FIGHT NIGHT UPDATE February 5, 2005 JOE "SILKY" SIMONETTE Champion vs. SCOTT "THE SAVAGE SWEDE" OLANDER #5 Contender SBA Pittsburgh Chapter #1 Heavyweight Championship

For this observer, it was like going back in time. Back to the days of "Bob's Game Room", where both the defending champion JOE "SILKY" SIMONETTE and former champ now challenger SCOTT "THE SAVAGE SWEDE" OLANDER cut their proverbial teeth on STRATEGY BOXING, along with a slew of other "arcade rats" who frequented that establishment, more and more to take their turns at honing their tabletop skills and less and less to pump quarters into whatever the hell video game was popular at the time. One could almost hear the echoes of John "Master of Disaster" Meyers, Butch "Amyl Nitrate" Veal, "Phabulous" Phil Butler, Bob "Thunder" Hanlon and Alan "Touch of Sleep" Corrado (who himself surprised many by attending the event as Olander's cornerman) exhorting their contemporaries to give no quarter and expect none in return. And for one night, those magical days long gone by were here again. Is this a great game or what???       Simonette, a perennial contender who painstakingly worked his way into contention and then shocked the tabletop boxing world by not only wresting the title from then undefeated champion Chris "The Body Snatcher" Swisher but retaining it by besting her again in a return bout, was the catalyst in making this historic bout happen. Joe wanted the best there was to offer for his next defense, and there was only one name on a very short list: Olander. But the problem was not so much "calling him out", but getting him to know that he was being called out. And that is where the magic of the Internet came to his aid. In a Miller Lite inspired moment (note shameless plug), Joe issued a video challenge to "The Swede", and with the help of SBA officials it was inserted onto the STRATEGY BOXING website. Then a call was placed to Olander informing him of the challenge. Once he saw it, he couldn't refuse. And thus the bout was made.       But the historic aspect of the meeting didn't stop there. It also witnessed the return of the 15 round limit for a championship bout. Circa 1987, and for whatever reason you wish to believe, professional boxing instituted the 12 round limit for all title fights. Grudgingly, the STRATEGY BOXING ASSOCIATION followed suit But it was never a good fit. And lets face it: being a game, STRATEGY BOXING never had to concern itself with ring deaths or more time for commercials which translates into more money for the networks or whatever. The worst that could possibly happen was the occasional paper cut or being doused by a beer courtesy of a poor sport loser. For the last few years, the SBA had debated on returning to 15 rounds for their ultimate contests. And as both the Simonette and Olander camps wanted it too, boxing history was restored. And remade. And here to stay.       The bout began at 10:00 PM, as scheduled, and the mood of joviality that had been so prevalent leading up to the bout was soon replaced by an almost electrical intensity that immediately spread throughout the Allen Arena. Olander struck first, landing a body shot, then a stiff jab. Simonette answered with a body shot of his own, only to take one in return. Simonette went to the jab and scored four in succession. Olander responded in kind, but waited a split second too long to admire his handiwork, and was dropped by a left hook at 2:01. Both were content to trade jabs, but when Simonette stepped in with a right to the body, Olander was quick to answer with a right cross. Simonette scored a jab as the bell rang and round one was in the books. ROUND ONE: SIMONETTE.       Simonette struck quickly to begin round two with a hard left to Olander's body. The Swede countered with a jab, then a combination. Jabs were traded, then Olander scored again with a combination that had the champ backing up. Looking to press his advantage, the challenger walked into a left hook, then a jab. Olander worked Simonette into a corner and delivered a jab, but took a combination for his trouble. ROUND TWO: SIMONETTE.       An seemingly tentative Olander began round three with a scoring blow to the body, then let Simonette score with five consecutive punches, culminating with a scintillating combination that had Olander up against the ropes. A Swede body shot was quickly answered with a Simonette combo, causing Olander to retreat while scoring with a jab. An Olander right found the mark, but the champ was equal to the task with a stinging shot to the ribs. They traded jabs as the bell ended the stanza. ROUND THREE: SIMONETTE.       Prior to the start of round four, Simonette was heard to ask his corner how well they thought he was doing. Although ahead on all cards, he seemed to be fighting not so much to win as not to lose. In retrospect, it was a portent of things to come. Olander came out of his corner and backed the champ up with a jab. He then feinted to his left and Simonette took the bait, and was dropped with a right 14 seconds into the round. Simonette tried to shake it off, even landing a jab, but Olander then followed with a left hook that again shook the champ, though he stayed upright. Olander realized this was his chance, and he jumped on Simonette with a double jab, a left and then a right to the body. That was all the referee needed to see, and called a halt to the bout at 1:06 of the round. ROUND FOUR: OLANDER declared winner via TKO at 1:06.       When asked his thoughts on the bout and the subsequent stoppage, a still stunned Simonette said that was his plan to get Olander into the later rounds and wear him down, given the Swede's long layoff. He added that although he had felt that he had won the first three rounds, he didn't feel Olander was showing any effect, thus never sensing an opportunity to "open up" and press his advantage. "It was strange," mused the dejected ex-champ. "I was in control of the fight, but never felt I was "in control". That just shows you how good Olander is. But somewhere down the road, I am sure we will meet again."This reporter is inclined to agree. Joe just had one of "those nights", and as formidable as Olander is, and always has been, Joe proved to the tabletop world he is championship caliber with two impressive vitories over Swisher. Should they meet again, and I deem that likely, it will be a much different fight. Joe says that when that time comes, he will be ready. I can't help but believe him.       As for the new champ, he was all smiles. And eager to defend his newly regained title. So much so that he immediately confronted former champ Chris Swisher for a Memorial Day first defense. Needless to say, she accepted. Immediately. During her reign, Swisher was frustrated in her inability to entice either Olander or "Sugar Roy" Clover to put their reputations on the line and on the table against her and add to her tabletop legacy. Now she has that chance with Olander. And their bout will be a first in STRATEGY BOXING history. Not only will it be a case of the current Champ taking on the current Number One challenger; this will feature the All Time Best against the All Time second Best (see SBA All Time List) . And they wasted no time in hyping the bout. Click on the pic, right, for a sneak video peek of their first pre-fight "negotiations".

