the what fights did you watch today\scorecard thread.

Michael Dokes vs Ossie Ocasio 1

1 Dokes
2 Ocasio
3 Ocasio
4 Ocasio
5 Dokes
6 Dokes
7 Dokes
8 Dokes
9 Dokes
10 Ocasio

96-94 Dokes

I've seen the 2nd fight before where Dokes blew away Ocasio early but i've never actually seen their 1st encounter.

Overall not a bad fight actually one of Ocasio's more aggressive exciting fighta.

Ocasio did well early on coming in aggressively with his awkward style and landing leaping left hooks which stunned Dokes a few times.

Ocasio's accuracy fell off a bit in the 2nd half of the fight and i thought Dokes won a majority of the rounds in the 2nd half of the fight with his boxing, jabbing, and ring generalship.

Ocasio to his credit though had a very big 10 round again landing with leaping hooks stunning Dokes like he did in rounds 2-4 finishing the fight strong.

The fight was ruled a draw but i have no issue with the draw even though i scored it 6-4 for Dokes. Rounds 1 and 8 were debatable for enough for me that those rounds possibly could've been scored for Ocasio.

 

Jaws is a fascinating guy to me. He just had the quirkiest rhythm and was a true ‘styles make fights’ example — some guys were completely thrown by him and others (who I think mostly didn’t try to figure him out and just went at him) blew through him or dominated him.

He shattered Jimmy Young’s mojo. Jimmy was in line to fight Holmes (in a mandatory iirc) if he got past a tuneup vs a green Ocasio (11-0) on the Holmes-Norton undercard but Young came in seven pounds heavier than he had for Norton at 220 and pissed it away. Don King set up a rematch seven months later, and this time Jimmy was just one pound over his Norton weight … and arguably did worse … and was never a factor in the title picture again.

 

If you think about it Ocasio is a bit of bad style match up for Young.

Even though Young is more highly regarded as a Heavyweight.

Ocasio is smaller than a lot of the Heavyweights Young fought he's awkward, quite fast, unusual rhythm.

Young is a defensive fighter and its not going to be easy for him to pin down an awkward smaller Heavyweight.

Especially when it's normally him being the awkward fighter for bigger Heavyweights.

 

The two fights pretty much underscore this.

Much as Jimmy made Ali look bad by being passive and not leading, making Ali go to the front foot, Ocasio took Jimmy out of his own comfort zone.

And Young cannot rely on simply walking through/overpowering Jaws.

Dokes fought the wrong fight first time (however you see the scoring) by playing Ossie’s game and trying to figure him out. Second time he launched himself like a cannonball and didn’t really let Oswaldo settle into a rhythm at all … game over.

 

That's why I feel like Holmes's win over Ocasio is a bit underrated.

2 wins over Young who was fresh off beating Foreman.

A legit draw vs a near peak Dokes.

Decision win over Qawi although I've heard it's very controversial.

The first fighter to extend a young Lewis the distance.

A very close fight vs Mercer.

The latter 2 fights were when Ocasio was a long way past his prime aswell.

Ocasio is a bit underrated in my view.

 

Henry Tillman (c) vs Bert Cooper, scheduled for 12 rounds for the NABF cruiserweight championship on June 15, 1986, at Trump Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, NJ.

If you think this one is slick boxer vs crude puncher, you’re not even half right as these two went to war for much of the bout, which was televised by CBS. It’s an action-packed scrap.

Tillman, age 25, is 10-0 (7) and making the first defense of the NABF crown he won by a surprising KO1 of Bash Ali. The former Olympic gold medalist weighs 194 1/4.

Cooper, 20, is 11-1 (1), with his only loss by stoppage vs Reggie Gross due to an eye injury. He weights 194.

The cruiserweight limit at this time (at least for this belt) is 195, in case you were wondering.

Here we go:

1 — Tillman 10-9: Bert comes out smoking, winging big punches. Tillman mostly evades them and lands chopping combinations to counter.

2 — Cooper 10-7: Two knockdowns for Bert, the first early in the round with a left hook followed by a right. He goes. For broke and knocks Henry down again, but Tillman rallies in the second half of the round with some big shots of his own as Bert tires.

3 — Cooper 10-9: They go to war early and then settle down. Tillman lands combinations and outworks Cooper inside but Bert hurts him late to edge it.

