Some great boxers met when one was at the top of their game, the other was on the wane.
Another great example was when former world heavyweight champion Joe ‘The Brown Bomber’ Louis, 66-2 with 52 stops, fought the undefeated Rocky Marciano, 37-0 with 32 stops, in October 1951 at Madison Square Garden.
After seven rounds, Marciano was leading 4-2, 5-2, and 4-3. Louis was knocked down twice in the eighth round. Marciano dropped Louis in the 8 count with a left hook in the first. The second round was a flurry of punches that sent Louis into the ropes, forcing referee Ruby Goldstein to stop without a count. It is said that Marciano cried later because of beating his hero.
Another was when former heavyweight champion Muhammad ‘The Greatest’ Ali, 56-3, was stopped for the last time in his career by WBC champion Larry ‘The Easton Assassin’ Holmes, 35-0, in October 1980 at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas. , Nevada, after ten rounds.
Holmes was ahead 100-90 in doubles and 100-89. Holmes was throwing body shots, looking to referee Richard Steele to stop. Ali’s corner stopped it at the end of the round. It was January of 1988 in Atlantic City, New Jersey’s Convention Hall.
When former champion Holmes, 48-2, fought ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson, 32-0, after losing two decisions to Michael Spinks, the second was disputed.
Muhammad Ali and casino owner Donald J. Trump sat next to each other. When Ali was introduced, he simply touched Holmes’ gloves. He walked over to Tyson and whispered something in his ears. “You beat the hell out of him?” No one knows but the two of them.
After three rounds, Tyson was leading 30-27 and 29-28 twice. It was stopped at 2:55 of the fourth round after Tyson scored two knockdowns. Holmes’ feet were in the air after the second, and he landed on his back when referee Joe Cortez waved him off. Holmes tried to get his arm around the ropes trying to throw a punch when he was knocked down. He didn’t give Tyson credit disproportionately.
In this writer’s opinion, two of the greatest boxers of all time met in August 1943 at Madison Square Garden in New York, with rival ‘Sugar’ Ray Robinson, 44-1, #145, and former three-division world champion Henry ‘Homicide. Hank’ Armstrong, 132-17-8, #140, with Robinson winning by decision.
Armstrong lost his welterweight title in October 1940. Robinson won the title in December 1946, at the age of 73-1-1, defeating champion Tommy Bell, 39-10-3, by a score of 8-6 and -10-5 double in Madison. Square Garden.
‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard and Thomas ‘Hit Man’ Hearns met twice. The first was Ring Magazine’s Fight of the Year in September 1981 at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Leonard was behind after 13 rounds by scores of 122-124, 122-125, and 121 125, requiring a stoppage, which he did at 1:45 of the 14th round. In the contest held in June 1989, each received a vote and a tie, ending in a tie for the same place. Leonard was down twice.
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