The Pastime Boxing Association

[EMSoccerCoach]

January 2009 - Title Tournament Fights

Featherweight: #1 Juan Manuel Marquez (12-1-1, 10 KO) vs #4 Young Corbett II (14-2, 9 KO)

Less than a minute into the fight, Marquez puts Corbett on the canvas. Corbett rises but takes a beating, and a minute later he does the best thing he can think of - he whacks Marquez below the belt. The ensuing contest would go back and forth, neither fighter in danger of being taken out but both having their moments. Corbett goes low again in the ninth, and this time loses a point for his indiscretion. Marquez would sweep the final three rounds, including dropping Corbett again in the 11th, before ultimately taking a unanimous decision 115-111, 115-111, 115-110.

Jr. Lightweight: #2 Yodsanan Nanthachai (9-1, 7 KO) vs #3 Joel Casamayor (9-1-1, 7 KO)

A very even bout as both fighters keep a good 70+ punch-per-round pace. Casamayor dominates the 5th and it seems he'll take the tide in his favor, but Nanthachai comes out swinging for the 6th and most exciting round of the fight. The final four rounds became surprisingly more tactical despite the closeness of the fight dictating both men should be letting it all hang out. In the end, it's 116-112, 115-113 and 114-114...a majority decision for Joel Casamayor!

Jr. Middleweight: #1 Sergio Martinez (16-0, 8 KO) vs #4 Alejandro Garcia (10-1, 10 KO)

Martinez thoroughly dictates the pace in the first round, but Garcia responds well in the second and the war is on. Martinez is dropped in the third, and twice in the fifth...the last time for good. Garcia wins by KO at 2:57 of round 5.

[EMSoccerCoach]

January 2009 - Title Tournament Fights (cont.)

Flyweight: #2 Percy Jones (12-2, 8 KO) vs #3 Omar Narvaez (11-2, 7 KO)

A frenetic pace in a back and forth battle. Narvaez is cut in the 10th and takes a less aggressive posture at that point, but Jones is unable to break through in a fight that is ultimately decided by a single round - the 5th - in which Narvaez dropped Jones twice. Narvaez wins by UD 114-112 on all cards.

Lightweight: #1 Jack McAuliffe (17-1, 17 KO) vs #4 Juan Diaz (14-2-1, 4 KO)

The blood flows heavily here. McAuliffe is picking Diaz apart when, in the 4th, Diaz cuts McAuliffe on the cheek with a short cross, which seems to be followed shortly by an accidental headbutt. The cut bleeds heavily, but less than a minute later McAuliffe rips Diaz open over his right eye. McAuliffe rips Diaz more in the 5th, and the cut over his eye widens. Meanwhile, McAuliffe's corner has done a fine job on his own wound. In the 6th, McAuliffe batters Diaz for the first 30 seconds when Diaz is checked by the doctor, who rules Diaz is over in what seems to be an overly cautious stoppage. That said, McAuliffe was up 50-46 on all cards at the time of the stoppage before his win by TKO at 27 seconds of Round 6.

Lightweight: #2 Benny Leonard (13-1, 8 KO) vs #3 Jose Luis Castillo (12-0, 11 KO)

A great fight here, as anticipated. Castillo drops Leonard in the second and batters him over the next 2:30. But Leonard hangs on and starts to find more accuracy in his blows while staying away from more power from Castillo. Castillo pressures him in the 5th, but Leonard manages the slugfest capably. Starting in round 7, Leonard simply outmanages Castillo for the rest of the way, dictating pace and landing a far higher percentage of his shots - topping 54% to Castillo's 21%. In the end, the judges are split...115-111 for Leonard, 115-112 for Castillo, and 114-112 for the winner - to face Jack McAuliffe for the belt -Benny Leonard!

[EMSoccerCoach]

January 2009 - Title Tournament Fights (cont.)

