Fight:1460362

Craig Tomlinson 225 lbs beat Willie Palms 267 lbs by UD in round 4 of 4

• Date: 2009-12-04
• Location: Sovereign Center, Reading, Pennsylvania, USA
• Referee: Gary Rosato
• Judge: Bernard Bruni 38-36
• Judge: Dave Greer 38-37
• Judge: Dewey LaRosa 39-36

David slayed Goliath as heavyweight veteran Craig Tomlinson of Reading, Pennsylvania, proved that the Yogi Berra old adage 'it ain't over till it's over' is true. Tomlinson, 43, of Reading, Pennsylvania, 43, in the second bout of a comeback, gave away height, reach, size, six years and 42 pounds to opponent Willie Palms of Jersey City, New Jersey, who put on a distasteful show and could have been disqualified. Palms, who weighted 267 to Tomlinson's 225, turned his back to his foe, acted disgusting, showboated, mugged and taunted both his opponent and the crowd in rounds one and two, causing the combined boxing and mixed martial arts crowd in the Sovereign Center to erupt in deafening boos. Palms was warned in his corner by the referee that if in the course of his disgracefully turning his back and showboating, he got hit and bounced off the ropes, it would be considered a knockdown. Palms laughed it off. In round two, while still mugging, taunting, and showboating, the gigantic Palms decided use his size and 'close the show', unloading his guns with both hands and battering the smaller, aging Tomlinson face first to the canvas. Tomlinson's comeback-and career-appeared to be over. Suddenly Tomlinson jumped up from the canvas and just beat the count. Tomlinson found a second wind, took the fight to Palms and threw everything he had left in the tank, winning the second half of round two big and surprizing Palms, bringing the crowd to its feet. Rounds 3 and 4 were life and death, as Tomlinson landed overhand left and right power shots without trying to overpower Palms and not being lured into the 'emotional traps' still being set by the showboating Palms. Late in round four, a picture perfect right hand overhand right from the smaller Tomlinson sent the gargantuan Palms staggering across the ring, bouncing off the ropes in a corner and draped over the middle of the ropes! The protesting Palms got counted as the referee called it a knockdown, giving Tomlinson the fight! After this bout, Tomlinson got a standing ovation. Palms continued to taunt the crowd from ring center, then left the ring and directly taunted the crowd at ringside, causing deafening boos from the crowd again, until state athletic commissioner told Palms to "please get out of here". Palms, who has lost eight straight bouts the past eight years, acted the part of sore loser.