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O.Stevens CHAMPION HOMER ROM by Ozzie Stevens

Discussion in 'APBT History' started by ROCCITY, Jul 14, 2010.

  1. ROCCITY

    ROCCITY Big Dog

    Stevens' CH Homer won four matches, none made it to the hour mark. All opponents died.

    Match #1 - Was against Frank Bunce of Michigan, at 44 lbs. Frank's dog was called 'Black Jack' and was said to be a four time winner. 'Black Jack' came from the Carolinas. When released, Homer over powered Black Jack, and got into the stifles. Homer showed terrible mouth, Black Jack was unable to scratch at forty minutes. Black Jack died on the way home.

    Match #2 - This match was originally between the Bishop Brothers and Ziggy from Canada. The Bishops lived in Buffalo, NY, so they were close to Canada. The Bishops had trouble with their dog and contacted Ozzie to bring Homer instead of their dog. This was four weeks in front of the match. Ozzie drove to Canada, and the fight took place in Ziggy's cellar. Ziggy was using a son of Tombstone, CH Savage. Andre
    Giroux and several of the French Canadians were there. When the dogs were released, it didn't take very long for Homer to cripple CH Savage. At the 13 minute mark, CH Savage couldn't push himself off the floor. Both shoulders and both stifles were gone. Ziggy conceded at thirty nine minutes and CH Savage crawled on his belly like a snake
    to complete a scratch. CH Savage died one hour later.

    Match #3 - This was at a convention, and it was against the oldtimer Clyde Mason. His dog was called 'Thumper' and he had a good reputation. They drove from Missouri to Pennsylvania so they must have had a lot of confidence in their dog. He was conditioned and handled by Ray Carter. Attending this convention was Dave Adams of GR CH Zebo and GR CH Art fame. Also there was Jack Kelly, editor of the Sporting Dog Journal and Ralph Greenwood all the way from Salt Lake City, Utah. In this match Thumper showed to be conditioned to perfection, and had such great balance that Homer could not throw him to the mat. Thumper was very effective at holding Homer out. He stayed on Homer's head, and was very strong. Somewhere around thirty-five minutes, Homer seen he couldn't get to the stifle, so he switched his style and went to the head. He got a good hold on Thumpers lower jaw and he broke it. That was the crucial point of the match. Thumper could not hold Homer out. Now Homer went in for the kill. He was doing terrible damage to Thumpers stifles and between his legs. There was a handle made with Thumper to scratch. He fell in his corner and was counted out at 52 minutes. He died forty five minutes later. Judges voted Homer 'Best in Show".

    In that same convention, Ozzie won 'Best of Opposite Sex' with CH Tammy (she was GR CH Vigil's grandmother). Also winning that night was Ozzies CH Rastus. Ozzie had been winning 98% of his fights for quite a while.

    About a year later, a combine formed to beat Ozzie, they were Ralph Livingston, Big Brad of Red Danger fame, Lonny Woodberry who owned GR CH Mickey and Tony Wolfe who was the owner of CH Saloon, a four time winner.

    The combine was using a dog called Bear and he looked bigger than CH Homer. This fight was at forty five lbs. This Bear dog was sired by Livingstons CH Freddie who was a littermate to CH Homer. Ozzie accepted this challenge even though he couldn't work Homer as good as he did previous, due to Ozzies wife suffering from Leukemia. During the keep, Ozzie missed many days taking care of his wife.

    On the day of the fight, Ozzi told his opponents, he only had three good weeks of work in him but he was fed good for six weeks. The dogs were weighed and brought into the pit. Both weighed 45 lbs. The bear dog started out ahead in the fight and remained there for 16 minutes or more. Cutting up Homer's legs. Then CH Homer started biting hard and coming back. Ozzie talked to him urging him on to hurt Bear. In a short while Bear went down and Ch Homer was biting big holes in the stifles and between the legs. Ch Homer continued to punish Bear and Bear was screaming. The combine conceded at forty four minutes. Bear died that night.
    [​IMG]

    Ozzie was inactive for about a year. When Big Brad came to Ozzie's house, he said we was sent to borrow CH Homer. They want to take him out for his fifth time. Ozzie's family objected and they let Ozzie know how they felt about loaning CH Homer out.

