The one-punch knockout. That's what most people remember. And why shouldn't they? It was easily the most memorable punch thrown in heavyweight history, probably in all of boxing.
Marciano started the 13th round and approximately half a minute after the bell had rung for the 13th round, Rocky would land the celebrated punch that would forever set him apart from other devestating punchers in boxing. That single shot, won him the heavyweight championship of the world.
But there's more to this fight than just one punch. The fight itself was an interesting one. One of the things that I found strange was that the judges clearly saw in favor of the champion, Jersey Joe Walcott, after 12 rounds. The three judges had it 7-4-1 Walcott, 7-5 Walcott, and 8-4 Walcott.
I'm not certain what kind of scoring was used in this fight, but I use the 10 point must system when I score fights, old and new. And I must say that I saw Marciano ahead after 12. I saw Marciano's punch output far more than that of Walcott. Marciano was also hitting Walcott to the head and body with accurate shots for the majority of the fight. Even so, it would be that easy for Rocky to accomplish what he did this night.
In round 1, Walcott became the first man to ever put Marciano on the canvas and he did with a well-timed left hook. Rocky got up right away and went back to work. Clearly a 10-8 round for Walcott.
Walcott continued to outland Rocky with solid shots in the second round, a closer round, but one that I gave to Walcott based on higher percentage of shots landing, at least the way I saw it.
In round 3, Marciano would begin to turn the fight around by connecting more solid power shots. I saw Rocky do the same in round 4, but round 4 was, again, close. I had Rocky stealing round 4 by finishing the round better.
I had Rocky capturing rounds 6, 7 and 8 definitively, (round 5 was not in my copy, which I scored even).
Round 9 and 10 were very interesting, Rocky was clearly landing the harder shots, but Walcott starting counter-punching effectively, landing a shot in return for every shot Marciano landed. It was around this point in the fight that Marciano claimed some medicine got in his eye and blinded him for a few rounds.
However, in round 11, Walcott would turn the tables on Rocky big time. Starting to counter-punch even better, a cut opened up under Rocky's right eye and Rocky's left eye was swollen. Throughout the round, Marciano would wipe blood off his face whenever there was a rare lull in the action.
Walcott continued his assault on Marciano in round 12 as the mouse on Rocky's left eye would become more and more obvious.
However, the success Walcott began to enjoy in round 11 was short-lived. For we all know what would happen in the fateful round 13.
Marciano defended his championship 5 times. In his first defense, a rematch with Walcott, he destroyed Walcott in one round. He was given two extraordinarily tough fights from Ezzard Charles, the second fight which had Rocky suffer a scary cut which split his nose open and that threatened to end the fight, but Marciano would end the fight with a brutal barrage after 8 rounds. The first with Charles, saw Rocky win via hard-fought decision win. Marciano would then knock Don Cockell out over 9 rounds. In his championship and career fight, Marciano was knocked down for the second and last time in his career by Light-Heavyweight king Archie Moore. Marciano would bounce back from the knockdown and knock Moore out in 9.
All of them tremendous fights, but it was this first fight with Walcott that solidified Rocky's legend for generations to come.
My scorecard:
1) 8-10 2) 9-10 3) 10-9 4) 10-9 5) 10-10 6) 10-9 7) 10-9 8) 10-9 9) 10-9 10) 10-9 11) 9-10 12) 9-10 13) Marciano wins by KO.
"Beautiful fight!" is what Muhammad Ali said about Patterson-Chuvalo when the fight was over. And it was an entertaining fight.
It was said that this was Patterson's guttiest win ever and it probably was. The fight was none stop action and Patterson was able to compete with the ultra tough, ultra competitive, granite chinned George Chuvalo.
(Pictured: That's George Chuvalo attacking the elusive Muhammad Ali)
Looking at the fighters in the ring, it looked like Chris Byrd versus a shorter Andrew Golota. Chuvalo was visibly the stronger of the two throughout the fight and he was the aggresor.
Chuvalo looked like he got stronger and stronger as the bout wore on. No matter what Patterson did, no matter how hard Patterson tagged Chuvalo, it looked like absorbing Patterson's biggest shots made Chuvalo even stronger. All this contributed to the impact of Patterson's victory. Chuvalo's strength and desire made Patterson look better.
