All-Time Heavyweight Computer Tournament Round 5

Results

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Rocky Marciano W 15 Split Muhammad Ali

Official Decison: This fight resembled Ali-Frazier fights in many ways, though the decision Rocky wins in the manner of the Ali-Norton fights. The score was 144-143 Ali, 144-143 Marciano, 145-142 Marciano.

Cox's Comments: Ali has a good first round dancing and moving, and jabbing. In the 2nd Ali decides to test himself on the ropes which proves a mistake. Rocky lands a crushing cross that buckles Ali. Rocky digs hard shots to the body. Ali takes a pounding on the ropes for a solid minute in 2nd round before flurrying to get off. Ali is slowed in the 3rd but manages to pepper Rocky with stinging jabs and right leads. Marciano is applying pressure in 4th. Ali has one of his best rounds in 5th tattooing Marciano with a hard combination. A snappy jab visibly rocks Marciano at one point. Rocky picks up the pace to the body in the 6th and applies serious pressure. Rocky is wild at times. In the 7th Ali lands a nice flurry. Marciano turns the tide in the 8th with a bonecrunching uppercut and right cross combination. Marciano is like a whirlwind throwing non-stop punches as Ali tries to cover along the ropes. Rocky batters Ali's defenses. Rocky is the effective aggressor the next few rounds. By the 11th Ali seems to be growing weary. Ali plants his feet and decides to slug it out. A snapping uppercut visibly slows Rocky. Marciano walks into a hard right counter. He is hurt! They exchange furiously in ring center. The crowd is on its feet! It is the best moment of the fight. In the 12-13th Ali's hand speed is becoming more of a factor as both men slow the pace. Rocky is still landing some strong body shots as Ali lands crisp counters. In the 14th Rocky coming out of his crouch lands the best punch of the fight- a hard right cross to the jaw. Ali's knees buckle! He is hurt but forces a clinch and shakes his head as if to say "you can't hurt me." This fight reminds me of Duran-Leonard 1 in its action and pace. Ali wins the 15th round on his toes. But has he won the fight? No. The judges go against him prefering the agression and power of Marciano.

Jack Johnson W 15 Joe Louis

Official Decision: Jack Johnson wins the decision by scores of 143-142, 144-141, 145-142.

Cox's Comments: Johnson obviously believes in guerilla warfare because his strategy in this fight was to jab, slip, block, dance, and smother Joe Louis so he could not get set to land his devastating combinations. Johnson was more mobile in this fight than in his previous fights in this tournament. Johnson got Louis respect in round one when he stunned him with a hard right counter to the jaw. Johnson found a home for his straight right all night. Johnson lands 3 shots from different angles in round 2 and smiles at Louis. Johnsons defense is superb, slipping and countering very well. He is extremely focused in this fight. In the 4th Johnson lands a smashing right counter over Louis left that staggers him. But he doesn't follow up. Johnson is feinting and playing a psych job on Louis but is not landing in rounds 4-5. JL seems confused and frustrated. Louis however is the aggressor and manages to land a few hard jabs and body shots to stay in the fight. Louis begins to gain some confidence in the 6th, a smahing jab draws some blood from Johnsons nose. A fight breaks out in ring center! Both men land some crunching body punches. A crackling right by Louis has Johnson reeling at the bell. Louis best round of the fight. It is clear that in a toe to toe match Louis is the better man. Johnson will not have it and is back to out-boxing Joe in 7th. Johnson is moving, feinting, and landing well timed counters but will not exchange with Joe. Johnson shows more moves than Picasso the next couple of rounds. Louis is the agressor but is not landing much. This fight is reminiscent of Alexis Arguello-Vilomar Fernandez, Louis is just being out-maneuvered. In the 13th Louis finally catches Johnson with a fastball right. It is a perfect right cross, the punch he has been searching for throughout the fight. Johnson's legs turn to rubber! Joe Louis rains down thunder upon Johnson! A smashing L hook-R Cross drops Johnson on his back! He is hurt! He valiantly rises at 9 barely beating the count. Only the bell saves Johnson from a certain knockout defeat! Johnson is slow off his stool in 14th but he manages to survive and avoid Louis by dancing, clinching, and fouling. Johnson is warned and has a point taken away. Louis is in control the final two rounds landing his jab, and some hard body shots. Johnson is content to survive to a decision which turns out in his favor.

George Foreman KO 2 Mike Tyson

Official Decision: Ref. Richard Steele counts out Tyson in the second.

