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May '05: Notable Results
IBF Bantamweight: Tim Austin (2-1, 1 KO) vs Jeff Chandler (3-1, 1 KO)
Austin comes out trying to just overwhelm Chandler under the volume of blows, while Chandler fights somewhat more methodically. Austin is not landing often, but during the middle rounds he seems to find his rhythm. Surrounding that, though, it was all Chandler, which created a pretty even fight through 7. Ultimately, Austin threw more than 1100 punches in the fight, but Chandler blasted him with a hook that put him down in the 8th, and Austin didn't recover until midway through the 10th round. So when it went to the cards, it was Chandler who took the unanimous decision 95-94, 95-94, 96-93. Both fighters will be heard from again, but for Chandler it will be sooner rather than later.
Jeff Chandler UD 10 Tim Austin
WBA Heavyweight: Gerry Cooney (3-0, 2 KO) vs John Ruiz (3-0, 2 KO)
Two guys make their big-time debut after coming up from the WBO, easily the highest profile fight thus far between two WBO guys on the big stage. The prevailing thought was that Cooney would have to get Ruiz out of there early, because later on Ruiz's style would just wear Cooney out. After an even opening two rounds, Cooney takes control in round 3, stunning Ruiz on several occasions. He comes out firing in the fourth and successfully pushes Ruiz off of him during several clutch-and-grab attempts, beating Ruiz's ribs with savage shots before going upstairs. Cooney lands a thunderous hook to the temple late in the 4th that sends Ruiz stumbling to the ropes. He grabs hold of them, but Cooney attacks and hammers several unanswered blows before referee Zach Clayton jumps in to call a halt to the bout. It could be argued the stoppage was early, but Ruiz was absorbing several hard shots from the powerful Cooney with no response. Cooney remains undefeated as he tries to work his way in line for a title shot.
Gerry Cooney TKO 4 (punishment) John Ruiz
More bouts of note to come
GH
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