the what fights did you watch today\scorecard thread.

That's a direct insult to my style, scar! lol

I haven't seen this one, but it's always been on my list.

That Green-Mugabi fight was ****ing awesome though. Perhaps the greatest example of Big Beast meets Little Beast.

 

I had posted this on the 'Fight of the Week' thread. But it needs to be here too.

Iran Barkley v Roberto Duran

Round 1: 10-9 Barkley
Round 2: 10-9 Barkley
Round 3: 10-10 Even
Round 4: 10-9 Barkley
Round 5: 10-9 Barkley
Round 6: 10-9 Duran
Round 7: 10-10 Even
Round 8: 10-9 Barkley
Round 9: 10-9 Duran
Round 10: 10-9 Duran
Round 11: 10-8 Duran (scores a knockdown)
Round 12: 10-10 Even

Total: 115-115 Draw (actual scores: 116-113 Barkley and 118-112, 116-112 both for Duran)

This was soooo close. So many rounds fought at such a tight level. The first time I saw it live I felt Duran took the decision in a close fight, but today I recognize this fight as razor close and down to the absolute wire, but a damn good fight.

 

Hiroshi Kawashima vs Cecilio Espino

Title defence for Kawashima. 115lbs. 12 rounds. The action starts immediately, with Espino, orthodox, going at it with bullish enthuasiasm. Kawashima, southpaw, is slow on the uptake, taking his time to adjust to Espino's rhythm and pace. Even still, I gave him the first two, with a beautiful slide-cum-left hand counter being the highlight. Espino, for his nasty intent, is well schooled, and approaches the third round with clever dips and some thudding body shots. Despite his style, Kawashima is spiteful when struck, and an exchange is initiated. Even round in my book, but only because of Kawashima's early work, so it could easily go to the rugged Mexican. The fourth comes in a similar fashion, with Espino trying to bait with dips and throwing lead bombs to head and body, taking everything thrown at him, which earns him the round in my view. This man is tough.
The fifth round, however, is where the man known as 'Untouchable' starts to shine. Slipping, sliding, baiting and expertly aggressive counters suddenly shift the rhythm for the Japanese. A little doubt creeps in on Espino, and his Boxing shows it ever so slightly. The sixth round, however, is where this bout turns into what can only be classed as a beautiful exhibition of the sweet science. Boxing expertly, Kawashima lands a left which staggers Espino, which shifts the momentum for the Japanese, a momentum which lasts until the end of the fight. Highlight reel displays of slippery, sliding defence and left handed counters ensue, with major moments being seen in the eith and tenth rounds, with exchanges coming out entirely in favour of Kawashima. There is a practised, hard earned edge to Kawashima's skill and capability, and I found it very entertaining to watch. Even still, the Mexican Espino never stops trying through the pounding he is receiving, and is gutsy enough to still keep rounds close and try to give as good as he is getting. The eleventh and twelfth see a lull for Kawashima, who correctly assumes he has it in the bag. Only his flurries and sharp footwork are enough to give these to him.
All in all, this was an excellent display of Boxing and defensive flair, with both providing spirit and entertainment, though with one proving much better than the other. Another bout to add to the underrated 'Mexico vs Japan' rivalry.

Kawashima - Espino

1: 10 - 9
2: 10 - 9
3: 10 - 10 (Top round!)
4: 9 - 10 (Close)
5: 10 - 9 (Sharp from K)
6: 10 - 9 (E staggered)
7: 10 - 9
8: 10 - 9 (E hurt)
9: 10 - 9
10: 10 - 9 (Exchange!)
11: 10 - 9 (Slow)
12: 10 - 9

TOTAL: 119 - 110 KAWASHIMA

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Jesse James Leija v Juan Lazcano

Sometimes I will light upon a bout that has all the earmarks of a good scrap only to find it tepid. Not so in this case. I was looking at both combatants and thinking it would be a good one, and it was. I was a fan of Leija's ever since the first time I saw him fight against Pee Wee Parker. I have also enjoyed many of Lazcano's bouts recently. And these two put on a show. Some of the best hard, fast, clean combination punching that I have seen in awhile. Here we go.

Round 1: 10-9 Leija
Round 2: 10-9 Leija
Round 3: 10-9 Leija
Round 4: 10-10 Even
Round 5: 10-9 Lazcano
Round 6: 10-9 Lazcano
Round 7: 10-9 Lazcano
Round 8: 10-9 Leija
Round 9: 10-9 Lazcano
Round 10: 10-10 Even

Total: 96-96 Draw (actual scores: 96-94 Leija, and 96-94, 97-93 both for Lazcano for a split win for Lazcano)

Other than that 97-93, the other two judges were on track. This was a tight fight. The announcers (Czyz and Steve Albert) were both a bit of Leija cheerleaders. I think it was in the 6th Leija had Lazcano on the ropes and unloaded about a 7 punch combo and they were going crazy with Leija's attack. I sat there watching Lazcano duck and roll and evade and said aloud, "Wait, nothing landed!" But it is what it is. This was one enjoyable fight.

 

Here's another card from the FOTW thread.

Israel Vasquez v Rafael Marquez III

Round 1: 10-9 Marquez
Round 2: 10-10 Even
Round 3: 10-9 Marquez
Round 4: 10-8 Marquez (scores a knockdown)
Round 5: 10-9 Marquez
Round 6: 10-10 Even
Round 7: 10-9 Vasquez
Round 8: 10-9 Vasquez
Round 9: 10-9 Marquez
Round 10: 10-9 Vasquez (scored it Even but a 1 point deduction from Marquez for a low blow)
Round 11: 10-9 Vasquez
Round 12: 10-8 Vasquez (scores a knockdown)

Total: 114-114 Draw (actual scores: 114-111 Marquez and a 114-111 and 113-112 both for Vasquez, who takes the split win)

I really liked Marquez early with that straight jab that was akin to a 2 x 4 smacking into the face. But Vasquez worked his way in well in the second half. Regarding the point deduction, which pulled out a draw on my card, let's just say to the letter of the law it was correct. However, there was nothing that went straight into the nads. These were beltline shots aided by a bit of drama. Not taking anything from Vasquez on that. All fighters do the old grimace when shots stray a bit. But regardless, great fight here, guys.

