RinkRat Magazine is proud to bring you Blood On the Ice III: Super Brawl Sunday

The third & final installment of the Blood On The Ice Series featured two of the toughest from RinkRat's BeatDown Top 10 - Sean McMorrow against Brett Clouthier.

TALE OF THE TAPE:

Brett Clouthier - Height: 6'5'' ...Weight: 235 lbs. .

Sean McMorrow - Height: 6'4'' ...Weight: 205 lbs. .....

Clouthier has the edge in experience, now in his 3rd OHL season and is RinkRat's defending BeatDown Top10 Champion. McMorrow, a newcomer to the Knights is in his 2nd season in the OHL.
In their first meeting of the season, Clouthier picked up a convincing decision over the then Mississauga blueliner, using McMorrow's jersey to his advantage.

Check out: In Blood On The Ice:2000 McMorrow fought back to take the decision in the rematch. McMorrow got off to an early start and never let up, getting Clouthier caught up in his gear.

THE FIGHT:

Click here to download and view BLOOD ON THE ICE III for yourself.

THE SCORING:

RinkRat spared no expense flying in a full compliment of staff for the game.
Special guest judges included :
From the ghetto Fight Doctor Fly
From parts unknown MG-KO77

The RinkRat Card is as follows based on a 10-point must system:

RinkRat - 10/9...Clouthier
Fight Dr.- 10/9...McMorrow
MGKO77- 10/10...Draw

THE ANALYSIS:

MG-KO77: Well, I came into the Kingston Memorial Centre expecting a great fight, and I got it. You could sense that something special was about to happen as early as the warmup. I wish I could have heard what was being said as Clouthier stood near McMorrow and the London bench during the national anthem.

As for the fight itself, I give McMorrow full credit for his showmanship. Not only is he one of the league's top fighters, but he's hands down the OHL's top "show".

McMorrow was quick to get Clouthier's helmet off and that gave him the early advantage. But both fighters continued to throw great punches. Finally, Clouthier got McMorrow's helmet off and got the better of his opponent. While Clouthier connected with more punches, McMorrow's right arm was being caught up in his jersey.

Kudos to McMorrow for pushing away linesman John Campbell, telling him that he wasn't done yet.

The highlight of the fight may have been McMorrow pointing to the Kingston bench before taking one last shot at Clouthier.

The way I break the fight down, Clouthier landed more solid punches, especially during a solid flurry after getting McMorrow's helmet off. On the other hand, McMorrow provided the entertaining part of the scrap. All things considered, especially the length of the battle, I score it as a DRAW.

FIGHT DOCTOR FLY: I was pretty damn skeptical coming into this. After all I was a bit disappointed by the last Pimp-n-Hoe Production in Missy six weeks or so ago and frankly I wasn’t looking forward to a twelve hour round trip drive (on about three hours sleep) for another snoozer.

Well, it appeared that way for a while. Mav wasn’t matching Clootch against Mac head to head and the three times they were on the ice together in the early going one of them was at the end of the shift and headed off.

In fact, Cuddler scored a nice goal just more than a minute into the game, a slapper from the deep slot through a screen that Aaron (Iron Man) Molnar never saw.

But the crowd (hell, the RRM Judges, who am I kidding) got what they came for at 16:26 on a face-off in Kingston’s end after an icing. McMorrow goes to the bench for a drink, comes back to set up for the drop of the puck along side Clouthier, who hikes up the pants and gives the nod.

Away they go!

Maybe the two just dance and preen for a good fifteen seconds and the linesmen nearly jump in to separate them at that point. But there would be no stopping the main event this afternoon as ref Scott Hutchinson clears the tracks and lets ‘em go. The pair tangle together, with Mac getting a nice right in early.

Clootch lands three bombs but gets mostly plexiglass and plastic. McMorrow gets the Cuddler’s bucket off and lands another couple. Clouthier has to expend a lot more energy getting Mac’s hat unvelcroed and that might have been a factor as the scrap went on. Both threw and landed some big shots with both hands and when the linesmen tried to break it up McMorrow shrugged them away.

The bout ended with Mac turning to yap at the Fronts bench before throwing one big shot, losing his balance as Clouthier came in with a counter and got the solid takedown.

A great scrap in all facets time, energy expended, both boys landing bombs with both hands and both none the worse for wear, though Mac did have that same spot by his left eye cut.

Based on the facts as I saw them I have to give a slight edge to Mac. Clootch seemed to tire a bit midway before getting his second wind and his punches lacked the zip of McMorrow’s.

On the ten-point must system, I score it 10-9 McMorrow.

The only thing that would have made the day complete would have been for both of the main event combatants to combine for a major beatdown of the new lame mascot Cap’n Crunch or Major Frontenac or whatever he’s called. He comes out before the game and does a lame interpretive ice dance to the Moody Blues’ "Knights in White Satin" while twirling a white scarf. It was a scary bad version of what Duke the Ice Dragon did in Windsor last year. Sad!

RINKRAT: First we have to say that this was one of the best fights we have seen in quite some time. Probably as good as the Clouthier - Trevor Gillies bout of a few years ago.

McMorrow got off to his trademark quick start managing to get the Cuddler's bucket off without even throwing a punch.

On the attack, McMorrow started off strong throwing a flurry of rights - but for the most part that's all he threw. The two left bombs he landed were likely his best, & if he had continued to change it up we think he could have easily won. However, his inability to throw with both put him at a disadvantage through the middle and end portions of the fight - especially when his left got caught up in his gear.

Clouthier, the veteran of the two, used both hands to his advantage and once he managed to pry McMorrow's helmet off went to work, opening up the Marvelous one's punchy left eye.

In all honesty, we would have been more than happy to score this fight a draw UNTIL...the moment McMorrow got cocky and turned his head away to yapp at the Kingston bench. What the hell was that?!?

Protect yourself at all times.

Any fighter who turns his attention away during a fight is asking to be hurt. McMorrow showed no respect for his opponent - in this case a defending BeatDown Champion - and left himself open.

McMorrow underestimated Kyle Werner of North Bay and got knocked on his ass...we've had this discussion with him before.

Clouthier took full advantage and hammered McMorrow with one while he was distracted, leading into the takedown.

McMorrow can dance around & put on a great show all he wants...but until he learns to fight a little smarter he will be on the receiving end.

Sorry MAC, it was a tough decision - but based on the 10-point must system- we had to score this one 10-9 in favour of Clouthier. The Cuddler was more effective with what he landed, he used both hands to his advantage, and he spanked you when you disrespected him.

We don't want to seem to down on McMorrow, because overall this was a great fight, between two evenly matched foes. They gave the fans a real thrill, and it was worth the price of admission alone.

OVERALL JUDGEMENT:

The fight according to the Nevada State Boxing Commission which governs all RinkRat sanctioned OHL bouts - this fight was a DRAW.

When asked for comment on the decsion Brett Clouthier released the following statement.

"That's fair I guess, but in my heart I won," said Clouthier. That judging is like the Lewis vs Holyfield fight when it was a draw and Lewis clearly won. Oh well, I feel like Lewis".

Clouthier still somewhat unhappy with the verdict went on to say, "Who had the balls too come in first? Who looked worst after? Who got the takedown? Those are key to every fight. But a draw it is."