FIGHT OF THE WEEK 9- Matthew (Franklin) Saad Muhammad vs Marvin Johnson 2

Put the kids to bed before you watch this war. It could be traumatizing.

 

Coupled with the premature baldness, it could give kids nightmares.

 

One of my favs. With a great call by football guy Keith Jackson

 

I’ll have to watch it when I get time. Both of these guys were fan favorites

 

Saw this fight live on TV and it's still in my top 10 favorite fights of all time

 

I scored 2,6,7, for MSM, 3 EVEN, and 1,4,5 for MJ. Knowing how MSM ended up took some of the luster off of the fight for me, but it was a good fight. Both fighters gave everything they had and both took a lot of punishment. It was a "war" for 7 plus rounds.

 

LOVE these guys. By far my favorite light heavy era. Mustafa, Saad, Marvin, Michael.

 

Loved this fight (again)

Marvin Johnson v Matthew Franklin (soon to become Matthew Saad Muhammad)

Round 1: 10-9 Johnson
Round 2: 10-9 Franklin
Round 3: 10-9 Johnson
Round 4: 10-9 Johnson
Round 5: 10-9 Johnson
Round 6: 10-9 Franklin
Round 7: 10-9 Franklin
Round 8: Franklin KOs Johnson

Total: 67-66 Johnson (through 7 completed rounds)

Johnson was the ultimate no-frills fighter. If there was any fighter who never worried about pacing himself, it was Johnson. He just went in to do his job and despite being bombarded in that 8th round, he still lashed out several times with some beauties. Franklin - or Saad if you prefer, although a bit premature - was not to be denied in this fight, however. And he earned every wound to grab that crown. Just a terrific fight.

 

I watch this fight on youtube quite often..

Saad had the intangibles. Without massive heart and drive he would have lost this fight. He had to get Marvin out of there in the 8th round as he was bleeding profusely

The image of him standing in the neutral corner with blood pouring down his face, arms resting on the ropes after he left Johnson a heap on the canvas is indelibly etched in my mind

I feel like Johnson started fast and was ahead at the time of the stoppage. The turning point was clearly the huge straight right Saad caught Johnson with near the end of the 7th round. Up until then it was either guys fight But once Saad smelled blood - the sight of Johnson being hurt and then his own cuts opening up - led Saad to turn it up and he simply willed himself to mow Johnson down. It was now or never and he seized his chance So many times you see a given fighter seize defeat from the jaws of victory. Saad often seized victory from the jaws of defeat

 

Matthew Franklin/Saad Muhammad v Marvin Johnson 2

I've watched this many times before but this is only the second time I've scored it and my card is identical to the first time.

Although you can argue the first fight they had in 1977 was better, this one in a way is more memorable - it was for the title, Saad had those cuts that created the sense of urgency that he needed to finish the fight quickly and as @Saad54 has already said, the image of Saad in the corner with blood streaming down his face as Johnson is on the floor in the other corner is indelible. I always thought Johnson was further ahead on the cards but both times I've scored this I had only one point separating them. Great fight without a doubt.

1 10-9
2 9-10 (harder punches from Johnson)
3 9-10
4 9-10
5 9-10
6 10-9
7 10-9 (Saad has Johnson in trouble right at the end of the round)
(66-67)
8 Saad TKO Johnson

 

Such a great battle, between two willing warriors.
Never grows old.

The scoring is so close, at that stage of the fight, it could be argued either way. But here's how I have it...

Round 1 - Johnson
Round 2 - Johnson
Round 3 - Franklin (Saad Muhammad)
Round 4 - Johnson
Round 5 - Johnson
Round 6 - Franklin (Saad Muhammad)
Round 7 - Franklin (Saad Muhammad)

Scoring: 67-66 Johnson

Franklin (Saad Muhammad): W TKO 8