the what fights did you watch today\scorecard thread.

But why doesn't Moore get 10-8 for Round 2? He knocked Rocky down.

 

Just tried watching Myung Woo Yuh- Joey Olivo but saw the one copy on YouTube has rounds omitted, after committing time to watching half the fight. Mission aborted. Pointless.

 

I'm watching the first fight between Salvador Sanchez and Danny Lopez.

Sanchez was the total package. Great power, skill, and defense. His counter-punching was masterful in this fight.

 

Shoutout to @George Crowcroft , @Jel and @Dynamicpuncher for the recommendation to us all on this fight.

Kevin Kelley v Ricardo Rivera (10 rounds)

Round 1: 10-9 Kelley
Round 2: 10-8 Rivera (scores a knockdown)
Round 3: 10-9 Rivera
Round 4: 10-9 Rivera
Round 5: 10-10 Even
Round 6: 10-8 Rivera (Kelley incurs a standing 8 count)
Round 7: 10-9 Kelley
Round 8: 10-10 Even
Round 9: Kelley drops and stops Rivera

Total through 8 completed rounds: 78-74 Rivera (actual scores not known)

Wow! I love it when one of these gems are found. Man, just when Rivera found a home for his lead right, Kelley devised an infighting style to thwart Rivera from unloading the heavy guns. But then Rivera uses that same style to jam Kelley against the ropes and unloads again before getting caught late in the 8th. This was the name of the game. Reversals of fortune, although it looked over in the 6th for Kelley. But his heart played an enormous part in this victory. Great fight.

 

I remember this so well back in the day for 2 reasons: 1) the most unbelievable job of counter-punching I had ever seen. And 2) despite keeping my ear so close to the ground that I generally knew every prospect starting to aim for the title, I knew absolutely Jack about Salvador Sanchez. I think I knew about him beating Richard Rozelle, but that was it. I actually thought before this fight, 'Who is this guy?' I really thought it was going to be a Lopez blowout. I don't believe Ring even had him in their top 10 at the time (but I could be wrong). I'm sure the WBC did, with Sulaiman running the show. But Sanchez really proved himself.

 

I believe I read (long after the fact) where one Mexican paper said "Sanchez should last about as long as it takes for Lopez to find his big jaw, which should take at the most four rounds."

And that was his own folks saying these things.

 

Here's the amazing thing: As good as Sanchez was, he wasn't even in his prime yet. He was only 23 when he died, and fighters usually don't hit their prime until they're 25-26.

It's ASTOUNDING what he accomplished at just 23. He held wins over Wilfredo Gomez, Azumah Nelson, and Danny Lopez, 3 HOFers.

 

I'm not convinced that Sanchez was necessarily pre-prime, despite his young age. He'd had a lot of fights and gone quite a few rounds already. Plus, fighters tended to peak and fade earlier in that time period. Maybe Sanchez could have peaked later...but it wouldn't necessarily have surprised me had he enjoyed less success as time went on and as he moved up in weight.

 

To be fair Sanchez only had 9 Amateur fights, so alot of his early professional fights. Were when he was still a kid and was basically learning on the job.

I'm not saying your necessarily wrong, but I believe he could have improved.

Look at another Mexican great Barrera, he had a ton of fights at an early age. Lost twice to Junior Jones, and became a better fighter as he got older.

 

Moore wasn't dominating or driving the round, without the knockdown I had it 10-10

Frazier vs Bonavena 1966 Madison Square Garden NY

1. 10-10
2. 10-8 Bonavena
3. 10-9 Frazier
4. 10-9 Frazier
5. 10-9 Frazier
6. 10-9 Frazier
7. 10-9 Frazier
8. 10-9 Frazier
9. 10-9 Frazier
10. 10-10

I debated on only giving Bonavena 1 knockdown since Frazier clearly tripped the second time, but I guess it was Bonavena's punch that caused his misstep

nice come on in 10 by Bonavena, but Frazier mauled him for the previous 7 rounds

 

Greg Richardson W12 Victor Rabanales

Let me get this score down first as I didn't write it down, and it gets complicated.

