy Morrison were both

heavyweights about to make to the top tier. Instead of

waiting for a title shot or fighting mid-level fighters, they

did something spectacular. They agreed to put their

undefeated records on the line and fight each other. Fans

and media were appreciative. It meant a good bout and

the better fighter would emerge. Most felt Morrison with

his great punching power was the better fighter of the two

and would be victorious. Then again in boxing, results can

be different than the expected. To find out for sure they

would have to square off. The fight would be a

crossroads bout for both. Who would emerge as the

contender or the pretender was the theme for this bout.

The big bout was set for October, 18, 1991, in Atlantic

City, New Jersey. It would be broadcast live on pay per

view. There was a large crowd that included Donald

Trump proving that big fights bring out the stars. During

the pre-fight introductions Tommy Morrison weighed 221

pounds and had a record of 28 wins, 0 losses, with

twenty four knockouts. Ray Mercer weighed 225 and

had a record of 17 wins, 0 losses and twelve knockouts.

Somebody's undefeated record was going too changed.

The bell rang and Morrison took the initiative. He

advanced on Mercer and landed several jabs and punches.

Mercer seemed lifeless and just absorbed punishment.

Morrison landed a big three punch combination that

sent Ray backward. Mercer, moved around the ring to

avoid being hit and threw very few punches. Round

two, Morrison again landed several big punches while

Mercer took the shots. Morrison threw three big

punches that all missed their mark and his stamina

seemed to fade. Mercer jabbed a bit and moved

around but not much else. Round three was Morrison all

the way. He charged Mercer and at one point had him

in the corner landing big shots but Mercer covered up

well and took all his best shots. Morrison was clearly

dominating the fight and Mercer was losing every round.

Towards the very end of the round Mercer landed a

good solid overhand right on Morrison. In round four

Mercer picked up the pace some and landed some right

hands. Morrison seemed to be running out of stamina

and tied up Mercer. Mercer seemed energized, yet

Morrison was starting to show wear. Round five made the

History books with of one of the most brutal knockouts in

the history of boxing. Early in the round Morrison was

hit with a left hook and got caught up on the ropes semi-

conscious. With his bodyweight on the ropes and

Mercer landing from the front, Morrison could not fall to

the canvas. He was hit with fifteen unanswered

punches before he could fall down, then head-first into the

ropes. Everything happened so fast there was no real

time for the referee to intervene. Morrison was

eventually lifted up and brought back to his corner and sat

on his stool. He thought the fight was still going on.

Still in a delirious state, he continued boxing lifting his

arms up and down and covering his head like the fight was

still in progress. His brain, despite the accumulation of

punches was still firing messages. Eventually his senses

caught up to him and he was checked out by the doctors

and seemed all right despite the repeated blows. The

media and fans were aghast as to the content of the

knockout. The knockout was the talk of the boxing and

sporting world for weeks to come. It was shown repeatedly

on cable. It seemed unreal, too violent. It was hard to

absorb for anyone who saw it. This bout represented

professional boxing at it's best and worst.

The bout for Ray Mercer was a career boost. He now

began to be taken seriously by the boxing community.

He now had two knockout victories against top

heavyweights in a row. His unique style of boxing was

different but it was bringing him wins. After this bout he

began altering his style. He learned to cover up better

and use the ring more. He no longer just absorbed

consistent punishment. He later had a "rockem sockem"

battle with Lennox Lewis which he lost despite an

excellent effort. Some in the audience felt he won.

Despite a career that is currently still in progress his

biggest and most impressive career victory was the

knockout of Tommy Morrison.

Tommy Morrison took the loss in stride. He was built

back up as a fighter with some easier bouts and was back

in the heavyweight picture soon. The knockout loss to

Mercer, which was devastating, he really used to his

advantage. He learned to pace himself more and

developed defensive skills. He did not try to just go in

there and land a accumulation of punches hoping to stop

the opposition early. He used the ring more and his

stamina wisely. Fighting in the pro ranks is much

different than the three short rounds in the tough man

competitions he fought as youngster growing up. Later in

his career with new knowledge, he had victories over

George Foreman by decision and a knockout victory over

Razor Ruddock. He also had a big victory over Joe

Hipp in which despite breaking his jaw, he fought

on and won by knockout. Tommy actually became a

better fighter due to the loss and his future victories

proved it.



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Gerry Cooney vs Larry Holmes


In the post -Ali era the sport of professional boxing had

a void to be filled. Many felt an Irishman from

Huntington, New York, named Gerry Cooney could fill

that void. As a person Gerry was amiable, low key, and

Good looking. Standing six foot six he was a giant in the

sport before giants were more common. Contrary to

popular belief Cooney actually had good fighting skills.

He had a good solid amateur career where he learned to

box. He entered the professional ranks on June 15, 1977,

in Sunnyside Garden Long Island against Bill Jackson.

He won in a first round knockout. Gerry won his

first twenty bouts with eighteen knockouts. As a fighter

he was a tremendous puncher. His left hook seemed to

have freakish power. Realizing Gerry had potential the

management team of Mike Jones and Dennis Rappaport

picked him up. Whenever Gerry fought he individually

generated fan and media interest. Gerry was a

commercial success and had marketing skills a promoter

could only dream of. His first big test came in 1981

against veteran Jimmy Young who had once fought

Muhammad Ali. The bout was televised nationally.

During the bout Cooney repeatedly landed blow

after blow on Young who was easily out-boxed. With

Cooney's power and precision punching he opened

up cuts on Young's face who bled excessively. Young

was unable to see and being consistently hit, the

referee stopped the bout. In his next bout against Ron

Lyle Cooney continued his rampage. He used his

trademark left hook and landed a body shot on Lyle.

Lyle went straight to the canvas and never beat the

count. The crowd went crazy. Another Gerry Cooney

victory. Now the “Cooney Circus” as Gerry and his

two managers were known was starting to come alive.

Cooney was becoming the hottest property in

professional boxing and there was talk of him and

current Champion Larry Holmes in a big showdown.

He then was matched against Ken Norton. The bout

again was on national television and Cooney rose to

the occasion. In less than one minute he had Norton out in

his corner. The referee was late in stopping the fight

and Norton was just absorbing punch after punch. The

glazed look in Norton’s eyes exemplified how Cooney

punches were devastating and knocked him totally

delirious. The knockout was replayed on television

numerous times. Some in the boxing community felt

Cooney should have discontinued punching when it was

clear Norton was helpless. The knockout seem to involve

overkill by Cooney. It was almost as if Cooney was a

victim of his own punching power. Either way it was

Cooney’s best career performance and the pay scale went

up and so did his status as a fighter. With three big

knockout wins in a row the big showdown with

Holmes seemed not too far off. Fans and boxing media

were looking forward. Could the Irishman from New

York go all the way? Time would tell.

Larry Holmes was an under-appreciated fighter from

Easton, Pennsylvania. He used to spar with Ali early on

his career and was a talented yet controversial figure. He

entered the pro ranks on September 14, 1972, in Scranton,

Pennsylvania and won a four round decision against

Rodell Dupree. He made forty dollars for the bout. He

Kept wining and remained undefeated. Despite his ring

talents, the boxing media and fans never seemed to

recognize his achievements in the ring. His style of

fighting seemed boring to some, others questioned his

courage. As a fighter Holmes had a excellent jab and

moved well. He also had a good chin and could land his

right hand when necessary. Early on he had victories over

Roy Williams, Rodney Bobick and Earnie Shavers.

However Holmes seemed to be criticized by fans and the

media. Some felt he could not beat a top ten opponent,

others felt he lacked courage. Also, he was following in

the shadow of Muhammad Ali, a difficult act to follow.

Despite these factors Holmes earned a title shot in 1978

in which he proved to all including his critics he was a

force to be reckoned with. He won a fifteen round

decision against Ken Norton. It was a major victory. He

was now Heavyweight Champion although not a hit

with the media or boxing fans. Often he was unhappy

with the small paychecks he received. As a fighter

Holmes felt he was never given his just due. In the ring

though he had savvy, an excellent jab, great stamina and

good overall boxing skills. He was a smart fighter and

always took fights into later rounds and waited for his

opponent to tire before he came in for a knockout or won

by decision. He just kept winning and at one point he

disposed of all opponents and seemed to have a hard

time finding formidable challengers to the title. His rein

as Champion seemed boring and the shadow of Ali

always followed him. In 1982 many felt it was time for

the Champion Holmes to lose and a new more

charismatic figure would take over the heavyweight

championship. First in line was Gerry Cooney, a media

darling who could perhaps bring boxing back to the

popularity it had when Muhammad Ali reined. However

to get the title and hopefully rejuvenate interest in

boxing, he had to beat the Champion Larry Holmes.

Some in the boxing community felt Cooney would lose to

Holmes. He really had been hyped to the number one

position. His victories over Norton, Lyle and Young were

against fighters who were well past their best fighting

days. Also, Cooney would not know how to pace

himself and go the full fifteen round distance with

Holmes. Some felt Holmes, a talented boxer, would

give Cooney a boxing lesson. Holmes, the Champion,

was still in his prime at age 32 and had never lost

before. Cooney seemed too young and inexperienced to

beat Holmes. There was a big build up for the bout with

most coming to see Cooney. Cooney was actually paid

ten million dollars for the bout. Cooney was so popular

with the media that his popularity transcended outside

the boxing community. He even was on the cover of

Time magazine posing in a boxing stance with Sylvester

Stallone. Cooney's time had come and the big fight was

on June 10, 1982, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fans, media

even the celebrities were there. Could "Gentlemen"

Gerry Cooney triumph? Could Cooney start a

new era in boxing?

The night of the fight was hot and steamy. Estimates

of the temperature inside the ring exceeded over 100

degrees. During the pre-fight introductions Cooney

weighed 225 pounds and had an undefeated record of 25

wins, 0 losses, with twenty one knockouts. Holmes on the

other hand weighed 209 pounds with a record of 39

wins, 0 losses with twenty eight knockouts. The electricity

was in the air. Everyone wanted to see this match-up.

There had not been interest in pro boxing in this magnitude

in years. After a brief stare down in which Cooney did

not look at Holmes, the bout began. Round one was a

stalking round with the challenger Cooney chasing

Holmes who smartly stayed on the outside, jabbing and

using the whole ring. There were some brief exchanges

but not much real action. In round two Holmes used his

superior hand speed and experience to stay on the

outside and then landed a right hand and sent

Cooney to the canvas. Cooney beat the count but was in

trouble. He rallied back by punching until the round

ended. It was a good knockdown by Holmes. In rounds

three, four and five the action heated up. Cooney the

heavier puncher, would chase Holmes who would weave

and go in and out. Each fighter had his moments, with

perhaps Cooney landing harder shots while Holmes

landed more. In round six Holmes again got in a good

punch and had Cooney in trouble. Cooney again fought

back until the round ended. During the fight Cooney

was warned for throwing low blows although no points

were deducted yet. Round seven showed the effect the

bout was having on Cooney. His nose was red and he

had a cut left eye. Also, he was being warned for low

blows again. In rounds eight, nine and ten, fatigue

began to show on Cooney. Meanwhile Holmes, the

more experienced seemed to have more energy and

was still moving around the ring. Finally in round nine

Cooney was deducted one point from the scorecards

for a low blow. Rounds ten and eleven, were rounds in

which the fighters exchanged heavy punches. There

was constant action but Cooney again landed low and this?

time two points were deducted from the scorecards. The

heat of the Nevada desert was showing on Cooney. Round

twelve, Cooney did something he had not done before, he

moved backwards. Holmes seeing his retreat advanced

on him and the two traded blows. Towards the end of

the round Cooney came on. In round thirteen, the

accumulation of blows was too much for Cooney. Mid-

way into the round he absorbed a few shots and then fell

into the ropes. His corner men came into the ring and

the bout was stopped. Cooney had used up all his

resources. A valiant effort but it fell short of victory.

Holmes was still an undefeated Champion.

The bout for Cooney was physically and emotionally

draining. It took years to get a title shot and although he

had performed well against a champion, he had lost. He

really wanted to win and took the loss personally. He felt

he had let his management and fans down. He quit

fighting for awhile and then did a comeback and then

quit the ring again. Finally in 1986 he had a victory over a

ranked contender in Eddie Gregg and his career was back

on track. Gregg had a top ten ranking and since Cooney

had beaten him he could fight for a title against light

heavyweight turned heavyweight Champion Michael

Spinks. Spinks had beaten Holmes in 1985. Cooney, a

legitimate heavyweight, with his size advantage and

being the harder puncher felt he could win. He trained

hard. Unfortunately he lost via knockout in seven

rounds. For the fight ring rust was evident and Cooney, a

big puncher, was not adept at slipping punches. He

was hit repeatedly. Spinks had Cooney on the canvas

twice, and Cooney was taking too many shots. The

bout was correct fully stopped. Cooney had lost again in a

major bout. The frustrations of losing his big bouts

made him retire until 1989 when he had one more bout.

He lost to George Foreman in two rounds in a bout he

should not have taken. He had little chance of winning.

He retired for good and now runs an organization that

helps retired boxers.

The Cooney fight for Larry Holmes solidified his rank

as a great fighter. Although Holmes had previous

victories over Trevor Berbick, Mike Weaver,

Muhammad Ali, and Renaldo Snipes it really was the

Cooney bout that brought him recognition from the media

and fans. His critics had been plentiful. They had

always stated Holmes was an interim champion until

someone better came along. Now they finally had to

finally conclude Holmes was a great Champion. He had

really delivered in that bout and his long overdue credit

finally arrived. As a professional fighter in over nine

years of fighting, he had never lost. No one could beat

him in the ring not even the popular and talented Gerry

Cooney. Holmes was truly a legend in boxing.

In 1992 he actually did a comeback a soundly defeated

then undefeated and ranked Ray Mercer in a twelve round

bout. Holmes used his trademark left jab and boxing skills

to come out on top. He was 42 years old for that bout.




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(*vectorolie)








Roberto Duran vs Davey Moore


Roberto Duran fought Davey Moore on June 16, 1983

at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The bout

was televised nationally. Duran was a true legend in

boxing. He had been a pro boxer for over fifteen years,

making his pro debut on March 4, 1968, against Carlos

Mendoza in Colon City, Panama. He won that bout on a

six- round decision. With his tremendous skills in the ring

he was popular with the Latino population as well as fans

from the United States. He was always an incredible

draw whenever and wherever he fought. He was

nicknamed the “ Hands of Stone” which he earned

because of his powerful punch. His first try at a title

took place in 1972. He fought Ken Buchanan and won

in a thirteenth round knockout at Madison Square Garden.

