After the War

[Syd Thrift]

Less than a year after the Civil War came to its bloody conclusion, the city of New York was still rife with dissension. The Irishmen hated the blacks, the old rich hated the nouveau riche, the supporters of the Union hated those who called themselves "Copperheads" and supported the Confederate cause. There would, decided the corrupt Tammany Hall, be only one cure for this chaos, and it would come in the form of a brand new sport known as boxing.

No, this would not be ordinary old prizefighting; an English chap known as the Marquis of Queensbury had placed rules down governing 10-second knock-outs, the "technical knockout", and even judges who decided who *would* win a fight if it went to 45 rounds. Hopefully, there would be less death. The country had had plenty of that.

The first fights in this new sport were held in Frank's Gym out near where old man Bronck's farm used to be. Jesse "Laffy" Jaffe scored a bloody technical knockout over Jesus "The Messiah" Horne to assume control of the 5 Boroughs Boxing Syndicate Class Ring. Everyone agreed that the tourney was exceedingly well-fought, not to mention well-represented: each borough sent their best man and were accompanied by 2 gents from upstate and a brawler from across the Jersey shore.

**********************

This is going to be a 100% fictional heavyweights-only universe. I create each boxer using a fairly detailed Python script that's based on the active heavies that come with the game. I'm sort of using that as a way to learn the language as well, so I may or may not be able to wrap it up and release it as a program. I really like the way that it works, though: first it determines whether a fighter is a boxer, slugger, or either, then it determines 4 base attributes based on those classes (boxers are more likely to have higher control ratings but lower hit power, for example), then it determines all the others based on a detailed analysis I ran using a combination of correlations, regressions, and artistic license. It seems to be working pretty well. Modern heavies aren't exactly the pinnacle of boxing, so the best fighters I've seen get 7s and 8s overall (if you look, that's exactly what the Trunzos and co. gave to the best of the best), which is actually kind of cool because it means the division is going to stay really close.

I'm also using a mishmash of the rules that others have come up with regarding resting after fights, matchups for the larger leagues, regional championships, and so on. I plan on starting it small and adding a few new boxers every month until it's large-ish; I don't expect it to ever be as big as CC's monster league but I want to have several regional championships in time.

Since I like the way The Ring summarizes TV bouts, I'll use their format month by month.

[CONN CHRIS]

If this goes on for a few posts, it may well be our first real fictional universe (well, I suppose that they are are all fictional when you get right down to it). This will be another case where we all wish that this sim would mimick the earlier years a little better or at the very least allow twenty round bouts.

Welcome to our little hole in the wall Slick.

[Romdawg88]

This looks really interesting, I'm looking forward to it. It'll be cool to have an all fictional universe down here.

[Syd Thrift]

Several of the pugilists from the tourney were just too tired to fight this month so it was necessary to recruit 3 new ruffians. All 4 active boxers fought at old Frank's on Friday, February 16:

Date	  Winner/Loser			     Venue   Group       Significance Matchup Result
2/16/1866 Oscar Thompson/Jeffrey Melton      Frank's Beginners   B+           C       B
Melton came in looking fat. Took him 2 rounds to work the weight off and by then it was over.
2/16/1866 Alan Briggs/Michael Butler         Frank's Beginners   C            C-      C
We're beginning to think that Butler just isn't very good.

[Syd Thrift]

Originally Posted by CONN CHRIS

If this goes on for a few posts, it may well be our first real fictional universe (well, I suppose that they are are all fictional when you get right down to it). This will be another case where we all wish that this sim would mimick the earlier years a little better or at the very least allow twenty round bouts.

Welcome to our little hole in the wall Slick.

I should mention that I'm using a lot of shorter-round bouts until my guys get past the beginning stages of their careers. Unlike baseball, where my nerdy uberknowledge makes me retch when I see a league batting average of .281 where it should be .279, I am ignorant enough of boxing in its early days that I'm not too perturbed by people winging uppercuts maybe before the uppercut was invented or not getting to see the equivalent of Gentleman Jim Corbett go 75 rounds against a guy (did those guys get pugilistic dementia during the fight?).

So, um, don't get too angry if this isn't that, ah, historical.

[CONN CHRIS]

Originally Posted by Syd Thrift

So, um, don't get too angry if this isn't that, ah, historical.