1. Rabanales
2. Rabanales
3. Richardson
4. Richardson (10-8, point deducted from Rabanales for low blow)
5. Richardson
6. Richardson
7. Even, 9-9 (point deducted from Rabanales per WBC rules for cut caused by headbutt)
8. Richardson
9. Rabanales
10. Rabanales
11. Rabanales
12. Even

114-113 Richardson.

Great fight, more later on this.

 

Okay, so more on Richardson-Rabanales, as recommended by @Mastrangelo. I had been meaning to look into this one for some time anyway, so off I went.

Excellent, hard-fought bout with Richardson showing so many tools........all except even a shred of power. This is a shame, because he had everything else, including a warrior[s mentality, raging back against the tide that was Rabanales' onslaught. By the ninth round when his legs no longer allowed him to pivot and skip to the side and bounce elusively off the ropes, he managed to hold his ground and flurry evenly and stay in the fight. Very impressed with him, I'll be wathcing more, though I think I've already seen his title-winning effort against Perez. I'll have to make sure of that.

As for Rabanales, well..........the best way to describe him is as an orthodox version of Bazooka Limon; all arms, swinging awkwardly from impossible angles, without the precursor of a jab or any other niceties one might have tried to teach him in the gym at some point, but hey.........his gifts got him where he ended up, so more power to him. Plus, he's exciting, I'll be watching more.

So very impressed with Richardson's ability to absorb so brutal a battering to the ribcage and keep rallying; this is what makes him a champion and others also-rans. Just when you figure the pressure (however artless) is about to cave in his resolve and end matters, he comes out the next round moving purposefully, flurrying strongly, and keeping the monster at bay. In that way, it was a beautiful performance.

Had it not been for two point deductions (one mandated by the WBC, which is a stupid rule and would haunt Frankie Randall in his rematch with Don KIng's favorite concubine, Julio Cesar Chavez), I'd have had it for Rabanales by a point. This is one time where the fates worked out to the cause of good, I thought. It just felt like the right guy won, if that makes any sense.

 

This is a real anomaly. I recall 2 fights of Donald Curry so well that had odd, back-to-back endings. And amazingly, it was 35 years ago. Where the hell did that time go? Anyways, here is the first for the vacant USBA jr. middleweight title.

Donald Curry v Tony Montgomery

Round 1: 10-9 Curry
Round 2: 10-8 Curry (scores a knockdown)
Round 3: 10-9 Curry
Round 4: 10-6 Curry (scores 2 knockdowns and Montgomery is docked a point for use of the head)
Round 5: Montgomery is docked another point for butting and then DQ'd when he persisted.

Total through 4 completed rounds: 40-32 Curry (actual scores not known)

I recall this fight so well. Montgomery getting stopped was imminent. He knew it, his corner knew it, Curry knew it, the announcing team knew it and anyone with any sense watching it knew it. So he tried butting his way into a DQ rather than take his lumps. But the DQ didn't end affairs there. When the ref called the DQ, Curry casually walked over - one would think to offer a handshake - but nailed Montgomery with a right hand instead. And of course mayhem erupted in the ring. Sonny Ray, a former light heavy who met Harold Johnson, Willie Pastrano and Bobo Olson in his day, who was training Montgomery, was especially volatile and had to be restrained. Now some may think it was a cheap shot, but I didn't. I thought Montgomery had it coming. One has to actually view the fight to see the consistent use of the head and it's purposeful intent to understand this action. One other thing noteworthy was to see how strong Curry was at this weight. His reflexes were good and his punching was crisp. He had to be dying at welterweight. Next up: Curry v Santos

 

@salsanchezfan
Glad You enjoyed it mate, I read your write up with interest also - it's been years since I saw it. If You want to watch more of Greg Richardson, I'd be interested in hearing what You thought about Sun-Kil Moon fight. I don't remember it as quite as great action fight, but interesting nonetheless.

 

Montgomery deserved that cheap shot totally agree with you, I don't normally condone that type of behaviour. But Montgomery was literally coming in with his head like a billy goat, and the last one was right under Currys chin. A little "payback" from Curry was justified IMO.