After getting blown away by Sonny Liston twice in a row and in the first round in both fights, there was speculation that Patterson couldn't take a punch, but this fight proved otherwise.
Even so, Chuvalo was there to win and he certainly made Patterson pay for every round that Patterson won.
There was a lot of holding in round 1, but Patterson scored effectively with the jab and convincingly took the round, but it wasn't that easy. Even though Patterson won the round, Chuvalo was already fighting a rough fight, throwing and landing hard punches to Patterson's body with bad intentions while holding.
Chuvalo gets really rough in round 2. A lot of holding and hitting and rabbit punching. Patterson lands brutal punches that earn him the round, but it's clear that this is going to be a long night for Patterson. He was winning the rounds convincingly, but he was paying a price. Chuvalo continued the holding and hitting, unable to hit Patterson to the head, but doing damage.
There was more of the same in round 3, but in round 4, Chuvalo began coming back in terms of effectiveness. Patterson, dominating and landing hard, crisp shots throughout is bulled against the ropes by Chuvalo as Chuvalo begins to rake Patterson's body with punches, but Patterson dominates the round again. Ali, serving as color commentator while Don Dunphy calls the action, says "That's exactly how I beat Sonny Liston." after seeing Patterson's beautiful boxing strategy of landing punches while getting out of the way.
In round 5, the crowd senses Chuvalo's tenacity is a consistent threat to Patterson. While Patterson is more effective, Chuvalo looks like a much stronger man and chants of "Lets go, Floyd!" begin to permeate throughout the sold out Madison Square Garden arena. A close round, but one that went to Patterson again. Watching Chuvalo stalk Patterson, you get a sense that he is going to drive Patterson through the ropes as soon as he gets a clear shot to his head.
I didn't have round 6 on my copy of Patterson-Chuvalo, so I scored this one even.
In round 7, Chuvalo is more active and effective than Patterson. Patterson seems to weaken as the powerful Chuvalo continues to come at him and scoring to the body. Patterson was not out of the fight, it was a close round again.
Round 8, proved to be the most exciting round of the fight up until this point. Both fighters trading evenly, Chuvalo jars Patterson with hard punches, but just when you think Patterson is crawling into a shell, he explodes with a brutal combination Chuvalo's head. I tried not to give an even round since I called 6 even because I didn't have that particular round, but this one was too close to call. However, the toughest round was yet to come...
Round 9, Patterson resumed where he left off in round 5, he dominates, scoring with his left jab, a prominent weapon in this fight, and the right cross, but Patterson is hardly having an easy fight in front of him. Chuvalo looks so energized that it's easy to visualize him winning the fight at any given moment with just one good shot. (Pictured: Floyd Patterson)
Enter the memorable 10th, which The Ring called the round of the year for 1965. Chuvalo finally cracks Patterson to the head with a hard combination and hurting him. Patterson comes right back scoring with right hand power shots, driving Chuvalo back. But this only seems to fuel Chuvalo more as he comes back blasting to the body. The bell rings as Patterson punctuates the round with a clean combination replete with strong punches. Patterson said that this was the toughest round of the fight.
Round 11 is a continuation of the 10th with Patterson barely eeking out the round on my scorecard toward the end. Chuvalo pressing the whole way, receiving power shots that seem to only score points as he comes back aggresively.
Round 12 is another razor thin call, but Patterson again is the slightly more effective one in my eyes. The fight ends in a clinch, the same way it started, with Chuvalo banging Patterson's body in a clinch. They came full circle.
I had the fight 118-111 in favor of Patterson, but make no mistake about it. The final score is misleading in terms of the closeness of the bout, and it truly is an entertaining, action-packed fight with several rounds that could go either way. The official judges had it closer than I did: referee Zack Clayton had it 6-5-1 for Patterson; the other two judges had it 7-5 and 8-4 in favor of Patterson for a unanimous decision.
Ali felt that Patterson beat Chuvalo convincingly on points, as I did.
This fight is worth getting for your collection if you don't have it. Aside from being a great fight, it was nice hearing Don Dunphy calling the action while occasionally asking for Ali's input, which was great broadcasting.
