Universe of Leather Boxing Assoc. (UoLBA)

[bigMatt]

BONNER SPRINGS, KS - The Universe of Leather Boxing Association today announced seedings for a 16-man tournament to crown the first UoLBA Heavyweight champion of the world.

Round 1

1. John Heenan vs. Leroy Jones
2. John Dwyer vs. Fred Crossley
3. Tommy Chandler vs. Jack McAuley
4. Bill Bradburn vs. James Dalton
5. Hasim Rahman vs. John Morrissey
6. Jack Boylan vs. Jake Kilrain
7. Peter Jackson vs. Billy Keough
8. Duncan McDonald vs. Frank Slavin

The most notably absent from this list is currently undefeated Dominic McCaffrey (22-0), who is recognized by many experts to be one of the up and comers in the division.

[bigMatt]

The Cow Palace in San Francisco hosts round one of the UoLBA tournament, pitting the best heavyweights in the world against one another to determine the first UoLBA champion. Each fighter winning his opening 12 round match in this two night affair will advance to round two, held at Berlin's Olympia Stadion next Friday and Saturday night.

FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 1890 - Lucky fans here tonight will witness history in the making, as the first four fights of the UoLBA tourney commence. Tonight's action will pit #1 contender John C. Heenan (21-0) against fellow American Leroy Jones (20-0-1). Heenan has earned 19 early stoppages in his 21 bouts, 11 of them in the first round. Jones for his part, has 5.

Round 1 - The fight starts with both contestants looking to take the early advantage. Jones, well aware of Heenan's reputation as an early finisher, tempers his advance with caution. After a couple of scoring left hooks by Jones, Heenan slips through his defense to land a devastating right cross in the opening minute, turning Jones' head completely around. A follow-up cross lands again and after a flailing miss by Jones, a third right cross opens a wound above the right eyebrow of Jones. This is an ill omen for Jones, but he weathers the early storm to finish strongly, even staggering Heenan with a flurry at the end of the round. Despite the blood, ringside observers gave round one narrowly to Jones.

Round 2 - Round two starts with a more active Jones scoring quickly to Heenan's body. It is becoming apparent that Jones' strategy is to focus on The Benicia Boy's body in hopes to take the sting out of Heenan's punches. Jones corner has done a good job closing the wound suffered in round one. This lasts until midway through round two, when Heenan rips a devastating uppercut that staggers Jones and reopens his wound. The wound is bleeding more freely, and the referee brings in the doctor to review the damage. Jones is allowed to continue, but urgency is now the call from Jones corner. The round ends solidly for Heenan, whose stronger punches likely won him the round.

Round 3 - Blood continues to trickle from the wound above Jones eyebrow. He takes the initiative early again to score a couple of body shots. Heenan takes his time to find the right opening, and when he does, he takes full advantage, landing a big right cross directly to the head of Jones, staggering the other fighter. Heenan continues his advance, scoring seemingly at will this round, dominating Jones throughout.

Round 4 - Heenan wastes no time getting started in round 4, this time going to the body of Jones then rocking him with a mighty uppercut in the first seconds of the round. Jones was badly shaken and is now just trying to hold on. Heenan chases Jones around the ring, trying to land the shot that fells him. Jones backpeddles and clinches, managing to stay upright as his head clears. With 30 seconds left in the round, Heenan lands a right to the head of Jones that hurts him again. Heenan traps Jones in the corner, thinking he might be able to end it right now. But in a game of possum, Jones wings a solid uppercut to the chin of Heenan as he gets within range, staggering Heenan right as the bell sounds. This round was either even, or a narrow win for Heenan.

Round 5 - The trickle of blood evident from Jones eyebrow over the past 4 rounds has been stopped again by his excellent cut man. But in the opening 8 seconds of the round, Jones walks into a big cross from Heenan that momentarily stops him. Jones scores on two excellent jabs, keeping Heenan honest. Heenan looks for an opening and his patience again pays off, as he lands a strong right hook to stun Jones. Jones tries to manuever away from Heenan's powerful right hand, but Heenan pursues his opponent and pastes him with a shot right to the chin. Jones' knees buckle and down he goes. Jones is quickly up after the count of one, standing for the mandatory 8 count. Blood is flowing freely again from the wound above Jones' eyebrow. The referee stops the fight and again calls the fight doctor over to have a look at the wound. Jones corner is pleading his case, but to no avail. The fight is over. John C. Heenan advances!

[bigMatt]

The Cow Palace in San Francisco hosts round one of the UoLBA tournament, pitting the best heavyweights in the world against one another to determine the first UoLBA champion. Each fighter winning his opening 12 round match in this two night affair will advance to round two, held at Berlin's Olympia Stadion next Friday and Saturday night.

FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 1890 - In a fight to determine who gets to meet John C. Heenan next week in Berlin in round 2 of the UoLBA tournament, undefeated Bill Bradburn (21-0) faces James Dalton (20-1-1). The match, the second at the Cow Palace tonight, will be a 12 round affair. Both fighters come into the fight in prime condition, Bradburn coming off of a 6 round TKO of Harry Woodson, and Dalton after a majority decision over Charles Lange.

Round 1 - Bill Bradburn begins the opening frame with an aggressive assault on Dalton, scoring repeatedly on hooks and uppercuts. Dalton appears to be slow coming out of the blocks, and while remaining unhurt by Bradburn's advance, does little to distinguish himself until late in the round, when a sharp combination puts Bradburn back on his heels. The round ends in a flurry of punches from both fighters, with no clear damage to either fighter, but a clear edge for Bradburn.

