[bigMatt]

BERLIN – Tonight’s Main Event featured a spirited contest between top-ten contender Bill Bradburn and The Black Diamond, Harry Woodson. Bradburn came out early, scoring often in the first two frames to take the lead. In the third, a hard left by Bradburn opened a nasty gash under the right eyebrow of Woodson. From the moment The Black Diamond saw his own blood, Woodson became a different fighter, turning desperation into aggression and winning the 3rd, 4th and 5th frames in the minds of ringside experts. Yet, despite his efforts, Woodson fought on borrowed time, as the cut continued to weep blood. In the 6th, blood began to blind Woodson, limiting his effectiveness and making him vulnerable to Bradburn’s powerful left hook. Bradburn took advantage, punishing the wound at every turn. Finally, with under 2 minutes left in the round, Bradburn propelled The Black Diamond to the canvas with a wicked combination. Woodson was able to regain his feet, but the wound was beyond repair. The ring doctor was called over for the third time in as many rounds, this time stopping the fight. Bradburn wins by TKO in the 6th.

On the undercard, Frank Slavin secured a majority decision from McHenry Johnson; Bill Doherty floored Alonzo Johnson 3 times en route to a unanimous decision in 8 frames; Tom Allen rose from the canvas in the first to KO Tom Lees in 4; and C.C. Smith punished Charles Lang, sending him to the canvas twice in 2 rounds, the second time for a 10-count.

SAN FRANCISCO – Tonight will be known as the “night of a thousand cuts”, as blood poured freely from several of the combatants on The Cow Palace fight card.

In the Main Event, two undefeateds squared off for the chance to climb the HW ranks. Joe Goss, the favorite of most ringsiders, began the fight in fine form, handily dominating Duncan McDonald in the first two frames. In the third, however, Goss fell into some bad luck, as a right hook by McDonald opened a ragged wound on the right eyelid of Goss. The Britisher fought valiantly, winning every round from the 4th on. But in the 7th round, the referee called the ring doctor over for the 4th time to evaluate Goss’ copiously bleeding cut, and the doctor called the fight, over bitter protests from Goss’ corner. Duncan McDonald wins by TKO in the 7th.

On the undercard, Jack McAuley took on Pete McCoy in what turned out to be a virtual blood-bath. McCoy tore McAuley’s eyebrow with a wicked shot in the first, and had McAuley staggered the entire round but could not put him down. McAuley returned the favor in the third, opening a wound under McCoy’s right eyebrow. From this point on, both fighters were on borrowed time, as the fight became a virtual bleed out between the two contestants. The ring doctor was the busiest participant from this point on, check each fighter at least once from the 4th round on. By the 6th, McAuley had a decent lead over his opponent, and after a particular nasty flurry from McAuley quickened the bloodflow once again from the eye of McCoy, the doctor had seen enough, telling a dazed McCoy that he was finished for the evening. TKO win for McAuley in 6. Dan Donnelly continued his rise in the ranks, earning a TKO in the 6th after dominating a game but overmatched Bob McIntyre; Charlie O’Donnell won a 6 round UD over Steve Taylor; and Jim Harvey preserved his perfect record, logging a 6 round UD over Canadian Charles Buskin.

The UoLBA has declared May an open month, as fighters prepare in hopes of a berth in June’s 16 man tourney. The tournament brackets will be announced the first week in May.