In the ring, Duran seemed to have it all, power, excellent

boxing skills, even great courage. Years before he

handedly beat the popular then undefeated Sugar Ray

Leonard in a fifteen- round contest in Montreal, Canada.

The famous bout was known as “the brawl in Montreal."

Elated with his big win, he let his weight skyrocket. In

the rematch seven months later, he had to lose too much

weight too fast and thus was poorly conditioned. This

led to him being out-boxed by Leonard, who incorporated a

fast-paced in- and-out style to beat Duran. During the

bout, Leonard taunted Duran and Duran quit in the seventh

round uttering his famous "no mas." After such a loss,

he badly needed to redeem himself as a fighter. That

process involved a major victory. Davey Moore held a

junior middleweight title. If Duran could beat Moore he

could overcome his famous "no mas” loss to Leonard in

the eyes of the public and boxing media.

Davey Moore was from the Bronx, New York. He

was a decorated amateur who was well-conditioned and

had marketing potential. With a few more solid victories

against quality fighters, he could perhaps become the

next Sugar Ray Leonard. He had the looks and hopefully

the tools in the ring. Moore, entered the pro ranks on

June 10, 1980, against Jesus Saucedo in Stateline, Nevada.

He won a six- round decision. He won his first seven pro

bouts and then challenged for a title and remarkably won

in Japan. He defeated Tadashi, Mihara by a sixth-round

knockout. Three months later he proved he could really

fight, when he defeated Charlie Weirr in South Africa, a

bout he was expected to lose. Moore was a puncher who

always gave a great effort, but he was still inexperienced.

Moore had only twelve pro bouts under his belt. Duran just

three years earlier was considered to be pound for pound

the best fighter in the world. Perhaps for this bout Moore

was overmatched. An analogy that seem to define this

upcoming bout.

The bout between Duran and Moore drew intense

interest from the fans and the media. On June 16, 1983,

Madison Square Garden was packed. Could Duran rise to

the occasion or was Moore going to prove himself as

boxing's next superstar? Most fans and media were there

to see Duran. Duran actually had a hard time not being

mobbed on his way to the ring. His popularity was

immense.


During the pre-fight introductions, Duran weighed 152

pounds and had a record of 76 wins, 4 losses with fifty-

seven knockouts. The crowd cheered loudly when he was

introduced. Davey Moore, had a record of 12 wins, 0

losses and eight knockouts. He weighed 154 pounds and

looked like a body builder. When the bout began both

fighters seemed tight. Neither fighter had sweat on him at

first. They both boxed and stayed on the outside. At one

point, Moore rushed Duran who proved to be elusive.

Duran, the consummate professional, eventually moved in

and landed several punches on Moore. Late in the round

Duran thumbed Moore in his right eye. The thumb was

clearly visible by Moore's immediate reaction. Duran

won the first round. In rounds two and three, Duran

began to take charge. He landed and wobbled Moore

with a big right hand and was out-boxing the younger

Moore. When Moore threw punches, Duran moved his

head and slipped the punches or rolled with them taking the

power out of them if they landed. A defensive

maneuver that takes years to learn. Also, he began to hit

Moore to the body. Moore’s right eye was beginning to

swell and shut. By round five, Moore’s right eye was

nearly closed and he had limited vision. He also looked

fatigued. Fighting under the hot ring lights, with the

big crowd mostly cheering Duran, was something he had

not dealt with before. Moore seemed out of place in the

ring while the more experienced Duran looked sharp.

Duran landed to the body and Moore was becoming more

of an easy target. One could see the disparity in skill level

between the two. In round six and seven Moore fought

back valiantly but his punches were not connecting and

Duran wobbled him. Moore also was bleeding from the

mouth and nose. The right eye which was previously

thumbed by Duran, was now completely closed. His face

was a total mess. In round six, Moore, showing no quit,

landed a combination on Duran. In rounds seven and eight

the public image of professional boxing suffered greatly.

The referee and the corner of Davey Moore failed to

stop the bout and the badly overmatched Moore took way

too many punches. Duran easily hit Moore at will and

Moore had nothing left. He was just fighting on raw

instinct. The announcers were calling for a stoppage,

criticizing the referee and the Moore corner for their

negligence. In round seven a big Duran left hook rocked

Moore. Later in the round he went down but got back up

after receiving another Duran right. At the end of the

round, the referee and corner again failed to stop the bout

despite the beating Moore was taking. In round eight

Moore was barely standing. He was actually

collapsing and only standing by leaning on Duran. In the

physical state he was in Moore could be seriously hurt.

Finally Moore's corner threw in the towel and the bout was

stopped, a stoppage that came way too late. Some

ringsiders were repulsed by what had taken place and it

was definitely a black eye for the sport.


Duran had done it. He won and won convincingly.

His famous "no mas” which garnished his credibility in the

boxing community and in the eyes of the public was now

put behind him. He was now a champion again. His

boxing career had new life in it. He turned 32 years that

day and the victory over Moore was an excellent birthday

present. He continued boxing for several years and in

1989 did another comeback and won another title. He

kept boxing throughout the 1990's and even had a bout with

with Hector Camacho in 2001 at age 50. Despite his age,

he put up a good fight and lost a controversial decision.

He retired for good after that bout with an accumulated

record of 103 wins with 16 losses. Some consider him to

be greatest pound- for- pound fighter ever.

Davey Moore, who took a terrible beating during the

bout never recovered. The physical and the

psychological effects were too devastating. His career

began to see saw. He had three victories out of his next

four fights. In 1986, he once again fought for a title. He

fought hard but lost to Buster Drayton in a tenth round

knockout. His last pro bout was on April 4, 1988, in which

he won by a knockout in six rounds. As a fighter, he was

moved way too fast by his management. Also, after the

Duran bout he did not seem to posses the skill level or the

momentum he had earlier in his career. Tragically,

he died in 1988 at age twenty-eight. His final record was

18 wins, 5 loses with twelve knockouts.



















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(*vectorolie)








Chris Byrd vs. Ike Ibeabuchi


Fighters that lack excitement are not big draws. They

are not popular and don't make good television ratings.

Chris Byrd, who fought as a middleweight in the Olympics,

fit into that category. He was a southpaw who moved

well and had great defensive skills. He had a quick punch

but he lacked the thunderous “Tyson” or "Liston" knock

out power that fans appreciate. As a fighter, he made his

pro debut against Gary Smith on January 28, 1993, in

Flint, Michigan, and won a six-round decision. He

weighed only 169 pounds. He moved up the ranks and

began to fight as a heavyweight, realizing that is where

the interest and better money is. He had victories over

proven heavyweights Bert Cooper, Levi Billups and a

big knockout victory over Jimmy Thunder. In the bout

with Thunder, Byrd landed a succession of punches

that stunned the viewing audience and announcers as well.

Byrd was a force to reckoned with. His style of fighting

made him hard to match in the ring. Also, no one wanted

to fight him and just be out hustled and out pointed. He

was turned down by many big name fighters. They knew

they would be better off just waiting for bigger paydays

down the line against a less formidable foe. Byrd was in

a situation where he could not advance in the heavyweight

ranks, although he was a talented fighter.

Ike Ibeabuchi was a well conditioned fighter. In that

facet of boxing he was a true professional. He stood six

foot two and weighed between 230 to 240 pounds, a

weight his frame carried well. He was from Isulo,

Nigeria, but was now fighting out of Phoenix, Arizona. He

entered the pro ranks on October 13, 1994, in Shreveport,

Louisiana against Ismael Garcia. He won convincingly in

a second round knockout. He fought mostly on small

boxing cards and despite his skills was unknown to the

general boxing media and fans. Some of his earlier

opponents were Marion Wilson, Calvin Jones and

Herman Delgado. His resume did not include a major

victory against a fighter that held name recognition.

Ibeabuchi needed a big victory to get a valid ranking and

recognition. He did that when with only sixteen bouts

under his belt all of which he won, he fought David

Tua. Ibeabuchi, impressed all and won a unanimous

decision in a hard fought contest. In this bout more

punches were thrown than in any heavyweight bout since

compu-box began keeping tallies. Ibeabuchi showed he

had a solid chin, good stamina and poise in the ring.

He really delivered in that bout and fans and media

began to take notice. With the victory over David Tua

behind him, his management did something no one

wanted to do. He agreed to fight Chris Byrd. Such a

match up intrigued boxing fans and media. Could the

blown up middleweight Byrd win against a power

punching heavyweight who had beaten nationally

ranked David Tua? Would Ibeabuchi be just too powerful

or could Byrd outmaneuver him in the ring. The bout

was set for March 20th, 1999, in Tacoma, Washington.

It seemed as though most were there to see what would

happen rather than root for a particular fighter. Neither

fighter had a great fan base. Ibeabuchi, was still unknown

and Byrd's style was not a hit with the fans.

During the pre-fight introductions Byrd was

introduced weighing 208 pounds and had a record of 27

wins, 0 losses with fifteen knockouts. His opponent,

Ibeabuchi had a record of 19 wins, 0 losses with fourteen

knockouts and weighed 244 pounds. From the beginning

the bout was competitive. Ibeabuchi, the stronger of the

two and bigger puncher, chased Byrd. Byrd stayed in the

middle of the ring and mostly counter-punched. The

first two rounds were even and could have been scored

either way. During round three, Ibeabuchi, with good

foot movement and hand speed, began to close gaps. He

cornered Byrd and began throwing hay-maker punches.

Byrd was close to being caught with several knockout

blows. It seemed as though it was a matter of time

before Ibeabuchi’s punches would land on Byrd. Most

felt Ibeabuchi was winning the bout. A cut was opened

above Byrd’s eye in round four. The cut bled very

little and did not effect his vision. In round five,

Ibeabuchi, a true warrior, caught Byrd on a big left hook.

The hook was a power punch and Byrd went straight to

the canvas. He got up but when action resumed again

fell to the canvas on his own. He got up again and

Ibeabuchi went wild in flurry of punches. On the ropes

Byrd avoided some but was hit with others. The

referee stopped the fight and rightfully so. Byrd was too

delirious to continue. He would fight another day and

as for Ibeabuchi, he now had another massive credential

on his resume. With two victories in a row against

against ranked heavyweight fighters, his career was

moving forward. Many felt Ibeabuchi would be the

heavyweight champion some day. Unfortunately he got

into trouble with the law and is currently in jail.

When released, which is unknown date he will be in his

mid 30’s age-wise and estimates on his post-prison

career are varied. His bout against Chris Byrd was his

last before going to jail.

Byrd took the knockout loss in full stride. He even

complimented Ibeabuchi in the post fight interview.

By taking on this fight he showed that despite the fact he

was small for a heavyweight he was willing to fight

anyone. He had tremendous courage as a fighter. He later

emerged as one of the division's top heavyweights and

captured a title. He had victories over Evander Holyfield,

David Tua, Frees Queendom and Jamal McLane. He also

had a draw with hard punching Andrew Golota. His most

impressive performance was his victory over David Tua.

Many in the boxing community felt Tua, a short stocky

fighter with a big punch would knock Byrd out easily early

in their bout. But Byrd rose to the occasion and took all

of Tua's best shots and won a decision. Byrd is a true

professional and his career prove it.



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((*vectorolie)



Cassius Clay vs Sonny Liston II


Cassius Clay was known as the "Mouth from the

South." As a fighter he moved well in the ring and was

fast. He had a solid victory over Sonny Liston in their

first bout. Liston, a ferocious puncher, claimed he had

a shoulder injury and as soon as he got back into fighting

form he could destroy Clay. In the first fight Clay had

gotten lucky, he had not fought the real Liston. The

rematch was set for May 25, 1965. Liston actually was

favored to win. Many in the media thought perhaps he

had taken the brash Clay lightly the first time. Liston was

menacing and had an evil aura. He was an ex- con who

learned to box in prison. He had grown up dirt poor and

boxing was his road to riches. His ring talents were

plentiful. He could hit like a sledge hammer and had good

boxing skills. Instead of being a brawler like many

punchers are, he was a measured puncher. Prior to his

loss to Clay in their first fight he had won every bout

except for one loss which was due to a broken jaw. He

later avenged the loss in a rematch. During his career,

he also destroyed Floyd Patterson twice, both times in

first round knockouts. Liston, had a mysterious nature to

him. His true age was debated. He stated he was 31

years old but others thought he was much older.

Clay was incredibly popular with the media. The

youngster could talk up a storm and his poems and one-

liner jokes filled the sports pages. He was a true media

darling in every sense of the word. Could he beat the

"The Bear “ as the Liston was known or would Liston rise

to the occasion? The bout was set for May 25, 1965,

in Lewiston, Maine. Not only was this is a major bout for

boxing but it turned out to be boxing's greatest

controversy as well. With 4, 280 people attending the

bout took on the aura of "youth" versus "age.” During

the pre-fight introductions Liston was introduced with a

record of 32 wins, 2 losses and twenty five

knockouts. He stood six foot one and weighed 218

pounds. Clay stood six foot three and weighed 206

pounds. He had a record of 19 wins, 0 losses with fifteen

knockouts. When the bell rang to begin the bout, Clay

smartly stayed on the outside boxing while Liston

followed him around the ring. When Clay did throw

punches, he immediately retreated to keep a distance from

Liston. Mid-way through the first round Liston, who

many believe owned boxing’s strongest jab ever, threw a

jab at Clay. Clay moved his head to avoid the jab and

quickly countered with a right-hand punch. He also

planted his right leg as anchor and pivoted off his left

foot and struck Liston flush on the jaw. Being six foot

three and weighing 206 pounds with excellent

coordination he skillfully shifted his body weight forward

into the punch as adept fighters do. The punch was

downward: thus had additional strength behind it.

With fast reflexes, Clay utilized his hand speed to give

the punch even more momentum. Pre-occupied with

throwing a jab, Liston had no defense against it. It

surprised him. Also he was moving forward into the

punch. Therefore it hit him harder. All this

translates into Liston being struck cleanly by a quick and

powerful punch with force that sent him legitimately to

the canvas. His left foot can be seen lifting off the

canvas offering proof as to the power of the punch.

After going down on all fours he fell backward. Jubilant

and out of control, Clay taunted him to get up and keep

fighting. Liston made his way upward to a kneeling

position and fell over backwards. Meanwhile referee

Jersey Joe Walcott was trying to get Clay to a neutral

corner as required by the rules. But to no avail. Walcott

was busy with Clay's antics. Liston slowly made his way

to his feet, but a full seventeen seconds had elapsed.

