the what fights did you watch today\scorecard thread.

George, I did this one a few months back. Here is what I wrote:

Ramos v Suh

Here we go, California scoring: One point for a round, an extra point for a knockdown and no points for an even round.

Round 1: Suh
Round 2: Suh
Round 3: Ramos
Round 4: Ramos
Round 5: Suh
Round 6: Even
Round 7: Even
Round 8: Ramos
Round 9: Suh
Round 10: Even

Total: 4-3 Suh

This was the 18 year old Ramos' first loss. I'm amazed myself of having 3 even rounds in a 10 rounder, but although Suh was throwing a lot of flashy combos to the head, Ramos' bodywork was something else and can't go unmentioned. I would have loved to have been ringside for this one. I'll bet the thumping sound from those body shots - that you can hear on the video - would have been sickening. Fair play to both fighters for an excellent 10 rounder.

 

Dwight Qawi v Eddie Davis

Having just watched Spinks's pre-unification fight with Qawi in the crowd (mouthing 'I'm number 1, not Mike!' when the camera was on him) I thought I'd watch Qawi's own unification tune up (with Spinks commentating).

Things couldn't have started much worse for Davis as he was put down early and Qawi must have thought 'short night' but just as he would show a couple of years later against Spinks, Davis was a tough and worthy title challenger and showed superb defense and a solid inside game too. It was Qawi's superior strength and conditioning that turned things back in his favour just as it was looking like an awkward night for Dwight.

Thankfully then, the unification bout was still on.

1 10-8 (Davis goes down hard)
2 10-9 (good recovery by Davis before Qawi takes over again)
3 9-10
4 9-10 (smart fighting off the ropes from Davis)
5 9-10 (close. Good work inside from both fighters but Davis gets the better of things again - he's having fun in there)
6 9-10
7 10-9
8 10-9 (Qawi has wrestled back control)
9 10-9 (attritional warfare)
10 10-9 (Davis took a pasting as the round went on - Qawi in full control now)
(96-93)
11 Qawi TKO Davis

 

Gene Fullmer v Spider Webb II

Round 1: 10-9 Webb
Round 2: 10-10 Even
Round 3: 10-9 Fullmer
Round 4: 10-10 Even
Round 5: 10-9 Fullmer
Round 6: 10-9 Fullmer
Round 7: 10-10 Even
Round 8: 10-9 Fullmer
Round 9: 10-9 Fullmer
Round 10: 10-9 Fullmer
Round 11: 10-9 Webb
Round 12: 10-9 Fullmer
Round 13: 10-9 Webb
Round 14: 10-9 Fullmer
Round 15: 10-9 Fullmer

Total: 147-141 Fullmer (actual scores: 148-136, 150-132 and 147-141 all for Fullmer)

Not a spine-tingling fight if you're looking for excitement. Spider Webb was so talented but Fullmer's rough-house style just negated anything Spider could do from the outside. And then on the inside - which was not Spider's territory - he was up against one of the great maulers of the game. Wished the fight film was a bit sharper, but it wasn't really bad considering some of them out there.

 

Round 10 is a good round for Spinks. He gets inside on a few occasions and throws blistering combinations, plus evades well on the back foot. 6-4

Round 11 this time Spinks gets the better of it on the outside. Spinks looks shattered but Holmes is refusing to push the pace. Holmes looks like a completely over the hill fighter so far, obviously he isn't, Spinks is making him look bad. 7-4

Round 12 Spinks looks to have gotten his 2nd wind here. He is completely out speeding Holmes and even clowning him at times this round. Holmes is following him around the ring looking completely inept. And by my card now he needs a knockout. 8-4.

As an aside, Holmes had everything he needed, every round, to work that body and up the pace and instead he looks like he doesn't wanna be there.

Round 13 Holmes actually comes out with some fire and starts popping the jab, Spinks is unable to get anything going with it constantly in his face. Half way through the round Spinks begins to close the distance and actually lands a very solid right hand. He begins to drive Holmes back behind his quick combos. Really hard round to score. I'm gonna give it Holmes. 8-5

Round 14 Holmes again comes out with some fire, landing big shots, but nowhere near enough to hurt Spinks. Spinks has a way of stepping in range, lensing back and getting that jab going, Larry just can't figure it out at all. Whenever Holmes ups the pace he's clearly the ring general, but barring a knockout it's just too little too late.

Round 15 again sees Larry trying to finish strong, but never able to get the hurt on Spinks.

I have it 8-7 Spinks.

I could have had it a lot wider for Spinks to be honest.

 

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This one was called the "Asian version of Corrales-Castillo". I'm looking forward to this one.

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10 : 9
10 : 9
10 : 9
10 : 9
9 : 10 (49/46)
9 : 10
10 : 9
10 : 9
9 : 10 (

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Lee out-hustled Leopard early, both took big shots, though. Lots of clean exchanges. Tamakuma started pushing Lee back after a big fifth round. The next four were full of give and take, back and forth action where neither guy dominated. Round 10 changed that, Tamakuma found his perfect shot and closed the show.