 

Eddie Mustafa Muhammad v Jerry 'The Bull' Martin (light heavyweight title)

Never saw this one back in the day and needed to check it out.

Round 1: 10-9 EMM
Round 2: 10-9 EMM
Round 3: 10-9 Martin
Round 4: 10-8 EMM (scores a knockdown)
Round 5: 10-9 EMM
Round 6: 10-9 Martin
Round 7: 10-9 Martin
Round 8: 10-10 Even
Round 9: 10-9 EMM
Round 10: EMM drops and stops Martin

Total through 9 completed rounds: 87-84 EMM (actual scores: 87-83 and 88-82 both for Eddie and an 85-85 Even from Harold Lederman)

This is not a slam-bang affair by any means. Eddie is very good at picking his shots but he is right up there with Joe Bugner and Juan LaPorte in the lazy fighter category. See those rounds that Martin won? Well, it wasn't from anything extraordinary that Martin did. It was really because he at least was throwing something whereas Eddie was doing Jack. If you're thinking of watching this, I would suggest highlights only. Watch the 4th and 10th and be done with it.

 

I just watched Mark Medal vs Carlos Santos. This was a 15 round battle for the IBF 154 pound strap. Medal the champion and Santos the challenger

Round 1: 8-10 Santos scores a knockdown
Round 2: 9-10 (17-20 Santos)
Round 3: 9-10 (26-30 Santos)
Round 4: 9-10 (35-40 Santos)
Round 5: 9-10 (44-50 Santos)
Round 6: 9-10 (53-60 Santos)
Round 7: 9-10 (62-70 Santos)
Round 8: 9-10 (71-80 Santos)
Round 9: 9-10 (80-90 Santos)
Round 10: 9-10 (89-100 Santos)
Round 11: 9-10 (98-110 Santos)
Round 12: 10-9 (108-119 Santos)
Round 13: 9-10 (117-129 Santos)
Round 14: 10-8 (127-137 Santos) Medal scores a knockdown
Round 15: 10-9 (137-146 Santos)

Judges Final Scores: (Bill Graham 142-140, Lawrence Wallace 147-139, and Frank Brunette 146-138) all in favor of Santos.

This fight was really fun despite of how one sided it was. In the first half of the fight, Medal tried to brawl his way back into the fight after the knockdown, but Santos' hand speed prevented him from doing so. For most of the fight Santos was flustering and frustrating Medal with lateral movement and combinations. Starting in round 12, Medal began going for broke. Medal was finally able to break through with a knock down in the 14th but Santos remained illusive enough to survive the scare and after 15 hard fought rounds, was declared the winner by a unanimous decision.

 

I think KO magazine made this its Fight of the Year for 1984.

 

I've heard this one is really good!

 

It was okay, but as mentioned, a bit one-sided until very late. With Ramirez-Rosario Ii in the mix that year it's hard to fathom how this one copped FOTY honors.

 

Clum, the only version I started to watch - which i was enjoying - suddenly went from round 3 to round 7. I hadn't bothered to look at how much time was in the youtube video. My bad and I aborted it right there. Can't stand watching a partial fight. Do you have a link for the full fight?

 

Sot Chitalada v Jung Koo Chang II

Round 1: 10-9 Sot
Round 2: 10-9 Sot
Round 3: 10-9 Chang
Round 4: 10-9 Sot
Round 5: 10-9 Sot
Round 6: 10-10 Even
Round 7: 10-9 Sot
Round 8: 10-9 Chang
Round 9: 10-9 Sot
Round 10: 10-9 Sot
Round 11: 10-9 Chang
Round 12: 9-9 Even (scored it for Sot but was deducted one point for throwing Chang to the canvas)

Total: 116-112 Sot (actual scores: 115-114 and 114-113 both for Sot and a 114-114 Draw for a majority win for Sot Chitalada)

Some observations first. 1) Clearly this is a Korean production because the announcers and crowd screamed at everything Chang did and between rounds would only show highlights of Chang. 2) Carlos Padilla never ceases to amaze me with his ineptness. This is why he is my least favorite referee of all time. Not one word to Chang for his 12 rounds of grappling, yet, several cautions to Sot throughout and when he is trying to free himself in the 12th round of Chang's squid-like tentacles and Chang falls to the canvas, it costs Sot a point. 3) I checked a bit of our history on this fight and actually found a few that scored this for Chang. Maybe Chang's style just doesn't gel with me.

As for the fight, Sot amazed me because he went through his entire career cutting gobs of weight for a fight. His trainer Charles Atkinson said he would walk around at 135 and be able to trim down to 114, but that last 2 pounds was murder because he had nowhere to lose it. Yet, he was as strong as an ox on the inside. I like the way he would pick his shots since he wasn't going to match Chang's workrate and thump the body when Chang would grapple. I was very solid on my scorecard, so I am a bit surprised there was any controversy on it. However, like I said before, maybe Chang's style doesn't gel with me.

 

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putting this on my list

 

I have it on DVD, so I'll have to rip it for you. It's a terrible quality video, like the kind you'd have downloaded off the internet in 2001, and either an Indonesian or a Malaysian broadcast, I forget which. I'll try to have it for you tomorrow.

As for not bothering to look at the time, I wouldn't worry about it. The timekeeper for that fight didn't either.