the what fights did you watch today\scorecard thread.

Sal, saw this a while ago. Loved the fight but didn't care for their rematch. Anyways, this is how I saw it as well as that crazy 3rd round:

Kevin Kelley v Derrick Gainer I (featherweight title)

Round 1: 10-9 Gainer
Round 2: 10-9 Gainer
Round 3: 10-9 Kelley (Kelley scores a knockdown and so does Gainer but Gainer's is disallowed)
Round 4: 10-8 Gainer (scores a knockdown)
Round 5: 10-8 Kelley (scores a knockdown)
Round 6: 10-9 Kelley
Round 7: 10-9 Gainer
Round 8: Kelley KOs Gainer

Total through 7 completed rounds: 66-65 Gainer (actual scores not known)

This was a fun fight! The way Gainer was ripping Kelley from the center of the ring, it was his to lose and he did so from a one-punch bomb by Kelley. Not remembering the result of this fight, I actually thought during the 8th round that Kelley's cornerman Phil Borgia should consider stopping the fight with his one-eyed fighter under heavy bombardment. And then, out of the blue, POW! Regarding my score, I should explain the 3rd round. Gainer was winning the round and then landed a shot on Kelley's jaw as he was slipping to the canvas. The ref Santore's eyes were probably fixated on Gainer going down and the fact that Kelley went down a mili-second after was unnoticed, but he went down hard. I couldn't disregard this and when Kelley scored an official knockdown a few moments later, I only gave him the round by 10-9. Harold Lederman scored the round 10-10, which according to him, he had the latitude to do so. I would have to read the unified rules, but I wouldn't contradict Harold. Anyways, I would definitely recommend this fight to you all. I really never liked Gainer, but he fought well in this bout.

 

Continuing my Ken Buchanan fest, here is....

Ken Buchanan v Brian Hudson (British lightweight title)

Round 1: Buchanan (scores a knockdown)
Round 2: Buchanan
Round 3: Even
Round 4: Buchanan
Round 5: Buchanan KOs Hudson

Despite the one-sidedness of the score, it was quite a lively fight with Hudson really making a go of it after that disastrous first round. In fact, going into the 5th, both combatants were cut over their left eyes respectively. But Kenny had that world class about him and he really turned it on when he needed it. But a good fight.

 

Hi Buddy.
I have had many a chat with Brian over the years usually after an LEBA function in and around north London, for a attacking aggressive fighter, he was quite shy and unassuming ( like most boxers ) apart from a slightly flat nose, he looked really well, and spoke in soft tones, as you would expect he had high praise for Buchanan, said he knew Ken was destined for bigger things, also said that Jimmy Anderson hit like a MW, and if he closes his eyes he can still feel the body punches from the heavy handed Armstrong, i remember their fight, it was on WOS one Saturday afternoon, and it was a fight for the ages, knockdowns on both sides, before Brian came out on top with a stoppage, when old timers get together, this brawl is always mentioned, those were the days.....
stay safe scart, chat soon buddy.
Mike.

 

It seems Gainer fell pretty hard after this fight, though he was in a number of high=profile bouts later. Since it was short, I also watched his match with Diego Corrales after this one. While it was indeed an unnecessarily early stoppage, I don't think it really mattered. He was going to get stopped no matter what. His legs weren't even close to what they were the first time against Kelley.

 

I've have seen highlights of this fight many times over the years, but oddly, never sat down to score it. A point which will be remedied now.

Ken Buchanan v Roberto Duran (lightweight title) - NY rounds scoring

Round 1: Duran (scores a knockdown)
Round 2: Duran
Round 3: Duran
Round 4: Duran
Round 5: Duran
Round 6: Buchanan
Round 7: Duran
Round 8: Duran
Round 9: Buchanan
Round 10: Buchanan
Round 11: Duran
Round 12: Duran
Round 13: Duran
Bout is stopped when Duran tags Buchanan low after the bell and the ref awards the bout to Duran

Total through 13 completed rounds: 10-3 Duran (actual scores: 8-3-1, 8-3-1 and 9-3 all for Duran. For some odd reason the only scores posted from the ring officials are through 12 rounds, which doesn't make sense as the bell ended the 13th and should be scored for its content. Whatever happened in the second or two after the bell should be irrelevant to the score. The AP also scored through 12 (9-3) but Ring Magazine scored through 13 (7-4-2))

Duran mugged Buchanan through 13 rounds and was awarded the fight. When one considers that Buchanan also lost to Suzuki when the Japanese mugged him the last five rounds, Duran may have written the template on how to fight the Scot. I will say one thing on this fight. Buchanan always ripped on the ref Johnny Lobianco for letting Duran get away with the rough stuff all night. And it isn't until watching it that I see what he meant. Duran used his head like a pry bar against Ken and he was right, not a peep all night out of Lobianco. That was a pure crap job of reffing from Lobianco.