    Brad continued to visit Ozzie trying to convince him to let them take CH Homer. Finally, Ozzie relented and let Brad take CH Homer. Ozzie was under the impression that Jim Stinson would work CH Homer and that he would go at 45 lbs. Stinson always worked Billy Stepps dogs for most all of his fights. Why not this time? In fact, Billy Stepp himself would work CH Homer. Why? Most everyone in the dog game never heard of Billy Stepp working a dog before. Stepp never, ever, handled a dog in the pit. He was known as a gambler. Ozzie didn't know until three weeks before the fight that CH Homer was going into 'Jeep'. He was really upset that CH Homer was going at 42lbs. Now that CH Homer was five years old, Ozzie felt he should fight at 45lbs.

    Ozzie and Big Brad arrived in Georgia on Saturday morning. The fight was to be Saturday night. Ozzie and Brad went to Stepps motel room. The first words Billy Stepp said to Ozzie were, "Did you ever have trouble with Homer drying out before?". To which Ozzie replied "NO!". Billy Stepp said that he worked Homer and drove from Dayton, Ohio to Southern Georgia. Homer dehydrated and when he arrived in Georgia and Stepp weighed him, Homer's weight plummeted down to 40 1/2 lbs (this was Thursday). Stepp said he then gave Homer a bucket of water. Homer drank one and one half buckets of water from Thursday to Saturday. Stepp felt he would be OK.

    All the mistakes they made up till now were stacking the deck against Homer. Don't you think they should have given and I.V. or some drink with electrolytes in it? After all does regular water have electrolytes in it? Once you dog dehydrates and you take him to the vets, would they give him water out of the faucet? I don't think so!

    Homer needed an I.V. He needed electrolytes. They give babies Pedialtye don't they? Why didn't they give Homer Pedialyte? Do you know why? Because they didn't know what they were doing. No previous experience.

    Butch House from Texas was there before the fight. He said in his opinion Homer was jacked up and it showed in his head. It was sunken in. Butch House said he seen the same thing before in Texas.

    On the night of the fight, Billy Stepped picked a friend from Florida to handle. His name was Kenny Sammons. That was another mistake, as Sammons was having a nervous breakdown in the corner as the dogs were facing each other. The referee never said anything. The next thing you know, here comes Jeep wide open, Kenny Sammons was looking to his right talking to someone, outside of the pit. Homers legs were held off the floor then all the spectators yelled to Sammons to 'Release your dog;, the yelling scared and startled Sammons and he threw CH Homer out into the pit. Homer hit the floor and his legs buckled and he went down. Before he could get up, Jeep was in his shoulder. Jeep stayed there for 10 minutes. Now it took Homer ten minutes to bite him out. Where was Homers bite? The answer: Left in the gym, due to
    the mistakes of cutting him below his best weight, and 3 lbs below. But Why? You will soon find out.

    So now from the 10 minute mark on CH Homer had to fight on three legs. Where does that put you in your ability to wrestle? How can you throw your opponent? You are now behind. Yet the longer the fight went, the more determined Homer became and he evened things up. He was so game, he couldn't realize how bad the odds were stacked against him. The fight went on -- and on -- and on. Now it was reaching the three hour mark. Crenshaw could feel the pressure. He started feeling he might lose. So he came over to Billy Stepp and asked for a draw. Stepp then asked Ozzie, "Should we agree?". Ozzie told him "NO!". The draw was off. Crenshaw was worried that's why he asked for a draw. Why? Because at the three hour mark Jeep was sitting in a standing position, his tongue was out and he was breathing heavily, and he was out of hold. At this moment in time, CH Homer was in Jeeps stifle, while Jeep paid no attention and was surveying the crowd. Homer was working away at the three hour mark, shaking out on Jeeps stifle. When he stiffened up and fell over, and he layed stretched out on his side. By now Homer was dying. Fighting this long Homer had to lose some weight. He probably weighed forty lbs or less. So now that Homer fell over and layed on his side not moving, this excited Jeep and he then goes into Homer's throat. He digs in for a couple minutes, and then comes out of hold, picks up his head, his tongue is out of his mouth, he is breathing heavily. Jeep then makes a sudden right turn, and walks away from a down dog, heading for the pit wall. Crenshaw immediately ran over and grabbed Jeep before he got to the wall.