Round 2 - Bradburn begins the second showing why he is considered one of the division's best, raining several solid blows on Dalton. Dalton appears shaken by the assault, and retreats from Bradburn's fists. Bradburn cuts Dalton off and confronts him in a toe-to-toe exchange. A sharp combination by Bradburn hurts his opponent. A follow-up combination midway through the round staggers Dalton. It's looking as though Dalton may not last the round, and he begins clinching his opponent repeatedly. Bradburn starts showing his frustration at his inability to break free and take advantage of his opponent's condition. Bradburn's frustration turns into carelessness in the last seconds of the round, as Dalton exploits an opening to land a smashing combination. Bradburn looks wobbly as the bell sounds ending round two, a round mostly dominated by Bradburn until the final seconds.

Round 3 - Both fighters size each other up at the outset of the round. Bradburn has landed more blows than Dalton so far in the fight, but Dalton's shots have definitely been felt. As the fighters close in the center of the ring, Dalton wings a big left out of nowhere, connecting solidly to the side of Bradburn's head. As Bradburn reels backwards, Dalton follows up with a tremendous uppercut to Bradburn's exposed ribcage, sending Bradburn to the canvas. As the referee counts, Bradburn does not stir. James Dalton wins by KO at :50 in the 3rd! Dalton will advance to meet John C. Heenan in round 2 next week in Berlin.

[bigMatt]

The Cow Palace in San Francisco hosts round one of the UoLBA tournament, pitting the best heavyweights in the world against one another to determine the first UoLBA champion. Each fighter winning his opening 12 round match in this two night affair will advance to round two, held at Berlin's Olympia Stadion next Friday and Saturday night.

FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 1890 - Hasim Rahman brings a perfect 21-0 record to the match against Irishman John Morrissey (20-0-2). Rahman has been idle since his 12 round UD over Peter Maher in February. Morrissey fought to a draw with Tommy Chandler in March. Both men come in with high expectations.

Round 1 - John Morrissey wastes no time delivering a wake-up call to Rahman, as a straight right hand bounces Rahman off the ropes in the first minute of the fight. Rahman looks wobbly early, but manages to right himself to apply some hurt of his own to Morrissey. The round ends with a flurry from Rahman, who may just have stolen the round with that final exchange.

Round 2 - Morrissey looks disgusted at the outset of Round 2, probably knowing he let a solid effort slip away at the end of Round 1. He begins by chasing Rahman to ring center. Rahman unloads a concussive uppercut to the chin of Morrissey, and follows it up with a straight right that has Morrissey reeling. A hook to the head of Morrissey puts the Irishman on his heels. An angry mass of swelling is starting to appear under the right eye of Morrissey. Another hook at the end of the round just about drops Morrissey as the bell rings, ending a round won decidedly by Rahman.

Round 3 - Rahman begins the round looking to take advantage of his opponent's weakened condition. Rahman scores early with a hook to the face of Morrissey, pounding the swollen area under Morrissey's right eye. As the round progresses, Rahman continues to punish the eye, turning the swelling into a mass of ugly contusion. A sweet uppercut at the end of the round puts an exclamation point behind another solid round for Rahman.

Round 4 - Morrissey leaves his stool displaying an ugly swelling under his right eye. Rahman wastes no time, focussing his assault on the damaged area. Morrissey is looking less and less like the dominating fighter he is reputed to be, clinching and moving around the ring to avoid Rahman's powerful fists. With 20 seconds left in the round, Rahman finally traps Morrissey in the corner, and a short, clean hook drops Morrissey to the canvas. Morrissey is back up quickly, but must take the 8 count. The referee looks closely into the glazed eyes of Morrissey, hesitates for a moment, then decides to allow the fight to continue. The bell saves Morrissey from further damage in the round.

Round 5 - Rahman comes out quickly, intent on finishing his challenger off. But Morrissey isn't done yet, and after a winging miss by Rahman, delivers a combination that stops Rahman in his tracks. Morrissey chases Rahman, hoping to follow up his earlier combination with more punishment. Morrissey's aggression works against him, however, as Rahman comes out of a crouch to pound Morrissey with a straight right. Both fighters connect in a flurry of punches during the final minute of the round. With under 10 seconds to go in the round, Rahman delivers a thunderous uppercut that almost dropped his opponent to the canvas. As Morrissey retreats to his corner at round's end, the right side of his face has swollen to the point where it will likely be a serious detriment to him for the rest of the fight.

Round 6 - Rahman is looking to end the fight right now over a seriously debilitated Morrissey. Rahman's first shot is a crippling blow to the head of Morrissey. Several at ringside are now wondering how much longer the referee will let this fight go on. Morrissey's right eye has swollen to a slit. But don't count the Irishman out yet - he lands a hard blow to Rahman's head, and follow's it up with a punishing hook to the midsection. Rahman felt that one. Both fighters keep their distance for the remainder of the round, Rahman scoring enough incidental shots to take the round.

Round 7 - The swelling on Morrissey's face has been reduced slightly by the excellent efforts of his corner in between rounds. But Rahman begins the 7th with a laser shot right to the damaged area. Morrissey backs up but Rahman traps him in the corner and delivers two quick and effective shots to Morrissey's ribs. The Irishman winces and grabs Rahman in a tight clinch. Rahman works his way free and delivers a perfect hook to the chin of Morrissey, who hits the canvas for the second time in the contest. This time, it takes Morrissey to the count of 8 to recover his stance, but he is definitely hurt. Rahman smells the condition of his prey, and seeks to end the match right now. Rahman catches Morrissey with an uppercut, then follows up with a jab to the face as Morrissey retreats. Rahman launches a hook to the damaged area of Morrissey's face. It looks like Morrissey is out on his feet as the crowd roars. Rahman lands a solid body shot, which doubles Morrissey up, making him vulnerable to a second shot, a hook to the damaged right eye. The referee stops the fight and brings Morrissey over to the ringside doctor for a look see. The doctor declares the damage to be of minimal consequence and allows the fight to continue. An exhausted Morrissey continues, but Rahman's next assault, a shower of blows to the head and face of Morrissey, is enough for the referee, who steps between the fighters and halts the action at 2:15 of the 7th, declaring Hasim Rahman the winner by TKO. Rahman will face the winner of the upcoming bout between Peter Jackson and Billy Keough.