 

Gerrie Coetzee vs Pinklon Thomas

Round 1: 10-9 Thomas
Round 2: 10-9 Coetzee
Round 3: 10-9 Coetzee
Round 4: 10-9 Thomas
Round 5: 10-9 Coetzee
Round 6: 10-9 Coetzee
Round 7: 10-9 Coetzee
Round 8: 10-9 Thomas
Round 9: 10-9 Thomas
Round 10: 10-9 Thomas

Total: 95-95 DRAW

Another close effort and, in my opinion, good decision by the judges to have it as a majority draw. Also, it was kinda of a fight of two halfs. More methodic boxing in the first half, fun scrap in the second. Pinky won most of his rounds clearer than Coetzee won his, especially the 3 last ones, but all in all, it was a close and competetive fight that could have gone either way.

 

Either Duran was so good at using/disguising his head,he got the hometown advantage or so,he was definitely a raging bull that night.

 

Tony Tubbs vs Tim Witherspoon

Round 1: 10-9 Tubbs
Round 2: 10-9 Witherspoon
Round 3: 10-9 Tubbs
Round 4: 10-9 Witherspoon
Round 5: 10-9 Witherspoon
Round 6: 10-9 Tubbs
Round 7: 10-9 Witherspoon
Round 8: 10-9 Witherspoon
Round 9: 10-9 Witherspoon
Round 10: 10-9 Witherspoon
Round 11: 10-9 Witherspoon
Round 12: 10-9 Tubbs
Round 13: 10-9 Witherspoon
Round 14: 10-9 Witherspoon
Round 15: 10-9 Witherspoon

Total: 146 - 139 Tim Witherspoon

From the official decision I thought I was up for another close fight that could have gone either way. Turned out this one was competetive for sure, but for me, not remotely close. Witherspoon won it easily. Some rounds were indeed close, but not to the extent that could change the outcome. Tubbs had a good go in the first 6 rounds, but it was almost all Tim after that. TNT had his moments, but nothing more. Tubbs conditioning really let him down this time. Shows how important these details are at the elite level and you have to be 100% to compete there.

 

Pinklon Thomas vs Trevor Berbick:

Round 1: 10-9 Thomas (could have gone either way)
Round 2: 10-9 Thomas
Round 3: 10-9 Thomas
Round 4: 10-9 Berbick
Round 5: 10-9 Berbick
Round 6: 10-9 Thomas (could have gone either way)
Round 7: 10-9 Berbick (could have gone either way)
Round 8: 10-9 Berbick
Round 9: 10-9 Berbick
Round 10: 10-9 Berbick
Round 11: 10-9 Berbick
Round 12: 10-9 Berbick

Total: 116-112 Berbick

Staying in my 80's bag. Not a hard fight to score, but 3 rounds in my opinion were swings. Thomas started good with that piston like jab and I felt he controlled the first 3 rounds. Berbick then started to effectoively apply pressure which made Pinky uncomfortable. Shortly after he gassed out and it was all Berbick from then. Some shots that Thomas took tho... The chin on that man!

 

Mac, you and I were definitely on the same page on this one. Very little difference (especially with your notes). This is what I wrote when reviewing sometime back:

Pinklon Thomas v Trevor Berbick

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

Total: 117-113 Berbick (actual scores: 115-113, 115-113 and 115-114 all for Berbick)

I felt the Thomas jab was putting me off a bit because, although he only landed it in ones, it was a hard jab and it can throw you off on your assessment. Berbick was landing the eycatchers but that thudding jab kept every round close. Still, a deserving win for Berbick.

 

Ricardo Lopez v Domingo (Pretty Boy) Lucas (Strawweight title)

Was in the mood for a little Finito Lopez today, but I suppose I could have chosen a better fight than this. Won't get into a tally here because every round was Lopez', including a 2-pointer on my card for the 12th round where he battered Lucas. I noted on my card that the 9th was heading towards 2-point territory but not quite there - as opposed to the judges cards which were even wider than my 120-107 (120-106, 120-106 and 120-104). The only excitement in this bout was the 6th round where Lucas came very close to going down from a shot before catching himself. Lopez was methodical without urgency. Had he stepped it up I'm sure he could have stopped the hapless Pretty Boy, whom amazingly, was taking part in his 3rd shot at the strawweight title and would go on to fight - unsuccessfully of course - for a 4th world title. Must be nice having that kind of financial support. Don't get me started.

