I continue my list of fights I watched on HBO over the years.
96. Roy Jones Jr. vs. Clinton Woods. September 7, 2002. The bout from the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon saw Jones take on the WBC’s number one contender from England, Clinton Woods. The most memorable thing from the one sided six round affair, was when Larry Merchant said “Clinton Woods sounds like the name of an apartment complex.” It was over in the sixth, and Roy had another run of the mill defense under his belt. The good news was that he was talking about moving up, and challenging WBA heavyweight champ John Ruiz, something I could get excited about for a change.
97. Chris Byrd vs. Evander Holyfield. December 14. 2002. I paid $100 for a ticket to this one at Atlantic City Convention Hall, and took my seat in the last row of the upper deck. With binoculars in hand, I was so far from the ring, I spent more time watching the fight on the screens that pumped in the live HBO feed, than watching the crappy fight. I couldn’t help but blurt out “I wish I would have stayed home!”. after about six rounds of this lousy bout. Byrd easily outboxed Holyfield, who was a step behind the southpaw all night. At this point, at age 40, I wished Evander would just pack it in. On the way back to my car, I stopped at a snack bar on the boardwalk at around midnight, and ran into ring announcer Jimmy Lennon, who was getting something to eat as well. I asked him if he had a hard time not saying “It’s Showtime!”, on an HBO card. He laughed and said “Not really.” It was a nice way to end a pretty boring night.
98. Vernon Forrest vs. Ricardo Mayorga. January 25, 2003. When I tuned in to this HBO card from Temecula, California, I was expecting an easy Forrest win by decision. I was totally shocked when he was hurt in the first round, and dropped for the second time by the awkward Mayorga. Vernon got up, but didn’t respond the the ref’s questions, and it was all over in just the third round. Styles make fights they say, and Mayorga’s was all wrong for Vernon Forrest that night.
99. Lennox Lewis vs. Vitali Klitschko. June 21, 2003. The bout from the Staples Center in Los Angeles would turn out to be Lennox Lewis’s last trip up the ring steps. Klitschko started aggressively in the first few rounds, but Lennox opened a huge gash over his eye with a right hand ten seconds into the third round. Both men traded exchanges, but as the bout progressed, Vitali’s cut worsened. The action was halted after the sixth, and the TKO went to Lewis. Larry Merchant annoyed Lennox with his post fight questions, and for the first time I saw him angry. Klitschko cried like a bitch after the loss, but the cut was opened from a punch, not a butt, and the better thankfully won.
100. Vernon Forrest vs. Ricardo Mayorga 2. July 12, 2003. Revenge was on mind as I sat in my recliner for this one from the Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas. Vernon fought much better in the rematch, boxed effectively, and in my opinion won the decision. I ignored the judge’s cards, although one had it a draw. I didn’t bet any money on it, so it’s not like I was going to lose any sleep over the whole thing. It was always my objective to find the next fight worth watching, and knew sooner or later, something would show up.
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