the what fights did you watch today\scorecard thread.

My take when I scored it for this thread:

Larry Holmes (c) vs. Trevor Berbick, scheduled for 15 rounds for the WBC heavyweight championship on April 11, 1981, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

Holmes, 31, is making the ninth defense of his title and has stopped eight challengers in a row. He is 36-0 (27) and weighs 215. At 6-3, he has a one-inch height advantage and three-inch reach advantage over his opponent. He is a 50-1 favorite.

Berbick, 27, is the No. 5 WBC contender and Canadian champion. He has won six in a row and is unbeaten in his last eight (with a draw in there) since his lone loss by first-round KO to Bernardo Mercado. He’s won his last four by knockout, starting with an upset of John Tate that put him on the map, to come in with an 18-1-1 (16) record.

HBO televises. At ringside are notables including Mike Weaver (the WBA champ), Saoul Mamby, Diana Ross, artist LeRoy Neiman, Magic Johnson and Joe Louis, who would die the next day from a heart attack.

1 — Holmes 10-9: Larry gets his jab going and lands a few rights, using lateral movement, while Berbick does a bit of taunting and talking. After the bell they get in a shoving match, with Berbick inadvertently shoving referee Mills Lane (who HBO’s Barry Tompkins embarrassingly calls Carlos Padilla throughout) to the canvas. They gonna get it on ‘cause they don’t get along.

2 — Holmes 10-9: That jab plus rocks Berbick with a big right early. Berbick rallies a bit late.

3 — Holmes 10-9: After moving around the first two rounds, Larry goes flat-footed to rip the body and throw crisp combinations.

4 — Holmes 10-9: Berbick gets aggressive and works his way inside but Larry gets the better of it, hammering Trevor with right hands (uppercuts and body shots) from the corner while they go at it for the last 30 seconds or so.

5 — Even 10-10: Trevor is frisky, doesn’t land many clean shots but clubs away to the body pretty well while Larry works the jab when they’re at a distance.

6 — Holmes 10-9: Jab

7 — Berbick 10-9: Trevor comes forward aggressively and smothers Holmes, doing some good body work. They go toe-to-toe for 30 seconds.

8 — Holmes 10-9: Larry rediscovers the jab. He does a paint job with it for this round and the next three.

9 — Holmes 10-9

10 — Holmes 10-9: You could make a case here I think for 10-8 so dominant is Holmes, who is barely touched and also lands two absolutely sizzling rights.

11 — Holmes 10-9

12 — Holmes 10-9: Berbick gets aggressive again but doesn’t accomplish much; Holmes batters him late as they go toe to to again.

13 — Holmes 10-9: Jabbing away and leads the crowd in chanting his name to liven things up.

14 — Berbick 10-9: He mauls and smother, very sloppy but he outworks Larry.

15 — Holmes 10-9: Toe to toe action and Larry closes it out with body work and chopping shots.

Score: 148-138. Official cards: 146-140, 146-139, 150-135

Trevor showed a lot of heart and wouldn’t let himself be put away but Holmes was simply in a different class. Worth a watch I’d say but more for how Larry solves an awkward puzzle and settles in to show off that magnificent jab.

 

Tim Witherspoon vs Frank Bruno - WBA Heavyweight Championship.

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Round 1 Witherspoon.
Round 2 Witherspoon.
Round 3 Bruno.
Round 4 Bruno.
Round 5 Bruno.
Round 6 Bruno.
Round 7 Witherspoon.
Round 8 Witherspoon.
Round 9 Witherspoon.
Round 10 Bruno.
Round 11 Witherspoon KO.

My score before the finish - Even 95-95.

For the WBA heavyweight title - 15 rounds. For a title which handed hands quite a lot in the 80's. In the opening rounds, Witherspoon had the upper edge, Bruno with his activity with sweep the middle rounds. From the second half of the fight, Witherspoon would adjust: fighting from mid-range and deflecting Bruno's shots with a catch and shoot strategy. The fight is very competitive in the finale before Witherspoon, in the last twenty seconds of the 11th round lands a vicious right hand which stuns Bruno and drops him hard. Ultimately the corner stops the fight. Tim Witherspoon retains the belt.