[bigMatt]

The Cow Palace in San Francisco hosts round one of the UoLBA tournament, pitting the best heavyweights in the world against one another to determine the first UoLBA champion. Each fighter winning his opening 12 round match in this two night affair will advance to round two, held at Berlin's Olympia Stadion next Friday and Saturday night.

FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 1890 - Two undefeateds meet tonight in a battle to determine who will meet Hasim Rahman next week in Berlin for round 2 of the UoLBA HW Championship Tournament. The Black Prince, highly regarded Virgin Island native Peter Jackson, will pit his ring prowess against surprise contender Billy Keough. Keough won berth in the tourney largely due to his 15 KOs in his 21 wins. He will need every bit of that power to match the ring savvy of the talented Jackson, who many feel might be the very best heavyweight out there.

Round 1 - Knowing the challenge his opponent presents, Keough begins the first firing his entire arsenal at Jackson. Jackson, for his part, begins cautiously and uses ring movement to his advantage, delivering soft but scoring jabs to the face of his advancing opponent. Not much action until the last minute of the round, when Billy Keough finds his way through the defense of Jackson to deliver a hard cross to Jackson. Jackson was hurt by that blow and stumbles backward. Keough follows up with a body shot and another cross to the neck of Jackson. The crowd roars during the closing moments of the round, the din so loud that the referee believes he has heard the bell, and ends the round 10 seconds early, much to the disappointment of Keough's corner, who feel their fighter has Jackson on the ropes.

Round 2 - Keough looks to press the advantage he earned in round 1 by charging his opponent at the beginning of round 2. After 2 wild misses, Keough finds himself on the receiving end of a devastating uppercut from Jackson. Keough is stunned. For the next minute, Keough avoids Jackson as best he can while he recovers his legs. But with 1:23 in the round, Jackson locates his opponent with a combination of blows to Keough's body and head. Keough crumbles to the canvas, climbing shakely to his feet at the 6 count. As the fight continues, Jackson's next shot, a hook to the jaw, turns Keough's legs to jello. Somehow Keough remains upright. A combination at the end of the round punctuates a dominant round for The Black Prince.

Round 3 - Keough's corner has done a good job of motivating their fighter between rounds. He begins the 3rd surprisingly clear-headed and aggressive. In the first 30 seconds, Keough has landed two solid shots to Jackson, the second one stopping Jackson in his tracks. A minute into the round, Keough again unloads on Jackson, this time staggering his opponent with a solid cross. Jackson is hurt by that shot, and goes into defensive mode. Keough chases The Black Prince around the ring, looking to land a decisive blow. At 1:58, Keough delivers a wicked uppercut to Jackson, a shot that almost drops him. But Jackson holds on, and the round finishes - a clear advantage for Keough.

Round 4 - Jackson's corner was animated between rounds. Evidently, they think their fighter needs a wake up call. Jackson appears to have listened, as he starts the 4th delivering an uppercut followed by two stinging jabs to the face of Keough. Keough tries to land throughout the round, but Jackson use his superior defense to great advantage. With 7 seconds left in the round, Jackson delivers two vicious hooks to Keough's head, the second sending sweat flying from Keough's head into the screaming throng. Amazingly, Keough keeps his feet to hear the bell ending the round.

Rounds 5-12 - As it turns out, this would be the last challenge Keough would give the Virgin Islander. From the 5th round on, Jackson danced and parried his way to handily win each of the next 7 rounds. Keough, while remaining on his feet for the balance of the fight, is obviously gassed after his efforts in the first 4 rounds. He puts up little resistance for the remainder of the contest.

Winner by UD - Peter Jackson. Jackson will face Hasim Rahman next week in Berlin.

[bigMatt]

John C. Heenan beats Leroy Jones - 5 round TKO

James Dalton dispatches Bill Bradburn - 3 round KO

Hasim Rahman thumps John Morrissey - 7 round TKO

Peter Jackson dominates Billy Keough - 12 round UD


Round 2 matchups:

Heenan vs. Dalton
Rahman vs. Jackson


More action tomorrow from the Cow Palace.

[bigMatt]

The Cow Palace in San Francisco hosts round one of the UoLBA tournament, pitting the best heavyweights in the world against one another to determine the first UoLBA champion. Each fighter winning his opening 12 round match in this two night affair will advance to round two, held at Berlin's Olympia Stadion next Friday and Saturday night.

SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 1890 - Frank Slavin (20-2) vs. Duncan McDonald (22-0) Frank Slavin, a fighter of solid pedigree, is the favorite o of most ringsiders in the know. McDonald, a surprise entrant in the tourney, gets the berth primarily on the strength of his TKO win over Joe Goss in March. The fight goes very much according to script, with Slavin winning the first three rounds handily. In the fourth, a solid right hand sends McDonald to the canvas for the first time in the contest, but it was all that was needed, as McDonald does not rise by the count of 10. Slavin wins by KO.

Jake Kilrain (19-1-1) vs. Jack Boylan (21-0-0) This was the most entertaining fight of the evening, as both fighters were aggressive from the outset. After 4 rounds, Boylan carried a lead of merely one point on each of the Judges cards. But in the fifth, things took an unexpected turn. The round began to unravel for Boylan when he was pointed for rabbit punching Kilrain at the top of the frame. Then with under 10 seconds in the round, Boylan was flagged for head butting Kilrain. The referee decided the headbutt was flagrant and disqualifies Boylan. Kilrain advances to meet Slavin in round 2.