Light-Heavyweight: #2 Gabriel Campillo (11-0, 4 KO) vs #3 Tomasz Adamek (11-2, 8 KO)

Adamek drops Campillo 25 seconds into the fight, but Campillo rises and recovers well. His movement proves to give Adamek trouble until the 7th, when Adamek puts Campillo down again, this time for good. Adamek by KO at 2:09 of round 7. Cards were 57-57 through six.

Heavyweight: #1 Vitali Klitschko (14-0-1, 13 KO) vs #4John L. Sullivan (15-3, 14 KO)

An all-out war here as these two are throwing heavy, heavy leather. Klitschko keeps Sullivan at bay in the first but Sullivan penetrates in the second and from there it's a crowd-pleaser. When one fighter seems to be building momentum, the other lands a hard shot to take it back. A raucous fifth round sees Sullivan in control, as Klitschko's right eye is swelling by the second. But Klitschko shows great heart and comes back to punish Sullivan in the next two rounds. By the end of round 7, Sullivan's own right eye becomes a concern, and the fight takes a turn. Sullivan is cautioned multiple times in the 8th - for butting, leaning on Klitschko's neck to bring him down to size, and hitting on the break. Sullivan wins the round as Klitschko's seems shocked at the sudden change in tactics. They keep up for the next two rounds, and while Klitschko hangs in, Sullivan is getting the better of the action in addition to his fouling. When the 11th begins, both men's faces are swollen messes. In a clinch, both men wrestle aggresively for position, when Sullivan holds Klitschko down by the neck for a third time and blasts him in the process. Referee Sean Curtin rules the foul is a flagrant one, and Sullivan is disqualified. The Boston Strongman is incredulous, and there's debate whether he has reason. While he was warned several times, there was never a point taken away, which makes the DQ decision surprising and, to him, unfair. But regardless, Sullivan - who was up on two cards and even on the third - loses his chance at the belt for now. Klitschko wins by DQ in round 11.

Welterweight: #2 Vernon Forrest (16-2, 11 KO) vs #3 Andre Berto (9-0-1, 8 KO)

It's vintage Forrest to start, and he's all over Berto, landing accurately and moving well. Forrest dominates rounds 1 and 2 before dropping Berto twice in the third. To Berto's credit though, he recovers and in rounds 4 and 5 he seems to get the better of Forrest. He's in control in the 6th as well when Forrest lands a perfect combination that puts Berto down for the count. Forrest wins by knockout at 2:50 of the 6th.

[EMSoccerCoach]

January 2009 - Title Tournament Fights (cont.)

Featherweight: #2 Steven Luevano (12-1-1, 6 KO) vs #3 Eric Aiken (12-1, 10 KO)

Aiken controls the first two rounds before an accidental butt in the third cuts Luevano and initiates swelling on Aiken. Luevano, despite the cut, turns it on and controls the next three rounds, including dropping Aiken in the sixth. In the seventh, the cut on Luevano is ruled too bad to continue, and the fight goes to the cards, where Luevano takes a unanimous decision 59-55, 58-56, 57-56.

Cruiserweight: #2 David Haye (13-2, 8 KO) vs #3 Krzysztof Wlodarczyk (13-2, 10 KO)

Wlodarczyk controls round one, picking Haye apart with his jab, but Haye takes over in the second as Wlodarczyk is cut and Haye smells blood. The fight is stopped after Haye drops Wlodarczyk, who takes several unanswered shots upon rising. Haye wins by TKO at 1:49 of round 3.

Middleweight: #1 Billy Papke (20-0, 15 KO) vs #4 Kelly Pavlik (10-1, 8 KO)

Pavlik blisters Papke for the opening two rounds before Papke gets himself going. An even and exciting fight changes when Papke drops Pavlik in the 6th. Pavlik rises at 9, but is visibly shaken and the whole tone of the fight changes at that point, as Papke controls tempo and dictates most of the second half. In the end, Papke by UD 116-113, 116-111, 115-112.

[EMSoccerCoach]

January 2009 - Title Tournament Fights (cont.)