Witherspoon had the advantage in the fight - One being his championship experience - two-time champion. Two having more major fights. He wasn't in the best of shape and that probably made the fight harder than it should be. Still Bruno tried his best and deserves praise. Bruno used to be criticised for not taking a knee, but it isn't easy when your wobbled.

HBO's production is always a joy to watch. It is rather funny how the tides have turned in the last forty years in the British and American scene.

 

Muangchai Kittikasem v Alberto Jimenez (flyweight title)

Round 1: 10-9 Jimenez
Round 2: 10-10 Even
Round 3: 10-8 Jimenez (scores a knockdown)
Round 4: 10-9 Jimenez
Round 5: 10-9 MK
Round 6: 10-10 Even
Round 7: 10-9 MK
Round 8: 10-9 Jimenez (Best round)
Round 9: 10-10 Even
Round 10: 10-10 Even
Round 11: 10-9 MK
Round 12: 10-9 Jimenez

Total: 117-114 Jimenez (actual scores: 114-114 Even and a 115-114 and 117-110 both for Kittikasem on a majority decision)

I don't have too much of an issue with this decision because, man, these rounds were razor thin. If I watched it again I have no doubt my score would be slightly different. I say not too much of an issue but that one score of 117-110 was a head-shaker. This was tight. The exchanges were brisk and neither would give an inch. Enjoyed the fight and of course, @Flo_Raiden put it on our radar.

 

Evander Holyfield vs Nikolai Valuev

1 Holyfield
2 Holyfield
3 Holyfield
4 Holyfield
5 Holyfield
6 Valuev
7 Valuev
8 Valuev
9 Holyfield
10 Holyfield
11 Holyfield
12 Valuev

116-112 Holyfield

Terrible decision there's no way in hell Valuev won this fight.

All Valuev did all night was follow Holyfield around the ring throwing an occasional soft jab that was constantly air.

Holyfield didn't do a whole lot either but he was the only one landing actual clean effective punches.

Holyfield would dart in occasionally landing some clean punches and then get out of there again.

Literally Holyfield would win these rounds by landing 2 or 3 more clean punches because Valuev didn't land anything of substance at all.

Terrible fight and I can see it maybe being a tad closer.

But there's no way Valuev won this fight.

 

Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley

1 Wardley 10-8
2 Dubois
3 Wardley 10-8
4 Dubois
5 Dubois
6 Dubois
7 Dubois
8 Dubois
9 Dubois
10 Dubois
11 Dubois wins by TKO

96-92 Dubois

A fun Heavyweight slugfest but it stopped becoming fun for me in the last few rounds in which Wardley took too much unnecessary punishment.

I think Wardley should've been pulled out 2 rounds before.

 

Same card as me, D. Probably similar to most cards, to be honest. Not a hard one to score.

Crazy that between the ref, the ring doctor and Wardley’s corner it wasn’t stopped sooner.

 

Buster Douglas Vs Tony Tucker (1987) IBF Heavyweight Title Fight

1. Douglas
2. Douglas
3. Douglas
4. Douglas
5. Douglas (close round)
6. Douglas
7. Douglas
8. Tucker
9. Tucker
10. Tucker

Round 10 Tucker wins by TKO

A scheduled 15 round fight. Douglas looked sharp throwing jabs but began to tire from round 6 and his output and volume slowed down. Tucker started to come on and land the heavier punches in combination and eventually stopped Douglas. Interesting boxer vs boxer match up. 1980's Heavyweights certainly seemed to jab alot more!

 

The British fans were raging that Bruno lost and were outside Witherspoon's dressing room after the fight and about to cause a full scale riot. Muhammad Ali was there and calmed the crowd down and told them all to leave. Witherspoon said it could have seriously kicked off after that fight if it wasn't for Ali being there.

 

Oh that's pretty, I didn't know that!

 

Danny Morgan vs Mike Pollitt

1 Pollitt
2 Pollitt
3 Morgan
4 Morgan
5 Morgan
6 Morgan
7 Morgan wins by KO

58-56 Morgan

@scartissue not sure you've ever seen this fight but it's a pretty entertaining fight with a dramatic finish worth watching IMO.

 

I'll definitely check this out, D.