When he did fully rise Clay and Liston were facing each

other. Referee Walcott was in between them cleaning

Liston's gloves. Unable to hear what the timekeeper was

saying, he left and the two fighters and went across the

ring. Clay and Liston continued fighting with Liston

dazed and still not on solid legs. Walcott was told by the

time keeper that Liston had not beat the count and the

fight was over. He went back to the fighters, stepping

between them and declared Clay the winner by raising

his arm. During the confusion, Liston was never given a

ten count. However, he would have limited to no

possibility of beating such. He was clearly out on his feet

as indicted by his actions.

Fans and media began to shout "fix", "fix." Others

thought a phantom punch had been thrown and Liston

was taking a dive as part of a set up. Such theories are

still regularly discussed today but they are false and the

evidence does not support them. Clay, an undefeated

Heavyweight Champion with fast hands, landed a clean

powerful punch to the jaw of Liston. Liston was unable to

beat the count nor could he have had he received one.

Cassius Clay retained the title with a knockout in round

one. The clear and overwhelming evidence supports

this.

The loss for Liston was tough for him to endure. He

was expected to win yet he lost via knockout. That was his

second loss to Cassius Clay, a fighter he could not beat.

Liston never again challenged for a title. He still had

another sixteen bouts and true to his level of skill in the

ring and despite being older won fifteen of them. His

era has a champion was brief and despite a proven track

record as a fighter, his legacy of losing to Cassius Clay

seemed to mark him indefinitely. He later died in 1970.

When Cassius beat Liston the second time he proved

his first victory over Liston was not a fluke. He not only

was a great boxer but puncher as well. After all, he had

just knocked out Sonny Liston with one punch. Cassius

was for real and with his charisma and oratory skills he

single handedly elevated the popularity of boxing to new

heights. He later changed his name to Muhammad Ali and

had victories over Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Earnie

Shavers, Ron Lyle and other formidable fighters.

Whenever he fought it was a major media event and he

always drew fans. In 1974, he faced then undefeated

and invincible "Big" George Foreman in Zaire, Africa.

For that bout, much like the Liston bouts, he was again an

underdog, widely expected to lose. Ali rose to the occasion

and won in a seventh round knockout, giving George

Foreman his first defeat. Again, the ever so talented Ali,

proved his critics wrong. During his rein Ali's

nickname was "The Greatest" and if you were a boxing

fan in the 60's and 70's you would agree to such a label.

With his skills and showmanship, Muhammad Ali proved

to all he was simply the best.




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(*vectorolie)



Marvin Hagler vs Thomas Hearns.


A truly great boxer is defined by how he fare's in his

major bouts. From time to time two fighters who already

own the label of being a great fighter, come together. On

March 15, 1984, Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns did

just that. They worked out the contractual agreements and

were ready for a big showdown. Two big name fighters

actually fighting each other. One of these fighters fighting

a lesser opponent would not be a big draw. The two

collectively, with their defined status, made the bout a

major event. Fans and media flocked. Marvin Hagler

was managed by the Petronelli brothers and fought out

of Brockton, Massachusetts. In the 1980's he was

considered pound for pound one of the best fighters in the

world. His talents in the ring were incredible. He could

fight southpaw, he could box, punch and had an

incredible chin. His ability to outlast any foe was

remarkable. He never seem to tire in the ring. Hagler

made his pro debut against Terry Ryan on May 18, 1973,

in Brockton, Massachusetts and won a second round

knockout. He climbed up the middleweight ranks

and accumulated a great record. Having sixty four fights,

he won all except for two draws and two losses. All his

draws and losses he avenged in rematches. Earlier

during his career, his skill level was such that he could

not get a shot at the title because no-one wanted to lose to

him. He was not good, he was excellent. He was never

an Olympic gold medalist and not all that marketable

despite his great ring achievements. Some of his

biggest career wins were against Sugar Ray Seales

whom he stopped in one round and a twelve round

decision over Willie Monroe.

Thomas Hearns was from Detroit, Michigan. After

an amateur career he entered the pro ranks on September

7, 1978, against Bruce Finch in Detroit and won by a third

round knockout. Hearns eventually became the pride of

Detroit. Tall, angular, he used his incredible reach to keep

the opposition at bay and then land his big right hand.

He actually won so many bouts in a row he was nicknamed

the "Hitman." Prior to fighting Hagler he had only one

loss as a pro. Some of his most famous fights were

against Roberto Duran whom he knocked out in two

rounds and Pipino Cuevas who he also stopped in two

rounds. His lone loss was to Sugar Ray Leonard in a

tough battle that went back and forth. Since his loss to

Leonard he had matured physically and emotionally. He

now stood six foot two and weighed a rock solid 160

pounds. He was a tremendous boxer using his reach and

huge physique. Being only twenty six he was still in

his prime and a bout with Hagler some felt for Hearns was

winnable. After all he destroyed Duran in two rounds

where Hagler went to a fifteen round decision against him

and nearly lost. Opinions varied as to who would win

between Hagler and Hearns. Would Hagler be out

pointed or could he muscle in and land punches on

Hearns. One thing for sure, the media and fans were

indeed looking forward to this bout.


It was finally set for March 5, 1985, in Las Vegas,

Nevada, and was going to be a great fight. Celebrities

came to see it as well. Through closed circuit viewing it

had a world wide audience. The outcome would be

subject of boxing discussions for years to come.

The night of the fight the crowd waited in anticipation.

Thomas Hearns was first to enter the ring followed by

Marvin Hagler a few minutes later. During the pre-fight

introductions Thomas “Hitman” Hearns was introduced

weighing 160 pounds and had a record of 38 wins, 1

loss with thirty four knockouts. “Marvelous” Marvin

Hagler weighed 160 and had a record of 62 wins, 2

losses, 2 draws with forty four knockouts. Hearns

towered over the shorter Hagler during the stare-down.

The bell rang and the two fighters immediately went at

each other. Hearns used his jab and began dropping

right hands in and actually stunned Hagler. Hagler

seemed unable to get inside at first. He eventually

landed and the two traded big shots to the delight of the

crowd. Hearns seemed to be getting the lead. The

round ended with Hearns on the ropes and Hagler

punching. Quite a round. The crowd applauded in

appreciation. In round two Hearns began jabbing and

moving but Hagler was able to close the gaps this round,

he stunned Hearns and the two exchanged blows. This

round Hagler was getting the better and then the bout

was stopped due to a cut. Blood was all over Hagler's

face. The doctor let the bout continue and action went

forward. This round Hearn's legs did not have the

movement they had earlier and he took a few more

shots. Hagler seemed to win this round. Again, a

great round of action. Round three began and Hearns

was moving around the ring. He jabbed and went

side to side but he still naively was willing to trade

bombs with Hagler. Hagler again was on the prowl and

mid-way into the round, landed an overhand right in

which sent Hearns sideways and Hagler rushed in and

landed again. Hearns went straight down and did not

beat the count. The bout was over and Hagler had

won.

This bout was different. It did something that had not

taken place. Due to it's incredible level of action it was

just as exciting as any major fight professional boxing had

ever had. There really had not been a pro bout with this

much action since Ali fought Frazier in 1971, at Madison

Square Garden. This bout seemed to have it all, two

great fighters, a great fight and a knockout. There were

no disappointed fans or media for this bout. The loss

for Hearns was difficult to absorb. His lone loss to Ray

Leonard in years past was the biggest fight of his career

and now had again lost another major bout. In the mind

of the public and boxing media he would be remembered

as the fighter that lost to both Hagler and Leonard. For

the Hagler bout he elected to stand toe to toe too much and

should have using the ring more. A costly mistake and

difficult to reflect on. He continued boxing and later had

some big victories, including wins over the late James

Schuler, James Kinchen and Virgil Hill. Even at age 46

proving his boxing skills and punching power to be

timeless he had a comeback fight and won via

knockout.

For Hagler the recognition he got from the knockout

victory of Hearns was long overdue. In years past he

fought on fight cards that were not shown national

television. Despite his incredible talent he generated

small paychecks and little fan or media recognition.

However, in this bout he finally got the nod from the

public and boxing media. Gone were the days of

"Marvin who?" Now everyone knew who he was and

his stock in the boxing community grew in leaps and

bonds. It was the most impressive performance of his

career. He had one more bout then retired and is now

an actor.





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(Also used on cover)

(*vectorolie)


Extras.


Anatomy of a Fight Card. An Inside Look at a

Duva Sponsored Boxing Card.




1- Ruben Flores - New York vs Reid Gossett - North

Carolina

2- Martin Musoke - Virginia vs Stacey Burris - Virginia

3- Todd Lemaster - North Carolina vs Marc Randazzo -

Chicago, Illinois

4- Alonzo Cutchins- Norfolk, Virginia vs Cornelius

Harris- Norfolk, Virginia

5- Antonio Carter- Bogalusa, Louisiana vs Pernel

Whitaker- Norfolk, Virginia


(Picture provided by Freedigtalphotos.net)

(*holoholololand)

There was a sparse crowd attending the small

professional boxing card, less than 400 people had

shown up at the Virginia Beach Pavilion located near the

main street in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The card was

promoted by the Duvas. They were known in boxing

circles as the first family of boxing. They had a stable of

fighters including local favorite Pernel Whitaker.

Whitaker was an Olympic gold medalist. He was

fighting in the main event and was slowly becoming

popular. By himself he drew most of the fans and media.

They were there to see him showcase his skills. With his

talents and the backing of the Duvas he could become a

future world champion. Tonight was a stepping stone in

that process. It seemed as though most fans and

media had not attended a boxing match before and did not

know what to expect. They were curious, interested and

hopeful the money they spent on tickets would be

worth it. Most mingled before the bouts began, some

bought hot dogs and cokes. As fight time approached the

fans and ringside media took to their seats and it was time

for the bouts to begin.

Professional Boxing. An Inside Review of Major Bouts.



By Pat Dwyer




Major bouts in the sport professional boxing are its most

viable commodity. They offer an opportunity for fans and

media to see top notch show case action not available in

other sports. Such bouts due to their immense popularity

can not only make the cover of the sports sections but can

be the topics of discussions for years to come. For

boxers, they offer big paydays and the opportunity to

emerge and shine. Perhaps to even achieve the status of

being labeled a great fighter. Enclosed is a review of


several major bouts. All are bouts that greatly impacted

professional boxing and helped define the careers of the

fighters involved.



(Picture provided by Freedigitalphotos.net)

(*vectorolie)







1- Andrew Golota vs Riddick Bowe

2- Tommy Morrison vs Ray Mercer

3- Larry Holmes vs Gerry Cooney

4- Roberto Duran vs Davey Moore

5- Chris Byrd vs Ike Ibeabuchi

6- Muhammad Ali vs Sonny Liston

7- Marvin Hagler vs Thomas Hearns

8- Extras- Anatomy of a Fight Card.

Tribute to Cody Koch.




(Picture provided by Freeimages.com)

(*Daniel West)




Andrew Golota vs Riddick Bowe


On July 7, 1996, Riddick Bowe was scheduled to fight

Andrew Golota at Madison Square Garden in New York

City. Two heavyweight forces would collide with only

one emerging as the winner. It was a bout hyped with all

sorts of fan and media interest. Bowe, a former champion

was the favorite. Golota, a relative unknown, was

stepping up in competition. He needed to prove himself

against a formidable foe. Who would win this highly

Anticipated contest? Who would come out on top?

Boxing can be the theater of the unexpected. No one

knew for sure what to expect. To find out conclusively,

they would have to fight. The bout would be broadcast

live on HBO.

As a pro-fighter Riddick Bowe was a known quantity.

He was a former heavyweight champion with only one

loss. Standing six foot five, and in peak condition he

weighed between 235 to 240 pounds. Because of his size

he was nicknamed "Big Daddy." In the ring he was

multi- talented. He could box well and was a

tremendous puncher. His trainer, the legendary Eddie

Futch, was a guru of boxing knowledge. He taught Bowe

the science of boxing well. Riddick entered the pro ranks

on March 6, 1989, in Reno, Nevada, against Lionel

Butler. He won in a second round knockout. He won

his first twenty one bouts which included victories

Over Bert Cooper, Art Tucker and Pinklon Thomas.

Eighteen of those first twenty one bouts he won via

knockout. He then faced veteran Tyrell Biggs in a

nationally televised bout. Biggs, an Olympic gold

medalist, had an excellent jab and once fought for a

title. He was a good test and Bowe fought well

against him. Despite being rocked early, Bowe kept the

pressure on Biggs. By the eighth round Biggs had all he

could handle and the bout was stopped. Bowe won

decisively. He then had a victory over Tony Tubbs

followed by a string of major victories. He knocked out

Bruce Seldon in one round with a left hook that left

Seldon delirious on the canvas. Bowe broke the jaw of

Puerta Rican heavyweight Rodolfo Marin in a second

round knockout and also beat Pierre Coetzer and then

Michael Dokes. In a 1995 bout Bowe showed how much

he had improved since his amateur days. He destroyed

his nemesis Jorge " The Giant” Luis Gonzalez in six

brutal rounds. Gonzalez had defeated Bowe in the

amateurs, but the pro ranks were different. Bowe now

was clearly a better fighter. He delivered such

punishment in that bout that upon completion of the

bout, the "Giant” Gonzalez could not rise from the

canvas for several minutes. His most famous bouts

were against Evander Holyfield in which he had a

trilogy. Holyfield, a Champion, was a true

professional. He went into every bout in great shape

and always came to win. Bowe won two of the bouts

with him and showed great heart and courage in all

three bouts. In the last bout with Holyfield, he was

knocked down and almost out, but with poise and

determination, he gamefully rose from the canvas. He

then scored an incredible eighth round knockout over

Holyfield. His off the canvas knockout of Holyfield

brought him new found status in the boxing world.

As a fighter Riddick Bowe was a phenomenon. He

was widely considered to be the best heavyweight in the

world, an assessment few boxing insiders disagreed

with. With a few more victories Riddick could achieve

the status of being a great fighter.

Heavyweight boxer Andrew Golota, originally from

Poland, was living in Chicago when he made his way to

the Windy City Gym. Standing six foot four and

weighing in the 240 range he was a great physical

specimen. He began sparring with some of the better

fighters there He moved well for a big man and had

good hand speed. Enthusiastic about boxing, his future

Looked bright. After a short while he made his pro

debut on February 7, 1992, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,

against Roosevelt Shuler. Golota won on a third round

knockout. From that point on, he kept winning and

improving as a fighter. Boxing is craft and he learned it

well. He progressed to where he could punch in

combinations and he learned to pace himself in the ring.

As a fighter he advanced beyond the generic stand up

fighting style most European fighters utilize. Out of

his first twenty three bouts he won all including victories

over one time California prospect Terry Davis, trial-

horse Marion Wilson and Darren Hayden. Twenty one

of twenty three of those bouts he scored knockouts.