Jr. Flyweight: #1 Ulises Solis (20-1, 18 KO) vs #4 Brahim Asloum (13-2, 11 KO)

Fans expected more out of this one, as Asloum fought like he was afraid he'd get tagged. Unfortunately for him he did anyway. He wasn't knocked out, though, going to distance before Solis took a unanimous decision 116-112 (x2), 117-111.

Cruiserweight: #1 Steve Cunningham (14-0, 7 KO) vs #4 Giacobbe Fragomeni (13-4, 5 KO)

A great, back and forth first five rounds close out when Fragomeni shocks many and drops Cunningham. He rises and recovers, and apparently recognizes he'd better get serious. Cunningham pitches a shutout the rest of the way, dropping Fragomeni in the 9th and 11th en route to a unanimous 116-109 (x2), 117-109 decision to set up a fight with David Haye for the strap.

Jr. Featherweight: #1 Celestino Caballero (12-0, 11 KO) vs #4 Yober Ortega (14-2, 14 KO)

In 26 combined wins, there were 25 knockouts, so nobody was looking for this to go the distance. They wouldn't be disappointed. Caballero puts Ortega down in the first. Ortega puts Caballero down in the second. They manage to stay vertical in rounds 3 and 4, splitting them on the judges' cards. Ortega puts Caballero down with a flash knockdown in the 5th. Caballero drops Ortega in the 6th, and Ortega can't beat the count. Caballero by KO at 1:57 of round 6.

Middleweight: #2 Nonpareil Jack Dempsey (15-1, 12 KO) vs #3 Frank Klaus (13-1, 3 KO)

What a fight. A see-saw battle turns when Dempsey walks into a perfect cross from Klaus, who drops Dempsey in the 6th. Klaus isn't a power puncher, so the sight of Dempsey not just hitting the canvas, but barely rising at 9 for a stroll down Queer Street is a shock to many. Dempsey goes defensive to try and get his wits back. But what happens is Dempsey concludes this approach is working well. He maintains it over three very close, even rounds, but Klaus' chance to capitalize on the damage he did earlier has waned. Still, he holds a lead in the fight and Dempsey recognizes he's go to do a bit more. The 10th is a slugfest that Dempsey seems to get the better of, and the 11th is yet another very even round. We head to the 12th of a close fight likely separated by Klaus' surprising knockdown. They trade well and, with less than a minute remaining in the fight, Klaus ducks one shot only to lean right into another. Klaus goes down...and he doesn't get up. Dempsey - down 105-103, 105-103, 105-104 - wins by knockout at 2:46 of the 12th and final round. He'll meet Billy Papke for the Middweight championship of the world!

[EMSoccerCoach]

How the race for the titles looks right now:

Heavyweight - Jack Dempsey TKO 9

Vitali Klitschko vs. John L. Sullivan DQ 11
Samuel Peter vs. Jack Dempsey KO 2

Cruiserweight - David Haye MD 15 (144-143 (x2), 144-144)

Steve Cunningham vs Giacobbe Fragomeni UD 12 116-109 (x2), 117-109
David Haye vs Krzysztof Wlodarczyk TKO 3

Light Heavyweight - Jack O'Brien UD 15 (145-139 (x2), 144-140)

Jack O'Brien vs Georges Carpentier DQ 4
Gabriel Campillo vs Tomasz Adamek KO 7

Middleweight - Billy Papke TKO 11

Billy Papke vs Kelly Pavlik UD 116-113, 116-111, 115-112.
NP Jack Dempsey vs Frank Klaus KO 12

Jr. Middleweight - Winky Wright KO 9

Sergio Martinez vs Alejandro Garcia KO 5
Kassim Ouma vs Winky Wright UD 12 (117-110 (x2), 116-111)

Welterweight - Vernon Forrest MD 15 (144-141, 144-140, 142-142)

Tommy Ryan vs Paul Williams KO 10
Vernon Forrest vs Andre Berto KO 6

Jr. Welterweight - Ricky Hatton UD 15 (144-139 (x2), 143-140)

