Bengal Bouts — 125-145 pounds: Faist advances to semifinals by defeating Feduska
By ERIK POWERS
Sports Writer
Early in the match it seemed as if Michael Feduska and Brian Faist were participating in a little bit of geometry, with Faist circumnavigating Feduska. Feduska was the aggressor in the first round, causing the elusive Faist to circle him around the ring. But Faist fought off Feduska's flurries well, three times using his left hand to block series of jabs before retaliating with a wicked right hook. Both fighters came out with flurries in the second round, but the staccato succession of blows failed to give either fighter an advantage.
The second round ended with a burst of momentum, however, when Faist mixed two thunderous right hooks with a series of jabs in order to knock Feduska into one side of the ring and then another. Feduska and Faist traded hooks in the final round, but Feduska's fate in the even match could not be rewritten: Faist won in a split decision.
Valenzuela def. Musiala
In the second fight of the 125-pound weight division, Robert Musiala from off campus was pitted against Jon Valenzuela from Dillon. The first round proved to be an exercise in exposition, for Musiala and Valenzuela fought to establish their character in the ring. Musiala depended upon speed and quickness, with his highlight being a left/right jab and hook combination that he landed at the end of the round. Valenzuela displayed a more powerful approach, unleashing a huge hook on multiple occasions. In the second round, Musliala sough to frustrate Valenzuela by dancing around him and landing intermittent jabs. Valenzuela then caught Musiala with a series of sweeping right hooks, battering his opponent into the ropes. The third round's climax was a seven-hit combination of hooks and jabs by Valenzuela, who looked to put an end to the match. Musiala valiantly staged his own offensive, knocking Valenzuela backwards at one point, but Valenzuela still triumphed in a unanimous decision.
Kim def. Rojas
Sung Hoon Kim wasted little time in the final bout of the 125-pound division. Facing Gerrardo Rojas, Kim opened with vehement violence and landed two hooks and a jab within the first ten seconds. Rojas regrouped and attempted to feel out Kim, but Kim responded with an 11-hit combination that drew a crescendo of cheers from the crowd and a dazed defense from Rojas. While the referee paused the fight to check that Rojas was all right, a buzz continued through the crowd. Smelling blood and feeding off the arena's energy, Kim exploded when the match resumed. Piston-like punches welcomed Rojas back from the break, driving him into the ropes and down to the match. With 1:10 left in the first round, the referee stopped the fight. Kim won in dominating fashion.
140 pounds
Marks def. Hollowell
Chip Marks had anything but a size advantage, giving up several inches in height and reach to Tony Hollowell. In the first round, Marks prevented Hollowell from exploiting this disadvantage, however. Marks repeatedly rushed Hollowell, landing a right hook and several jabs to his head before closing out the round with a furious seven-hit flurry. Hollowell recovered quickly and began the second round like a different man. Much more aggressive and assertive, Hollowell seemed to turn the tide of the match until Marks eschewed defense for a reckless hook-laden offense. Swinging mercilessly, Marks knocked the momentum out of Hollowell, causing the referee to pause the fight once and limiting Hollowell to a single landed jab in the final 30 seconds of the round. Marks continued his impassioned display in the opening of the final round and knocked Hollowell out of the fight only 40 seconds into the round.
Davidson def. Schmidlin
On Thursday, Stephen Davidson won a hard-fought war of attrition that featured a bevy of punches, an absence of blocking, and a split decision. On Sunday, a refreshed Joe Schmidlin (coming off a first-round bye) beat him at his own game. Early in the first round, Schmidlin landed a six-hit combination. The two then traded blows, and even as Schmidlin had Davidson up against the ropes, Davidson still feverishly returned his punches. In the second round Schmidlin was unable to absorb and return punches any longer, as Davidson seized control of the match. The trading of blows became a monopoly when Davidson unleashed a brutal seven-hit combination on Schmidlin, knocking Schmidlin into his own corner. When the fight resumed, the fighters switched directions and Davidson promptly knocked Schmidlin onto the bottom ropes of the Davidson's corner, ending the fight at 46 seconds into the second round.
Wuest def. Liva
Bill Wuest knew that he had a height advantage over Eddie Liva, and he used it. Wuest positioned himself at a lengthy radius from Liva, using his long reach in order to land long-distance jabs. Liva was aggressive in the first round, attempting several combinations. But Liva was unable to land enough of his punches on Wuest's body, succeeding in mainly a few ineffectual abdominal hooks. Neither fighter looked tired by the second round, and neither fighter experienced much of a threat either. Wuest and Liva continued to exchange parries and punches. By the third round Wuest and Liva confirmed that they were a stark contrast to the two contests of brute strength that preceded them. Liva and Wuest displayed lightness on their feet, a combination of footwork, chess-like strategy and cat-like quickness in order to anticipate and deflect each other's moves. There were no bloody noses, pauses for count-outs or knockouts. Wuest won in the end, a unanimous decision that was a testament to his longer, more successful reach.