With his achievements in the ring, he caught the

eye of the Duva family and joined their organization. His

first major test and his introduction to the boxing public

came on May 16, 1995, against Samson Po'uha on USA

Tuesday Night Fights. The fight was a see-saw battle

from the beginning till the end. Both fighters absorbed a

lot of punishment and kept coming back. Neither

fighter seemed willing to give in. Each had their

moments. It as an exciting contest and Golota

eventually rose to the occasion and after putting Samson

Po'uha down for the fifth time, the bout was stopped.

Golota showed in that bout his tremendous resolve to come

out on top. Also, he showed he could take a punch and

still fight back. He had a solid chin. The bout was a major

test and he passed. His next bout was against West

Turner. He won in a first round knockout in which he

landed an incredible five- punch combination that sent

Turner to the canvas. Turner never beat the count.

Fans and media were starting to take notice of Andrew

Golota. Some in the boxing media were beginning to

call him the hardest puncher in the heavyweight division.

He then soundly defeated Danell Nicholson in a eighth

round knockout. How far in the heavyweight division

could the Golota express go? Could he win a bout

with former champion Riddick Bowe? His management

team, the Duvas felt he could. Opinions in the boxing

community varied. So far as a fighter Polish sensation

Andrew Golota was a breath of fresh air in the division.

The bout was set for July 11, 1996, at Madison Square

Garden in New York City. However, the bout was

almost cancelled when Andrew Golota’s camp realized it

was going to be twelve rounds instead of ten as they had

thought. The contract stated ten or twelve rounds. To

compensate Golota an additional $50,000 dollars was

Added to his check and he accepted the twelve round limit.

The bout was on.

The night of the bout Madison Square Garden was full.

Many were Polish fans anxious to see Golota, while many

were Bowe fans as well. The boxing media was there in

full force. The big question amongst them was could

Golota take Bowe's punch? During the pre-fight

introductions Andrew Golota was a rock solid 243

pounds with an impressive record of 28 wins, 0 losses and

twenty five knockouts. Bowe, who weighed 253 pounds

had a record of 38 wins, 1 lose, 1 no contest and had

thirty two knockouts. That was his highest weight for a

pro-bout ever and could potentially be a significant

factor in the bout. During the final instructions by the

referee you could really see the tremendous size of these

giants as they faced each other in a brief staredown.

The referee and corner men who accompanied them to the

center of the ring seemed unusually small around them.

Round one began. Golota came out using his jab and

consistently landed it. Bowe came forward a few times

but just lunged and missed. Golota landed a three punch

combination and really dictated the pace by using his

hand speed. In the second round Golota used his jab

again and began punching to the body. He went low

and was warned by the referee. In the center of the ring

there was intense action with both fighter's landing and

absorbing shots. The best action came when Golota

landed a combination on Bowe and wobbled him. Golota

seemed to get the better of Bowe so far in both rounds.

In round three Golota was sharper and quicker early in the

round and then landed some good body shots. He also

was warned for a low blows and next time would result

in a point deduction. Towards the end of the round Golota

landed a two punch combination while Bowe landed a

left hook. Round four had Golota boxing and using the

ring, and taking the initiative. Bowe could not land any

solid blows. At one point he was hit and fell backwards

into the ropes. Also Bowe was beginning to be struck

low repeatedly. Then Golota struck low again and a point

was deducted from the scorecards. Bowe was on the

canvas due to the low blow, he rose and the round ended

quickly. Round five was Golota all the way. He actually

Had Bowe on the ropes and repeatedly rocked his head

and landed body shots. In round six Golota used his jab

overtime but still hit low and another point deduction

took place. Bowe continually advanced but could not get

any type of rhythm going, he was just hit too much.

Round seven Golota again used his jab effectively and

again went down low and another point was deducted.

Frustrated, Bowe began hitting Golota behind the head.

Golota boxed for a short while and then struck Bowe

low again, Bowe went down and Golota was

disqualified. The bout was over.

Upon the disqualification all sorts of trouble erupted.

Bowe's entourage stormed the ring and a cell phone was

broken over Golota's head. The ring became packed

quickly and Golota and his corner were under attack.

Golota smartly exited the ring and made his way to his

dressing room. A riot the likes of a televised boxing

show audience had not seen before broke out. New York

police and riot squad were called in. It was a full thirty

minutes before the broadcast went off the air and the riot

was still in progress. In review of the fight, Golota had

risen to the occasion. As a fighter he beat Bowe

convincingly and were it not for the low blows which

leading to his disqualification he was en route to a well

deserved victory. Despite technically losing, he really

Won. The bout propelled his career forward. Boxing

fans and media were intrigued by this new power

punching Polish sensation. He had good boxing skills

and he seemed to just burst onto the scene during this bout.

His new found status gave him a higher ranking and

he appeared on numerous talks shows. For his next

fight he would receive a bigger payday and there was

already talk of him dominating the division and perhaps

someday fighting "Iron" Mike Tyson. The Golota

express was achieving momentum.

Riddick Bowe on the other hand had a stale outing.

He showed an inability to slip punches and during the

bout and never established any type of momentum. He

seemed like a different fighter in there that night. Gone

were the days of scoring incredible knockouts over his

opponents. Some felt his conditioning for the bout had

been overlooked or he had just underestimated Andrew

Golota. Others felt his tendency to gain weight in

between fights was affecting his reflexes. Some people

thought his big fights with Evander Holyfield had used

up all his physical and mental resources. No one really

knew for sure. As a fighter Bowe still had a good

resume, it just did not include a valid victory over

Andrew Golota. The first Golota bout really spelled the

beginning of the end for him careerwise. His heart and

courage began to outweigh his diminishing skills and he

was taking too many punches. He had a quick rematch

with Golota and the bout was a repeat of the first, the

only real difference was Golota was knocked down once.

Again a disqualification for low blows and Bowe was on

the receiving end of way too many head and body

shots. His management team wanted him to discontinue

fighting all together for his own benefit and most boxing

insiders agreed. He later got into legal trouble and spent

three years in jail and is currently doing a comeback at

age 37. Being heavier, older, as well as slower it is

believed his comeback will fall short of achieving any

legitimate progress. He has won two fights in his

comeback. His most recent was a split decision victory

over Billy Zumbrun. For that bout Bowe was easily hit

and weighed a career high 280 pounds. Some felt he lost

the bout and got a gift decision. In the ring he appeared

to nowhere near the skill level he once had in the mid

1990’s when his career was peaking.




(Picture provided by Freedigitalphotos.net)

(*zirconicusso)




Tommy Morrison vs Ray Mercer


Tommy Morrison was an exciting fighter. A

former toughman competitor, he could really punch. He

grew up fighting in tough man competitions throughout the

state of Oklahoma. He had a rather interesting

background. A former football player, he was from the

small town of Jay, Oklahoma. With his boyish looks and

a down-to-earth nature, he was popular with the media.

He began his pro career on November 10, 1988, with a

knockout in one round over William Muhammad. He

won his first eleven bouts all by knockout and then got a

lucky break when his bout against Steve Zouski was

televised nationally. He won that bout via decision in

four rounds. Morrison showed the viewing audience his

trademark left hook in that bout and for Tommy “The

Duke" as he was nicknamed, it was a good solid

introduction to the public. An injury to his shoulder

prevented him from using his right hand effectively.

To compensate he developed a tremendous left hook. He

had the ability to get his whole body behind this punch

giving it incredible power. He also could land it quickly

often surprising his opponents. Boxing fans as well as

the media were intrigued by this youngster from

Oklahoma. They wanted to see more of him. Provided

he kept winning his future as a fighter looked bright. He

eventually became associated with Mike Tyson’s former

manager Bill Cayton. From there his career entered a

new stage. He was matched carefully to allow him to

develop his skills while simultaneously not be rushed.

He began to make appearances on cable outlets and

developed a fan base. He was matched against tough

veteran Pinklon Thomas in a bout in which he won in a

first round knockout. He then fought trial-horse James

Tillis and put on a clinic on how to land left hooks. He

sent Tillis to the canvas three times before the bout was

stopped in the first round. He then had a battle with Yuri

Vaulin in which he took several big shots, but he

again used his left hook to stop his opponent. Tommy

Morrison seemed more than a boxer, he was a fantastic

draw. Whenever he fought on televised bouts, ratings

went up. He was a promoter’s dream. Morrison even

tried out for and won a starring role in Rocky IV.

Surprisingly he acted quite well despite his lack of

experience. He now had new found status in the

entertainment industry which made him not just a

heavyweight prospect but a movie star as well. His career

and life were moving forward, perhaps too fast. Could

he maintain his focus on boxing.

Ray Mercer started boxing late. While in the army

he took up the sport and boxed in the amateur ranks.

Ironically, he actually beat Tommy Morrison for the

Olympic spot to represent the USA in the heavyweight

division in the Seoul games in Korea. As a fighter,

Mercer had a tremendous chin and good power, but not

much else. He was known for absorbing too many shots

and being too stationary in the in the ring. As a draw

to fans Mercer was limited and but did have a strong will

to win. He entered the pro ranks on September 10, 1988,

in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He won in a second

round knockout against Jesse McGhee. Mercer won his

first fifteen bouts which included a nationally

televised grueling contest with Bert Cooper. In that

bout the boxing public was first introduced to Mercer’s

style of fighting. It was different. Mercer would take

two punches for every one he landed. Some felt he had

the best chin in the heavyweight division. He was then

matched against Italian boxing sensation Francesco

Damiani who had never lost before. Damiani, a good

boxer, outboxed Mercer throughout the early rounds.

Mercer never quit and with a single punch sent Damiani to

the canvas and won by a ninth round knockout. It

was the biggest win of his career and his status in the

heavyweight division rose quickly. How he would fare

against other top ten challengers was questionable. So

far Mercer was undefeated in all his bouts, but could

his style of just taking punishment and outlasting his foes

take him to the top? Time was going to tell. Boxing

fans and media were curious about Ray Mercer. His style

of boxing was much different than previous quality

fighters. How would he fit into the heavyweight picture?

Ray Mercer and Tommy Morrison were both

heavyweights about to make to the top tier. Instead of

waiting for a title shot or fighting mid-level fighters, they

did something spectacular. They agreed to put their

undefeated records on the line and fight each other. Fans

and media were appreciative. It meant a good bout and

the better fighter would emerge. Most felt Morrison with

his great punching power was the better fighter of the two

and would be victorious. Then again in boxing, results can

be different than the expected. To find out for sure they

would have to square off. The fight would be a

crossroads bout for both. Who would emerge as the

contender or the pretender was the theme for this bout.

The big bout was set for October, 18, 1991, in Atlantic

City, New Jersey. It would be broadcast live on pay per

view. There was a large crowd that included Donald

Trump proving that big fights bring out the stars. During

the pre-fight introductions Tommy Morrison weighed 221

pounds and had a record of 28 wins, 0 losses, with

twenty four knockouts. Ray Mercer weighed 225 and

had a record of 17 wins, 0 losses and twelve knockouts.

Somebody's undefeated record was going too changed.

The bell rang and Morrison took the initiative. He

advanced on Mercer and landed several jabs and punches.

Mercer seemed lifeless and just absorbed punishment.

Morrison landed a big three punch combination that

sent Ray backward. Mercer, moved around the ring to

avoid being hit and threw very few punches. Round

two, Morrison again landed several big punches while

Mercer took the shots. Morrison threw three big

punches that all missed their mark and his stamina

seemed to fade. Mercer jabbed a bit and moved

around but not much else. Round three was Morrison all

the way. He charged Mercer and at one point had him

in the corner landing big shots but Mercer covered up

well and took all his best shots. Morrison was clearly

dominating the fight and Mercer was losing every round.

Towards the very end of the round Mercer landed a

good solid overhand right on Morrison. In round four

Mercer picked up the pace some and landed some right

hands. Morrison seemed to be running out of stamina

and tied up Mercer. Mercer seemed energized, yet

Morrison was starting to show wear. Round five made the

History books with of one of the most brutal knockouts in

the history of boxing. Early in the round Morrison was

hit with a left hook and got caught up on the ropes semi-

conscious. With his bodyweight on the ropes and

Mercer landing from the front, Morrison could not fall to

the canvas. He was hit with fifteen unanswered

punches before he could fall down, then head-first into the

ropes. Everything happened so fast there was no real

time for the referee to intervene. Morrison was

eventually lifted up and brought back to his corner and sat

on his stool. He thought the fight was still going on.

Still in a delirious state, he continued boxing lifting his

arms up and down and covering his head like the fight was

still in progress. His brain, despite the accumulation of

punches was still firing messages. Eventually his senses

caught up to him and he was checked out by the doctors

and seemed all right despite the repeated blows. The

media and fans were aghast as to the content of the

knockout. The knockout was the talk of the boxing and

sporting world for weeks to come. It was shown repeatedly

on cable. It seemed unreal, too violent. It was hard to

absorb for anyone who saw it. This bout represented

professional boxing at it's best and worst.

The bout for Ray Mercer was a career boost. He now

began to be taken seriously by the boxing community.

He now had two knockout victories against top

heavyweights in a row. His unique style of boxing was

different but it was bringing him wins. After this bout he

began altering his style. He learned to cover up better

and use the ring more. He no longer just absorbed

consistent punishment. He later had a "rockem sockem"

battle with Lennox Lewis which he lost despite an

excellent effort. Some in the audience felt he won.

Despite a career that is currently still in progress his

biggest and most impressive career victory was the

knockout of Tommy Morrison.

Tommy Morrison took the loss in stride. He was built

back up as a fighter with some easier bouts and was back

in the heavyweight picture soon. The knockout loss to

Mercer, which was devastating, he really used to his

advantage. He learned to pace himself more and

developed defensive skills. He did not try to just go in

there and land a accumulation of punches hoping to stop

the opposition early. He used the ring more and his

stamina wisely. Fighting in the pro ranks is much

different than the three short rounds in the tough man

competitions he fought as youngster growing up. Later in

his career with new knowledge, he had victories over

George Foreman by decision and a knockout victory over

Razor Ruddock. He also had a big victory over Joe

Hipp in which despite breaking his jaw, he fought

on and won by knockout. Tommy actually became a

better fighter due to the loss and his future victories

proved it.



(Picture provided by Freedigitalphotos.net)

(*vectorolie)





Gerry Cooney vs Larry Holmes


In the post -Ali era the sport of professional boxing had

a void to be filled. Many felt an Irishman from

Huntington, New York, named Gerry Cooney could fill

that void. As a person Gerry was amiable, low key, and

Good looking. Standing six foot six he was a giant in the

sport before giants were more common. Contrary to

popular belief Cooney actually had good fighting skills.

He had a good solid amateur career where he learned to

box. He entered the professional ranks on June 15, 1977,

in Sunnyside Garden Long Island against Bill Jackson.