4 — Tillman 10-9: They take turns hurting each other. Tillman blisters Cooper early, then Bert turns the tide and knocks him around the ring, then Tillman rocks Bert again late in a dynamite round.

5 — Tillman 10-9: I nearly gave Henry a 10-8 for this as he tees off on Bert for most of the round and batters him pretty good, but can’t finish him. Cooper did just enough to avoid a two-point round for me but this was definitely one-sided.

6 — Tillman 10-9: Henry jabs and circles Bert as the pace finally slows.

7 — Tillman 10-9: More of the same. Cooper is following Henry around but not punching.

8 — Tillman 10-9: Closer as Cooper begins throwing more punches again but even though Henry’s shots are lacking much pop at this point, he outworks Bert to take it.

9 — Cooper 10-9: In a surprise, Bert out-jabs Tillman in this round and lands a couple of stinging rights.

10 — Cooper 10-9: A few lively exchanges and Bert gets the better of them, plus he continues to win the battle of the jabs.

11 — Cooper 10-9: Henry is fading and Cooper pot-shots him with rights and a few snappy hooks. Tillman rallies late but it’s not enough to take the round.

12 — Tillman 10-9: This one is close as Henry lands a few combos, gets on his bike to try to kill the clock, then comes back with a few combos.

Scorecards: unanimous for Cooper at 115-113, 114-113 and 115-112.

My card: 113-113

Highly recommend this one. I have no idea how I stumbled across it but seeing it was two guys early in their careers on the rise, I figured it was worth a watch. And it definitely was.

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Quite a few choices from the 1980s heavyweight era it seems.

 

Pat, did this a few years back. This is what I wrote:

Henry Tillman v Bert Cooper (NABF cruiserweight title)

Round 1: 10-9 Cooper
Round 2: 10-7 Cooper (scores 2 knockdowns)
Round 3: 10-9 Cooper
Round 4: 10-9 Tillman
Round 5: 10-9 Tillman
Round 6: 10-9 Tillman
Round 7: 10-9 Tillman
Round 8: 10-9 Tillman
Round 9: 10-9 Tillman
Round 10: 10-9 Cooper
Round 11: 10-9 Cooper
Round 12: 10-10 Even

Total: 114-113 Cooper (actual scores: 114-113, 115-112 and 115-113 all for Cooper)

This fight had its moments of melodrama, but it was not the war that the announcers would have you believe. It started out crazy but then Cooper was gassed by the 4th round, which let Tillman back into the fight. And he took full advantage of Cooper's fatigue. But really Tillman just didn't have the kind of punch that was going to do anything to Bert. Just a lot of big pokes from Henry. Bert got a bit of a second wind late but was spent again by the 12th along with Tillman. Exciting at times but be warned that it gets sloppy.

 

Agree on the sloppy, but while there was a lull in the middle, they did tee off on each other and I think both were buzzed/hurt numerous times.

Poor Henry leveraged everything he could in trying to take Bert out a few times and just didn’t have the power to quite tip it to stoppage territory.

But let’s also consider that these are two guys with 10 and 11 pro fights apiece and, despite Tillman’s gold medal, both had limited amateur careers (Henry started boxing at like age 20, I think) so there are going to be some rough edges.

Bert impressed me with his jab in spots that gave him a different dimension and probably tipped a couple of crucial rounds in his favor. Henry impressed me with his willingness to try to be the bully rather than make it a track meet.

Very entertaining scrap.

 

Larry Holmes vs Maurice Harris

1 Holmes
2 Harris
3 Holmes
4 Harris
5 Harris
6 Holmes
7 Holmes
8 Harris
9 Harris
10 Harris

96-94 Harris

I remember seeing this years ago when i had a Larry Holmes boxset my dad bought me it and Holmes was the first fighter i watched properly and it got me into boxing.

As much as i like Holmes he did get a bit of gift decision here and he probably took Harris too lightly who's a better fighter than his record suggests.

Yeah Harris was a bit too passive but he still frustrated Holmes with his movement and jabbing and finished the fight strong.

Holmes was the aggressor and i can maybe understand the judges slightly siding with the sentimental favourite and the scorecards aren't the worst i've seen.

I still think Harris did deserve the nod though.

 

Larry Holmes vs Jesse Ferguson

1 Holmes
2 Ferguson
3 Ferguson
4 Holmes
5 Ferguson
6 Holmes
7 Holmes
8 Holmes
9 Holmes
10 Ferguson

96-94 Holmes

This is one of Holmes's more interesting fights in his 2nd career.

