Featured Fights
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Muhammad Ali vs. John Tate This was the first real test for Ali in the tournament. Despite suffering three knockdowns, Tate went the distance and had his moments, landing heavy leather at times. However, Tate spent most of the fight chasing a much better conditioned Ali who danced and circled while scoring with jabs, combinations and sharp uppercuts inside. WINNER: Muhammad Ali (unanimous decision) Sonny Liston vs. Greg Page
WINNER: Sonny Liston (TKO-cuts, 0:36, R7) Larry Holmes vs. Ezzard Charles This was a hard-fought contest from the opening bell as both fighters displayed the boxing skills they were known for. Each fighter scored effectively with jabs and combinations throughout the fight, but in the end it was Charles' movement and defense that provided the edge, enabling him to outbox Holmes and win a close decision. WINNER: Ezzard Charles (split decision) Jack Dempsey vs. Jimmy Ellis Dempsey's ferocity and power brought this fight to an early finish as Ellis took a pounding from the opening bell. A three-punch combination, punctuated by a hard cross, opened a cut over Ellis' eye early in the first round that worsened as the round continued. Dempsey's continued pounding in Round 2 reopened the cut and caused the ring doctor to stop the fight with Ellis unable to see from the flow of blood streaming down his face. WINNER: Jack Dempsey (TKO-cuts, 1:21, R2) Sam McVey vs. Jack Johnson McVey displayed occasional bursts of power that seemed to stun Johnson momentarily, but it was Johnson's strength, speed and boxing skills, combined with an excellent left jab and powerful hooks, that made the difference in this one. McVey suffered knockdowns in the fourth and 11th rounds, both the result of bone-crushing hooks. WINNER: Jack Johnson (unanimous decision) Joe Frazier vs. Jim Corbett Frazier applied pressure from the opening bell, constantly moving forward, scoring with hooks to the head and body, and bullying his way inside where he hurt Corbett with short, powerful uppercuts. By Round 6, it had become a one-sided fight, with a wobbly-legged Corbett hurt again by a series of hooks and uppercuts, and with Frazier continuing to land punch after punch before the referee stopped the fight. WINNER: Joe Frazier (TKO, 2:11, R6) Mike Tyson vs. Tommy Farr To everyone's surprise, this one went the distance and ended in a split decision. The light-hitting Farr proved to be more than Tyson bargained for, as his shrewdness and defensive skills enabled him to survive the ferocity and power of Tyson's attack, while counterpunching effectively to keep the fight close. Tyson tried to end it in the 11th round, scoring two knockdowns but Farr was up quickly both times and regrouped in the final round to send the decision to the judges. WINNER: Mike Tyson (split decision) George Foreman vs. Billy Miske This match-up resulted in the biggest upset of the tournament thus far as Miske survived a second-round knockdown to score a stunning fourth-round TKO over a more-powerful -- but fatigued and baffled -- George Foreman. Miske clinched, smothered and cleverly boxed his way around his powerful opponent, taking advantage of every opening with a quick two-fisted attack that proved too much for a tired and frustrated Foreman. The referee was forced to stop the fight in Round 4 after a blistering barrage of combination after combination had Foreman defenseless and in serious trouble. WINNER: Billy Miske (TKO, 2:58, R4)
Riddick Bowe vs. Lennox Lewis Lewis scored the first knockdown in Round 5 of this slugfest with a sharp combination followed by a wicked cross to the head that sent Bowe down for a four count. The knockdown appeared to be a wakeup call for Bowe, who dominated the next four rounds, walking through jabs and pounding Lewis with big blows to the body. The final round had both fighters flailing away at each other again before Lewis walked into a Bowe combination that floored him for a six count. A visibly hurt Lewis was able to avoid Bowe's onslaught for the remainder of the round, leaving the fight in the hands of the judges. WINNER: Riddick Bowe (UD)
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