 

I scored it a draw aswell but had it been 12 rounds I think Thomas would've won as Coetzee was fading late on.

But its definitely one of the most legit draws you'll ever see.

 

Will Grigsby v Ricardo Lopez (Jr. flyweight title)

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

Total: 119-112 Lopez (actual scores: 117-111, 116-112 and 118-110 all for Lopez)

This was a far better fight than the Pretty Boy Lucas fight. Grigsby was a decent fighter and really gave Lopez fits. A damn good and close fight despite the scores, because several rounds were close.

I will take the announcing crew to task here, however. Some announcers just get behind one fighter or the star and don't see any punches coming from the other fighter. In this case it was the team of Pacheco, Czyz and Steve Albert. Man, it wasn't until the 4th round that they gave Grigsby credit for anything. In fact, when Lopez was cut on the left eye, Albert said, "Was that from a punch?" And Pacheco jumped right in and said, "No, that was from a clash of heads." I yelled at the screen, "You don't know that!" And to my point, when they replayed the part where heads clashed, one can see Lopez was bumped on the right side of his head, not the left where the cut occurred. By the 5th round, tunes changed and now suddenly Ferdie says, "These two are very evenly matched." A far cry from what they were saying earlier. That announcing team needed to drink a gallon of impartiality.

 

If anyone was the house fighter that night, it was Buchanan.

It was his third fight in MSG and second title fight in a row. His next two fights after Duran (and three of his next six) were also there in NYC.

Duran had fought there once previously — a first-round KO of Benny Huertas … down the undercard of a Buchanan title defense against Ismael Laguna.

In truth, it was truly neutral territory, but Ken was the one who had a promotional agreement with MSG at the time as he was working to build a U.S. base.

 

Alexis Arguello KO13 Ruben Olivares

I had seen this many years ago, but never really scored it. It's an excellent scrap with a combined ring IQ that is off the charts. Such art on display here. You can really see the fighters thinking in there; Arguello trying to keep Olivares on the outside where his long-armed artillery is better served, and Olivares realizing after a couple rounds that boxing the Nicaraguan isn't going to pan out, so he takes the fight inside with good success.

Arguello had lost in his lone title try to date, dropping a 15-round decision to Ernesto Marcel earlier in the year (1974), while the up and down Olivares had won the WBA featherweight strap by blasting out the hapless Zensuke Utagawa also earlier that year.

The first couple rounds see Olivares trying to use his feet, but while not exactly quick either with his hands or feet, Arguello has this way of cutting the ring and forcing himself on you. Olivares runs out of room and by the third round, decides to take the fight inside and is pressuring the challenger. Olivares is an underrated boxer and good defensively, and Arguello has very minimal success in landing his perfectly-times and pin-straight right hands. Olivares simply slides under them. Arguello finds almost all his success throughout with his short left hook leads thrown as Olivares wades in but the champion takes them well. Both mix brilliantly to the head and body, and Olivares finds a lot of payout with overhand rights thrown over the top of Arguello's left hand.

After the seventh round, Ruben finds his groove, and Arguello's slower fists are having a hard time with the champion's workrate and accuracy. Olivares ignores his cut eyebrow and bores in, whacking the challenger with an assortment featuring his entire arsenal, but the pencil-thin Nicaraguan is in tremendous shape and never wavers. He is being outscored and can't seem to take the play away from the Mexican, however. Olivares is dictating the pace and largely initiating the exchanges.

Falling ever further behind on the cards (at least mine), Arguello finds a home with a short left hook as Olivares moves in in the 13th. It seems innocuous enough, he'd thrown many like it before, but Olivares was nailed flush coming in, and he drops on his back and rolls over to barely make the count. Olivares goes for broke and tries to fight his way out of trouble, when a combination capped off with a right uppercut inside drop him hard again, this time for the count. Arguello's legend begins here, and a great championship run spanning three weight classes is on the horizon. Olivares would go on to win yet another strap, the WBC featherweight title, but lose it quickly to David Kotey and then sink gradually from pertinence.

Excellent fight. The sweet science displayed the way it should be. It was a credit to both fighters.

1. Even
2. Arguello
3. Olivares
4. Olivares
5. Arguello
6. Olivares
7. Arguello
8. Olivares
9. Olivares
10. Olivares
11. Olivares
12. Olivares

Arguello stops Olivares in the 13th. 117-112 Olivares at the time of the stoppage.