He won in a first round knockout. Gerry won his

first twenty bouts with eighteen knockouts. As a fighter

he was a tremendous puncher. His left hook seemed to

have freakish power. Realizing Gerry had potential the

management team of Mike Jones and Dennis Rappaport

picked him up. Whenever Gerry fought he individually

generated fan and media interest. Gerry was a

commercial success and had marketing skills a promoter

could only dream of. His first big test came in 1981

against veteran Jimmy Young who had once fought

Muhammad Ali. The bout was televised nationally.

During the bout Cooney repeatedly landed blow

after blow on Young who was easily out-boxed. With

Cooney's power and precision punching he opened

up cuts on Young's face who bled excessively. Young

was unable to see and being consistently hit, the

referee stopped the bout. In his next bout against Ron

Lyle Cooney continued his rampage. He used his

trademark left hook and landed a body shot on Lyle.

Lyle went straight to the canvas and never beat the

count. The crowd went crazy. Another Gerry Cooney

victory. Now the “Cooney Circus” as Gerry and his

two managers were known was starting to come alive.

Cooney was becoming the hottest property in

professional boxing and there was talk of him and

current Champion Larry Holmes in a big showdown.

He then was matched against Ken Norton. The bout

again was on national television and Cooney rose to

the occasion. In less than one minute he had Norton out in

his corner. The referee was late in stopping the fight

and Norton was just absorbing punch after punch. The

glazed look in Norton’s eyes exemplified how Cooney

punches were devastating and knocked him totally

delirious. The knockout was replayed on television

numerous times. Some in the boxing community felt

Cooney should have discontinued punching when it was

clear Norton was helpless. The knockout seem to involve

overkill by Cooney. It was almost as if Cooney was a

victim of his own punching power. Either way it was

Cooney’s best career performance and the pay scale went

up and so did his status as a fighter. With three big

knockout wins in a row the big showdown with

Holmes seemed not too far off. Fans and boxing media

were looking forward. Could the Irishman from New

York go all the way? Time would tell.

Larry Holmes was an under-appreciated fighter from

Easton, Pennsylvania. He used to spar with Ali early on

his career and was a talented yet controversial figure. He

entered the pro ranks on September 14, 1972, in Scranton,

Pennsylvania and won a four round decision against

Rodell Dupree. He made forty dollars for the bout. He

Kept wining and remained undefeated. Despite his ring

talents, the boxing media and fans never seemed to

recognize his achievements in the ring. His style of

fighting seemed boring to some, others questioned his

courage. As a fighter Holmes had a excellent jab and

moved well. He also had a good chin and could land his

right hand when necessary. Early on he had victories over

Roy Williams, Rodney Bobick and Earnie Shavers.

However Holmes seemed to be criticized by fans and the

media. Some felt he could not beat a top ten opponent,

others felt he lacked courage. Also, he was following in

the shadow of Muhammad Ali, a difficult act to follow.

Despite these factors Holmes earned a title shot in 1978

in which he proved to all including his critics he was a

force to be reckoned with. He won a fifteen round

decision against Ken Norton. It was a major victory. He

was now Heavyweight Champion although not a hit

with the media or boxing fans. Often he was unhappy

with the small paychecks he received. As a fighter

Holmes felt he was never given his just due. In the ring

though he had savvy, an excellent jab, great stamina and

good overall boxing skills. He was a smart fighter and

always took fights into later rounds and waited for his

opponent to tire before he came in for a knockout or won

by decision. He just kept winning and at one point he

disposed of all opponents and seemed to have a hard

time finding formidable challengers to the title. His rein

as Champion seemed boring and the shadow of Ali

always followed him. In 1982 many felt it was time for

the Champion Holmes to lose and a new more

charismatic figure would take over the heavyweight

championship. First in line was Gerry Cooney, a media

darling who could perhaps bring boxing back to the

popularity it had when Muhammad Ali reined. However

to get the title and hopefully rejuvenate interest in

boxing, he had to beat the Champion Larry Holmes.

Some in the boxing community felt Cooney would lose to

Holmes. He really had been hyped to the number one

position. His victories over Norton, Lyle and Young were

against fighters who were well past their best fighting

days. Also, Cooney would not know how to pace

himself and go the full fifteen round distance with

Holmes. Some felt Holmes, a talented boxer, would

give Cooney a boxing lesson. Holmes, the Champion,

was still in his prime at age 32 and had never lost

before. Cooney seemed too young and inexperienced to

beat Holmes. There was a big build up for the bout with

most coming to see Cooney. Cooney was actually paid

ten million dollars for the bout. Cooney was so popular

with the media that his popularity transcended outside

the boxing community. He even was on the cover of

Time magazine posing in a boxing stance with Sylvester

Stallone. Cooney's time had come and the big fight was

on June 10, 1982, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fans, media

even the celebrities were there. Could "Gentlemen"

Gerry Cooney triumph? Could Cooney start a

new era in boxing?

The night of the fight was hot and steamy. Estimates

of the temperature inside the ring exceeded over 100

degrees. During the pre-fight introductions Cooney

weighed 225 pounds and had an undefeated record of 25

wins, 0 losses, with twenty one knockouts. Holmes on the

other hand weighed 209 pounds with a record of 39

wins, 0 losses with twenty eight knockouts. The electricity

was in the air. Everyone wanted to see this match-up.

There had not been interest in pro boxing in this magnitude

in years. After a brief stare down in which Cooney did

not look at Holmes, the bout began. Round one was a

stalking round with the challenger Cooney chasing

Holmes who smartly stayed on the outside, jabbing and

using the whole ring. There were some brief exchanges

but not much real action. In round two Holmes used his

superior hand speed and experience to stay on the

outside and then landed a right hand and sent

Cooney to the canvas. Cooney beat the count but was in

trouble. He rallied back by punching until the round

ended. It was a good knockdown by Holmes. In rounds

three, four and five the action heated up. Cooney the

heavier puncher, would chase Holmes who would weave

and go in and out. Each fighter had his moments, with

perhaps Cooney landing harder shots while Holmes

landed more. In round six Holmes again got in a good

punch and had Cooney in trouble. Cooney again fought

back until the round ended. During the fight Cooney

was warned for throwing low blows although no points

were deducted yet. Round seven showed the effect the

bout was having on Cooney. His nose was red and he

had a cut left eye. Also, he was being warned for low

blows again. In rounds eight, nine and ten, fatigue

began to show on Cooney. Meanwhile Holmes, the

more experienced seemed to have more energy and

was still moving around the ring. Finally in round nine

Cooney was deducted one point from the scorecards

for a low blow. Rounds ten and eleven, were rounds in

which the fighters exchanged heavy punches. There

was constant action but Cooney again landed low and this?

time two points were deducted from the scorecards. The

heat of the Nevada desert was showing on Cooney. Round

twelve, Cooney did something he had not done before, he

moved backwards. Holmes seeing his retreat advanced

on him and the two traded blows. Towards the end of

the round Cooney came on. In round thirteen, the

accumulation of blows was too much for Cooney. Mid-

way into the round he absorbed a few shots and then fell

into the ropes. His corner men came into the ring and

the bout was stopped. Cooney had used up all his

resources. A valiant effort but it fell short of victory.

Holmes was still an undefeated Champion.

The bout for Cooney was physically and emotionally

draining. It took years to get a title shot and although he

had performed well against a champion, he had lost. He

really wanted to win and took the loss personally. He felt

he had let his management and fans down. He quit

fighting for awhile and then did a comeback and then

quit the ring again. Finally in 1986 he had a victory over a

ranked contender in Eddie Gregg and his career was back

on track. Gregg had a top ten ranking and since Cooney

had beaten him he could fight for a title against light

heavyweight turned heavyweight Champion Michael

Spinks. Spinks had beaten Holmes in 1985. Cooney, a

legitimate heavyweight, with his size advantage and

being the harder puncher felt he could win. He trained

hard. Unfortunately he lost via knockout in seven

rounds. For the fight ring rust was evident and Cooney, a

big puncher, was not adept at slipping punches. He

was hit repeatedly. Spinks had Cooney on the canvas

twice, and Cooney was taking too many shots. The

bout was correct fully stopped. Cooney had lost again in a

major bout. The frustrations of losing his big bouts

made him retire until 1989 when he had one more bout.

He lost to George Foreman in two rounds in a bout he

should not have taken. He had little chance of winning.

He retired for good and now runs an organization that

helps retired boxers.

The Cooney fight for Larry Holmes solidified his rank

as a great fighter. Although Holmes had previous

victories over Trevor Berbick, Mike Weaver,

Muhammad Ali, and Renaldo Snipes it really was the

Cooney bout that brought him recognition from the media

and fans. His critics had been plentiful. They had

always stated Holmes was an interim champion until

someone better came along. Now they finally had to

finally conclude Holmes was a great Champion. He had

really delivered in that bout and his long overdue credit

finally arrived. As a professional fighter in over nine

years of fighting, he had never lost. No one could beat

him in the ring not even the popular and talented Gerry

Cooney. Holmes was truly a legend in boxing.

In 1992 he actually did a comeback a soundly defeated

then undefeated and ranked Ray Mercer in a twelve round

bout. Holmes used his trademark left jab and boxing skills

to come out on top. He was 42 years old for that bout.




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Roberto Duran vs Davey Moore


Roberto Duran fought Davey Moore on June 16, 1983

at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The bout

was televised nationally. Duran was a true legend in

boxing. He had been a pro boxer for over fifteen years,

making his pro debut on March 4, 1968, against Carlos

Mendoza in Colon City, Panama. He won that bout on a

six- round decision. With his tremendous skills in the ring

he was popular with the Latino population as well as fans

from the United States. He was always an incredible

draw whenever and wherever he fought. He was

nicknamed the “ Hands of Stone” which he earned

because of his powerful punch. His first try at a title

took place in 1972. He fought Ken Buchanan and won

in a thirteenth round knockout at Madison Square Garden.

In the ring, Duran seemed to have it all, power, excellent

boxing skills, even great courage. Years before he

handedly beat the popular then undefeated Sugar Ray

Leonard in a fifteen- round contest in Montreal, Canada.

The famous bout was known as “the brawl in Montreal."

Elated with his big win, he let his weight skyrocket. In

the rematch seven months later, he had to lose too much

weight too fast and thus was poorly conditioned. This

led to him being out-boxed by Leonard, who incorporated a

fast-paced in- and-out style to beat Duran. During the

bout, Leonard taunted Duran and Duran quit in the seventh

round uttering his famous "no mas." After such a loss,

he badly needed to redeem himself as a fighter. That

process involved a major victory. Davey Moore held a

junior middleweight title. If Duran could beat Moore he

could overcome his famous "no mas” loss to Leonard in

the eyes of the public and boxing media.

Davey Moore was from the Bronx, New York. He

was a decorated amateur who was well-conditioned and

had marketing potential. With a few more solid victories

against quality fighters, he could perhaps become the

next Sugar Ray Leonard. He had the looks and hopefully

the tools in the ring. Moore, entered the pro ranks on

June 10, 1980, against Jesus Saucedo in Stateline, Nevada.

He won a six- round decision. He won his first seven pro

bouts and then challenged for a title and remarkably won

in Japan. He defeated Tadashi, Mihara by a sixth-round

knockout. Three months later he proved he could really

fight, when he defeated Charlie Weirr in South Africa, a

bout he was expected to lose. Moore was a puncher who

always gave a great effort, but he was still inexperienced.

Moore had only twelve pro bouts under his belt. Duran just

three years earlier was considered to be pound for pound

the best fighter in the world. Perhaps for this bout Moore

was overmatched. An analogy that seem to define this

upcoming bout.

The bout between Duran and Moore drew intense

interest from the fans and the media. On June 16, 1983,

Madison Square Garden was packed. Could Duran rise to

the occasion or was Moore going to prove himself as

boxing's next superstar? Most fans and media were there

to see Duran. Duran actually had a hard time not being

mobbed on his way to the ring. His popularity was

immense.


During the pre-fight introductions, Duran weighed 152

pounds and had a record of 76 wins, 4 losses with fifty-

seven knockouts. The crowd cheered loudly when he was

introduced. Davey Moore, had a record of 12 wins, 0

losses and eight knockouts. He weighed 154 pounds and

looked like a body builder. When the bout began both

fighters seemed tight. Neither fighter had sweat on him at

first. They both boxed and stayed on the outside. At one

point, Moore rushed Duran who proved to be elusive.

Duran, the consummate professional, eventually moved in

and landed several punches on Moore. Late in the round

Duran thumbed Moore in his right eye. The thumb was

clearly visible by Moore's immediate reaction. Duran

won the first round. In rounds two and three, Duran

began to take charge. He landed and wobbled Moore

with a big right hand and was out-boxing the younger

Moore. When Moore threw punches, Duran moved his

head and slipped the punches or rolled with them taking the

power out of them if they landed. A defensive

maneuver that takes years to learn. Also, he began to hit

Moore to the body. Moore’s right eye was beginning to

swell and shut. By round five, Moore’s right eye was

nearly closed and he had limited vision. He also looked

fatigued. Fighting under the hot ring lights, with the

big crowd mostly cheering Duran, was something he had

not dealt with before. Moore seemed out of place in the

ring while the more experienced Duran looked sharp.

Duran landed to the body and Moore was becoming more

of an easy target. One could see the disparity in skill level

between the two. In round six and seven Moore fought

back valiantly but his punches were not connecting and

Duran wobbled him. Moore also was bleeding from the

mouth and nose. The right eye which was previously

thumbed by Duran, was now completely closed. His face

was a total mess. In round six, Moore, showing no quit,

landed a combination on Duran. In rounds seven and eight

the public image of professional boxing suffered greatly.

The referee and the corner of Davey Moore failed to

stop the bout and the badly overmatched Moore took way

too many punches. Duran easily hit Moore at will and

Moore had nothing left. He was just fighting on raw

instinct. The announcers were calling for a stoppage,

criticizing the referee and the Moore corner for their

negligence. In round seven a big Duran left hook rocked

Moore. Later in the round he went down but got back up

after receiving another Duran right. At the end of the

round, the referee and corner again failed to stop the bout

despite the beating Moore was taking. In round eight

Moore was barely standing. He was actually

collapsing and only standing by leaning on Duran. In the

physical state he was in Moore could be seriously hurt.

Finally Moore's corner threw in the towel and the bout was

stopped, a stoppage that came way too late. Some

ringsiders were repulsed by what had taken place and it

was definitely a black eye for the sport.


Duran had done it. He won and won convincingly.