    Dogs were handled and taken to their corners. This was somewhere around three hours and fifteen minutes. Sammons was having another nervous breakdown in the corner with Homer. He was very nervous, when the referee said "Face your dogs" Sammons started shaking Homer up and down. This had no purpose what so ever. You are supposed to hold your dog perfectly still. Your not supposed to call your opponents dog to scratch and by shaking Homer he encouraged Jeep to scratch.
    That was a crucial mistake. In a long fight 90% of dogs get discouraged. It is very easy for a dog to walk over within a foot of their opponents and get counted out. Sammons should have held Homer still and not moved at all. Anything can happen when the fight goes close to four hours. But anyway Jeep completed his scratch.
    Somewhere around three hours and twenty minutes a handle was made, Homer to go. We all thought he was dying when he layed in his side after the three hour mark. Now he has to scratch?

    At the referees command, "Release your Dog", Sammons let loose and Homer tries to go hard but is on rubber legs. He goes down, does a couple somersaults, head over heels, his backend comes over his head. He is down. He is now facing his own corner. The referee starts counting. Within seconds Ozzie Stevens pushes past all the spectators and runs to Homers outside corner. Ozzie yells in to CH Homer, "Get up Homer, Get up Baby --up--up--up". When CH Homer heard Ozzies voice, he began yodeling and whining and he came of the corner and fell and got back up stumbling and falling, completeing an unbelievable game scratch.

    Another handle was made and Jeep completed his scratch. Dogs handled again and Homer was unable to go at three hours and 43 minutes. He died 30 minutes later.

    The reason Stepp conditioned and the reason his weight was cut to 42lbs was that Billy Stepp had a $10,000 forfeit to fight his 42lb Grand Champion into Jeep. If he didn't show up with a 42lb dog he would lose the $10,000. The 42lb Grand Champion was on Jim Stinsons yard as Stinson had to condition him. Stinson had to go out somewhere and he left the dogs alone for a couple of hours. When he returned home the Grand Champion came walking up to him on a broken chain. Stinston was shocked that the Grand Champion was not still locked in battle. Did he walk away from one of the other dogs?

    Stinson took this Grand Champion over to the other dog who was jumping four feet off the ground. The Grand Champion dug his feet into the dirt and refused to budge. Stinson picked him up and threw him to CH Ruby, Zebo's daughter. She began chewing him up. The Grand Champion broke loose and ran, this is the dog they had $10,000 forfeit on.

    How could they use him now, he curred out today. That's why they had to borrow Homer. Being as this dog got loose, Stepp wouldn't let Homer out of his sight. Do you want to know the Grand Champion that was originally matched into Jeep and curred out in the yard fight? None other than Grand Champion Angus.

    If you don't believe this, then how come Angus dissappeared after the Jeep - Homer fight???

    CH Homer was bred to only two females, yet made ROM before CH Jeep. Although Jeep was bred to hundreds and hundreds of bitches.
     
  2. lilboom

    lilboom Banned

    good read. :)
     
  3. deadgam33

    deadgam33 CH Dog

    nice one i didnt now we know an other ranked cur..
     
  4. Young SeNsE_VA

    Young SeNsE_VA Top Dog

    [CH Homer was bred to only two females, yet made ROM before CH Jeep. Although Jeep was bred to hundreds and hundreds of bitches.]

