FIGHT NIGHT RESULTS " The SBA. The only boxing organization that matters."

SBA TITLE FIGHT REVIEW !!! SIMONETTE AND SWISHER: ONE MORE TIME !!! OCTOBER 23, 2005       You've heard of the Hatfields and the McCoys. On a Sunday October 23rd afternoon, the SBA had its own version of those fussin' 'n fuedin' families with the Simonette's and the Swisher's having at it at the Mews Clubhouse in scenic North Hills, PA. When several scheduled bouts had to be scratched due to many of the combatants going AWOL, it was up to clan Simonette and Swisher to save the day, which they did in fine style. The show would go on!       Starting off this "S & S" doubleheader was fast rising newcomer Joe "The Baby Faced Assassin" Younkin and John "Mack Daddy" Swisher, coming off an impressive upset of then numder 4 rated contender Suzy "Night Train" Cupp last May. This was considered to be a test for Younkin, who had faced rated opponents previously, but knew he could break into the ratings himself with an impressive win. Swisher, a hot and cold type with an unconventional style, was looking to break the top ten as well.       After a closely fought first round, Younkin scored a knockdown with his first punch of round two. But rather than press his advantage he layed back, letting Swisher off the hook. Bad move. Swisher returned the favor by dropping Younkin at 2:13 with a left hook of his own, enabling him to steal the round, scorecard wise. Swisher took the third round and then enjoyed a 10-8 advantage in the fourth. It didn't get any better for Younkin early in the fifth when the referee issued him a standing eight count. That seemed to wake the "Baby Faced Assassin" up, as he rallied to take the round.       As the bell rang for round six, the leather really hit the fan! Younkin opened with a tremendous right cross to Swisher's head, and he never let up. Four straight jabs, a combination, another jab and another combination was all the referee needed to see, stopping the bout at 1:37. So impressive was Younkin's victory that we even included a picture of his sister (and future KO Kutie?) Amber just to stay on his good side. The kid can punch!       With this victory Younkin moves into the number 8 spot in the latest SBA rankings. He may want to consider Alan Corrado next or, if possible, D J McKellar, before taking on any of the top five. After that, who knows? Maybe a meeting with Don "The Bull" Waxter ...

And thus the stage was set for the third bout in this tabletop title trililogy. In their first meeting Simonette, behind on two of the three judges scorecards after nine rounds, dropped Swisher early and went on to stop her at the bell. Their second meeting saw Simonette take a Unanimous Decision after some late round pyrotechnics. Swisher was looking to settle the score, and any woman that can drink Jameson's straight without a chaser is perfectly capable of doing just that!       The first five rounds were just a continuation of their previous bouts: all very close, and all within 2 points of going either way. Yet after five rounds, it was Swisher who held a comfortable lead on all three judges scorecards. Simonette opened up in round six and took it impressively, only to fall back and let Swisher take the next two.

As it turned out, it was rounds nine and ten that would eventually cost Swisher the fight. Still within striking distance in the ninth, Swisher got careless and took a left hook at 2:48 of the round, visiting the canvas. Round ten turned out to be a replay of round nine. Swisher, again, got sloppy late, and again was dropped via a Simonette left hook at 2:53. Simonette said later that as the fight wore on he felt that he could take advantage of her defense late in the round. He seems to have been right. Twice.

And yet Swisher, who had insult added to injury by receiving a standing eight count early in round eleven, managed to rally and actually take the round with room to spare. Incredibly, and despite two knockdowns on Simonette's side of the ledger, whoever won the last round would be the winner of the bout as per the judges, barring a knockout.       The first minute of round twelve was all Simonette. Two body shots, two hard jabs and a combination had us all thinking he was gonna mail this round in. But Swisher rallied with a hard jab, a body shot and another hard jab. But just as she seemed to be preparing to throw a right cross, "Silky" stepped in and delivered a perfect combination, head-to-body-to-head, and that seemed to take all the wind out of the Swisher sails.       The scoring of the bout was announced as follows: Judge Tommy Marshall had it 127-114 1/2Simonette; Judge Kathy Luteran 113-112, Simonette; and Judge Billy Demel saw it 114-113 Swisher. A Split Decision win for Simonette, who was also crowned SBA Interim Champion as a result of Olander's non-appearance. "While I am happy to be champion again", said Simonette after the bout, "I would have preferrred to have won it by facing Olander. However, I understand that rules are rules. But I look forward to giving Olander an opportunity to meet me soon to clear this up once and for all."       As a result of the Commissioner's ruling, Simonette will hold the title for 30 days. The following 30 days (November 23 to December 22) Olander has the chance to schedule a bout with Simonette to settle the issue. Failing that, Simonette will have within 45 days to defend his title against a SBA approved opponent.       And you though this crap was easy.

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