Don't sweat it. If it were truly historical, every other fight would end in a no contest when the constables broke it up. The good fights might re-assemble later in the day or the next morning at a field down the way a piece but most would just end un-ceremonially.

Before long, everyone would have 1-3-1 records through 45 bouts - not much fun if you enjoy statistics.

[Romdawg88]

Originally Posted by CONN CHRIS

Don't sweat it. If it were truly historical, every over fight would end in a no contest when the constables broke it up. The good fights might re-assemble later in the day or the next morning at a field down the way a piece but most would just end un-ceremonially.

Before long, everyone would have 1-3-1 records through 45 bouts - not much fun if you enjoy statistics.

What are you talking about Connie, you mean you won't love having a bunch of guys with records like this that would be fun times.

Like Chris said you shouldn't sweat it not being perfectly historical. Even the best historical unis we got aren't dead on like that Mike's LBA which has all the ABC belts active even though they weren't really around back then.

[Syd Thrift]

March saw our very first 2-night month, not counting the tourney of course. Granted, one of those nights was only one fight long. Not so great was the Vienns/Jaffe match. Jesse "Laffy" Jaffe reportedly took the fight because he thought he could easily defeat the wily Canadian, but they don't call Merlin Vienns "Le Sourcerour" for nothing. It's a good thing the 5 Boroughs belt was not on the line!

Date	   Winner               Loser            Venue   Group       Significance Matchup Result
3/9/1866   Michael Reynolds     Jeffrey Melton   Frank's Beginners   D            C       A
Okay, it wasn't a good fight. But we love KOs!
3/23/1866  Oscar Thompson       Spencer Summers  Frank's Beginners   B+           A       C+
Summers was floored twice in the first round but somehow survived the match.
3/23/1866  Merlin Vienns        Jesse Jaffe      Frank's Beginners   A+           C-      A+
Vienns, a huge underdog, knocked down Jaffe in the 5th en route to a surprisingly easy UD.

[Romdawg88]

In the results, I see who won and lose but I don't see how the match ended. Did you not put them in or am I just really blind and can't find them?

[Syd Thrift]

Ugh, Canadians. As expected, the success of Merlin Vienns last month led another one of those bearded logsmen down to our fair state. The new guy Jacques Cantin demonstrated exactly we do not like their kind: yes, the big man beat the Brooklynite Frank "The Club" Seiler, but he did so using the maddening French method, which involved poking at a man and then running away, then poking and running away again, and so on until the match is declared over due to frustration more than anything else.

Next month is the first one in which most of the fighters who fought in the tourney are cleared to box again. That ought to be a big'un.

Date	   Winner              W-L-D K   Loser            W-L-D K  Venue   Group       Significance Matchup Result
4/13/1866  Jacques Cantin      1-0-0     Frank Seiler     2-3-1    Frank's Beginners   C            D       SD
Split decisions are nice and all, but the French-Canadian Cantin has all the punching power of a 3 year old.
4/27/1866  Michael Butler      2-3-0 1   Merlin Vienns    1-2-0    Frank's Beginners   A+           C       UD
You weren't so tough after all, were you, you filthy Canuck!?
4/27/1866  Michael Reynolds    2-2-1 1   Alan Briggs      1-1-0    Frank's Beginners   C+           C-      UD
It was never really close, although Briggs was at least game enough to avoid a knockdown.

[Syd Thrift]

Originally Posted by Romdawg88

In the results, I see who won and lose but I don't see how the match ended. Did you not put them in or am I just really blind and can't find them?

Good point. I didn't add them because they were in the original Ring summary. I'm going to, though.

[Syd Thrift]

It was a mix of styles this time around. While we saw preppy up-stater Roderick Johnston utilize that French style that we've mentioned our extreme distaste for, there was also quite a lot of the hitting and the pounding that we so enjoy. We're still wondering what happened to the ring's two early contenders though. Jesse Jaffe and Jesus Horne have 1 bout between the two of them since the tournament. We know that was a grueling affair, but come on, guys.