Amir Khan vs Lovemore N'dou TKO 9
Carlos Maussa vs Ricky Hatton KO 2

Lightweight - Benny Leonard UD 15

Jack McAuliffe vs Juan Diaz TKO 6
Benny Leonard vs Jose Luis Castillo SD 12 115-111, 114-112, 111-115

Jr. Lightweight - Joel Casamayor TKO 10

Cassius Baloyi vs Jesus Chavez TKO 10
Yodsanan Nanthachai vs Joel Casamayor MD 116-112, 115-113 and 114-114

Featherweight - Juan Manuel Marquez UD 15 (146-134, 146-135, 145-136)

Juan Manuel Marquez vs Young Corbett II UD 115-111 (x2), 115-110.
Steven Luevano vs Eric Aiken UD 7 59-55, 58-56, 57-56.

Jr. Featherweight - Celestino Caballero KO 1

Celestino Caballero vs Yober Ortega KO 6
Somsak Sithchatchawal vs Joan Guzman SD 12 (115-113, 115-112, 113-114)

Bantamweight - Jimmy Barry UD 15 (144-140, 144-139, 143-140)

Paulie Ayala vs Johnny Bredahl SD 12 (115-111, 116-111, 112-114)
Jimmy Barry vs Terry McGovern UD 7 (68-64, 67-65 (x2))

Jr. Bantamweight - Luis Alberto Perez KO 3

Cristian Mijares vs Jose Carita Lopez UD 12 (119-110 (x2), 118-111)
Luis Alberto Perez vs Ivan Hernandez TKO 10

Flyweight - Omar Narvaez KO 8

Jimmy Wilde vs Lorenzo Parra TKO 7
Percy Jones vs Omar Narvaez UD 114-112

Jr. Flyweight

Belbis Mendoza vs Koki Kameda KO 4
Ulises Solis vs Brahim Asloum UD116-112 (x2), 117-111

[EMSoccerCoach]

February 2009 - Title Tournament Fights

Heavyweight: #2 Samuel Peter (17-2, 16 KO) vs #3 Jack Dempsey (13-1, 13 KO)

Suspicion was this one wouldn't go the distance, and suspicion was correct. Dempsey positively mauls Peter, who lands nothing of consequence before being counted out at 2:42 of the second. Dempsey will fight Vitali Klitschko for the title.

Jr. Welterweight: #1 Amir Khan (15-2, 8 KO) vs #4 Lovemore N’dou (10-1, 10 KO)

Fun one here, as these two let it hang out. Khan shakes N'dou in the first, but N'Dou responds well in the second. Rounds 3-5 are action-packed, with Khan getting the upper hand, particularly in the 4th. In the 6th, Khan dominates and that continues in the 7th, which ends up a 23-0 round despite no knockdown. Swelling bothers N'Dou and Khan comes out firing in the 8th. But he gets too aggressive and walks into an uppercut from N'Dou that drops him like a shot. Khan rises at 8, but is able to weather any further assault from N'Dou, whose tank seems empty. In the 9th, Khan comes back firing, and N'Dou is rocked. He stumbles across the ring and Khan pounces, firing off several unanswered shots before the fight is stopped. Khan wins by TKO at 2:40 of round 9. He led on 2 of 3 cards at the time of the stoppage.

Jr. Bantamweight: #1 Cristian Mijares (13-0, 5 KO) vs #4 Jose Carita Lopez (10-0, 9 KO)

Nothing of note here other than Mijares' domination. Unanimous decision win 119-110, 119-110, 118-111.

[EMSoccerCoach]

February 2009 - Title Tournament Fights (cont.)

Jr. Lightweight: #1 Cassius Baloyi (15-0-1, 11 KO) vs #4 Jesus Chavez (9-2, 8 KO)

Chavez dominates the fight, dropping the undefeated Baloyi in the 5th and again in the 7th, despite a major gash over his eye that has been opened and worsened three times. So imagine Chavez's anger when the fight is stopped because of the cut in the 10th and Baloyi declared winner by TKO - with Chavez up 87-82, 87-82, 86-83.

