FNF (Round 2): M4 result and M5 combatants

Round 2, Match 4 results


Cardinal is at an obvious disadvantage.  His stomach starts "churning" every time he has to face someone. Doc, for his part, has been throwing down since the 30s.  In the specified tale, God steps in and helps the Cardinal escape.  However, since our hypothetical fight is a good natured spar between two heroes, I highly doubt He'd weigh in.  This one's a no-brainer:  Doc Savage wins this in a matter of seconds.

FNF (Round 2): M3 result and M4 combatants

Round 2, Match 3 results

This is another fight that was hard to call...not so much because the winner is doubt.  I just don't like the outcome.

The Veiled Avenger clearly has the advantage in hand-to-hand combat skill.  She's pretty masterful with that whip.  She's repeatedly used it to keep larger physically-imposing males at a distance--even when they're armed with pistols!  If any ever do close in on her, she's demonstrated hand-to-hand skills that are at least as formidable as Ion's.

The core problem is simply the power differential.  First, the fight takes place out doors.  Consequently, there's nothing to stop Ion from taking full advantage of his flight ability. Second, even when he closes in on the Avenger--and even if her reflexes are fast enough to lash out at him with her whip--it apparently takes quite a lot to penetrate his force-field.  Though it's never defined precisely how much, I've got to believe it's more than a bullwhip, no matter how skillfully wielded.  At the end of the day, even when the Avenger brings her A-game, I'd think Ion just wears her down.  (And the kid has demonstrated the guts to take a punch and carry on the fight, so I'd have no doubts about Ion's grit.)

Apparently, the voters agree.  It's unanimous, Ion goes to the third round!

FNF (Round 1): M8 results and Le Peregrine vs. Captain Boomerang

Round 1, Match 8 results

The Jester vs. The Cardinal was, in some ways, the most difficult I've had to pick.  First, there were no outside votes. Second, the fight pitted two characters who've never really done a lot of fighting (in Jester's case, because he seems to have made one whole appearance; and in Cardinal's because creator Kurt Kolka wanted him to be more a character development/moral-inspiration type figure).

Given these constraints, however, here's the best pick I could make.  While Jester never actually engages anyone in Black Cat #7, Cardinal at last finally goes up against a demon and wins!  Based on what we have to work with, I've gotta give the nod to ole Rich Benton if for no other reason than simply that he shows up and fights!  Cardinal goes to the next round!

FNF (Round 1): M7 results and The Jester vs. The Cardinal

Round 1, Match 7 results

Razor Fist vs. Doc Savage


Though Razor Fist wins the only combat he engages in during the specified title appearance, Marvel Comics Presents #4, it's also the case that he was fighting a severely weakened Wolverine at that point.  Subsequently, ultimately, everyone's favorite feral X-Man came back to trounce Razor Fist.

When you compare that to the fact that Doc Savage won all the fights (including more than one where he was wildly outnumbered) in the linked Doc Savage Annual. AND you factor in that the one vote I picked up from the Superhero Fantasy Fights FB group gave the win to Savage, this seems like a no-brainer.

Savage goes to the next round!