the what fights did you watch today\scorecard thread.

Scar, here's how I had this one.

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10 : 9
10 : 9
9 : 10
10 : 9
10 : 9 (49/46)
9 : 10
9 : 10
10 : 9*
9 : 10
9 : 10 (

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Chaplin seemed pretty talented, but his mindset didn't seem too reliable. He looked like his priority was keeping himself out of harm's way, not winning rounds, early on at least. Chapo wasn't matching Page's workrate, but it appeared like he was just timing Page. Georgie seemed to come on strong late, as he really left it all in there for the final two rounds. Chaplin had a really right defense. Some Qawi-esque slips, some excellent blocking and a nice tight high-guard when he was up against the ropes.

This was a really fun fight. Page has been good value IMO. Imagine a half-assing it Page vs Clifford Ettienne!

 

Being the 3rd or 4th best heavyweight of the 80s is like being the 3rd or 4th most famous Beatle. After Jon Lennon and Paul McCartney, it's hard to give much of a ****.

Bad analogy maybe, but honestly being the third best heavy of the 80s is pretty meaningless. You could pick the names out of a hat and nearly any of the choices would be okay.

Just look at this:
• Mike Weaver: WBA champion 1980-82 (2 successful defenses)
• Michael Dokes: WBA champion 1982-1983 (1 successful defense)
• Gerrie Coetzee: WBA champion 1983-84 (0 successful defenses)
• Greg Page: WBA champion 1984-85 (0 successful defenses)
• Tony Tubbs: WBA champion 1985-86 (0 successful defenses)
• Tim Witherspoon: WBC champion 1984 (0 successful defenses); WBA champion 1986 (1 successful defense)
• Pinklon Thomas: WBC champion 1984-86 (1 successful defense)
• Trevor Berbick: WBC champion 1986 (0 successful defenses)
• James Boncrusher Smith: WBA 1986-87 champion (0 successful defenses)

That tells it's own sad story.

The only one who deserves any credit in my view is Mike Weaver. He is the only one who managed to string more than one defense together, he got unfairly stopped against Dokes and arguably won the rematch and he gave a prime Holmes all he could handle. And he also won the title as a heavy underdog. There may have been more talented fighters in his generation but at least he actually fulfilled his talent. He'd be my pick for number 3.

 

Evander Holyfield vs George Foreman

Round 1: 10-9 Evander
Round 2: 10-9 George
Round 3: 10-9 Evander
Round 4: 10-9 Evander
Round 5: 10-9 Evander
Round 6: 10-9 Evander
Round 7: 10-9 George
Round 8: 10-9 Evander
Round 9: 10-9 Evander
Round 10: 10-9 George
Round 11: 10-8 Evander
Round 12: 10-9 Evander


Foreman had his moments and put on an amazing performance for his age. I wanted to give him more rounds but Evander was just landing way too many clean shots throughout the rounds. Very exciting fight

 

Larry Holmes v Gerry Cooney

Top notch heavyweight contest - Cooney did well considering he was hurt early and on more than one occasion too.

Shocking level of disrespect shown towards Holmes by the fans and the promoters too - having him announced before Cooney? Disgusting.

Holmes showed his greatness though and Cooney was only ever really keeping in touch with Holmes and the low blows didn't help his cause. The 10th was a great round though with both of them throwing caution to the wind.

Barely any clinching in the whole fight as well.

1 10-9 (Holmes controlling distance with the jab)
2 10-8 (Cooney down from a nice Holmes 1-2)
3 9-10 (better from Cooney)
4 9-10
5 10-9
6 10-9 (Cooney edging the round before Holmes puts him in big trouble)
7 9-10 (Cooney probably just about sneaked the round as Larry was confident knowing he had Cooney hurt and could take his time)
8 10-9
9 9-8 (close - 2 point deduction for Cooney for low blows?)
10 9-10 (fantastic round - best of the fight)
11 10-9 (another point deduction against Cooney)
12 10-9
(115-111)
13 Holmes TKO Cooney

 

I thought Cooney did well too, considering the version of Holmes he fought here. He showed a lot, which makes it puzzling to read some now just blow off his career and him by dismissing him as a bum. He may have fallen short of hopes of a lot of people, but not everyone gets to be champion. Can't assume that for everyone, yet some act almost hurt about it, which is really, really weird.