During the fight, you could see Rocky Marciano in the crowd. Ali proudly stated that Rocky was one of his idols. Ali told Dunphy that Marciano would've knocked out either Patterson or Chuvalo in a few rounds.
Dunphy immediately asked Ali how Ali-Marciano would've looked. Ali replies: "Well, that's hard to say. You know me, I'll have to predict the round. I'd say that the better man wins." came the light-hearted reply as Ali and Dunphy shared a laugh.
Great fight, great broadcast.
One to watch.
Here's my scorecard:
1) 10-9 2) 10-9 3) 10-9 4) 10-9 5) 10-9 6) 10-10 7) 9-10 8) 10-10 9) 10-9 10) 10-9 11) 10-9 12) 10-9
As most boxing aficionados know, practically every fighter has one fighter they can't seem to dominate. For Jack Dempsey it was Gene Tunney. For Mike Tyson it was Evander Holyfield. For Holyfield it was Riddick Bowe. For Bowe it was Andrew Golota. For Joe Frazier it was Oscar Bonavena. Boxing history is replete with these types of stylistic conflicts, and for Muhammad Ali, it was Ken Norton.
When people think of the Ali-Norton series, they especially like to talk about their third and final meeting, especially those who like to nitpick Ali's career.
I've always found this to be unfair to Ali. In their first meeting, Ali was grossly out of shape and unprepared, and in their third meeting, a post-Manila Ali who was well past his prime, barely got past Norton. However, it was in their 2nd meeting and their 2nd meeting only, where Ali was in top shape and actually looked like the Ali of old.
This is why I've chosen to focus my next "Look Back" column on Ali-Norton II. Ali, in the best shape he could muster in his post-three year layoff career, takes on the one guy he could never dominate in Norton. And even though Ali was in top shape for this fight, he still had a very hard time against Norton.
Despite this, it probably was Ali's most convincing night against Norton. Yet, it was still a judge's nightmare to score as many of the rounds were close.
Ali was able to stay on his two for the vast majority of the bout, dancing at his best, and flicking out the jab.
Ali took rounds 1 and 2 on my scorecard by doing just that. Landing the jab effectively and dancing out of Norton's punching range. Round 1 was especially all Ali.
Round 3 saw Norton pick up the pace and begin to land more effectively, raking Ali's body with several body shots and jabs to the head. A very close round that could've gone either way, but went to Norton on my card.
Ali wobbled Norton in round 4. Both fighters scored effectively but Ali was ahead in the round as Norton landed an impressive overhand right haymaker in synch with the bell. Yet another close round, but Ali dominated most of the round.
Enter round 5, and here is where Norton would begin to dominate and give Ali fits. Bulling Ali into the ropes or corner, Norton begins to swarm Ali with effective bodyshots and blows to the head, convincingly winning the round, but it isn't all one-sided. Towards the end of the round Ali begins to rebound slightly, scoring with solid, thudding shots to the head.
Norton would sweep rounds 6 and 7 on my scorecard by clearly landing the majority of punches throughout, but Ali would boast the best shots of the fight in round 6.
Round 8 is simply too close to call. Both fighters fighting on even terms.
Ali wobbles Norton again in round 9 and begins to control the bout, but he doesn't grab a stern hold of the action. Ali is contolling, but he has a shaky control. It isn't easy, but he seems to be seeing something in Norton that he can take advantage of.
Norton comes out for round 10 with a newfound respect for Ali. He has been wobbled twice in the fight by Ali's right hand and he isn't coming at Ali as agressively as he had earlier in the fight. Ali begins to pop the jab, many times exchanging jabs with Norton, but Ali is still dancing effectively whilst flicking the jab effectively.
In round 11, Norton comes out blasting Ali to the head and body. Ali tries holding on, but Norton is a determined fighter. He seems to have Ali's number as he punishes him to the body and he snaps The Greatest's head back with a left hook.
The 12th and final round begins and it's anyone's fight, the match is even on my scorecard and Ali repeats the effectiveness he displayed in round 10, flicking and landing the jab. Ali begins to land series' of lefts and rights, using every opening to his advantage and clinching whenever Norton is about mount a rally. Ali has successfully and convincingly taken the 12th away from Norton.