This fight was very good through four, but great throughout the remainder.

Lee has a split decision vs Jesus Rojas. Anyone know if that's good?

Amos-san, thanks for getting the vid for me, and putting me onto it.

 

As an aside, it annoys me how big a deal is made of Spinks beating Holmes. Don't get me wrong, it's an absolutely great performance and an absolutely great victory. What annoys me is the credit he gets for being the first LHW champ to beat the HW champ.

Fitzsimmons - MW champ beats HW champ
Tunney - LHW contender beats HW champ
Charles - LHW contender beats HW champ
Patterson - LHW contender picks up vacant HW belt.

Maybe more I've missed, dunno.

Anyways

Spinks vs Holmes 2

The first two rounds Holmes comes out with a fury. He has completely changed his style. It must have killed him knowing he couldn't outbox Spinks so he is now trying to run him over. And for these 2 rounds, he does that imo. 2-0 Holmes.

Round 3 sees Larry pinning Spinks behind that jab. Any second you're expecting Spinks to disrupt the rhythm with one of his seemingly off balance yet perfectly placed punches but it doesn't come. Spinks looks like the Spinks of old, from the start of his LHW reign, which isn't a good luck at HW. He's circling away keeping defensively tight, but throwing the early rounds away. 3-0

 

Didn't mean to click submit then lol

Round 4 continues the same way. Holmes looks so much better here. Just walking Spinks down, having his way, not trying to out think him he's trying to out fight him. And he is doing. 4-0

Round 5 sees Spinks finally start to react to the pressure of Holmes, he's again able to slink his way inside and back Larry up behind combos. It's hard to tell if I'm sympathy scoring this round for Spinks as it's the only thing he's done all. Night. 4-1

Round 6 this is what Holmes was missing first time round. When Spinks is moving awkwardly instead of looking confused, Holmes just throws and moves forward which forces Spinks to expend a whole lot more energy. I gave this to Spinks again but Holmes is making him work for it this time. 4-2

Round 7 and Spinks has started to effectively disrupt the rhythm of Spinks, but Larry is still pressuring him, making him work and doesn't look like he's slowing down. Spinks is anxious and thinks he needs to wear Holmes down. It's becoming a battle of attrition. The speed and timing of Spinks vs the pressure and size of Holmes. 4-3

Round 8 is a big round for Spinks, he's disrupting him and landing lots of shots. Holmes is still coming forward and still making him work for it. Larry obviously is backing his own conditioning against the younger foes. 4-4

Round 9 Holmes land a big right hand and Spinks is on the retreat, Holmes keeps the pressure up and down but then Spinks comes firing back. Both men are trying to tire the other one out, makes for a great fight. Difference this round is Spinks can't hurt Holmes, but Holmes can hurt Spinks. 5-4 Holmes.

Round 10 Spinks is able to get off first, a lot and take it to Holmes. He thinks Holmes is gassing now and he can up the pace and put the hurt on. 5-5

Round 11 its now Spinks who looks tired and the jab and heavier punches of Holmes now seem to be doing the job. 6-5 Holmes.

Round 12 Holmes lands some big body shots at the start and again Spinks goes on the retreat, Holmes is able to follow him round the ring landing big hooks upstairs and downstairs. Spinks looks tired, hurt and unable to mount an offence here. But then the last 30 seconds he gets through with a flurry, no where near enough to take the round though. 7-5 Holmes

Round 13 and again Holmes is the one seeming tired now as Spinks gets the better work in with his superior speed and movement. 7-6

Round 14 is a bit scrappy with Spinks getting through more often than not but then half way through Holmes lands a huge right hand that sends Spinks reeling across the ring. Spinks turns his back and walks away but Holmes doesnt jump on him an doiunce, he cautiously stalks forward and the mind games work as Spinks is able to recover. 8-6 Holmes

Round 15 on my card Spinks needs a ko to win, but a lot of these rounds are really hard to score. Holmes seems to get extra points for being big so his punches by default count for more. I'm not sure that's fair but watching the narrative of the fight I defy anyone to not agree that it is the thing that makes sense when captivated by the moment. Round 15 is a bit of a war. Spinks is meeting fire with fire and landing 2 or 3 to every **** by Holmes. Holmes brushes it all off with ease and then walls him down 2nd half of the round. Holmes is knackered but hurts Spinks now every time he lands. Bigger punches by Holmes again. He winks at Spinks at the final bell as if to say "I told you so"

Holmes 9-6 for me.

Not a robbery.

 

Great summation of the two Holmes fights and good cards too. I had Spinks a bit wider in the first but you were almost inclined that way. I had the second a tad closer. You'd have a hard time scoring 1 for Holmes but you'd also have a hard time scoring II for Spinks. Great reading.

 

Yeah the first fight I could easily have gone very wide. Spinks was brilliant and Holmes looked done and dusted.

2nd fight Holmes looked rejuvenated whilst Spinks started really slowly.

Two very good fights.

 

Spinks vs Cooney.

Ferry looks painfully slow here, Spinks can basically land what he wants when he wants.

