~~~The Lightning Lucian Bute Battleship~~~

'I've gone through hell': Joppy
U.S. boxer, who takes on Montrealer Bute tonight, has endured severe beatings in ring, being falsely accused of assault, a fractured vertebra and the death of his 5-week-old daughter
HERB ZURKOWSKYThe Gazette
Friday, February 29, 2008

It is a story hardly unique to the sport of boxing. Murder, crime, physical and mental anguish, titles won and titles lost. William Joppy has packed a lot of living into his 37 years, including the last 15 that have been spent as a professional prizefighter.
"Since the millennium, I've gone through hell," he admitted. "But what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. God puts you through things, and you must put your faith in Him. He loves us all and puts us all through tests. I'm ready for the next one. There's going to be more hurdles for me, and you, too.
"No one on this planet is completely content."
Shortly before 11 p.m. tonight, Joppy will step into the ring at the Bell Centre for the 45th time as a pro, hoping to capture the International Boxing Federation super-middleweight title from champion Lucian Bute (10:20 p.m., TVA). Not only is Bute undefeated in 21 bouts (17 knockouts), the transplanted Romanian will be fighting in his home town with thousands of fans screaming support.
Bute, 167.4 pounds at yesterday's weigh-in, is younger, taller and faster. But Joppy, 167.8 pounds and a three-time world champ, knows what it's like to be an underdog. In June 1996, he ventured to Japan and captured the World Boxing Association middleweight title with a ninth-round technical knockout against Shinji Takehara.
In January 1998, five months after losing the championship on a controversial decision to Julio Cesar Green - Joppy sustained a fractured right hand in the third round, but continued fighting - he triumphed in their rematch.
At the height of his career, Joppy fought all the leading 160-pounders - Felix Trinidad, Bernard Hopkins and Jermain Taylor - and lost to them all, sometimes badly. That's unfortunate, and is probably how Joppy will be remembered. He was once great, however.
For more than seven years, Joppy was recognized as one of the best middleweight champs, often compared to Hopkins. Slowly, it all fell apart - in and outside the ring.
He was stopped in the fifth round by Trinidad - the only time in his career Joppy has failed to go the distance - in May 2001, losing the title in the process. Joppy was knocked down in the first and fourth rounds before being stopped.
He took a severe beating from WBA, IBF and World Boxing Council champ Hopkins in December 2003. Hopkins landed from every angle. Joppy's face was hideous - lumpy, bruised, discoloured and swollen - following the bout. Almost a year later, Joppy lost a decision to Taylor for the WBC Continental crown. The fight was held in Taylor's home town.
A boxer is defined by both his wins and losses. But the essence of Joppy goes beyond his 39-4-1 (30 KOs) record. He has endured more than anyone should be subjected to, yet has continually arisen to live, and fight, another day.
Doctors thought he might not walk again after fracturing the C-7 vertebra in his neck in an automobile accident in January 1999. His van was struck by a car after a training session. Joppy never lost consciousness, but he experienced stiffness in his neck and back, along with tingling in his arms. He endured five months of rehabilitation, doctors originally fearful Joppy had suffered a permanent spinal injury. A scar on his forehead remains.
In December 2003, Joppy's 5-week-old daughter, Vashti Scotlynn, died after a week-long struggle on life support. Police ruled the death a homicide, the baby suffering head trauma while in the care of a 13-year-old babysitter.
"It still hurts thinking about it," Joppy said. "I wasn't there. I didn't see it and I don't want to talk about it."
Incredibly, albeit foolishly,
Joppy went ahead and fought Hopkins. He took the next year off, coping with the physical and emotional pounding he sustained, while dealing with escalating legal problems.
In the midst of all this, and
only a month after losing to Hopkins, Joppy was falsely accused of two felonies, arrested on charges of first-degree assault and kidnapping.
Although the crime was committed by another man, Joppy spent two years in and out of criminal and civil courts before finally being exonerated in a case of mistaken identity.
Joppy spent three days in jail, stating his legal fees were in excess of $45,000. Oh, and in the midst of this, he lost the one-sided decision to Taylor.
He eventually decided to become a born-again Christian, even admitting he can feel some level of forgiveness for his baby's killer, currently in prison, saying it obviously was the act of a very disturbed person.
"When you have faith, you can do anything," said Joppy, who became a father for the fourth time last November.
At his best, Joppy wasn't spectacular, but was a solid ring professional. He possessed a good chin and footwork, quick hands and sharp reflexes. His body remains chiseled and muscular to this day and, at 5-foot-9, Joppy, shorter than many opponents, likes to work the body.
Joppy believes in the history of the sport and wants to be remembered as one of the game's greats. But this diligent and industrious fighter has kept a low profile, and his career has lacked that one defining signature moment. An upset of Bute would add significantly to Joppy's reputation, but it remains uncertain what talents remain after his numerous hardships. Joppy would like to fight two, or three more years, but understands none of this remains possible without a victory tonight.
"I'm talking now. That's the way fighters are; they pump it up," he said. "But I'll show you. My actions will speak louder than words. I need this fight. I've got to win to go on. And I'm going to leave with the title.
"This can't go the distance with me winning by a few punches. I've got to devastate him. You must take (the title) from the champion."

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© The Gazette (Montreal) 2008​

 

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Just fine! I compensate for him too!:yep

 

Just read that some Romanian supporters angry at the way Joppy was selling the fight:huh , who were staying in the same hotel as him, started a fire alarm at 03:30 in the morning to disturb his sleep, last night. :-(

Apparently they were very pleased with themselves when Joppy had to wait for almost two hours in the hotel lobby for the all-clear...atsch

Seems Joppy didn't see the funny side of it!:roll:

What a disgrace! :fire


Wouldn't is be funny if Joppy somehow laid Bute out on the canvas with a nicely timed right cross? I think so!:twisted:

:fire

 

In other news, Bute's preparation for the fight, including sparring partners etc. cost $CAD 40,000. He supported the cost himself.

He also put on 4 kg since the weigh in already.

 

Let's hope for his sake he doesn't hear of it before the fight.

 

Joppy has been through hell by the sound of it; he was incredibly unlucky in his career and made some bad choices, under great personal strain. He has a young family to support so I hope he puts in a very good performance tonight. Hope he makes it as competitive as possible for at least 4-5 rounds. This should help Bute too; beating up an old, shot man would do him no favours.

 

They have done Bute a great diservice because, for better or worse, a fighter is associated with the behaviour of his fans.

They cannot be boxing fans if they've done this. Joppy trained his socks off for this fight and losing half a night's sleep is terrible.

They cannot be decent human beings either - this is Joppy last chance to prove he still has enough to deserve some more decent paydays...if he is tired, he won't be at his best.

Lastly, they've damaged Bute's career unwittingly. If Joppy looks bad in the ring because he's tired, people will give Bute even less credit for his performance against him...

All in all...a really stupid and disgusting thing done by ignoble simpletons:-( :-( :-( ...as a Romanian, I am very ashamed...

 

Unfortunately, fight starts at 03:20, UK time...

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