Date	   Winner              W-L-D K   Loser            W-L-D K  Venue   Group       Significance Matchup Result
5/4/1866   Merlin Vienns       1-2-1     Alan Briggs      1-1-1    Frank's Beginners   C-           B       Dr
While the other 2 judges scored the bout even, Doctor Chaos scored it 60-54 in Vienns' favor. Dr. Chaos is a jerk.
5/11/1866  Frank Seiler        3-3-1 1   Christian Barret 0-3-0    Frank's Beginners   D+           D       KO5
It is rumored that Barrett has been shopping for tomatoes between fights.
5/18/1866  Roderick Johnston   3-2-0 0   Michael Butler   2-4-0 1  Frank's Beginners   C+           C-      UD
Johnston wins easily using the disgusting French Style.
5/18/1866  Tony Wilson         1-0-0 1   Michael Reynolds 2-3-1 1  Frank's Beginners   B+           D       TKO3
Wilson looked impressive in debut bout.

[Syd Thrift]

Some of the fighters have finally begun to assert themselves enough to try to contest the 5 Boroughs Class Ring. It didn't seem right to make them keep fighting the new kids, even though they only have a few months more experience. In any case, June saw our very first New York Regional match, between 3rd-ranked Michael Butler and 1st contender Frank Seiler. Seiler did not make a good case for himself on the 22nd: the scorecards show him leading after 3 rounds but he got afraid of Butler's right cross and allowed a draw.

As a result of that fight, Seiler moved down a spot. Jesus Horne took his place based on a convincing unanimous decision over Roderick "The Playboy" Johnston.

Ranking               W  L  D  KO
C. Jesse Jaffe        7  2  0  2
1. Jesus Horne        4  2  0
2. Frank Seiler       3  3  2  1
3. Michael Butler     2  4  1  1
4. Roderick Johnston  3  3  0
5. Michael Reynolds   2  3  1  1

Date	   Winner              W-L-D K   Loser            W-L-D K  Venue   Group       Significance Matchup Result
6/8/1866   Manuel Roettgen     1-0-0 1   Jacques Cantin   1-1-0    Frank's Beginners   B+           D       KO6
Roettgen could have won an easy decision but turned it up in order to demonstrate what the American boxing does to a man.
6/22/1866  Tony Wilson         2-0-0 1   Alan Briggs      1-2-1    Frank's Beginners   C            C-      UD
Briggs narrowly avoids becoming Wilson's 2nd KO victim in as many bouts.
6/22/1866  Merlin Vienns       2-2-0     Spencer SUmmers  1-5-0    Frank's Beginners   D+           D       UD
This was supposed to be one of those matches that makes Vienns look good. He still looks French.
6/22/1866  Jesus Horne         4-2-0     Roderick Johnstn 3-3-0    Frank's Beginners   D            D       UD
Something of a disappointment, as Horne couldn't finish off Johnston and got cut badly in the 6th.
6/22/1866  Frank Seiler        3-3-2 1   Michael Butler   2-4-1 1  Frank's NY Region   B+           A       Draw
Seiler let up too much in the late rounds and allowed Butler to steal a draw.

[mh2365]

Originally Posted by Romdawg88

What are you talking about Connie, you mean you won't love having a bunch of guys with records like this that would be fun times.

Like Chris said you shouldn't sweat it not being perfectly historical. Even the best historical unis we got aren't dead on like that Mike's LBA which has all the ABC belts active even though they weren't really around back then.

Throw in the fact that I put new fighters in if they are created .. I'm in 1912 and if someone creates a fighter who fought from 1898-1905 they are debuting in my uni in 1913.

Good stuff Syd ... love the format for the fight results. Ring is usually humorous in their's as you appear to be doing the same. It was there that I read the "Vic Darchinyan looks and fights like a psycho killer" line.

[bear]

Originally Posted by Syd Thrift

I should mention that I'm using a lot of shorter-round bouts until my guys get past the beginning stages of their careers. Unlike baseball, where my nerdy uberknowledge makes me retch when I see a league batting average of .281 where it should be .279, I am ignorant enough of boxing in its early days that I'm not too perturbed by people winging uppercuts maybe before the uppercut was invented or not getting to see the equivalent of Gentleman Jim Corbett go 75 rounds against a guy (did those guys get pugilistic dementia during the fight?).

So, um, don't get too angry if this isn't that, ah, historical.

Syd
You don't have to worry about the uppercut. Old Dutch Sam has been credited with being the first to popularize the punch circa 1800.

When running the game you don't have to worry about the type of punches selected that much. They don't effect the outcome of bouts and only add flavor to the fight descriptions. For game purposes it doesn't really matter as much as the power of the punch, two or three points.

Nice idea on your uni and good luck with it.

