Sims Reaches Lightweight Final With a Unanimous Decision Over Olivera

On the night before his lightweight fight against Joey Olivera, North Hollywood’s Walter Sims awoke suddenly in the early morning hours.

“I’m gonna knock this guy out in the first round,” Sims told his wife, Janice.

Well, so much for premonitions.

Sims beat Olivera Wednesday night. But he had to battle back from being staggered early in the fight to win a controversial, albeit unanimous, decision at the Forum.

The victory moved Sims into a championship bout of the Stroh’s tournament. He’ll face Yogi Buchanan of Berkley, Mo., for the title and $50,000 Jan. 22. The three cards showed Sims a winner by margins of 97-93, 96-93 and 96-94. The Forum crowd booed the decision.

Sims probably earned the decision in the 10-round bout with a strong final round, during which Olivera continually backed away. He also hurt Olivera in the seventh round with a right to the body followed by a left to the head.

Sims improved to 22-3-2. Olivera dropped to 17-9.