Tommy Chandler (20-0-2) vs. Jack McAuley (20-1-1) McAuley, a virtual unknown at the outset of the year, put himself on the map with his TKO of Pete McCoy in April. Chandler, a solid pro from the US, fight to a draw in his last outing with John Morrissey. This fight goes the distance, with neither fighter in any real trouble throughout. The fight goes to the cards, and the Judges find for Chandler.

John Dwyer (22-0-0) vs. Fred Crossley (19-2-0) Crossley had the misfortune of meeting the only fighter he had faced thus far in 1890. Dwyer decisioned Crossley in February in a match at Olympia Stadion. This time, the fight stayed close until the 8th, when Dwyer dropped Crossley to the canvas three times to earn a TKO victory and the opportunity to meet Tommy Chandler next week in Berlin.

[bigMatt]

Next weekend, Berlin's Olympia Stadion will host Round 2 of the UoLBA tournament. Here are the matchups:

John Heenan vs. James Dalton
Hasim Rahman vs. Pete Jackson
Frank Slavin vs. Jake Kilrain
John Dwyer vs. Tommy Chandler

Vegas odds to win the tourney:

Heenan 3-2
Jackson 2-1
Dwyer 3-1
Rahman 5-1
Slavin 7-1
Chandler 10-1
Kilrain 12-1
Dalton 15-1

[bigMatt]

The Olympia Stadion in Berlin hosts round two of the UoLBA tournament, pitting the best heavyweights in the world against one another to determine the first UoLBA champion. Round two continues the tournament, with winners from round 1 looking to advance to the finals next weekend in Chicago.

In tonight's first match, Top contender John Heenan (22-0-0) faces slugger James Dalton (21-1-1). Heenan advanced to round 2 with a TKO victory over Leroy Jones, Dalton with a surprise KO over Fightin' Bill Bradburn.

Round 1 - Both fighters come into the fight in great shape. Before a minute has gone by, Dalton has a point deducted for head butting Heenan. In the last minute of the round, Heenan staggers Dalton with a strong cross. But a few seconds later, Heenan is stunned himself by a right hand from the powerful Dalton. The round ends, an even round if not for Dalton's lost point.

Round 2 - Both fighters score, but little damage done. Heenan, the more active fighter, likely wins the round.

Round 3 - Heenan throws the first punch of the round, a roundhouse left that misses its mark. Dalton takes advantage of the opening and lands a devastating uppercut, staggering Heenan. A lesser chin may have betrayed its owner, but Heenan withstands the onslaught. At the midway point, the tide turns in the round to Heenan's advantage. Heenan scores repeatedly to the body of Dalton. At 2:59 of the round, Heenan lands a big hook flush to the chin of Dalton, whose knees turn to jello. The bell sounds before Heenan can finish him off. Round to Heenan.

Round 4 - Heenan can't miss Dalton, hitting him at will and building a big lead in the round. Dalton definitely looks to be fading. But at the end of the round, Dalton finds Heenan with a straight right that evidently still has some steam in it based on the surprised response from Heenan. The round ends, a strong one for Heenan.

Round 5 - Heenan scores early with a couple of pawing shots to his opponent. Then, out of nowhere, Dalton unloads a wicked shot under the ribcage of Heenan. The Benicia Boy drops like he's been shot. Heenan is back up by the count of 4 and awaits the mandatory 8. Heenan looks to be in serious hurt, and he has 2 minutes left in the round. Dalton stalks him around the ring, looking to finish Heenan off. Dalton, however, is tired, and his punches continue to miss their target. Heenan finishes the round, but just barely.

Round 6 - Heenan looks to be reviving from last round's knockdown. He makes a statement with a right hand to the chin of Dalton that stops him cold. Heenan looks to be in control of the round until 1:45 in the round, when Dalton's connects with a devastating hook. Heenan is staggered but holds, and a few seconds later, lands a crushing cross of his own. The round ends, likely a draw.

Round 7 - The first half of the round belongs to Dalton, who landed a couple of hard shots early to keep Heenan at bay. Midway through the round, Heenan staggers Dalton with an uppercut, and proceeds to have his way with him for the remainder of the round. By the end of round 7, most observers believe Dalton has little left.

Round 8 - Heenan wastes no time going to work in round 8. A crippling shot to the head staggers Dalton. Heenan follows his foe around the ring, scoring hard shot after hard shot to the head and body of Dalton. After a powerful right to the chin of Dalton, the crowd wonders what keeps Dalton on his feet. He looks ready to go. Somehow Dalton weathers the round, but it is a big one for Heenan.

Round 9 - Heenan begins this round just like round 8, scoring at will. But at the 30 second mark of the round, Heenan steps into a murderous right by Dalton, sending Heenan reeling into the ropes. But Dalton is gassed, and squanders the opportunity to take advantage of Heenan's condition. Heenan gradually clears his head, and weathers the round, a close one for both fighters.

Round 10 - Heenan looks to still be in good shape, Dalton is unmarked but obviously tiring. Dalton fires and misses as Heenan manuevers him into a corner. Heenan unleashes a perfect hook to Dalton's chin. The weary Dalton drops to the canvas. He makes a valiant effort to get to his feet, but he is done. Heenan wins by KO.

[bigMatt]

The Olympia Stadion in Berlin hosts round two of the UoLBA tournament, pitting the best heavyweights in the world against one another to determine the first UoLBA champion. Round two continues the tournament, with winners from round 1 looking to advance to the finals next weekend in Chicago.