Jr. Featherweight: #2. Somsak Sithchatchawal (13-0, 11 KO) vs #3 Joan Guzman (10-0, 10 KO)

A clash of styles here, as Guzman sets a frenetic pace, while Sithchatchawal aims for punching accuracy. As such, Guzman throws nearly twice as many punches per round, but lands only 17% compared with 42%. Guzman drops Sithchatchawal in the 7th, and when the cards are read at the end, it's anybody's guess: 115-112 Sithchatchawal, 114-113 Guzman, 115-113 for the winner by split decision....Somsak Sithchatchawal!

Light-Heavyweight: #1 Philadelphia Jack O’Brien (16-0, 7 KO) vs #4 Georges Carpentier (10-1, 6 KO)

O'Brien peppers Carpentier, jabbing him to death and landing more than half his punches. Meanwhile, Carpentier is fouling like mad until - clearly down in the 10th - Carpentier intentionally butts O'Brien, spurring a disqualification. O'Brien and Adamek will fight for the title.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Lightweight Title Fight

#1 Jack McAuliffe (18-1, 18 KO)

vs

#2 Benny Leonard (14-1, 8 KO)

The assumed has happened, and McAuliffe and Leonard will fight for the PBA's first crowning of a Lightweight champion.

The suspicion is Leonard will stay at a distance and jab and counter the powerful McAuliffe. But the suspicion is wrong.

Leonard comes out firing and taking the pressure to McAuliffe, who's as stunned as the crowd. Leonard dominates the opening stanza. McAuliffe recovers and the next few rounds are hard fought and even until Leonard sticks McAuliffe with a straight right that knocks McAuliffe into the ropes, starting a furious flurry. McAuliffe weathers it and loses the 6th in similar fashion.

McAuliffe hurts Leonard in the 7th, but can't pile on. Leonard regains control over the next two rounds before McAuliffe - whose left eye is swelling rather quickly - drops heavy leather on Leonard in the 10th.

Early in the 11th, Leonard lands what seems to be a blatant low blow, halting the action. McAuliffe seems fired up, and the two exchange well over the next three rounds. But by the 15th, McAuliffe is cut and spent, having simply been outcrafted by Leonard all night long.

The winner, and FIRST PBA LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION...BENNY LEONARD!!!

[kenyan_cheena]

Good stuff, EM. Just wondering if you're planning to use some of the great fighters who never won a world title, such as Sam Langford.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

Good stuff, EM. Just wondering if you're planning to use some of the great fighters who never won a world title, such as Sam Langford.

If I do it will be very sparingly. Langford's a good case. Perhaps I'll make a list of the top 10 or 20 guys never to win a title and work them in.

Not a bad idea. Thanks.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Middleweight Title Fight

#2 Nonpareil Jack Dempsey (16-1, 13 KO)

vs

#1 Billy Papke (21-0, 15 KO)

It's not even 30 seconds into the fight when Papke gets Dempsey's attention, a winging right hand that snaps his head back violently. Dempsey finds some holes, but Papke finds more in a dominant opening round.

Rounds 2 and 3 are furious with action, the most notable being a left at the 2:30 mark of round 3 that leaves Papke looking like he has no idea where he is. He hangs on and survives the round, but Dempsey senses he's found his range.

That's short-lived, though, as Papke gets the best of rounds 4 and 5, again finding holes in Dempsey's defense with regularity.

The see-saw shifts again in the 6th, which Dempsey thoroughly dominates. The 7th begins similarly, but Papke finds some holes - and one of them creates a hole in Dempsey - a gash outside his left eye. It bleeds steady, but isn't in a particularly bad spot vision-wise.