His famous "no mas” which garnished his credibility in the

boxing community and in the eyes of the public was now

put behind him. He was now a champion again. His

boxing career had new life in it. He turned 32 years that

day and the victory over Moore was an excellent birthday

present. He continued boxing for several years and in

1989 did another comeback and won another title. He

kept boxing throughout the 1990's and even had a bout with

with Hector Camacho in 2001 at age 50. Despite his age,

he put up a good fight and lost a controversial decision.

He retired for good after that bout with an accumulated

record of 103 wins with 16 losses. Some consider him to

be greatest pound- for- pound fighter ever.

Davey Moore, who took a terrible beating during the

bout never recovered. The physical and the

psychological effects were too devastating. His career

began to see saw. He had three victories out of his next

four fights. In 1986, he once again fought for a title. He

fought hard but lost to Buster Drayton in a tenth round

knockout. His last pro bout was on April 4, 1988, in which

he won by a knockout in six rounds. As a fighter, he was

moved way too fast by his management. Also, after the

Duran bout he did not seem to posses the skill level or the

momentum he had earlier in his career. Tragically,

he died in 1988 at age twenty-eight. His final record was

18 wins, 5 loses with twelve knockouts.



















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Chris Byrd vs. Ike Ibeabuchi


Fighters that lack excitement are not big draws. They

are not popular and don't make good television ratings.

Chris Byrd, who fought as a middleweight in the Olympics,

fit into that category. He was a southpaw who moved

well and had great defensive skills. He had a quick punch

but he lacked the thunderous “Tyson” or "Liston" knock

out power that fans appreciate. As a fighter, he made his

pro debut against Gary Smith on January 28, 1993, in

Flint, Michigan, and won a six-round decision. He

weighed only 169 pounds. He moved up the ranks and

began to fight as a heavyweight, realizing that is where

the interest and better money is. He had victories over

proven heavyweights Bert Cooper, Levi Billups and a

big knockout victory over Jimmy Thunder. In the bout

with Thunder, Byrd landed a succession of punches

that stunned the viewing audience and announcers as well.

Byrd was a force to reckoned with. His style of fighting

made him hard to match in the ring. Also, no one wanted

to fight him and just be out hustled and out pointed. He

was turned down by many big name fighters. They knew

they would be better off just waiting for bigger paydays

down the line against a less formidable foe. Byrd was in

a situation where he could not advance in the heavyweight

ranks, although he was a talented fighter.

Ike Ibeabuchi was a well conditioned fighter. In that

facet of boxing he was a true professional. He stood six

foot two and weighed between 230 to 240 pounds, a

weight his frame carried well. He was from Isulo,

Nigeria, but was now fighting out of Phoenix, Arizona. He

entered the pro ranks on October 13, 1994, in Shreveport,

Louisiana against Ismael Garcia. He won convincingly in

a second round knockout. He fought mostly on small

boxing cards and despite his skills was unknown to the

general boxing media and fans. Some of his earlier

opponents were Marion Wilson, Calvin Jones and

Herman Delgado. His resume did not include a major

victory against a fighter that held name recognition.

Ibeabuchi needed a big victory to get a valid ranking and

recognition. He did that when with only sixteen bouts

under his belt all of which he won, he fought David

Tua. Ibeabuchi, impressed all and won a unanimous

decision in a hard fought contest. In this bout more

punches were thrown than in any heavyweight bout since

compu-box began keeping tallies. Ibeabuchi showed he

had a solid chin, good stamina and poise in the ring.

He really delivered in that bout and fans and media

began to take notice. With the victory over David Tua

behind him, his management did something no one

wanted to do. He agreed to fight Chris Byrd. Such a

match up intrigued boxing fans and media. Could the

blown up middleweight Byrd win against a power

punching heavyweight who had beaten nationally

ranked David Tua? Would Ibeabuchi be just too powerful

or could Byrd outmaneuver him in the ring. The bout

was set for March 20th, 1999, in Tacoma, Washington.

It seemed as though most were there to see what would

happen rather than root for a particular fighter. Neither

fighter had a great fan base. Ibeabuchi, was still unknown

and Byrd's style was not a hit with the fans.

During the pre-fight introductions Byrd was

introduced weighing 208 pounds and had a record of 27

wins, 0 losses with fifteen knockouts. His opponent,

Ibeabuchi had a record of 19 wins, 0 losses with fourteen

knockouts and weighed 244 pounds. From the beginning

the bout was competitive. Ibeabuchi, the stronger of the

two and bigger puncher, chased Byrd. Byrd stayed in the

middle of the ring and mostly counter-punched. The

first two rounds were even and could have been scored

either way. During round three, Ibeabuchi, with good

foot movement and hand speed, began to close gaps. He

cornered Byrd and began throwing hay-maker punches.

Byrd was close to being caught with several knockout

blows. It seemed as though it was a matter of time

before Ibeabuchi’s punches would land on Byrd. Most

felt Ibeabuchi was winning the bout. A cut was opened

above Byrd’s eye in round four. The cut bled very

little and did not effect his vision. In round five,

Ibeabuchi, a true warrior, caught Byrd on a big left hook.

The hook was a power punch and Byrd went straight to

the canvas. He got up but when action resumed again

fell to the canvas on his own. He got up again and

Ibeabuchi went wild in flurry of punches. On the ropes

Byrd avoided some but was hit with others. The

referee stopped the fight and rightfully so. Byrd was too

delirious to continue. He would fight another day and

as for Ibeabuchi, he now had another massive credential

on his resume. With two victories in a row against

against ranked heavyweight fighters, his career was

moving forward. Many felt Ibeabuchi would be the

heavyweight champion some day. Unfortunately he got

into trouble with the law and is currently in jail.

When released, which is unknown date he will be in his

mid 30’s age-wise and estimates on his post-prison

career are varied. His bout against Chris Byrd was his

last before going to jail.

Byrd took the knockout loss in full stride. He even

complimented Ibeabuchi in the post fight interview.

By taking on this fight he showed that despite the fact he

was small for a heavyweight he was willing to fight

anyone. He had tremendous courage as a fighter. He later

emerged as one of the division's top heavyweights and

captured a title. He had victories over Evander Holyfield,

David Tua, Frees Queendom and Jamal McLane. He also

had a draw with hard punching Andrew Golota. His most

impressive performance was his victory over David Tua.

Many in the boxing community felt Tua, a short stocky

fighter with a big punch would knock Byrd out easily early

in their bout. But Byrd rose to the occasion and took all

of Tua's best shots and won a decision. Byrd is a true

professional and his career prove it.



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Cassius Clay vs Sonny Liston II


Cassius Clay was known as the "Mouth from the

South." As a fighter he moved well in the ring and was

fast. He had a solid victory over Sonny Liston in their

first bout. Liston, a ferocious puncher, claimed he had

a shoulder injury and as soon as he got back into fighting

form he could destroy Clay. In the first fight Clay had

gotten lucky, he had not fought the real Liston. The

rematch was set for May 25, 1965. Liston actually was

favored to win. Many in the media thought perhaps he

had taken the brash Clay lightly the first time. Liston was

menacing and had an evil aura. He was an ex- con who

learned to box in prison. He had grown up dirt poor and

boxing was his road to riches. His ring talents were

plentiful. He could hit like a sledge hammer and had good

boxing skills. Instead of being a brawler like many

punchers are, he was a measured puncher. Prior to his

loss to Clay in their first fight he had won every bout

except for one loss which was due to a broken jaw. He

later avenged the loss in a rematch. During his career,

he also destroyed Floyd Patterson twice, both times in

first round knockouts. Liston, had a mysterious nature to

him. His true age was debated. He stated he was 31

years old but others thought he was much older.

Clay was incredibly popular with the media. The

youngster could talk up a storm and his poems and one-

liner jokes filled the sports pages. He was a true media

darling in every sense of the word. Could he beat the

"The Bear “ as the Liston was known or would Liston rise

to the occasion? The bout was set for May 25, 1965,

in Lewiston, Maine. Not only was this is a major bout for

boxing but it turned out to be boxing's greatest

controversy as well. With 4, 280 people attending the

bout took on the aura of "youth" versus "age.” During

the pre-fight introductions Liston was introduced with a

record of 32 wins, 2 losses and twenty five

knockouts. He stood six foot one and weighed 218

pounds. Clay stood six foot three and weighed 206

pounds. He had a record of 19 wins, 0 losses with fifteen

knockouts. When the bell rang to begin the bout, Clay

smartly stayed on the outside boxing while Liston

followed him around the ring. When Clay did throw

punches, he immediately retreated to keep a distance from

Liston. Mid-way through the first round Liston, who

many believe owned boxing’s strongest jab ever, threw a

jab at Clay. Clay moved his head to avoid the jab and

quickly countered with a right-hand punch. He also

planted his right leg as anchor and pivoted off his left

foot and struck Liston flush on the jaw. Being six foot

three and weighing 206 pounds with excellent

coordination he skillfully shifted his body weight forward

into the punch as adept fighters do. The punch was

downward: thus had additional strength behind it.

With fast reflexes, Clay utilized his hand speed to give

the punch even more momentum. Pre-occupied with

throwing a jab, Liston had no defense against it. It

surprised him. Also he was moving forward into the

punch. Therefore it hit him harder. All this

translates into Liston being struck cleanly by a quick and

powerful punch with force that sent him legitimately to

the canvas. His left foot can be seen lifting off the

canvas offering proof as to the power of the punch.

After going down on all fours he fell backward. Jubilant

and out of control, Clay taunted him to get up and keep

fighting. Liston made his way upward to a kneeling

position and fell over backwards. Meanwhile referee

Jersey Joe Walcott was trying to get Clay to a neutral

corner as required by the rules. But to no avail. Walcott

was busy with Clay's antics. Liston slowly made his way

to his feet, but a full seventeen seconds had elapsed.

When he did fully rise Clay and Liston were facing each

other. Referee Walcott was in between them cleaning

Liston's gloves. Unable to hear what the timekeeper was

saying, he left and the two fighters and went across the

ring. Clay and Liston continued fighting with Liston

dazed and still not on solid legs. Walcott was told by the

time keeper that Liston had not beat the count and the

fight was over. He went back to the fighters, stepping

between them and declared Clay the winner by raising

his arm. During the confusion, Liston was never given a

ten count. However, he would have limited to no

possibility of beating such. He was clearly out on his feet

as indicted by his actions.

Fans and media began to shout "fix", "fix." Others

thought a phantom punch had been thrown and Liston

was taking a dive as part of a set up. Such theories are

still regularly discussed today but they are false and the

evidence does not support them. Clay, an undefeated

Heavyweight Champion with fast hands, landed a clean

powerful punch to the jaw of Liston. Liston was unable to

beat the count nor could he have had he received one.

Cassius Clay retained the title with a knockout in round

one. The clear and overwhelming evidence supports

this.

The loss for Liston was tough for him to endure. He

was expected to win yet he lost via knockout. That was his

second loss to Cassius Clay, a fighter he could not beat.

Liston never again challenged for a title. He still had

another sixteen bouts and true to his level of skill in the

ring and despite being older won fifteen of them. His

era has a champion was brief and despite a proven track

record as a fighter, his legacy of losing to Cassius Clay

seemed to mark him indefinitely. He later died in 1970.

When Cassius beat Liston the second time he proved

his first victory over Liston was not a fluke. He not only

was a great boxer but puncher as well. After all, he had

just knocked out Sonny Liston with one punch. Cassius

was for real and with his charisma and oratory skills he

single handedly elevated the popularity of boxing to new

heights. He later changed his name to Muhammad Ali and

had victories over Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Earnie

Shavers, Ron Lyle and other formidable fighters.

Whenever he fought it was a major media event and he

always drew fans. In 1974, he faced then undefeated

and invincible "Big" George Foreman in Zaire, Africa.

For that bout, much like the Liston bouts, he was again an

underdog, widely expected to lose. Ali rose to the occasion

and won in a seventh round knockout, giving George

Foreman his first defeat. Again, the ever so talented Ali,

proved his critics wrong. During his rein Ali's

nickname was "The Greatest" and if you were a boxing

fan in the 60's and 70's you would agree to such a label.

With his skills and showmanship, Muhammad Ali proved

to all he was simply the best.




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Marvin Hagler vs Thomas Hearns.


A truly great boxer is defined by how he fare's in his

major bouts. From time to time two fighters who already

own the label of being a great fighter, come together. On

March 15, 1984, Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns did

just that. They worked out the contractual agreements and

were ready for a big showdown. Two big name fighters

actually fighting each other. One of these fighters fighting

a lesser opponent would not be a big draw. The two

collectively, with their defined status, made the bout a

major event. Fans and media flocked. Marvin Hagler

was managed by the Petronelli brothers and fought out

of Brockton, Massachusetts. In the 1980's he was

considered pound for pound one of the best fighters in the

world. His talents in the ring were incredible. He could

fight southpaw, he could box, punch and had an

incredible chin. His ability to outlast any foe was

remarkable. He never seem to tire in the ring. Hagler

made his pro debut against Terry Ryan on May 18, 1973,

in Brockton, Massachusetts and won a second round

knockout. He climbed up the middleweight ranks

and accumulated a great record. Having sixty four fights,

he won all except for two draws and two losses. All his

draws and losses he avenged in rematches. Earlier

during his career, his skill level was such that he could

not get a shot at the title because no-one wanted to lose to

him. He was not good, he was excellent. He was never

an Olympic gold medalist and not all that marketable

despite his great ring achievements. Some of his

biggest career wins were against Sugar Ray Seales

whom he stopped in one round and a twelve round

decision over Willie Monroe.

Thomas Hearns was from Detroit, Michigan. After

an amateur career he entered the pro ranks on September

7, 1978, against Bruce Finch in Detroit and won by a third

round knockout. Hearns eventually became the pride of

Detroit. Tall, angular, he used his incredible reach to keep

the opposition at bay and then land his big right hand.

He actually won so many bouts in a row he was nicknamed

the "Hitman." Prior to fighting Hagler he had only one

loss as a pro. Some of his most famous fights were

against Roberto Duran whom he knocked out in two

rounds and Pipino Cuevas who he also stopped in two

rounds. His lone loss was to Sugar Ray Leonard in a

tough battle that went back and forth. Since his loss to

Leonard he had matured physically and emotionally. He

now stood six foot two and weighed a rock solid 160

pounds. He was a tremendous boxer using his reach and

huge physique. Being only twenty six he was still in

his prime and a bout with Hagler some felt for Hearns was

winnable. After all he destroyed Duran in two rounds

where Hagler went to a fifteen round decision against him

and nearly lost. Opinions varied as to who would win

between Hagler and Hearns. Would Hagler be out

pointed or could he muscle in and land punches on

Hearns. One thing for sure, the media and fans were

indeed looking forward to this bout.