    Damn thats news to me lol This was a good story keep'em coming:D
     
  5. synno2004

    synno2004 Top Dog

    I am curious to know who, is running this blood PURE, PURA, UNTAINTED,
     
  6. redrumdog

    redrumdog Top Dog

    Anyone really look at that look in Homers eyes? Man thats one hell of a look of intensity.Homers sire Oakie had the same look.Does anyone have information on Oakie? I read he was a rough game intense Bulldog.Its a shame Homer was treated is such away.To me if you bet that kind of money why wouldn't you do everything you could do to win, and bring your dog through?Imagine what he would have produced if he was with Ozzie longer.I can only imagine Ozzie kicking hisself for loaning a 4 x winner and not having a say in anything they did.The questions should have gone to Stinson and Stepp why didn't you do everything in your power to put him through a proper keep with such a great dog?Why would you put an inexperience handler in there with so much riding on it?
     
  7. ROCCITY

    ROCCITY Big Dog

    The new SDJ has a great (Recent) O.Steven's interview in it. You guys should check it out.
     
  8. Sampson1

    Sampson1 CH Dog

    If I was Mr. Stevens I wouldve been one pissed dude at the guys that "conditioned" my dog
     
  9. Oldskool Brent

    Oldskool Brent Top Dog

    Homer is a legend, sad ending for a great dog, as in sad that he was mishandled.
     
  10. redrumdog

    redrumdog Top Dog

    Dogmen are still talking about Homer after all these years and he lost. Imagine if he won and lived.The line of dogs off him would have really been something.All the mistakes that was made going into that match comes back to greed of not wanting to pay the forfeit.
     
  11. GREAT READ THANKS :cool:
     
  12. NorthernOutlaw

    NorthernOutlaw Big Dog

    I know some fellas that were there from both sides. Jeep was indeed headed for the wall and J.C. stopped him. They say Jeep was ready to jump ship! I've seen a boat load of Jeep bred dogs even before the line got watered down. I was NEVER impressed with these dogs. Don't get me wrong, the Jeep line had a ton of good dogs but I believe there were more crap than good. There was just SO MUCH of it out there, some of it had to work. They say Jeep was getting bred to every other day and sometimes everyday for many years. He fathered more offspring than any other stud in history! The best IMO was crossed with the Redboy blood. Remember, this is just my opinion!;)
     
  13. fucking jackasses i swear if i was mr stevens somebody would be fucking hurt'n for sure so sad that dog died the way he did :(
     
  14. nobody

    nobody Banned

    It is always easy to judge when it's not your dog and situation, but i would have told him, you fucked up and no way is he going out like that.
    Years later and people stil talk about al the things that made him doubt and the wrongs, but do not forget that he was also asked to give in to a draw.
    If he was so concerned about homer why did he not do it ?
    Is it not better to tell people how he handled jeep in this bad situation then how the story goes now ending up with the death of a good dog ?.
    3hr mark for a dog that is not in his proper condition and has been dryed out.
    The dog also needs to recover after his show or am i wrong ?.
    When ever i read this story i can not help it to think that ego got in the way of a verry fine dog.
     
  15. bauer

    bauer Top Dog

    Great read many thanks...
     
  16. skinny

    skinny Pup

    super read......
     
  17. Mr.Revolution

    Mr.Revolution CH Dog

    my thoughts almost exactly.from the sound of the story Ozzy should have accepted the draw hell given the circumstances i personally would have picked him up long b4 that.But im not gone judge him cause im sure being such an accomplished dogman he surly regretted it
     
  18. Mr.Revolution

    Mr.Revolution CH Dog

    I guess what i was trying to say was maybe it wasnt greed but pride at least on Ozzy's part
     
  19. Mr.Revolution

    Mr.Revolution CH Dog

    oh yeah good read and thanx 4 the info much appreciated.I always thought the fire came from the redboy crosses or at least thats what i noticed through my research
     
  20. Rock n Rye

    Rock n Rye CH Dog

    If Jeep was a cur then why did he go buy pups off him? I mean why would i buy pups off a dog i think is a cur..
     

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