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kenyan_cheena · 07-16-2014, 09:27 AM

ESPN

Boxing

Updated: November 11, 2008 11.15 AM ET

Johnson throws down gauntlet
after victory against Mason

By Larry Holman
ESPN.com
Archive

Los Angeles-based heavyweight Jack Johnson completed a perfect 5-0 run through the IBL's International Conference on Monday night in Las Vegas, scoring a majority decision win over the English veteran Gary Mason (97-93, 95-95, 97-94). Johnson controlled and dominated the bout with a persistent left jab, although Mason did come close to springing a major upset when he had the Athens Olympics gold medallist in all sorts of trouble in round three. Johnson ended up outlanding Mason 307-135, and improved his record to 23-2-1(13). In what was clearly a deliberate attempt to antagonise his critics, Johnson entered the ring accompanied by a trio of scantily-clad women, one of whom was Claudette James, the former fiancee of former heavyweight boxer and current Buffalo Bills running back Sam McVey.

Last month, Johnson had a verbal confrontation with now-former ESPN Los Angeles radio host Jeff Breslain, where he claimed that the media was only interested in seeing him "be the bad guy" and then went on to imply that he planned to give them what they want. Last night, Johnson behaved in a risque fashion while interacting with his female companions and presented a curt, arrogant attitude during the post-fight interview, where he sent out a message to all the top contenders in the World Championship Conference, including former champions Terone Haynes and Ken Norton, that he was "coming to get them in '09." There was none of the cheerful, cheeky Johnson we have seen in the past. This version of the talented Texas-born pugilist wore a permanent scowl and was mostly mean spirited for the duration of his appearance in the ring at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The card was the first of three this week that will conclude competiton in the heavyweight division's International Conference, and Johnson was joined at the top of the standings by Florida's Cheetah Brown, who recorded a scintillating 2nd round knockout of Italy's Francesco Damiani in the co-feature to conclude his own 5-0 run through 2008. In an exciting opening round, Brown rallied from an early onslaught to even the ledger by its end. Damiani was again in control to start the 2nd before a late left hook staggered him, and a follow-up left-right salvo dropped him, the count concluding just as the bell sounded to end the round. Damiani outlanded Brown 61-39, but did not land the punches that mattered in the end.

Brown improved his record to 18-2(12) and when he was asked about next year and the WCC, he made a point of mentioning that a clash with his fellow Florida native Romy Alvarez might finally come to fruition now. The two were close to squaring off on a number of occasions during the IBL's pre-WCC/IC days of '06 and '07, but each time a loss by one or the other scuttled the fight. If Alvarez defeats Russia's Igor Berezutskiy on Saturday night in Chicago, he'll retain his place in the WCC for '09, meaning the only thing standing between an Alvarez-Brown stoush will be the two men's managers. Brown was upset by Samuel Peter in the first stage of the WCC qualifying tournament in August '07. A victory in that fight would have seen him take on Alvarez for a berth in the inaugural WCC, but instead it was Alvarez who claimed the place with a 3rd round KO of the Nigerian.

Earlier on Monday night's card, there were wins for Scott Mundt and Ray Mercer in bouts that had vital importance as far as WCC qualification was concerned. Connecticut-born German Mundt made a slow start, but finished nicely as he knocked out Virginia's Ron E. Vincent with a single, crunching uppercut late in round seven. Vincent had earlier dominated rounds one, two and four to establish a lead on the scorecards, but Mundt got a foothold in the contest in the action-packed 5th and 6th stanzas. Two judges had him trailing going into round seven, and things didn't look to be going any better for him after Vincent buried a stinging left hook into his ribs and then rocked him with a head-snapping uppercut. However, it only took one moment for Mundt to cancel out all of Vincent's successes, as his own uppercut had "The Punching Preacher" out cold, and counted out at the 2:23 mark of the 7th.

It was Vincent's first loss in the International Conference, and only the second of his career as he fell to 17-2(9), while Mundt improved to 21-4(13). Mundt also finished the IC with a 4-1 record. Jacksonville's Olympic gold medallist and former WBO champion Ray Mercer joined them in compiling a 4-1 mark in '08, finishing the year with a comfortable unanimous decision win over Samuel Peter (97-91, 100-88, 98-90). Mercer floored Peter three times, with two of those knockdowns coming in the final round, and landed almost twice as many punches as him (281-151). The veteran 37-year-old is now 39-9-2(25), and after looking washed up when Vladimir Virchis defeated him with a WCC spot on the line in October '07, it now appears that he'll be competing there in 2009.

Larry Holman is ESPN.com's boxing writer.