Obviously Spinks has to be wary of the power but this is basically the easiest fight of his career to date.

At one point in the 5th he lands something daft like 13 power punches in a row.

That last round was brutal.

Moreso its a fight Spinks gets little credit for today. But watching the live telecast, Spinks is considered a big underdog here. He got a gift against Holmes, a soft touch against Tangstad and Cooney is considered to be as good as ever. The thought is Spinks won't be able to get inside because Cooney will destroy him up close.

The reality is very different.

 

Holmes definitely came in much fresher in that second fight after looking terrible for mine in the first. He was still obviously sluggish comparative to what he had been just a few years prior but he was night and day from that first fight.

 

Spinks vs Tyson

First round Tyson is all over Spinks, giving him no room to get anything going. Unfortunately for Spinks, Tyson has quicker feet than him so a she circles away Tyson is able to cut the ring off immediately. He backs him against the ropes a couple of times before landing an absolutely beautiful left hook followed by a right to the body. Spinks goes down but beats the count.

Spinks gets up but a lightening quick left hook right uppercut combination sends Spinks straight down again and this time he can't beat the count.

Tyson has now cleaned out the division utterly and savagely.

 

Michael Spinks v Dwight Qawi

Having watched both of them in their pre-unification tune ups, I thought I should follow up the unification fight itself.

This was a fight in three parts with Spinks starting the stronger and building an early lead before Qawi edged his way into the contest and closed the gap, seemingly unsettling Spinks with the questionable knockdown in the 8th. But by the 10th, Spinks had reasserted his control and ran out a clear winner on the judges's cards and mine too.

This fight pretty much concluded a classic era for the light-heavyweight division. With no real challengers left, Spinks would work his way up to a challenge for Larry Holmes's heavyweight title a couple of years later and Qawi would head north himself, but to the cruiserweight division.

1 10-9
2 10-9 (close)
3 10-9 (close)
4 10-9
5 9-10 (close)
6 9-10 (close again - Spinks with maybe the best punch of the round although Qawi landed more overall)
7 10-9 (clear Spinks round)
8 8-10 (Spinks suddenly discombulated in this round as he goes down three times in the round - two are clear slips but the middle one comes from a punch and although Spinks is off balance it is called a knockdown by Larry Hazard. Spinks not happy but Qawi took him out of his stride and won the round anyway)
9 9-10 (close. Good start to the round from Spinks before Qawi came on to just edge it)
10 10-9
11 10-9 (Spinks has recovered from his mid-fight wobble to take control again)
12 10-9 (Qawi lands something at the end like the previous round but it's not enough)
13 9-10 (Qawi landed the better punches despite still being kept at a distance by Spinks)
14 10-9
15 10-9

Spinks 144-140 Qawi

Spinks wins 10 rounds to 5 with the knockdown in the 8th narrowing the margin of victory to 4 points.

 

This was my card

Holmes v Spinks I

Round 1: 10-9 Holmes
Round 2: 10-9 Holmes
Round 3: 10-9 Spinks
Round 4: 10-9 Spinks
Round 5: 10-10 Even
Round 6: 10-9 Spinks
Round 7: 10-9 Spinks
Round 8: 10-9 Spinks
Round 9: 10-9 Holmes
Round 10: 10-10 Even
Round 11: 10-9 Spinks
Round 12: 10-9 Spinks
Round 13: 10-10 Even
Round 14: 10-9 Holmes
Round 15: 10-9 Holmes

Total: 145-143 Spinks

And the rematch...

Holmes vs Spinks II

Round 1: 10-9 Holmes
Round 2: 10-9 Holmes *
Round 3: 10-9 Holmes
Round 4: 10-9 Holmes
Round 5: 10-9 Spinks
Round 6: 10-9 Spinks
Round 7: 10-9 Holmes
Round 8: 10-9 Spinks
Round 9: 10-9 Holmes
Round 10: 10-9 Spinks
Round 11: 10-9 Holmes
Round 12: 10-10 Even
Round 13: 10-9 Spinks
Round 14: 10-9 Holmes **
Round 15: 10-9 Spinks

Total: 144-142 Holmes

 

Hi Scar, I need to score the first fight but here's my card and comments for the second fight:

Larry Holmes v Michael Spinks 2

This was a tough fight to score. I had Holmes ahead but there were a few close rounds that could have swung it the other way. Still, I think Holmes edged it.

I have no idea what tactics Spinks was employing over the first 6 rounds or so but he fought an awful fight early on. He came on over the second half as Holmes tired but was it enough to take it? I'm not convinced. Not a robbery by any means but I can understand the controversy.

1 10-9
2 10-9
3 10-9 (close, cagey round)
4 10-9
5 10-9
6 9-10 (very close)
7 10-9
8 9-10
9 9-10
10 9-10
11 10-9 (close, both fighters took a breather)
12 10-10 (best action of the fight so far)
13 9-10
14 10-9 (tough to score but Holmes wobbled Spinks)
15 9-10

Holmes 144-142 Spinks