Ali would go back to his corner, seemingly unsure of the outcome of the fight, but he would prevail by a hard fought split-decision by winning 6 rounds to 5 and 7 rounds to 5 on two of the judges' scorecards while the other judge gave it to Norton 6 to 5. I had it 6 to 5 and 1 even for Ali.
Despite the stylistic difficulty, it was probably the most convincing win for either fighter in their trilogy of fights. I actually scored the first bout for Ali in what I felt was a razor thin close bout, (most people disagree with me there), and I gave the third fight to Ali as well in another too close to call fight.
It always seemed that Ali was overconfident in each of the Norton bouts. In the first one, Norton was a nobody. For the second bout, Ali waved off the first fight saying that he had an ankle injury and didn't train properly, but still got a tough fight, and in their third fight, Ali was riding a high having stopped both George Foreman and Joe Frazier and went as far as predicting that he'd also stop Norton, but such wouldn't be the case as Ali struggled immensely to retain his title in that third fight.
Here's my Ali-Norton II scorecard:
Ali-Norton 1) 10-9 2) 10-9 3) 9-10 4) 10-9 5) 9-10 6) 9-10 7) 9-10 8) 10-10 9) 10-9 10) 10-9 11) 9-10 12) 10-9
Final tally of 115-114 in favor of Muhammad Ali.
One of the most amazing and controversial fights of the 1980s and probably of all time occured when "Sugar" Ray Leonard fought "Marvelous" Marvin Hagler for Hagler's middleweight title.
Hagler was on the decline and Leonard was coming back after a three year layoff. Hagler was a heavy favorite to win the fight.
In my opinion, the first half of the fight belonged to Leonard. Hagler, adopting a conventional stance for the first two rounds, was simply outfought as Leonard was clearly landing the majority of the blows. By round three, Hagler was starting to go back to his southpaw stance and was more effective, but Leonard was still proving too active for Hagler. The only round I gave Hagler in the first half was round five, which he won convincingly.
In round 7 there was a big turnaround. Hagler began scoring often with clean, effective shots. He was backing Leonard into the ropes and scoring to the body and head.
Hagler would go on to sweep rounds 8, 9, and 10 on my scorecard, but at least two of those rounds could've gone to Leonard. Even though Hagler seemed to land more in those rounds, Leonard was also being very effective with his stick-and-move and with his flurries. Leonard kept it extremely close, especially in round 9 when he fought his way out of the corner after Hagler began pounding on him.
Even so, I felt Hagler did enough in rounds 8, 9 and 10 to win them.
Enter the championship rounds and this is exactly where I thought Leonard took Hagler's title away. Going into the 11th, I had the fight dead even. Leonard won the 11th round convincingly by so clearly outlanding Hagler and smoothly dancing out of Hagler's punching range whenever Hagler got close that he left no question that the round was definitely his.
Round 12, Hagler starts closing in on Leonard, scoring some effective shots. While on the ropes taking some of these shots, Leonard explodes suddenly with a barrage of shots to the left and right of Hagler's head. Leonard now begins to hit-and-run effectively with Hagler in pursuit, but Leonard has stolen the round with effective boxing and guts.
What Leonard did to Hagler is almost unheard of. Some people like to point out that Hagler was on the decline coming into this fight. Whether or not they say that to excuse Hagler is irrelevant when you look at Leonard was facing. Hagler may have been on the decline, but Leonard was coming off a three year layoff and was certainly no fresh daisy.
No matter how close you had it or even if you had Hagler edging Leonard, you can't deny that it was Leonard who overall impressed that night. Ordinary fighters don't come out of a three year retirement to beat the main man in his division, but who said Leonard was an ordinary fighter? This is greatness we're talking about here. Leonard looked spectacular. And he was facing one of the best middleweights who ever lived in Marvin Hagler.
The bottom line is that Hagler's decline is no excuse. Leonard didn't look like a rusty fighter coming off a three year layoff and he came out the better man against an active, legendary champion.
My scorecard read:
Leonard-Hagler 1) 10-9 2) 10-9 3) 10-9 4) 10-9 5) 9-10 6) 10-9 7) 9-10 8) 9-10 9) 9-10 10) 9-10 11) 10-9 12) 10-9 Final tally of 115-113 in favor of Leonard.