07-16-2014, 09:27 AM	#2004
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 9,037	*ESPN* *Boxing* Updated: November 11, 2008 11.15 AM ET Johnson throws down gauntlet after victory against Mason By Larry Holman ESPN.com Archive Los Angeles-based heavyweight Jack Johnson completed a perfect 5-0 run through the IBL's International Conference on Monday night in Las Vegas, scoring a majority decision win over the English veteran Gary Mason (97-93, 95-95, 97-94). Johnson controlled and dominated the bout with a persistent left jab, although Mason did come close to springing a major upset when he had the Athens Olympics gold medallist in all sorts of trouble in round three. Johnson ended up outlanding Mason 307-135, and improved his record to 23-2-1(13). In what was clearly a deliberate attempt to antagonise his critics, Johnson entered the ring accompanied by a trio of scantily-clad women, one of whom was Claudette James, the former fiancee of former heavyweight boxer and current Buffalo Bills running back Sam McVey. Last month, Johnson had a verbal confrontation with now-former ESPN Los Angeles radio host Jeff Breslain, where he claimed that the media was only interested in seeing him "be the bad guy" and then went on to imply that he planned to give them what they want. Last night, Johnson behaved in a risque fashion while interacting with his female companions and presented a curt, arrogant attitude during the post-fight interview, where he sent out a message to all the top contenders in the World Championship Conference, including former champions Terone Haynes and Ken Norton, that he was "coming to get them in '09." There was none of the cheerful, cheeky Johnson we have seen in the past. This version of the talented Texas-born pugilist wore a permanent scowl and was mostly mean spirited for the duration of his appearance in the ring at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The card was the first of three this week that will conclude competiton in the heavyweight division's International Conference, and Johnson was joined at the top of the standings by Florida's Cheetah Brown, who recorded a scintillating 2nd round knockout of Italy's Francesco Damiani in the co-feature to conclude his own 5-0 run through 2008. In an exciting opening round, Brown rallied from an early onslaught to even the ledger by its end. Damiani was again in control to start the 2nd before a late left hook staggered him, and a follow-up left-right salvo dropped him, the count concluding just as the bell sounded to end the round. Damiani outlanded Brown 61-39, but did not land the punches that mattered in the end. Brown improved his record to 18-2(12) and when he was asked about next year and the WCC, he made a point of mentioning that a clash with his fellow Florida native Romy Alvarez might finally come to fruition now. The two were close to squaring off on a number of occasions during the IBL's pre-WCC/IC days of '06 and '07, but each time a loss by one or the other scuttled the fight. If Alvarez defeats Russia's Igor Berezutskiy on Saturday night in Chicago, he'll retain his place in the WCC for '09, meaning the only thing standing between an Alvarez-Brown stoush will be the two men's managers. Brown was upset by Samuel Peter in the first stage of the WCC qualifying tournament in August '07. A victory in that fight would have seen him take on Alvarez for a berth in the inaugural WCC, but instead it was Alvarez who claimed the place with a 3rd round KO of the Nigerian. Earlier on Monday night's card, there were wins for Scott Mundt and Ray Mercer in bouts that had vital importance as far as WCC qualification was concerned. Connecticut-born German Mundt made a slow start, but finished nicely as he knocked out Virginia's Ron E. Vincent with a single, crunching uppercut late in round seven. Vincent had earlier dominated rounds one, two and four to establish a lead on the scorecards, but Mundt got a foothold in the contest in the action-packed 5th and 6th stanzas. Two judges had him trailing going into round seven, and things didn't look to be going any better for him after Vincent buried a stinging left hook into his ribs and then rocked him with a head-snapping uppercut. However, it only took one moment for Mundt to cancel out all of Vincent's successes, as his own uppercut had "The Punching Preacher" out cold, and counted out at the 2:23 mark of the 7th. It was Vincent's first loss in the International Conference, and only the second of his career as he fell to 17-2(9), while Mundt improved to 21-4(13). Mundt also finished the IC with a 4-1 record. Jacksonville's Olympic gold medallist and former WBO champion Ray Mercer joined them in compiling a 4-1 mark in '08, finishing the year with a comfortable unanimous decision win over Samuel Peter (97-91, 100-88, 98-90). Mercer floored Peter three times, with two of those knockdowns coming in the final round, and landed almost twice as many punches as him (281-151). The veteran 37-year-old is now 39-9-2(25), and after looking washed up when Vladimir Virchis defeated him with a WCC spot on the line in October '07, it now appears that he'll be competing there in 2009. Larry Holman is ESPN.com's boxing writer. Last edited by kenyan_cheena; 07-16-2014 at 09:32 AM.