An even 8th is followed by a Papke-controlled 9th round. This is followed by the 10th round, which is an absolute war. Papke starts with the upper hand before a cross from Dempsey shakes him. Papke shakes it off and drills a cross of his own that gives Dempsey jellylegs. But a Dempsey hook to the ribs folds Papke temporarily, his side in obvious pain. Papke lands a right that seems to hurt his hand...but it's no matter. A followup right floors Dempsey for a 9 count. Dempsey rises, and in the final 10 seconds of the round hits the deck again for a flash knockdown, popping up at 1.

Dempsey's cut has been dealt with, but both fighters have swelling and Dempsey appears to be at his end. In the 11th, Papke drops Dempsey again in the first minute, and continues to pursue. Dempsey can't see anything from his left and is barely standing. A pair of combinations go unanswered, and the fight is stopped at 2:09 of round 11.

The winner and FIRST PBA MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION....BILLY PAPKE!!!

[EMSoccerCoach]

Featherweight Title Fight

#1 Juan Manuel Marquez (13-1-1, 10 KO)
vs

#2 Steven Luevano (13-1-1, 6 KO)

Marquez is the odds-on favorite here, but Luevano hopes he can be shifty enough to give Marquez problems.

That looks unlikely in the first, as Marquez drops Luevano near the 2-minute mark.

Luevano has his moments, picking Marquez apart with ease at times. But the first round was a tone-setter, and the knockdown would be repeated...4 times throughout the fight.

In the end, Marquez takes as easy unanimous decision: 146-134, 146-135, 145-136

The FIRST FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD...JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ!

[EMSoccerCoach]

Cruiserweight Title Fight

#1 Steve Cunningham (15-0, 7 KO)

VS

#2 David Haye (14-2, 9 KO)

Haye begins cautiously here, and Cunningham is jabbing him to death to open the fight. But Haye sees an opening midway through and lands power shots to put Cunningham on the defensive. Cunningham, however, dominates the second round as he did the start of the first, systematically picking Haye apart.

Haye opens the third with a punishing hook to the body, and Cunningham starts to move away. But Haye pursues and smothers Cunningham in a combo that puts him down. He's up at three, but Haye smells blood. He pursues and has Cunningham looking hurt. But Cunningham responds with a strong hook that freezes Haye and helps him survive the round.

Despite the knockdown, it's Haye who's showing signs of swelling...under the right eye and, shockingly, around his jawline. Cunningham wins the fourth in easy fashion, but Haye lands heavy leather in the fifth to take that round in clear fashion.

It seems simple...if Cunningham moves and his jab works, he's fine. If he gets too engaged in front of Haye, he's in trouble.

The next four rounds are uneventful, other than to note that Cunningham keeps Haye at bay for three of them. The other, the 7th, could be judged either way.

The 10th and 11th change a bit, as Cunningham seems more willing to trade. Haye's applying pressure, but Cunningham isn't moving away as he had previously. They exchanges are even, but Cunningham seems to be playing into Haye's hands a bit.

That becomes evident in the 12th, as Haye gets Cunningham cornered and works him over well. Cunningham tries to clinch but Haye overpowers him and keeps up the barrage. Cunningham finally squirms away, and sticks a few straight rights of his own to stall Haye's attack, but it's still Haye's round.

Haye's swelling has worsened the last two rounds, and it's clearly causing a problem for him at times. But he's plugging through it. Perhaps it's that swelling that's convincing Cunningham to be a bit more aggressive, sensing he can finish things. The result is an aggressive and even 13th, with both fighters landing heavy shots but neither giving way.

Seconds into the 14th the fighters come together. Cunningham is gashed outside the right eyebrow, but it's not a bad spot and he can certainly continue. But a punch from Haye lands perfectly later in the round and the cut widens and flows red. The doc checks it and sends Cunningham on his way, where he clinches his way through the end of the round.

We head to the 15th in a very close fight and both guys are gassed. The first minute is a snooze before Haye opens it up with a strong right. Haye tries to get inside, but Cunningham ties it up. Both fighters land from close range, neither with anything too punishing, sending the fight for the belt to the cards.