Cox's Comments: Tyson comes out fast but can he last? Two of the hardest hitting heavyweights in history in their prime have the crowd anxious with anticipation. Tyson slips a left and moves fluidly with his head movement early. Tyson lands first with a big right to the jaw. Foreman is wobbled! Tyson goes to work landing his patented right to the body, right uppercut combination. George is in trouble. Another cruching right sends Big George down on the seat of his pants! He is up at 6 but dizzy. Tyson has not let George get set. He slips a wild right and counters with a hammering hook! A fast right to the head and a combination of piston like speed has George reeling again! Ooohhh. A hard right by Tyson has George looking for a place to fall. A sizzling right uppercut nearly decapitates Foreman! George's eyes roll back in his head. George is down again! He beats the count at 9 but is on unsteady legs. Mike moves in for the kill. George lands a big desperation right to the head! Tyson winces! They exchange brutal left hooks to the body. George lands with a booming right uppercut and Tyson is in trouble! The bell ends an action packed first round. George appears recovered between rounds and lands a stiff jab to Iron Mike’s face. They exchange thudding blows to the body. George pushes Tyson back clearly the physically stronger of the two. A right by Tyson grazes George. A whip-like left uppercut snaps Tysons head up! A hammering right crashes Mike to the canvas! He is up at 8 but his confidence has been shattered. George slams home a big right uppercut as Tyson tries to bob and weave. He is hurt! A powering left hook drops Tyson on his side. He is not going to get up. It’s over! What a fight! George Foreman by knockout!

Jack Dempsey Tko 12 Joe Frazier

Official Decision:

Cox's Comments: This was a great slugfest between two warriors that that lived up to pre-fight expectations. Dempsey showed some lateral movement from early on circling the boobing and weaving Frazier. Dempsey's greater hand speed was a major factor. Dempsey out-boxed Joe with his quicker hands and snappy jab. In the 2nd round Dempsey caught Frazier with a quick right that dropped him on one knee, but Frazier was up at 5. Both men fought low and a war quickly broke out. Theyexchanged viscious body shots and fought toe to toe in the 5th and 6th which were about even. In the 7th Joe returned the favor dropping Dempsey with a suprise hook to the jaw. Dempsey got up at 3. After this Jack went back to boxing, slipping to the side and gaining punching angles and landing with quick jabs and leads, and picking his body shots from the outside. In the 10th Dempsey shook Hoe up with a powering right cross to the jaw that nearly floored him. Frazier was staggering at the bell. In the 11th Dempsey contiuned to take Frazier apart and it was clear he was in control In the final 12th Dempsey put together a series of hard punches culminating in a smashing uppercut that caused Frazier's eyes to roll in his head. A final one-two dropped Frazier on his back. He struggled up at 9 but was in no condition to continue so Referee Dick Young stopped the fight.

Jim Jeffries Ko 11 Sonny Liston

Official Decision: Ref Paul Calvalier stops the fight in the 11th round in favor of Jim Jeffries.

Sonny Liston started off strongly the first 2 rounds, though he missed frequently with his jab as Jeffries was successful utilizing his crouch. Liston appeared the more powerful puncher early. Jeff was never hurt however and landed his share of bone-rattling left hooks to the head. Jeffries was slow starting but by the fifth round began to weaken Sonny with a steady volume of quick handed body punches inside. Jeff definitely showed who had the quicker hands and better defense. In the 6th a whistling left uppercut, left hook to the head combination buckled Liston. After that it was just a matter of time. Jeff circling outside took a few jabs that caused some swelling, but once inside he was dominant. In the 9th there was a viscious exchange of body blows as Liston made a stand to try and outslug Big Jeff. In the 10th Liston began to tire as Jeff kept hammering away at a consistent pace, unrelenting in his assault. In the final 11th Jeff caught a weary Liston near the ropes and opened up with a flurry of punches, one a particularly brutal left hook that had Sonny defenseless against the ropes. Not returning any fire ref Paul Calvalier was forced to stop the fight and award it to Jim Jeffries.

Official Decision: A close decision and a controversial one 144-143 L, 144-141 H, 145-143 L, Lewis by split-decision.

Cox's Comments: This was a tactical boxing match that had some high moments. Lennox was the aggressor throughout while Holmes was more accurate and busier. The hardest punches were landed by Lennox so it is a matter of judging style. The first round was cautious but Holmes proved quicker and more accurate with his jab. In the 2nd Lennox caught Larry with his best right hand over Holmes lazy low left. It was perfectly timed and Larry fell like a tree. T-I-M-B-E-R! He barely beat the count at 9. Lennox went on the attack. A crunching uppercut had Larry out on his feet against the ropes. He held and used every trick including a thumb in the eye to gain time for survival. Lennox eye began to puff up almost immediately. Lennox controlled the next rounds establishing his own long left jab as Larry cautiously gave himself a chance to fully recover. Lennox landed some savage shots in combination in the 6th as Larry covered up against the ropes. Lennox continued to pound away at the body after 8 rounds he appeared to have a nice lead. Lennox eye began to swell and became a factor by the 10th round. Holmes regained his strength. In the 11th a sizzling uppercut by Larry nearly drops Lewis who holds on. Larry outboxes Lewis with movement and finesse for most of the later fight. They have a nice exchange of hard rights in the 12th as Lennox got the best of it. The final 3 rounds are all Larry Holmes who looks superb, esp. with his jab as Lennox tires. The decision is close but the result in favor of Lennox Lewis appears fair.

Round 6 Due First Friday in Oct.

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