Tonight's match pits two undefeated contenders as they go toe-to-toe for the chance to earn advancement in the UoLBA HW Tournament. Highly skilled Peter Jackson (22-0-0) faces Philly slugger Hasim Rahman (22-0-0), in what many see as one of the more intriguing match-ups in a talented division. Jackson advanced after a relatively easy 10 round UD over Billy Keough in round one; Rahman after a brutal TKO over John Morrissey.

Round 1 - Both fighter size each other up early. Jackson, appreciating the power of Rahman, moves to stay away from Rahman's powerful right. But with 30 seconds gone in the round, Rahman's first blow is to the chin of Jackson, rocking The Black Prince into the ropes. Jackson shakes out the cobwebs and dances through the remainder of the round, flinging painless but point scoring blows to the face and belly of his slower opponent. Despite the harder blows, Rahman was clearly outpointed in round 1.

Round 2-3 - Two snoozer rounds, as neither fighter gets in any telling blows. After being hurt early, Jackson has chosen to get on his bike, tossing occasional shots at his plodding opponent as he sees opening. Rahman for his part seems to be willing to wait for Jackson to stand and fight. By the close of round 3, most ringsiders that have not fallen asleep have declared Jackson a 3 round leader at this point.

Round 4 - Rahman comes out of the gates with new inspiration. He chases Jackson to a corner and lays a thunderous right hook to the side of Jackson's head. Jackson is in trouble, clinching to thwart further damage. After the break, Jackson moves to the middle of the ring, chased by Rahman. Rahman feints with his left and uncorks a winging right hook to Jackson's head. The Black Prince is further staggered, but keeps his legs. Jackson gets back on his bicycle, succesfully avoiding Rahman until the bell sounds, conceding the round to Rahman. Round 4 ends to a chorus of boos.

Rounds 5-6 - Look to be carbon copies of rounds 2 and 3, as Jackson is virtually untouched, scoring occasional glacing blows to Rahman. The crowd is growing very restless, as this fight has all the action of the front porch of an old folk's home. Jackson is in control of the fight, but only by virtue of his ability to stay away from Rahman.

Round 7 - Rahman is getting frustrated with his opponent, and is getting more desperate to land a damaging blow. He does not have to wait long, as a right cross finds Jackson's chin in the opening minute of action. Jackson is staggered by the blow. Rahman continues to land strong shots to his slowing challenger's head and body. Jackson looks to be in big trouble. A combination midway through the round wobbles Jackson, and many wonder how he remains standing after two more strong shots from Rahman. The round ends with Rahman planting a left hook to Jackson's ear. The crowd shows appreciation for an active round, one totally dominated by Rahman.

Round 8 - Jackson appears to have heeded a wake up call by his corner, coming out to trade with Rahman this round. Jackson appears to be finding a home for just about every punch he sends to his opponent. Rahman for his part is thrilled to finally be trading blows with Jackson, but cannot match his opponent's superior speed. While remaining unhurt, Rahman is clearly outpointed in an active round for both fighters.

Round 9 - Jackson appears to be back on his bike again this round, but Rahman aggressively chases his opponent, knowing he can no longer wait for Jackson to stand still. After finding air with his first two offerings, Rahman hits paydirt with a hard uppercut to Jackson's chin. Jackson blinks.
A devastating cross from Rahman hurts Jackson. Rahman bulls Jackson in the corner and unleashes a devastating combination followed by another powerful left. Jackson looks ready to go, but uses superior ring movement and strategic clinching to keep his opponent from landing a single blow over the next minute and a half. With less than 10 seconds to go in the round, Rahman stops Jackson with a sweet uppercut that generates a roar from the crowd. Jackson somehow keeps his feet as the bell rings, a very good round for Rahman.

Round 10 - Jackson, still feeling the Rahman's power shots from the previous round, is loathe to mix it up with his opponent. Jackson builds a lead through the first minute with glancing blows to Rahman. With the round half over, Rahman finally lands a straight right hand, stopping Jackson in his tracks. Jackson is lucky as two thunderous rights from Rahman just miss ending the fight on the spot. Jackson lands a quick jab and moves away from Rahman. Jackson uncorks one to the belly and chin of Rahman before Rahman can counter. The round ends with Jackson still upright, but shaken, and Rahman frustrated in his inability to catch the quick-footed Jacskon. Scoring will be close this round, depending on how much weight the judges placed on the stronger shots by Rahman.

Round 11 - Rahman appears to be going all out this round, evidently convinced he needs a knockout to win the bout. Jackson for his part seems to be heeding ringsider calls for him to be more active. Through the first minute, neither fighter establishes much. The round is dead even until the last seconds of the round, when a sizzling right by Rahman may have impressed the judges enough to grab the round.

Round 12 - Ringsiders are hard-pressed to know right now who will win this fight. Jackson has definitely scored my punches, but Rahman has landed the stronger blows by far. Rahman obviously believes he needs this round to win, headhunting the Virgin Island fighter in the opening minute of the round. Jackson shoots a right jab that misses. Rahman sees the opening and lands a devastating combination, shaking Jackson. Rahman is breathing heavy, obviously not nearly as finely conditioned as Jackson. Rahman leans on Jackson. As the fighters break, Rahman rips off a nice combination. Jackson backpeddles as Rahman slowly chases him. Rahman misses wildly with an overhead right. Rahman gets one more clean blow on Jackson as the round and match ends. Both fighters wearily raise their arms in triumph.

This one will obviously be close. During the wait for judges results, UoLBA president Matt Little is asked what they will do if the fight ends in a draw. "We'll have a rematch next weekend if we need it." Is Little's response. The results are in...