Hoffman def. Pfizenmayer
Chris Hoffman won versus Mark Pfizenmayer, but the margin of victory was small. The tightly contested match opened with Hoffman showcasing his shiftiness and power by driving Pfizenmayer into the ropes with a series of six alternating hooks. In response to this opening salvo, Pfizenmayer fired his own flurry of fists, driving Hoffman into the opposite ropes. Pfizenmayer then stymied Hoffman's attempts to move him across the ring as the round ended. The second round opened in even more spectacular fashion, for Pfizenmayer reeled off 10 punches before Hoffman responded with a furious seven-punch combination that pushed Pfizenmayer back into his own corner. Pfizenmayer attempted to go back on the offensive, but was thwarted. What ensued was pure and swift vengeance by Hoffman. Two jabs and four hooks sent Pfizenmayer reeling across the ring. Two hooks knocked Pfizenmayer up against the ropes. Another series of punches held him there. The round ended with the match suddenly looking one-sided. Pfizenmayer dispelled this notion within 20 seconds of the third round when he disarmed Hoffman with a six-hit combination and then used another six-hit combination in order to send him into the ropes. Hoffman returned the favor with a swooping right hook that knocked Pfizenmayer's headgear askew, and the two battled ineffectually until the end of the round.
145 pounds
Dillon def. Sylling
Luke Dillon, this year's top seed in the 145-pound weight division, withstood a serious challenge over fellow junior Andrew Sylling in winning a split decision. The fight began with Dillon landing the majority of the blows in the first round. Dillon scored a five-hit combination, a left hook and a right jab to minimal success by Syllling. The second round featured Dillon on the offensive once more, attempting a series of left/right jabs, which Sylling feverishly fought off. Sylling missed at least one jab, however, for the fight had to be paused for him to receive treatment on a bloodied nose. Dillon followed with a pair of two combinations in order to finish the round. Sylling was far from done, though, and opened the third round in inspired fashion. Sylling and Dillon wailed at each other in frantic fashion with no clear victor emerging from the scrum. The crowd, appreciating the brave onslaught by Sylling, ended its alternating chant of "meatballs" for long enough to encourage him while he was treated for his nose once more. Sylling captured the support of the majority of the crowd when he followed with a seven-hit combination highlighted by two huge right hooks. The fight had to be paused a final time for Sylling's nose, but soon afterwards he rode a crest of momentum into the finish with a series of jabs and an uppercut into the midsection of Dillon. But one round of domination was not enough in order to counteract Dillon's two rounds.
Harris def. Robinson (walk-over)
The battle of the Pauls just wasn't meant to be, for Harris advanced past a flu-stricken Robinson in a walk-over.
Ham def. Streit
Experience triumphed over youth as senior Jeff Ham defeated sophomore Jon Streit in the fight for O'Neill Hall. Ham held the upper hand at the onset of the fight, landing the first punch when he launched a hook. Streit landed a few jabs of his own before Ham had a five-hit combination to end the round. The second round began with a hotly contested row, and no clear winner emerged. Soon afterwards, Streit landed a powerful right hook on Ham, sending spit and sweat flying. The round ended with another closely waged flurry, but Ham emerged relatively unscathed, while Streit needed to be treated for a bloodied nose in between rounds. This did not restrict Streit from dominating the opening of the third round. Streit had a pair of three-hit combinations, sending Ham into a corner. Ham responded by knocking Streit off-balance with his own series of blows. Ham won in a unanimous decision.
Duffey def. DeBoer
In the second intrahall matchup of the afternoon, Ryan "The Quiet Man" Duffey fought Dave "The Flying Dutchman" DeBoer. The Sorin residents formed a contrast in size, and the taller Duffey forced DeBoer to circle him at first. Duffey dictated the pace of the match early, landing short bursts of jabs while keeping DeBoer at a distance. In order to a adjust, DeBoer began rushing his opponent, landing some point-blank jabs and body shots from close range. Duffey was able to string more punches together, landing a three-hit combination and later a six-hit combination after DeBoer missed a punch. In the second round, DeBoer was much more aggressive and opened on the offensive. Throughout the round DeBoer swung hook after hook at Duffey, trying to knock the senior off-balance or over altogether. Reacting to DeBoer, Duffey capitalized on DeBoer's unprotected head during offensives in order to land four jabs. In the third round DeBoer's furious comeback attempt stalled as the freshman appeared to run out of energy. DeBoer began to miss punches and the experienced Duffey adroitly connected on calculated blows.
All Sports Stories for Monday, February 24, 2003