Ferguson badly hurt Holmes with an overhand right in the 2nd round and for a brief second it looked like Holmes could go down. But even at age 44 Holmes showed great recuperative powers something he's known for to weather the storm.

I thought Ferguson did a good job in the 1st half of the fight being the aggressor forcing Holmes back towards the ropes and landing the occasional eye catching left hooks and overhand rights.

Holmes to his credit adjusted well in the 2nd half of the fight and controlled Ferguson behind the jab. And also showed a better defence when he was forced back towards to ropes using his arms to nullify Ferguson.

Ferguson finished the 10th round quite strong as Holmes looked pretty tired and i think he just wanted to see the fight out at that point.

Competitive fight but i think Holmes did enough to separate himself from Ferguson in the 2nd half of the fight to win a close but clear decision.

 

Foreman vs Lyle

Big George was out on his feet many refs would wave it off. George battered his way to victory but Ron hit him with some bombs, can't believe George made it

 

Vicente Saldivar v Mitsunori Seki II (Featherweight title)

Round 1: 10-9 Saldivar
Round 2: 10-9 Saldivar
Round 3: 10-9 Saldivar
Round 4: 10-10 Even
Round 5: 10-9 Seki
Round 6: 10-9 Saldivar
Round 7: Saldivar drops and stops Seki

Total through 6 completed rounds: 59-56 Saldivar (actual scores not known)

This was a nice little fight to watch on this Saturday morning. Saldivar reminded me a lot of Lupe Pintor. Both attrition fighters who were geared to fight 15 rounds and aiming to grind you down in those last 5 rounds. But he ended matters a little early this time against a very tough opponent in Mitsunori Seki. Although Saldivar was very strong on the inside, Seki had no fear and actually took the play from the Mexican in the 4th and 5th, outfighting him on the inside. Seki's right eye was starting to look bad and Saldivar upped the tempo in the 7th when he rocked Seki, dropping him and stopping him with the followup. Seki was unlucky to be fighting in an era with such opposition as he met. Losing in title tries against Pone Kingpetch at flyweight and 4 tries at featherweight (Sugar Ramos, Saldivar twice and then the vacant title against Howard Winstone). The Winstone fight was his unluckiest. The badly cut Winstone had a kind referee in Roland Dakin conducting matters. And the first sign of a cut on Seki, Dakin immediately stopped the fight (no doctor's inspection and no opportunity for the corner a chance for repairs). I saw the fight and can admit, I never saw the cut. I had Winstone slightly ahead, but it was still anybody's fight in the 9th. Anyways, bad luck for Seki.

 

Larry Holmes vs Oliver McCall

1 Holmes
2 Holmes
3 McCall
4 Holmes
5 McCall
6 Holmes
7 McCall
8 Holmes
9 McCall
10 Holmes
11 McCall
12 McCall

114-114 Draw

Very close fight as a Holmes fan i really would've liked Holmes to of won this but he didn't have the energy levels down the stretch to quite pull it out.

I thought Holmes was in control of the fight for the most part through 8 rounds controlling the fight at range with his jab and occasional right hand.

McCall was doing his weird traits of looking away after getting hit and showing a lack of interest similar to the rematch against Lewis.

But McCall managed to finally wake up in the 9th round and after he gave Holmes a bit of battering on the ropes. The momentum shifted in McCall's favour as he mauled Holmes along the ropes who didn't have the energy levels down the stretch at age 45.

A gallant effort from Holmes unfortunately he lost too many rounds down the stretch but he still earned a draw on my card. And it's a pity Holmes couldn't quite find another round to win because he was within 1 point on 2 of the judges scorecards from winning the title at age 45.

 

Lewis Vs Mercer (1996)

Round 1 Lewis
Round 2 Draw (could have gone either way)
Round 3 Lewis
Round 4 Lewis
Round 5 Lewis
Round 6 Mercer
Round 7 Mercer
Round 8 Mercer (close round)
Round 9 Draw
Round 10 Lewis

5-3 (2)
Lewis was more active and threw more punches. Mercer landed big hard punches. I could see the case for a draw if you gave Mercer rounds 2 and 9 and score it 5-5 I wouldn't have a problem with that or give Round 2 to Lewis and score it 6-4.