One judge has the fight 143-143. The other two have the fight 144-143 for the winner, and FIRST PBA CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPION....DAVID HAYE!!!

Certainly debatable, but by no means a screwjob. There will likely be a rematch down the line.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Light-Heavyweight Title Fight

#1Philadelphia Jack O’Brien (17-0, 7 KO)

VS

#3Tomasz Adamek (12-2, 9 KO)

The opening round is, as expected, a feeling out process here, marked by a pair of short, hard crosses from O'Brien mid-round and good body work late by Adamek. But Adamek ramps it up in the second, going low to high to put O'Brien on his heels and covering up to withstand Adamek's assault.

O'Brien's movement improves as he gets off combos and escapes before Adamek can tie him up in the third. The fourth, however, sees Adamek drop O'Brien for a 6-count. To make matters worse, O'Brien appears to hurt himself on a punch after the knockdown, and his eye is swelling a bit as well.

But it's a title fight, and O'Brien sucks it up, firing with abandon in the 5th and finding every opening Adamek leaves for him. He repeats this in the 6th, fighting a tactically sound fight.

The seventh seems a continuation, as Adamek just can't find the range. O'Brien comes in close mid-round, lands a combo and backs away. But Adamek catches him backpedalling with a hook and O'Brien is down for 6 again.

Both men take a breather in the 8th, bringing us to a ninth round that sees O'Brien not as willing to back out on Adamek. He hurts him inside, where he hasn't ventured to stay, and persists. Adamek is smothered and eventually dropped, rising at 4. With just 10 seconds left in the round, O'Brien doesn't have time to finish him.

But he doesn't need to. The fight has been taken out of Adamek, and O'Brien wins the next several rounds - 10 through 14 -comfortably.

Adamek digs deep in the 15th, and O'Brien - knowing he's been dropped twice himself - is hardly comfortable despite his recent run of rounds. So the men square off to the crowd's delight. O'Brien seems to get the better of it until a body shot followed by a hook puts him backpedalling into the ropes in the round's final seconds, perhaps tipping a judge in Adamek's favor as we go to the cards.

The decision is unanimous...145-139, 145-139, 144-140 for the winner, and FIRST PBA LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION...PHILADELPHIA JACK O'BRIEN!!!!

[Infinity]

Just caught up with this, as I've been AWOL of late... Great stuff! Will be looking forward to more!!

[EMSoccerCoach]

Thanks much. The last batch of semifinal fights will be on the April slate so we can get all the champions determined in the May/June batches.

[EMSoccerCoach]

April 2009 - Title Tournament Fights

Bantamweight: #1 Paulie Ayala (14-0-1, 2 KO) vs #4 Johnny Bredahl (18-4, 9 KO)

Thirty seconds in Ayala is flat on his back, victim of a perfect, flush hook right on the point of his jaw. He gets to his feet at 9, barely, but somehow manages to dodge and evade Bredahl's pursuit for the rest of the round. The next four rounds, Ayala dominates, and Bredahl's chance seems gone. The sixth through eighth slow a bit, but it's still Ayala dictating it. Bredahl has his best round since the first in the 9th, but ends up dropped in the 10th. He rises enough to take part in two uneventful rounds before the bout ends in a split decision...115-111, 116-111, 112-114 for PAULIE AYALA!

Jr. Middleweight: #2 Kassim Ouma (13-0-1, 11 KO) vs #3 Winky Wright (12-0, 9 KO)

If you're a boxing fan, you know a textbook Winky Wright performance. This was it. The fighters are equally busy, but Wright lands 35% compared with 15% for Ouma, and puts an 8th round knockdown as an exclamation point to a unanimous decision victory: 117-110, 117-110, 116-111.