Judge Moret scores 115-113 for Rahman

Isidro Rodriguez scores the bout 115-114 for Rahman

Carlos Berrocal scores the bout 115-114 for the winner by Unanimous decision, Hasim Rahman!

[bigMatt]

The Olympia Stadion in Berlin hosts round two of the UoLBA tournament, pitting the best heavyweights in the world against one another to determine the first UoLBA champion. Round two continues the tournament, with winners from round 1 looking to advance to the finals next weekend in Chicago.

In tonight's bouts, Frank Slavin (21-2-0) faces left Jake Kilrain (20-1-1), and Canadian John Dwyer (23-0-0) squares off against Tommy Chandler (21-0-2).

Frank Slavin vs. Jake Kilrain - Kilrain narrowly wins the first round, but it is the highlight of his evening, as Slavin dominates throughout. Kilrain tastes the canvas twice in the 10th, barely surviving the round. After the second knockdown in round 11, Kilrain is a bloody mess. The referee stops the action at 0:50 in the 11th, declaring a TKO victory for Slavin.

John Dwyer vs. Tommy Chandler - Dwyer continues his absolute dominance, flooring Chandler 3 times in the 3rd round to earn a TKO in a match that was never in doubt.

Tonight's results completed, the matchups for the UoLBA HW tournament finals next week in Chicago have been determined:

John C. Heenan (23-0-0) vs. Hasim Rahman (23-0-0)

John Dwyer (24-0-0) vs. Frank Slavin (22-2-0)

Next weekend, the first UoLBA champion will be crowned. Any predictions?

[bigMatt]

CHICAGO - Soldiers Field hosts the final round of the UoLBA tournament, pitting the best heavyweights in the world against one another to determine the first UoLBA champion. Only four fighters remain - Frank Slavin (22-2-0) faces John Dwyer (24-0-0), and Hasim Rahman (23-0-0) squares off against John Heenan (23-0-0). The winners will meet to determine the first Heavyweight Champion of the Universe of Leather Boxing Association.

The opening bout pits John Dwyer, who has steamrolled his way through all foes to date, against Frank Slavin, who has been equally impressive in the tournament. While Dwyer is the pick of most ringside experts, Slavin has the talent to match the slugging Canadian.

Round 1 - At the bell, Dwyer charges to ring center, winging a right hook that appears to hurt Slavin. Slavin throws out a defensive jab to hold off Dwyer, but the glancing blow does not slow the Canadian one bit. Dwyer lands a straight right. Slavin regroups, and as Dwyer looks to follow up his advantage, Slavin sneaks in a right hook that slows the Canadian. Slavin follows up with a right hook. Dwyer blinks in surprise. A follow-up hook staggers the Canadian, forcing him into a corner. At the very end of the round, Slavin lands a smashing hook. Dwyer looks to be hurt by the blow. The bell sounds, ending a close round, with a slight nod to Slavin.

Round 2 - Round one has emboldened Slavin, who does not appear to be the least bit daunted by Dwyer's power or his reputation. Slavin looks to force the action, but his first two offerings slide wide of the mark. Dwyer looks to be trying to avoid Slavin early in the round. Slavin draws first contact a minute into the round, catching Dwyer with a nice uppercut. Dwyer and Slavin trade shots near the end of the round, another close one for Slavin.

Round 3 - Dwyer's corner urged their fighter to become more active, and Dwyer heeds the call early, dropping a powerful right hand flush on Slavin's jaw. Slavin looks shaken. Slavin slides to Dwyer's left and lands a solid right cross that staggers Dwyer, who tries to counter but misses. Slavin catches Dwyer with another right, stopping him in his tracks. A combination scores for Slavin. Dwyer seems to be looking for a place to hide. The round ends, another one in the books for Slavin.

Round 4 - Many in the crowd are shocked by Slavin's surprise start, but no one more surprised than Dwyer's corner. Dwyer himself evidently got the message, refusing to take a seat between rounds. At the outset of the round, Dwyer looks to force the action, winging an overhead right. But Slavin blocks it, and now it looks like Dwyer is favoring the hand. Could he have injured it? Dwyer advances on Slavin, who tries to stop him with a right but Dwyer ducks it. Dwyer lands a powerful cross. Looks like that right hand is okay - the shot wobbles Slavin. Another uppercut raises a mouse under Slavin's left eye. A third shot draws gasps from the crowd, who wonders how Slavin could remain upright. Dwyer's possum play has paid off, with a fourth bomb rocking Slavin as the bell sounds, a very solid round for Dwyer.

Round 5 - Slavin is sporting significant swelling under the left eye as the rounds starts. This will make an inviting target for Dwyer, who wastes no time getting started with a jab to the eye. Slavin winces in pain. Dwyer lands a second, stinging jab to the right side of Slavin's face, and follows with a jolting uppercut. The blows split the skin outside Slavin's right eye, and he begins to bleed freely from the wound. With swelling under his left eye and blood flowing near his right, Slavin appears to be in trouble. It seems to have affected his aggressiveness as well, as he now looks intent on protecting his damaged face. Dwyer lands another right midway through the round. Slavin keeps him honest with a combination to the midsection, slowing Dwyer's advance. Slavin tries to follow with a left but misses, and Dwyer counters with a smashing cross, hurting Slavin. The American's left eye is swelling to the point where he can't see Dwyer's punches coming. The round ends with another devastating cross from Dwyer that just about sends Slavin to la-la land.

Round 6 - After dominating early, Slavin is currently in a fight to merely hang on as round 6 commences. Dwyer smells his injured quarry and sets about for the kill. The bleeding around Slavin's right eye is under control, but the swelling around his left looks increasingly ugly. Dwyer hits paydirt again and Slavin winces. Slavin tries to stay away from Dwyer's right, and continues to manuever and cover to protect himself. Slavin makes it through the round, but with barely a punch thrown. Advantage Dwyer.