Bear

[Syd Thrift]

Yeah, I played this game back when it was a board game by Avalon Hill, so I do know that punch types are pretty much entirely cosmetic.

***********
Since the entire brand-new New York Region decided to take the month off, we here at Frank's Gym decided to host a Night of the Newbies. It was a 4-fight card with every fight featuring a man who had not fought before. The crowd seemed to love the unexpected nature of the bouts. Even the main event, which featured a boxer named Manuel Roettgen, who looked absolutely devastating in his first fight, turned out to go a different way than we'd expected. Speaking of unexpected, we're not entirely sure how Oscar Thompson is undefeated, but the record doesn't lie.

Date	   Winner              W-L-D K   Loser            W-L-D K  Venue   Group       Significance Matchup Result
7/20/1866  David Sams          1-0-0 1   Tom Reid         0-1-0    Frank's Beginners   B+           C       KO6
If it wasn't for getting knocked down twice, Reid would have won. If it wasn't for being poor, I would own a pony.
7/20/1866  Allen Polito        1-0-0     Joe Miles        0-1-1    Frank's Beginners   B+           C       UD
The punchless Polito wins a boring affair. No knockdowns, no cuts... you'd have thought they were playing base ball.
7/20/1866  Oscar Thompson      4-0-0     Thomas McConkey  0-1-0    Frank's Beginners   B+           C-      UD
McConkey somehow manages to stay on his feet despite Thompson going for his head all night long.
6/22/1866  William Jackson     1-0-0 1   Manuel Roettgen  1-1-0 1  Frank's Beginners   B+           C+      KO3
Roettgen was wiping the floor with Jackson, but then Jackson got in that one good punch.

[Ian Lord]

Syd, this is great, great stuff. I'm loving it. Will definately be following along.

[Syd Thrift]

3 fight nights this month! The New York grouping is starting to get large enough for the fighters to actually start facing each other, although this time around the 2 guys who decided to box this month took on newcomers. Speaking of newcomers, we can't wait until Oscar Thompson takes the trip to the next level. He might just have the stuff to take down Jesse Jaffe... that is, if Jaffe would ever get off his big rear end and fight.

Speaking of groupings, we see that Christian Barrett and Spencer Summers are close to declaring their entry. Well, we have a special spot for them. It's on the grocery aisle...

Ranking               W  L  D  KO
C. Jesse Jaffe        7  2  0  2
1. Jesus Horne        5  2  0  1
2. Frank Seiler       3  3  2  1
3. Michael Butler     2  4  1  1
4. Roderick Johnston  4  3  0
5. Michael Reynolds   2  3  1  1

Date	   Winner              W-L-D K   Loser            W-L-D K  Venue   Group       Significance Matchup Result
8/3/1866   Nick Gregory        1-0-0     Merlinn Vienns   2-3-1    Frank's Beginners   B+           C       UD
Easy, easy victory for Gregory and, by extension, for America.
8/10/1866  Jeffrey Melton      1-2-0     Jacques Cantin   1-2-0    Frank's Beginners   D            B       SD       
Americans are better than Canadians. That is a fact.
8/10/1866  Oscar Thompson      5-0-0 1   Tony Wilson      2-1-0 1  Frank's Beginners   B+           A       KO2      
Battle of undefeated youngsters ends with Thompson's very first KO.
8/17/1866  Thomas McConkey     1-1-0     Alan Briggs      1-3-1    Frank's Beginners   C-           B-      UD
Instead of watching this fight, I read an interesting book on fungus.
8/17/1866  Roderick Johnston   4-3-0     Robert Baynham   0-1-0    Frank's Beginners   B+           C-      UD
Johnston, a pretty boy, cut open Baynham's face and made him look very ugly.
8/17/1866 Allen Polito         2-0-0     Chris Barrett    0-4-0    Frank's Beginners   D            C-      MD
Call us crazy, but we don't think Barrett's got what it takes to win the 5 Boroughs Class Ring.
8/17/1866 Jesus Horne          5-2-0 1   Joe Miles        1-1-0    Frank's Intergrp    D            D-      TKO6
This fight never should have been scheduled. We're surprised Miles made it 6 rounds.

[Tommysixfingers]

This is looking rather good. I'll follow along for sure.

[Syd Thrift]

Thanks to all who've responded so far! I think I've got more people responding in one day than I've had in the lifetime of the Thriftlon Reports.