Welterweight: #1 Tommy Ryan (13-0, 11 KO) vs #4 Paul Williams (11-1, 6 KO)

Another fight starts with a bang as Ryan lands a thudding body shot roughly 20 seconds into the fight. But Williams retaliates with a hook to the temple that puts Ryan down for 7. Williams can't get him out of there, but controls the next two rounds as well. Ryan starts to get tactical in the 4th, and Williams is holding his own, though pace dictation seems likely to earn Ryan some points. Williams clearly wins the 7th, Ryan the 8th, bringing us to round 9, where Ryan's eye starts to give him problems. It's more of the same in the 10th, and at 1:40 he traps Ryan along the ropes. Ryan can't get free and is swarmed in a barrage of punches, putting him down - and out. The winner by KO at 2:19 of round 10 is PAUL WILLIAMS!

More to come...

[EMSoccerCoach]

April 2009 - Title Tournament Fights

Jr. Flyweight - #2 Belbis Mendoza (16-1, 14 KO) vs #3 Koki Kameda (11-0, 10 KO)

No contest here. Kameda drops Mendoza twice in the second before putting him down and out in the fourth. Kameda by KO at 2:23 of round 4. He'll face Ulises Solis for the strap.

Flyweight - #1 Jimmy Wilde (13-0-1, 12 KO) vs #4 Lorenzo Parra (12-2, 12 KO)

A pair of guys with some pop here. The first round is a feeling out process, though it seems Parra gets the better of it with a late, closing flurry. Wilde controls the first half of round 2, sparking Parra to turn it up a bit. Wilde responds in kind and the action heats up in the second half, a big hook landing from Wilde in the waning moments. Wilde builds off of that, dominating the third, though Parra is able to keep his feet despite being obviously hurt. Tempo slows in the fourth, but the crowd gets to its feet when Parra lands a perfect body shot that puts Wilde down to a knee. He's up at 3 and Parra does little in the following minute, but hopes to build off the 10-8 round. No such luck. Wilde dominates the fifth and the sixth until a Parra uppercut in the closing seconds stops him in his tracks. No matter, though. Wilde pummels Parra in the 8th, dropping him before a minute of unanswered pounding forces the stoppage. Wilde by TKO at 2:47 of the 7th. He'll fight Omar Narvaez for the title.

Bantamweight: #2 Jimmy Barry (19-1, 12 KO) vs #3 Terry McGovern (11-0, 11 KO)

McGovern takes the opening round in what seems to be a fight that will be fought in a phone booth. It's no surprise, therefore, when McGovern is cut during a clinch early in round 2. Barry sees blood, literally, and begins pumping the jab at all costs. By round's end, McGovern is a mess, though he had a good round. That changes in the third, as Barry takes advantage of the lack of vision from McGovern's left eye. He clearly wins the 3rd and 4th rounds, but McGovern gamely recovers to take the 5th. The eye is patched before the round but bleeds as soon as it begins, and McGovern is trying to fight more defensively just to have a chance to continue. But Barry takes the 6th clearly, and drops McGovern for a 10-8 round in the 7th. Thirty seconds into the 8th and with McGovern essentially a one-eyed fighter, the ref and doctor decide enough is enough. Because the cut came from a butt, it goes to the cards, where Barry takes a unanimous decision 68-64, 67-65, 67-65. He'll meet Paulie Ayala for the title.

[EMSoccerCoach]

April 2009 - Title Tournament Fights

Jr. Bantamweight - #2 Luis Alberto Perez (14-1, 14 KO) vs #3 Ivan Hernandez (13-2, 9 KO)

Not much of a story here, as Perez obliterates Hernandez, who is dropped in the first, then twice in the 7th before the bout is stopped in the 9th. Perez won every round on every card except one judge gave Hernandez the 6th. Perez by TKO at 2:38 of round 10.

Jr. Welterweight: #2 Carlos Maussa (11-1, 9 KO) vs #3 Ricky Hatton (12-2, 11 KO)

Short night at the fights, as Hatton obliterates Maussa by KO at 2:50 of round 2. Maussa was flat knocked cold!