Round 7 - A left hook at the beginning of the round reopens the cut near Slavin's right eye, and it begins to bleed freely once again. A right cross by Dwyer inflicts further damage to the swelling around Slavin's left eye. Slavin slings a left to Dwyer's gut, slowing for a moment. The round ends with both fighters clinching, evidently a bit winded from the action. Round 8 probably belongs to Dwyer.

Round 8 - Dwyer scores with a right cross that lands flush on the damaged left eye of Slavin. The swelling is really turning ugly. Dwyer manuevers around Slavin's offerings and pops a jab at Slavin's eye. Slavin grabs ahold of Dwyer to slow him, but Dwyer shakes him off and lands again with a hook to the body. By the end of round 8, it looks like Dwyer has at least evened the contest with 5 strong rounds in the last 6.

Round 9 - A left jab to Slavin's right eye opens the cut once again. Slavin counters with a piston-like combination to Dwyer's midsection. Dwyer might now be the aggressor, but Slavin won't give up easily. Both fighters have slowed some since the early going. Perhaps they have punched themselves out? Dwyer swings and misses but Slavin cannot take advantage. Dwyer delivers a short hook to Slavin's midsection. Slavin looks hurt and he is now carrying his arms lower, but Dwyer looks winded. But with 5 seconds left in the round, Dwyer lands a tremendous right to the left side of Slavin's face. Slavin suddenly has a vacant look in his eyes, and swelling begins under his right eye. The bell sounds before Dwyer can follow up his advantage, but he clearly won the round.

Round 10 - Frank Slavin's left eye shows significant swelling, and his right eye shows evident damage as well. It is getting harder for him to see the challenger as he advances, and Dwyer immediately takes advantage of his opponent's plight, landing a solid hook to Slavin's head. A follow-up right hook sends Slavin reeling backward, and he is lucky that Dwyer's left just misses. Slavin regroups and sends a cross to Dwyer's nose, but it doesn't seem to faze him. Dwyer counters with a solid right cross that shakes Slavin. Dwyer takes advantage of his opponent's weakened condition and pummels him with another combination. As the bell sounds, it looks as though Dwyer is in firm control of the match.

Round 11 - Dwyer begins the chapter with a devastating hook, but Slavin blinks through it. Slavin regroups and advances on Dwyer. Slavin realizes it might be now or never, digs deep and delivers a crippling right hand to Dwyer's head. The crowd roars as Dwyer's knees buckle. Where did that come from? Slavin tries to take advantage of Dwyer's cobwebs. He swings and misses not once, but twice. Again, Slavin fires a lead right that Dwyer manages to avoid. Dwyer counters with a jab that lands cleanly to the left side of Slavin's head, reopening the cut once more. Slavin slings a wild left and misses, giving Dwyer an opening for his big right hook, and he takes advantage landing it flush to the left side of Slavin's head. Slavin looks shaken, and the swelling continues to grow uglier by the second. The bell sounds ending a great round, a close one that could go either way, a likely round for Slavin.

Round 12 - For a fight with no knockdowns, this one has seen plenty of action. Slavin dominated the first three rounds, but Dwyer clearly won at least 4 of the last 7. It is anyone's guess how the judges see it going into round 12. Both fighters know this fight may well still be up for grabs. The first minute find both exhausted fighters trying vainly to land. But as the first minute passes, they find themselves toe-to-toe at ring center. Slavin lands a hook to Dwyer's head. Dwyer counters with a hook of his own. Both fighters lean on one another, obviously exhausted. Dwyer gets in a couple of glancing shots to the head and chest of Slavin. An uppercut lands for Slavinr. Another clinch and the fans will think they're attending a high school dance. As the final seconds toll, Slavin tries vainly to score a right hand. He had an opening but whiffed the punch. The bell sounds, ending the contest.



Judge CJ Ross scores it 115-113





Judge Ismael Fernandez scores it 114-114




Judge Jose A Torres scores it 115-113






The winner, and championship contender is........



John J Dwyer!

[bigMatt]

CHICAGO - Soldiers Field hosts the final round of the UoLBA tournament, pitting the best heavyweights in the world against one another to determine the first UoLBA champion. Tonight, Hasim Rahman (23-0-0) squares off against John Heenan (23-0-0) in a battle of the unbeatens. The winners will meet John J Dwyer to determine the first Heavyweight Champion of the Universe of Leather Boxing Association.

This match was a difficult one for the bookmakers to assess. Heenan has been a dominating force in the division so far this year, 21 of his 23 wins by KO, including both tournament victories. But Rahman has been equally hot, winning 19 of his 23 decisions by KO, and soundly beating one of the tournament favorites, Peter Jackson, in an earlier contest. The safe money is on Heenan, but the "sexy" pick is Rahman, and there is no doubt that either could turn the lights out on his opponent tonight.

The anticipation of the crowd is palpable prior to the outset of the match. John Dwyer, looking bruised from his suprisingly close match last night with Frank Slavin, is at ringside to study the two fighters sparring for the right to face him next week for the championship. Both fighters enter the ring in perfect shape, each eager to position himself for a shot at the UoLBA championship.

Anticipation was high, but the contest did not measure up to the hype. Both fighters came out aggressively at the outset, but The Benicia Boy wasted little time imposing his will on the game but less skilled Rahman. The early rounds saw Heenan finding Rahman's face early and often, and the Philly fighter looking in vain to land the big blow.

