the what fights did you watch today\scorecard thread.

In 2002, an experiment was held to answer the age-old philosophical question: Who would win a fight between a Black Rhino and a White Buffalo when Etienne fought Frans Botha.

Turns out it was a trick question, the answer being ‘neither’ when they fought to a draw.

Etienne was a product of the Louisiana prison system boxing program. He served 10 years of a 40-year sentence for armed robbery, committed during his senior year of high school and derailing a path that would seemed to have been on track to land him a football scholarship to a major program like LSU, Nebraska or Oklahoma, which all reportedly recruited him.

He was released for good behavior with an alleged 30-0 prison boxing record during which he won the state prison heavyweight championship (these were amateur bouts, but I have a feeling they weren’t fighting strictly for points and style). So if his skills as a pro were rudimentary, consider his upbringing in the sport.

Alas, three months after he lost to Sugar Valuev in 2005 and with his career in decline, Clifford yearned to return to his roots … and was arrested and convicted for a Cocaine Bear type binge which unfortunately included holding up a check-writing business, carjacking a vehicle containing a woman and her child, and pulling a gun on a policeman. This ‘misunderstanding’ resulted in a 160-year sentence (without possibility of parole) which was later reduced to a more reasonable 105 years. He still serves today, and apparently has taken up art as his new hobby while also serving in the prison barbershop.

 

I shouldn’t laugh, I know but I guffawed over my breakfast when I read the line…”160-year sentence (without possibility of parole) which was later reduced to a more reasonable 105 years. Haha, it was the “more reasonable” line that got me. I bet Cliff was mighty relieved with that reduction in his sentence

 

I guess the utter optimist would say, "Yeah, baby! My lawyer shaved 55 years off of my sentence."

 

Ha ha, true. And an even bigger optimist would say, “Only another 105 years and I’ll be looking for a Tyson rematch!”

 

Andew Golota v Danell Nicholson

Round 1: 10-9 Nicholson
Round 2: 10-9 Golota
Round 3: 10-9 Golota
Round 4: 10-9 Golota
Round 5: 10-9 Nicholson (scored the round Even but Golota had a point deducted for a blatant head butt.)
Round 6: 10-9 Golota
Round 7: 10-9 Golota
Round 8: 10-8 Golota (a bit of a battering)
Emanuel Steward retires Nicholson between rounds

Total through 8 completed rounds: 78-73 Golota (actual scores: 77-73, 78-74 and 77-74 all for Golota)

It was always interesting watching the foul Pole at work and he didn't let me down when he imploded in the 5th with a ridiculously blatant head butt that was not required as he was well ahead. But despite Nicholson's theatrics after the butt, they continued before Nicholson's wheels started coming off in the 8th round before Steward wisely pulled him out. Still and all, a lively heavyweight fight.

 

Marco Antonio Barrera v Rocky Juarez (jr. lightweight title)

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

Total: 115-115 Draw (actual scores: 115-114 Juarez and scores of 115-113 and 115-114 both for Barrera for a split win)

Originally this bout was called a draw but adjustments to 2 of the judges cards due to mathematical mistakes had it a split win for Barrera. This bout was damn close and it was a damn good fight. I saw it as the young turk was about to take the title from the veteran until MAB pulled something back from his roots and took the 12th for a draw on my card. Everyone needs to see this fight. They left it all in the ring this night.

 

Very good fight, haven't watched it in years. At the time I felt Barrera banked enough rounds early to secure a lead before a Juarez rally. Reminded me a lot of the Hopkins vs Taylor fights in a sense that Taylor like Barrera won more rounds but Hopkins like Juarez won their rounds more emphatically and did more damage

Juarez had a tough career coming up just short in some big fights. I always felt if he could have continued to campaign at 126 he could have gotten a title but 130 had the stars

 