For the UNDERCARD RESULTS and more FIGHT NIGHT PHOTOS, click HERE !!!

POST FIGHT NOTES : Bouts already scheduled for the Olander-Swisher undercard include a title elimination bout between Joe Simonette and Don "The Bull" Waxter, and a "money match" with Alan "Touch Of Sleep" Corrado and a coming out of retirement for the bucks Mark "Kid" Cupp. This bout will have both players put up $100 and it's winner take all. Cupp is 8-0 in money matches; this will be Corrado's first. Said "The Kid" immediately after the bout was signed: "I thinks it's great that Al wants to pay my phone bill." And perhaps more undercard bouts will be added with newcomers Mary Ann "The Mirage" Meunz, John "Fry Man" Frey (pictured left), Karen "Krash & Burn" Berger and Al "The Breeze" Gusky (you can't see him, but you feel him!). And can Valerie "Hot Stuff" Meunz be looming as a potential challenge to Light Heavyweight boss Keely "The Punkinator" Cupp? Only time will tell ...       Missing from the evening's festivities for one reason or another were DJ "Mad Max" McKellar ... Don "The Bull" Waxter ... Terry "Little Red" Cupp ... Jan "Big Show" Underwood ... and most noticeable by his absence, "Sugar Roy" Clover. When one whose name looms as large "The Sugar's" has and does in the tabletop pantheon, you can't help but feel the void. Two matchups this reporter would like to see: Swisher-Clover and Olander-Waxter. Wait. Make that three: Suzy "Night Train" Cupp and Gina "Bambina" Todd. I'd buy the beer for that triple header. Then again, I usually do anywa       As always, a great time was had by all, and was a C&M Productions event. Till next time ... keep smiling. (Beer helps).