 

I too had it 115-111 for Holmes after 12. It was one of Holmes' harder and best defenses.

 

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@JohnThomas1 and Sal, here it is.

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9 : 10*
10 : 9
9 : 10
9 : 10* (37/39)
9 : 10
10 : 9
10 : 9
10 : 9 (76/76)
10 : 9
10 : 9
10 : 9*
10 : 9 (

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For every five pitter patter punches that Page threw, Witherspoon let one off that was so much harder, it just erased all of Page's work. Definitely made it a ballache to score. I was gonna comment and say "I don't know why you'd find this boring", after two rounds.... then Page got tired and it became extremely ugly.

Witherspoon looked in good shape, certainly better than Page, who's titties bounced with every Ali-esque hop he took. Page and countered jabbed well, though. Well, he did when he was centre ring, but he often ended up on the ropes. He looked to have Witherspoon hurt a little in the fifth, and I probably gave him a few close rounds based on style points. I do enjoy watching him. Witherspoon seriously took over, most of shots landed as Page became less mobile and Page's workrate dropped after four until he tried to nick it at the end. I could see 11 or 12 going to Page, but not him winning. If you're so inclined to give Page the benefit of the doubt there, I'd say you have to give Timmy the same treatment in one and four.

 

No college this week, so I can watch Patterson vs Benavides and Lee vs Dewitt when I finish up on these guys, which I've seen enough of my blind spots to feel comfortable in conversation about every major player from the 80s.

 

Matthew Franklin/Saad Muhammad v Marvin Johnson 2

Not as good as their first fight maybe but still a great fight. Hadn't scored it before so wanted to see how close it was at the time of the stoppage. Pretty close is the answer.

1 10-9 (close - Johnson started fast but Franklin may have shaded it)
2 9-10 (awesome stuff)
3 9-10
4 9-10
5 9-10 (close)
6 10-9
7 10-9 (Johnson hurt at end of round)
(66-67)
8 Franklin/Saad TKO Johnson

 

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One of the final fights I'll be watching from this bunch.

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10 : 9*
10 : 9
9 : 10*
9 : 10
10 : 9 (48/47)
10 : 9
10 : 9
9 : 10
9 : 10
9 : 10 (95/95)
10 : 9*
9 : 10
9 : 10
9 : 10*
10 : 9 (

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Very good fight.

Some extremely tight rounds here, good fight too. TNT was pretty over weight, and he didn't show good foot-speed/movement like I was half hoping to see after watching him fight Bowe. He was very crafty in this fight. Good jab, slick head-movement, tight defence (parries, blocks, rolls, clinches &c), nasty counters upstairs and down, but not the best footwork. Too much weight, I think. Tubbs was a very smart fighter it seems, he's shown very good ring IQ in the two fights I've seen from him. Witherspoon put in a good performance here, and IMO got himself a very, very good win. Good defence and offence, although very wild at points. His aggression, body punching and defence was very effective and very impressive IMO.

 

John Conteh v Yaqui Lopez

Class. Both a description of the champion and the caliber of this fight. Technically speaking, you won't see many better than this - a boxing match in the best sense of the phrase.

Very close and competitive throughout, I think Conteh had the edge in terms of accuracy and some of his countering was sublime. Yaqui Lopez? That guy was a damn fine fighter who was just unlucky to come up in such a quality era.

@George Crowcroft, @scartissue, @salsanchezfan, @roughdiamond and @PhillyPhan69 - would love to hear your thoughts on this one.

1 10-9
2 9-10
3 10-9
4 9-10 (close)
5 10-9
6 9-10
7 10-9
8 10-9 (close - Lopez started well but Conteh finished strong)
9 9-10
10 10-10 (action ramping up nicely)
11 10-9 (terrific round)
12 10-9 (close - excellent persistent jabbing from Conteh)
13 9-10 (close, but I think Yaqui landed the bigger blows)
14 10-10 (tough to score - both tired now)
15 10-10 (another tough one to score)

Conteh 145 - 143 Lopez

 

Did this one not too long ago actually. I'll see if I can find it.

 

Hmm. Found it, but see that one round seemed to be missing. Anyway, here's what I wrote, not a lot of insight really. Sorry....

........and just now realizing I don't know how to link the old post.

 

You could just insert it as a quote?

 

Not sure how. At least from a phone.