Holyfield vs Dokes

1 - Holyfield 10 Dokes 9

2- Holyfield 10 Dokes 9

3- Holyfield 9 Dokes 10

4- Holyfield 10 Dokes 9

5- Holyfield 10 Dokes 10

6- Holyfield 10 Dokes 8

7- Holyfield 10 Dokes 9

8- Holyfield 9 Dokes 10

9- Holyfield 10 Dokes 9

10 - Holyfield KO

Holyfield 88 - Dokes 83

Good heavyweight battle. If Dokes' feet was as fast as his hands he may have done better but was flat footed and puffing even in second round. Holy started the fight with a headbutt, low blow combination. Dokes then went pretty low blow happy for rest of the fight, lot of shots on Holy's hips, maybe trying to slow him down? Dokes had a point taken in round 6 for low blows. Two bouts of punching after the bell. Holyfield always looked like the winner, Dokes couldn't hurt him despite great rallies in rounds 3 and 8. Dokes showed a lot of heart and was fighting back when first tagged in round 10. I suppose you could argue Dokes could have been given an 8 count but pretty sure he wouldn't have survived the round.

 

Chris John v Rocky Juarez I (featherweight title)

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

Total: 117-112 John (actual scores: all 3 judges had it 114-114 a Draw. Harold Lederman had it 116-112 for John)

Chris John reminded me of a featherweight version of Rocky Castellani. And by that I mean, both very strong who threw clubbing punches. Whether it was John purposely keeping that 1-2 foot space between them or Rocky's inability to close that gap, I don't know. Probably both. But that made the difference in the fight because John just hammered Rocky with those clubbing punches throughout with that kind of distance between them. It appeared to be the final urgency late in the fight that had Rocky tearing in the way he did with tremendous success. Those last 2 rounds were tense and exciting. And despite the fact that I knew the results, I was still yelling for Rocky to get in there those last couple of rounds. I can only imagine how I would have been in the arena live.

 

What always amazes me about this fight is that Dokes gave Evander such a tough fight without taking a round.

 

Champion John H Stracey vs Challenger Carlos Palomino
WBC Welterweight Championship - June 22, 1976

Round 1 - 10-9 Palomino
Round 2 - 10-9 Palomino
Round 3 - 10-9 Palomino
Round 4 - 10-9 Palomino
Round 5 - 10-9 Stracey
Round 6 - 10-9 Palomino
Round 7 - 10-9 Palomino
Round 8 - 10-9 Palomino
Round 9 - 10-9 Palomino
Round 10 - 10-9 Palomino
Round 11 - 10-9 Palomino
Round 12 - Palomino wins the title by TKO, Stracey down twice from a brutal body attack. He gets up both times but the fight is stopped shortly after knockdown number two.

My score through 11 rounds, 109-101 Palomino. Actual scores unknown.

For a somewhat one-sided affair this was an enjoyable watch.

Stracey started out boxing with King Carlos but was being slightly outboxed each round. Toward the end of round four and throughout round five Stracey made it a brawl on the inside and had success. I'm not sure if Palomino did something to stop Stracey from getting inside or it the Englishman didn't have the energy to keep it going but round five was the last real brawling we saw.

Throughout the fight Palomino used great variety to keep Stracey at bay, Uppercuts, straight rights, left hooks to the head and body all produced good results for Carlos.

 

Scar, just watched this on your recommendation. Some very close rounds that I felt could have gone either way, particularly in the early going. I thought Barrera did enough to take the decision.

Marco Antonio Barrera v Rocky Juarez 1

1. 10-9
2. 10-9 (close)
3. 9-10 (close again)
4. 9-10 (swing round)
5. 10-9
6. 10-9
7. 10-9
8. 9-10
9. 10-9
10. 9-10
11. 10-9 (very close. Great round)
12. 9-10

Barrera 115-113 Juarez

 

Stracey was actually my favourite fighter of the early to mid 70s! Even though I was still at the little school I recognised a tough bugger when I saw one and Stracey was as tough as they come.
Unfortunately he was out of his depth against Palomino in what was… as your scoring and accurate description demonstrates…a one sided beatdown.

Still…at least John will always have that victory over the legendary Napolese…albeit a faded and finished Jose…on his resumé.

 

Yes for sure, I was being generous to Dokes with the rounds I gave him, pretty much an Evander shutout really but a strong showing from Dokes. Shame Mike couldn't show the same skills against Bowe!