It was finally set for March 5, 1985, in Las Vegas,

Nevada, and was going to be a great fight. Celebrities

came to see it as well. Through closed circuit viewing it

had a world wide audience. The outcome would be

subject of boxing discussions for years to come.

The night of the fight the crowd waited in anticipation.

Thomas Hearns was first to enter the ring followed by

Marvin Hagler a few minutes later. During the pre-fight

introductions Thomas “Hitman” Hearns was introduced

weighing 160 pounds and had a record of 38 wins, 1

loss with thirty four knockouts. “Marvelous” Marvin

Hagler weighed 160 and had a record of 62 wins, 2

losses, 2 draws with forty four knockouts. Hearns

towered over the shorter Hagler during the stare-down.

The bell rang and the two fighters immediately went at

each other. Hearns used his jab and began dropping

right hands in and actually stunned Hagler. Hagler

seemed unable to get inside at first. He eventually

landed and the two traded big shots to the delight of the

crowd. Hearns seemed to be getting the lead. The

round ended with Hearns on the ropes and Hagler

punching. Quite a round. The crowd applauded in

appreciation. In round two Hearns began jabbing and

moving but Hagler was able to close the gaps this round,

he stunned Hearns and the two exchanged blows. This

round Hagler was getting the better and then the bout

was stopped due to a cut. Blood was all over Hagler's

face. The doctor let the bout continue and action went

forward. This round Hearn's legs did not have the

movement they had earlier and he took a few more

shots. Hagler seemed to win this round. Again, a

great round of action. Round three began and Hearns

was moving around the ring. He jabbed and went

side to side but he still naively was willing to trade

bombs with Hagler. Hagler again was on the prowl and

mid-way into the round, landed an overhand right in

which sent Hearns sideways and Hagler rushed in and

landed again. Hearns went straight down and did not

beat the count. The bout was over and Hagler had

won.

This bout was different. It did something that had not

taken place. Due to it's incredible level of action it was

just as exciting as any major fight professional boxing had

ever had. There really had not been a pro bout with this

much action since Ali fought Frazier in 1971, at Madison

Square Garden. This bout seemed to have it all, two

great fighters, a great fight and a knockout. There were

no disappointed fans or media for this bout. The loss

for Hearns was difficult to absorb. His lone loss to Ray

Leonard in years past was the biggest fight of his career

and now had again lost another major bout. In the mind

of the public and boxing media he would be remembered

as the fighter that lost to both Hagler and Leonard. For

the Hagler bout he elected to stand toe to toe too much and

should have using the ring more. A costly mistake and

difficult to reflect on. He continued boxing and later had

some big victories, including wins over the late James

Schuler, James Kinchen and Virgil Hill. Even at age 46

proving his boxing skills and punching power to be

timeless he had a comeback fight and won via

knockout.

For Hagler the recognition he got from the knockout

victory of Hearns was long overdue. In years past he

fought on fight cards that were not shown national

television. Despite his incredible talent he generated

small paychecks and little fan or media recognition.

However, in this bout he finally got the nod from the

public and boxing media. Gone were the days of

"Marvin who?" Now everyone knew who he was and

his stock in the boxing community grew in leaps and

bonds. It was the most impressive performance of his

career. He had one more bout then retired and is now

an actor.





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Extras.


Anatomy of a Fight Card. An Inside Look at a

Duva Sponsored Boxing Card.




1- Ruben Flores - New York vs Reid Gossett - North

Carolina

2- Martin Musoke - Virginia vs Stacey Burris - Virginia

3- Todd Lemaster - North Carolina vs Marc Randazzo -

Chicago, Illinois

4- Alonzo Cutchins- Norfolk, Virginia vs Cornelius

Harris- Norfolk, Virginia

5- Antonio Carter- Bogalusa, Louisiana vs Pernel

Whitaker- Norfolk, Virginia


(Picture provided by Freedigtalphotos.net)

(*holoholololand)

There was a sparse crowd attending the small

professional boxing card, less than 400 people had

shown up at the Virginia Beach Pavilion located near the

main street in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The card was

promoted by the Duvas. They were known in boxing

circles as the first family of boxing. They had a stable of

fighters including local favorite Pernel Whitaker.

Whitaker was an Olympic gold medalist. He was

fighting in the main event and was slowly becoming

popular. By himself he drew most of the fans and media.

They were there to see him showcase his skills. With his

talents and the backing of the Duvas he could become a

future world champion. Tonight was a stepping stone in

that process. It seemed as though most fans and

media had not attended a boxing match before and did not

know what to expect. They were curious, interested and

hopeful the money they spent on tickets would be

worth it. Most mingled before the bouts began, some

bought hot dogs and cokes. As fight time approached the

fans and ringside media took to their seats and it was time

for the bouts to begin.

The first bout listed on the program, which was passed

out freely by the Pavilion, was in the cruiserweight

division. It featured Ruben Flores from New York who

was making his pro debut vs Reid Gossett from North

Carolina whose record was listed at 3 wins with 1 loss.

The bout was scheduled for four rounds. Undercard bouts

offer young fighters an opportunity to gain experience and

advance their careers. Tonight Flores as well as Gossett

were hopeful they would win and they had to prove it

themselves. For boxing, unlike most sports is by no

means a team sport. When the bell rings the boxer

the boxer goes into the ring totally alone. With punches

being thrown by the adversary whose goal is to score a

knockout, anything can happen in there. Each novice

boxer had to recognize this and be cautious. Neither

fighter wanted to lose or be hurt in the ring.

Gossett was the first to walk to the ring. He had on

a towel torn in the middle and worn over his shoulders

instead of a robe. He had on white shorts and shoes that

were not necessarily of a boxing style and was

moderately muscled. Instead of an entourage he had only

one cornerman accompanying him. When he entered the

ring the crowd seem to glare curiously at him and he drew

no applause. Next to walk toward ring was a robust and

heavily muscled Flores. He was accompanied by Lou

Duva, the trainer for all Duva fighters and a handful of

cornermen. His shorts were red and of a boxing style and

he also had a torn towel in the center over his head.

Tonight, with the backing of the Duvas, he was a house

fighter which can be a big advantage in boxing. Flores

entered the ring with the crowd veering to see him.

Almost immediately the two fighters eyed each other and

began warming up by throwing punches in the air.

While Ruben Flores looked Puerta Rican, Gossett was

white. The referee signaled both fighters to the center of

the ring for final instructions and the crowd whistled in

anticipation of an exciting bout.

The bell rang and the two fighters began cautiously

circling the ring. Gossett advanced and threw the first

punch which was a left jab and followed by a right.

Flores covered up and the punches landed on his

gloves and he seemed unhurt. Gossett advanced again

throwing punches and Flores covered up and was unhurt.

Then, in an instant, Flores, heavily muscled with quick

hands, opened up landing a three punch combination to

Gosset's head and face. The punches were loud and

echoed throughout the small arena and drew the attention

of the fans. Reid Gossett was stunned and surprised at the

accuracy and power of the punches. He paused for a

moment and then naively advanced again and when he was

in Flores's range was caught with two big punches and

he went straight to the canvas. The fight was over,

Reid never beat the count. He was conscious but badly

dazed and unable to get up. Virginia State Commission

doctors rushed into the ring to see if he was all right while

a victorious Ruben Flores celebrated in his corner. After

several minutes he rose and exited the ring. As he left

ringsiders looked at him and his face was beginning to

redden and swell from the punches he had taken. Boxing

is indeed a brutal sport and fans and media were just

witness to such in a vivid capacity. For someone who

never attended a boxing match before it was a rude

awakening and fans were dumbfounded. It seemed to

volatile, too extreme, this is actually a sanctioned sport.

The next bout on the Duva Sponsored fight card

featured Stacey Burris versus Martin Mouske,

scheduled for four rounds in the junior welterweight

division. Burris had record of 6 wins with 1 loss

while Mouske had 3 wins with 1 loss. Both fighters

were black and from Virginia. Unlike the first, this

bout offered fans a much more competitive fight. Each

boxer had some experience and knew the basics of

boxing. When the bell rang Burris used his boxing skills

to outbox Mouske who was repeatedly hit with overhand

rights. After four rounds Burris won a decision and

looked relatively sharp in doing so. Unfortunately he was

not a Duva fighter but with better management and

steady improvement he had some potential. Musoke

needed to polish some of his skills, he was easily hit way

too many times. This bout was easier to watch for the

fans and lacked the savagery of the first bout on the card.

There was a brief intermission after the conclusion of

the second bout. Then it was time for the next bout. It

was scheduled for four rounds in the cruiserweight

division. It featured Todd Lemaster from North Carolina

versus Duva prodigy Mark Randazzo from Chicago,

Illinois. Randazzo had 1 win with 0 losses while

Lemaster was making his pro-debut. Both fighters were

white. Mark stood around six foot one and was in

excellent shape. He had broad shoulders and a powerful

looking physique. He was a fighter with potential being

groomed by the Duvas. Warming up in his corner he

looked like a true professional. In contrast, Todd

Lemaster, who had the same cornerman as Reid Gossett

who was previously stopped in the first round looked

totally out of shape. He lacked a solid physique and his

shoes and shorts were not of a boxing style. One

ringsider put it this when he saw Lemaster, "where did

they get this guy from, he's going to fight." This bout

was a mismatch It could be defined as a palooka

versus a prospect. To the fans Lemaster was crazy to

even step into the ring that night. His opponent

Randazzo could easily knock him out in his pro debut.

There seemed little likelyhood that this bout would last

one round. The bell rang and the bout started with

Randazzo advancing on Lemaster. Randazzo quickly got

Lemaster on the ropes and began unloading powerful

overhand rights on him. Lemaster game fully covered

up but was not strong enough to stop the heavy punching.

Within thirty seconds he absorbed too many punches and

was on the canvas. He rose quickly and the referee gave

him a ten count and the bout continued. He took several

more punches and unable to defend himself was on

the canvas again. The fight was over. He did not get

up for several minutes as Virginia State Commission

doctors rushed into the ring to see if he was ok. He

moved a little and after five minutes got up and walked

to his corner and exited the ring. He seemed to almost

sneak back to his dressing room while a victorious

Mark Randazzo celebrated in his corner.

Neither fighter from North Carolina had lasted more

than minute in his bout and lost badly. North Carolina is a

state with limited boxing regulation. It is known for

producing opponents, fighters who go from town to

town losing to local favorites to help them build their

records. Anyone watching Todd Lemaster or Reid

Gossett in the ring would have to question their

credentials. Were they qualified to fight professionally?

Did they have amateur experience? Were they really who

they said they were or perhaps fighting under an alias;

a relatively common practice in the shadowy world of

professional boxing. One thing for sure, neither fighter

took a dive tonight and just collected their checks. Each

fought back and were legitimately knocked out, such was

clearly visible to all ringside observers.

The next bout involved Cornelius Harris versus Alonzo

Cutchins also in the cruiserweight division. Cornelius

Harris was from Norfolk, Virginia, with a record of 1 wins

and 1 loss. Cutchins was from Charlottsville, Virginia,

and had a record of 6 wins and 4 losses. The bout was

scheduled for four rounds and both fighters were black.

Harris stood six feet tall and looked like the perfect all

around athlete. He was well proportioned, heavily

muscled and looked to be in great shape. Cutchins

meanwhile stood around six foot four and looked lanky.

He was not heavily muscled but did have ten fights under

his belt, six of which he had won. To most ringsiders it

looked as though Cutchins would not posses the strength

to stop an assault from Harris. Most expected a quick

knockout of Cutchins by Harris. The referee gave the

fighters their instructions and the bell rang to begin the

bout. Harris advanced quickly and used a sharp jab to

keep Alonzo off balance. When he got in close he threw

overhand rights which Cutchins could not avoid. After

two rounds Harris was dominating the fight and ahead on

the scorecards. Round three was the same with Harris

throwing and Cutchins just absorbing punches and unable

to stop the aggressive attack of Harris. Cutchins

extensive experience and overall ring savvy kept him from

being knocked out or from the referee stopping the bout.

The fourth and final round began and was almost a

repeat of the earlier rounds. But boxing can be the theater

of the unexpected and one can never know what to expect.

Midway through the final round, out of nowhere, Cutchins

landed a big overhand right on a stunned Harris. Harris

went straight to the canvas and never got up. It was a

knockout punch and Cutchins despite being way

behind on points rose to the occasion. He had no quit in

him. Knockout victory for Cutchins and the crowd

applauded as the two game warriors exited the ring. Great

four round fight.


The next fight on the card was in the middleweight

division. It was scheduled for four rounds. It featured

John Keys who had a record of 8 wins, 6 losses with 1

draw against Ken Shannon who had a record of 20 wins 4

losses. Shannon at one time had a national ranking. His

opponent John Keys was built like a body builder and in

terrific condition. Shannon was short and stocky.

Looking at their records it looked like it would be an

easy night for Shannon. On paper he was more

experienced and had better credentials. After a brief

stare-down and the referee's instructions the bout began.

Shannon started fast and just kept coming at Keys. Keys

simply covered up and retreated when necessary.

Throughout the fight, Keys initiated a limited offense and

just took all the punches. However, he never was on

the canvas and never seemed to be in any serious trouble.

He maintained a small spurt of punches per round but

outside of that he just covered up. Finally after seven

rounds of such he did something bizarre. He landed a

succession of punches that rocked Shannon. He kept

punching and then knocked him down and the action

continued with Shannon out on his feet. The referee then

stopped the fight. It was an exciting contest. Hopelessly

behind on points Keys scored a big come from behind

knockout. As he left the ring fans and media

congratulated him on his tremendous victory.

So far the fight card had consisted of three knockouts

and one decision. It was an exciting night so far and now

it was time for the main event. It featured Pernel "Sweet

Pea" Whitaker from Norfolk, Virginia versus Antonio

Carter from Bogalusa, Louisiana. It was scheduled for

ten rounds. Whitaker had a records of 15 wins with 1 loss

while Carter was 9 wins with 6 losses When

Whitaker entered the ring the crowd cheered their local

favorite loudly. He bowed in acknowledgement. After

the instructions by the referee the bout began. Whitaker,

a technician, boxed and never allowed a game but

outclassed Carter to get inside and land. Whitaker used

the ring and his style to win the rounds. As the second

round came to an end, Whitaker began landing overhand

rights that were rocking Carter. During the third round

Whitaker dazzled the crowd and media as he put on a

boxing clinic. He stalked his opponent and landed all

types of punches simultaneously not allowing his

opponent to land at all. With fast reflexes he had the

ability to hit and not be hit. His boxing skills were

incredible. So far He had won every round. In round

four he knocked Carter down and Carter rose. The

Virginia State Commission director Al Rothenberg

signaled to the referee that the fight needed to be stopped.