 

In the meantime, I checked out another fight today. Here we go with...

Tacy Macalos v Muangchoi Kittikasem (lt. flyweight title)

Round 1: 10-9 MK
Round 2: 10-9 Macalos
Round 3: 10-9 Macalos
Round 4: 10-9 Macalos
Round 5: 10-9 MK
Round 6: 10-10 Even
Round 7: 10-9 Macalos
Round 8: 10-9 Macalos
Round 9: 10-9 MK
Round 10: 10-10 Even
Round 11: 10-9 Macalos
Round 12: 10-9 Macalos

Total: 117-113 Macalos (actual scores: 118-112 Macalos, 118-115 MK and a 117-115 for Kittikasem on a split decision)

This was an excellent fight which I highly recommend to everyone. Man, this was over before I knew it. Such beautiful exchanges for 12 rounds kept me mesmerized. Macalos is an outstanding fighter to watch. His left was beautiful, whether he was throwing a jab or a hook I wanted to applaud. I felt he deserved this win but there were some close rounds here so its up to the judge on whether you're liking the greater power from Kittikasem or the sharp combos of Macalos.

 

Tim Witherspoon vs Jose Ribalta

1 Witherspoon
2 Witherspoon
3 Witherspoon
4 Witherspoon
5 Even missing round
6 Witherspoon
7 Witherspoon
8 Ribalta
9 Witherspoon
10 Witherspoon

98-91 Witherspoon

I wanted to see this fight because I see it was a MD and i was curious to see if Witherspoon did indeed struggle.

But no Witherspoon didn't struggle at all the 1 judge who scored it 95-95 obviously wasn't watching the fight.

Witherspoon clearly walked down and bullied Ribalta all night long. And it appeared to me and the commentators that Witherspoon won a wide decision.

1 judge had the same score as me 98-91.

The other judge had it 97-93 and I think even that was a bit generous for Ribalta.

But the one judge who had it 95-95 has to be up there with one of the worst scorecards I've ever seen.

All in all not a memorable fight but a decent convincing win for Witherspoon.

 

Tim Witherspoon vs Carl Williams

1 Witherspoon
2 Witherspoon
3 Witherspoon
4 Witherspoon
5 Williams
6 Williams
7 Williams
8 Williams
9 Williams
10 Williams
11 Witherspoon
12 Witherspoon

114-114 Draw

I thought Witherspoon did a good job early on of bullying Williams and hurting him numerous times.

But then after the 4th round Williams started to control the fight tying up Witherspoon anytime he got close and picked him off at range with the jab.

Witherspoon was also rocked in the 8th round the only time he was visibly hurt in the right.

I couldn't really see a round to give Witherspoon between 6-10.

But i thought Witherspoon finished the stronger of the two to salvage a draw.

I think there is a stronger case for Williams winning the fight and I can't see 7 rounds for Witherspoon personally.

But I thought a draw would've been reasonable or Williams deserving to win a close fight.

 

Tim Witherspoon vs Renaldo Snipes

1 Snipes
2 Witherspoon
3 Witherspoon
4 Witherspoon
5 Witherspoon
6 Snipes
7 Snipes
8 Witherspoon
9 Snipes
10 Snipes

95-95 Draw

I think this is probably one of the most legit draws you will ever see honestly.

Witherspoon was the aggressor in the first 5 rounds winning pretty much every round in the 1st half of the fight with effective aggression and landing the harder punches.

Snipes didn't a whole lot in the first 5 rounds just constantly moving around the ring and flicking out an ineffective left jab.

The 2nd half however the momentum of the fight totally turned around.

Now it was Snipes being the aggressor outhustling Witherspoon who looked a bit tired.

And I thought Snipes won most of the rounds in the 2nd half of the fight by being the aggressor and throwing many more punches than Witherspoon.

There's 2 debatable rounds in this fight IMO the 1st and the 8th round.

1st round Witherspoon was the aggressor but he didn't land a whole lot and I thought Snipes nicked that round with left jab.

8th round Snipes landed a few more punches but Witherspoon landed the far more effective punches of the round.

Overall it become quite a fun fight down the stretch and I thought a draw would've been pretty fair but I have no issues with Witherspoon just about nicking the decision.