By round

[bigMatt]

CHICAGO - Soldiers Field hosts the final round of the UoLBA tournament, pitting the best heavyweights in the world against one another to determine the first UoLBA champion. Tonight, Hasim Rahman (23-0-0) squares off against John Heenan (23-0-0) in a battle of the unbeatens. The winners will meet John J Dwyer to determine the first Heavyweight Champion of the Universe of Leather Boxing Association.

This match was a difficult one for the bookmakers to assess. Heenan has been a dominating force in the division so far this year, 21 of his 23 wins by KO, including both tournament victories. But Rahman has been equally hot, winning 19 of his 23 decisions by KO, and soundly beating one of the tournament favorites, Peter Jackson, in an earlier contest. The safe money is on Heenan, but the "sexy" pick is Rahman, and there is no doubt that either could turn the lights out on his opponent tonight.

The anticipation of the crowd is palpable prior to the outset of the match. John Dwyer, looking bruised from his suprisingly close match last night with Frank Slavin, is at ringside to study the two fighters sparring for the right to face him next week for the championship. Both fighters enter the ring in perfect shape, each eager to position himself for a shot at the UoLBA championship.

Anticipation was high, but the early rounds did not measure up to the hype. Both fighters came out aggressively at the outset, but The Benicia Boy wasted little time imposing his will on the game but less skilled Rahman. The first three rounds saw Heenan finding Rahman's face early and often, and the Philly fighter looking in vain to land the big blow.

The fourth was another matter entirely. The headhunting Rahman finally found his range, rocking Heenan with a thunderous right that was felt in the 3rd row. Rahman intuited that his opponent was hurt and went to work on him, scoring with several vicious uppercuts and combinations. Heenan backpeddled and stumbled his way to the ropes, and when it looked like he was done for, rallied to send a power shot of his own square to the jaw of Rahman. The blow came as Rahman was moving forward, and the force of the blow stopped him cold. As it turned out, this would be Rahman's last real shot at victory on this night.

Heenan dominated the middle rounds, and the punishment was noticeable on Rahman's face. Rahman finally hit canvas in the 8th, and two more times in the 9th. Heenan floored the Philadelphian early in the 10th, and when Rahman dropped a second time in the round, the referee called a halt to the bloodbath.

The fight ended, again a dominating victory for Heenan. Dwyer will have his work cut out for him if he is to give the Benicia Boy a run for the title.

[bigMatt]

CHICAGO - History is in the making tonight, as two undefeated young fighters, John J. Dwyer (25-0-0) and John C. Heenan (24-0-0) meet at ring center in Soldier Field to slug it out for the right to be called the HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD.

The world championship event, sanctioned by the UoLBA, is thought to be the first of its kind on the planet. The tournament began with 16 hopefuls from around the globe, with participants from such places as America, Ireland, Australia and Great Britain. Only two are now left standing, and only one will remain after tonight’s highly-anticipated match

The early favorite is John C. Heenan, who has carried the number 1 contender ranking in the UoLBA for most of 1890. John J Dwyer, a powerful Canadian from St. John’s, Newfoundland, is a worthy challenger in his own right. Both have dominated the boxing world since turning pro, Heenan with 23 KO’s to accompany his perfect record, Dwyer with 19.

The only common opponent for each was Australian Frank Slavin, who lost by decision in a 12 round contest to each fighter this year. Most observers agree that Slavin’s match with Dwyer was a bit closer than with Heenan, although many have suggested Slavin was in better shape and better focused for his tourney match with Dwyer than the February bout with Heenan

Word from both camps is positive. This fight is shaping up as a true championship bout, with both contestants in top shape and ready to brawl

Tonight’s match has been a sell-out for several weeks. Crowds are already starting to descend on the area, although the event is several hours away. The air is thick with anticipation, and a carnival atmosphere pervades Grant's Park and the grounds of Soldier Field.

More as we have it from the Windy City.

[CONN CHRIS]

Your first Heavyweight Champion is always a good one. Well done Matt - looking forward to the results.

Christopher

[bigMatt]

Originally Posted by CONN CHRIS

Your first Heavyweight Champion is always a good one. Well done Matt - looking forward to the results.

Christopher

You guys are so great. I just couldn't believe when I ran across this site last month. After playing Title Bout and Title Fight for so many years, I decided to dust off my hobby and tackle it anew. When I found boxmag.com had folded I thought the game was defunct, and with Windows XP, I thought my hopes of reviving the fun I had with the Trunzo's excellent boxing sim was probably finished.

Then I found the game existed and was improved. Bought it. Loved it all over again and then some. Then I found this collection of AWESOME individuals who, just like me, loved the game, and what's more, not only kept the fires burning, but made it far more exciting and interesting than it ever was before. The value added from the pictures, fighter ratings, and most of all, the enthusiasm and camaradarie can't possibly be valued highly enough. Thank you Thank you Thank you.

And I do appreciate you reading my meandering thread. I am having an absolute blast with my universe, and even if not one single person reads it, I still continue to get a kick out of reporting as events unfold.

So now I am about to release the two remaining challengers from their respective locker rooms for the first ever title fight of the UoLBA. It is a great honor to have you in the stands.

Cheers,

Matt

[mh2365]

We love you too Matt, we just don't get all weepy about it

Just kidding you, keep up the good work. I always like seeing how the guys in my uni are doing in others. Heenan is currently 22-8-1 and ranked 13, Dwyer has had a rough go of late and is currently 23-11-1 and ranked 41st.

Both started in 1901 which was before my tomato can era. So they didn't have the luxury of an easy start.

[bigMatt]

Yeah, I did get a little misty-eyed, didn't I?

Okay, well on to it! Take your seats gentlemen because the main event is about to commence!

[Gunsmoke]

My money is on Heenan... I think