Carter could no longer fight on. Whitaker had won and

looked like a true champion. With boxing ability like

that a title shot was down the line for him. Carter,

game, but outclassed had lost via knockout. Whitaker

mingled for a short while with some of the

ringside fans and media. He did a brief interview

then made his was to the locker room.

That was the end of the bouts. There were five bouts

total and four ended by knockout. Overall it was a good

card and the fighters delivered good quality action. The

Duvas also did a good job promoting. I was curious as

to what ever happened to the fighters on the card

careerwise. Ruben Flores had only four more bouts, the

last two of which he lost via knockout, he then retired.

Todd Lemaster never fought again and Reid Gossett

had six more fights losing all before quitting the ring.

Lemaster or Gossett were never from North Carolina but

really from Spartanburg, South Carolina. Pernel Whitaker

and Marc Randazzo both advanced in the pro ranks and

captured world titles. Whitaker, was at one time pound

for pound one of the best in the world and upon

completion of his career was considered to be a great

fighter. What happened to the other fighters careerwise is

unknown. It cost twenty dollars to sit ringside that night

and attend the fights. Was it worth it? Definitely so and

any fan in attendance would agree.




(Picture provided by Freeimages.com)

(*Jean Scheijen)



A Tribute to Cody Koch


The late Cody Koch was affectionately known to his fans

as “The Alaskan Assassin." He was a fighter with a true

passion for boxing. According to Michelle Koch, his wife,

"every time he was photographed he posed in a boxing

stance. Boxing was his whole life. He absolutely loved

it." Cody grew up in Anchorage, Alaska and seemed

destined to be a pro fighter. He entered every bout

superbly conditioned whether amateur, tough man or pro.

A real fighter he brought an electric excitement into the

ring. With his heavy hands and tremendous heart he

accumulated an impressive record of 24 wins with 20

knockouts, and 2 losses. He established an excellent fan

base in his home state of Alaska and legitimately earned the

nickname "The Alaskan Assassin." His manager Art Dore

said "Cody was so popular in Alaska he could have run

for president up there." Cody had died but boxing fans in

his home state and elsewhere will always remember him

for his talents, efforts and dedication to his chosen

profession. He came to fight. He came to win. Now gone

but not forgotten. Cody is still alive in the hearts and

minds of his many fans.


..





The first bout listed on the program, which was passed

out freely by the Pavilion, was in the cruiserweight

division. It featured Ruben Flores from New York who

was making his pro debut vs Reid Gossett from North

Carolina whose record was listed at 3 wins with 1 loss.

The bout was scheduled for four rounds. Undercard bouts

offer young fighters an opportunity to gain experience and

advance their careers. Tonight Flores as well as Gossett

were hopeful they would win and they had to prove it

themselves. For boxing, unlike most sports is by no

means a team sport. When the bell rings the boxer

the boxer goes into the ring totally alone. With punches

being thrown by the adversary whose goal is to score a

knockout, anything can happen in there. Each novice

boxer had to recognize this and be cautious. Neither

fighter wanted to lose or be hurt in the ring.

Gossett was the first to walk to the ring. He had on

a towel torn in the middle and worn over his shoulders

instead of a robe. He had on white shorts and shoes that

were not necessarily of a boxing style and was

moderately muscled. Instead of an entourage he had only

one cornerman accompanying him. When he entered the

ring the crowd seem to glare curiously at him and he drew

no applause. Next to walk toward ring was a robust and

heavily muscled Flores. He was accompanied by Lou

Duva, the trainer for all Duva fighters and a handful of

cornermen. His shorts were red and of a boxing style and

he also had a torn towel in the center over his head.

Tonight, with the backing of the Duvas, he was a house

fighter which can be a big advantage in boxing. Flores

entered the ring with the crowd veering to see him.

Almost immediately the two fighters eyed each other and

began warming up by throwing punches in the air.

While Ruben Flores looked Puerta Rican, Gossett was

white. The referee signaled both fighters to the center of

the ring for final instructions and the crowd whistled in

anticipation of an exciting bout.

The bell rang and the two fighters began cautiously

circling the ring. Gossett advanced and threw the first

punch which was a left jab and followed by a right.

Flores covered up and the punches landed on his

gloves and he seemed unhurt. Gossett advanced again

throwing punches and Flores covered up and was unhurt.

Then, in an instant, Flores, heavily muscled with quick

hands, opened up landing a three punch combination to

Gosset's head and face. The punches were loud and

echoed throughout the small arena and drew the attention

of the fans. Reid Gossett was stunned and surprised at the

accuracy and power of the punches. He paused for a

moment and then naively advanced again and when he was

in Flores's range was caught with two big punches and

he went straight to the canvas. The fight was over,

Reid never beat the count. He was conscious but badly

dazed and unable to get up. Virginia State Commission

doctors rushed into the ring to see if he was all right while

a victorious Ruben Flores celebrated in his corner. After

several minutes he rose and exited the ring. As he left

ringsiders looked at him and his face was beginning to

redden and swell from the punches he had taken. Boxing

is indeed a brutal sport and fans and media were just

witness to such in a vivid capacity. For someone who

never attended a boxing match before it was a rude

awakening and fans were dumbfounded. It seemed to

volatile, too extreme, this is actually a sanctioned sport.

The next bout on the Duva Sponsored fight card

featured Stacey Burris versus Martin Mouske,

scheduled for four rounds in the junior welterweight

division. Burris had record of 6 wins with 1 loss

while Mouske had 3 wins with 1 loss. Both fighters

were black and from Virginia. Unlike the first, this

bout offered fans a much more competitive fight. Each

boxer had some experience and knew the basics of

boxing. When the bell rang Burris used his boxing skills

to outbox Mouske who was repeatedly hit with overhand

rights. After four rounds Burris won a decision and

looked relatively sharp in doing so. Unfortunately he was

not a Duva fighter but with better management and

steady improvement he had some potential. Musoke

needed to polish some of his skills, he was easily hit way

too many times. This bout was easier to watch for the

fans and lacked the savagery of the first bout on the card.

There was a brief intermission after the conclusion of

the second bout. Then it was time for the next bout. It

was scheduled for four rounds in the cruiserweight

division. It featured Todd Lemaster from North Carolina

versus Duva prodigy Mark Randazzo from Chicago,

Illinois. Randazzo had 1 win with 0 losses while

Lemaster was making his pro-debut. Both fighters were

white. Mark stood around six foot one and was in

excellent shape. He had broad shoulders and a powerful

looking physique. He was a fighter with potential being

groomed by the Duvas. Warming up in his corner he

looked like a true professional. In contrast, Todd

Lemaster, who had the same cornerman as Reid Gossett

who was previously stopped in the first round looked

totally out of shape. He lacked a solid physique and his

shoes and shorts were not of a boxing style. One

ringsider put it this when he saw Lemaster, "where did

they get this guy from, he's going to fight." This bout

was a mismatch It could be defined as a palooka

versus a prospect. To the fans Lemaster was crazy to

even step into the ring that night. His opponent

Randazzo could easily knock him out in his pro debut.

There seemed little likelyhood that this bout would last

one round. The bell rang and the bout started with

Randazzo advancing on Lemaster. Randazzo quickly got

Lemaster on the ropes and began unloading powerful

overhand rights on him. Lemaster game fully covered

up but was not strong enough to stop the heavy punching.

Within thirty seconds he absorbed too many punches and

was on the canvas. He rose quickly and the referee gave

him a ten count and the bout continued. He took several

more punches and unable to defend himself was on

the canvas again. The fight was over. He did not get

up for several minutes as Virginia State Commission

doctors rushed into the ring to see if he was ok. He

moved a little and after five minutes got up and walked

to his corner and exited the ring. He seemed to almost

sneak back to his dressing room while a victorious

Mark Randazzo celebrated in his corner.

Neither fighter from North Carolina had lasted more

than minute in his bout and lost badly. North Carolina is a

state with limited boxing regulation. It is known for

producing opponents, fighters who go from town to

town losing to local favorites to help them build their

records. Anyone watching Todd Lemaster or Reid

Gossett in the ring would have to question their

credentials. Were they qualified to fight professionally?

Did they have amateur experience? Were they really who

they said they were or perhaps fighting under an alias;

a relatively common practice in the shadowy world of

professional boxing. One thing for sure, neither fighter

took a dive tonight and just collected their checks. Each

fought back and were legitimately knocked out, such was

clearly visible to all ringside observers.

The next bout involved Cornelius Harris versus Alonzo

Cutchins also in the cruiserweight division. Cornelius

Harris was from Norfolk, Virginia, with a record of 1 wins

and 1 loss. Cutchins was from Charlottsville, Virginia,

and had a record of 6 wins and 4 losses. The bout was

scheduled for four rounds and both fighters were black.

Harris stood six feet tall and looked like the perfect all

around athlete. He was well proportioned, heavily

muscled and looked to be in great shape. Cutchins

meanwhile stood around six foot four and looked lanky.

He was not heavily muscled but did have ten fights under

his belt, six of which he had won. To most ringsiders it

looked as though Cutchins would not posses the strength

to stop an assault from Harris. Most expected a quick

knockout of Cutchins by Harris. The referee gave the

fighters their instructions and the bell rang to begin the

bout. Harris advanced quickly and used a sharp jab to

keep Alonzo off balance. When he got in close he threw

overhand rights which Cutchins could not avoid. After

two rounds Harris was dominating the fight and ahead on

the scorecards. Round three was the same with Harris

throwing and Cutchins just absorbing punches and unable

to stop the aggressive attack of Harris. Cutchins

extensive experience and overall ring savvy kept him from

being knocked out or from the referee stopping the bout.

The fourth and final round began and was almost a

repeat of the earlier rounds. But boxing can be the theater

of the unexpected and one can never know what to expect.

Midway through the final round, out of nowhere, Cutchins

landed a big overhand right on a stunned Harris. Harris

went straight to the canvas and never got up. It was a

knockout punch and Cutchins despite being way

behind on points rose to the occasion. He had no quit in

him. Knockout victory for Cutchins and the crowd

applauded as the two game warriors exited the ring. Great

four round fight.


The next fight on the card was in the middleweight

division. It was scheduled for four rounds. It featured

John Keys who had a record of 8 wins, 6 losses with 1

draw against Ken Shannon who had a record of 20 wins 4

losses. Shannon at one time had a national ranking. His

opponent John Keys was built like a body builder and in

terrific condition. Shannon was short and stocky.

Looking at their records it looked like it would be an

easy night for Shannon. On paper he was more

experienced and had better credentials. After a brief

stare-down and the referee's instructions the bout began.

Shannon started fast and just kept coming at Keys. Keys

simply covered up and retreated when necessary.

Throughout the fight, Keys initiated a limited offense and

just took all the punches. However, he never was on

the canvas and never seemed to be in any serious trouble.

He maintained a small spurt of punches per round but

outside of that he just covered up. Finally after seven

rounds of such he did something bizarre. He landed a

succession of punches that rocked Shannon. He kept

punching and then knocked him down and the action

continued with Shannon out on his feet. The referee then

stopped the fight. It was an exciting contest. Hopelessly

behind on points Keys scored a big come from behind

knockout. As he left the ring fans and media

congratulated him on his tremendous victory.

So far the fight card had consisted of three knockouts

and one decision. It was an exciting night so far and now

it was time for the main event. It featured Pernel "Sweet

Pea" Whitaker from Norfolk, Virginia versus Antonio

Carter from Bogalusa, Louisiana. It was scheduled for

ten rounds. Whitaker had a records of 15 wins with 1 loss

while Carter was 9 wins with 6 losses When

Whitaker entered the ring the crowd cheered their local

favorite loudly. He bowed in acknowledgement. After

the instructions by the referee the bout began. Whitaker,

a technician, boxed and never allowed a game but

outclassed Carter to get inside and land. Whitaker used

the ring and his style to win the rounds. As the second

round came to an end, Whitaker began landing overhand

rights that were rocking Carter. During the third round

Whitaker dazzled the crowd and media as he put on a

boxing clinic. He stalked his opponent and landed all

types of punches simultaneously not allowing his

opponent to land at all. With fast reflexes he had the

ability to hit and not be hit. His boxing skills were

incredible. So far He had won every round. In round

four he knocked Carter down and Carter rose. The

Virginia State Commission director Al Rothenberg

signaled to the referee that the fight needed to be stopped.

Carter could no longer fight on. Whitaker had won and

looked like a true champion. With boxing ability like

that a title shot was down the line for him. Carter,

game, but outclassed had lost via knockout. Whitaker

mingled for a short while with some of the

ringside fans and media. He did a brief interview

then made his was to the locker room.

That was the end of the bouts. There were five bouts

total and four ended by knockout. Overall it was a good

card and the fighters delivered good quality action. The

Duvas also did a good job promoting. I was curious as

to what ever happened to the fighters on the card

careerwise. Ruben Flores had only four more bouts, the

last two of which he lost via knockout, he then retired.

Todd Lemaster never fought again and Reid Gossett

had six more fights losing all before quitting the ring.

Lemaster or Gossett were never from North Carolina but

really from Spartanburg, South Carolina. Pernel Whitaker

and Marc Randazzo both advanced in the pro ranks and

captured world titles. Whitaker, was at one time pound

for pound one of the best in the world and upon

completion of his career was considered to be a great

fighter. What happened to the other fighters careerwise is

unknown. It cost twenty dollars to sit ringside that night

and attend the fights. Was it worth it? Definitely so and

any fan in attendance would agree.




(Picture provided by Freeimages.com)

(*Jean Scheijen)



A Tribute to Cody Koch


The late Cody Koch was affectionately known to his fans

as “The Alaskan Assassin." He was a fighter with a true

passion for boxing. According to Michelle Koch, his wife,

"every time he was photographed he posed in a boxing

stance. Boxing was his whole life. He absolutely loved

it." Cody grew up in Anchorage, Alaska and seemed

destined to be a pro fighter. He entered every bout

superbly conditioned whether amateur, tough man or pro.

A real fighter he brought an electric excitement into the

ring. With his heavy hands and tremendous heart he

accumulated an impressive record of 24 wins with 20

knockouts, and 2 losses. He established an excellent fan

base in his home state of Alaska and legitimately earned the

nickname "The Alaskan Assassin." His manager Art Dore

said "Cody was so popular in Alaska he could have run

for president up there." Cody had died but boxing fans in

his home state and elsewhere will always remember him

for his talents, efforts and dedication to his chosen

profession. He came to fight. He came to win. Now gone

but not forgotten. Cody is still alive in the hearts and

minds of his many fans.


..

Sources:

Boxrec
Wikipedia
YouTube