Bonavena vs Ali who was winning going into the 15th?

Bonavena did pretty well and remained competitive in a lot of rounds, but Ali generally made more contact and landed cleaner in most of the frames. Depending on what you like, I could see a pretty close card in favor of Ali, but I feel like he did enough to warrant being ahead by a margin of 10-4 or 9-5 in terms of rounds.

 

But the fight ended with Bonavena being stopped the only time in 68 fights. Not only did Ali make him taste defeat, he made him taste the canvas three times.

 

There was the shorter hook landed just prior also….a nice precursor to the KD hook…the big hook reminded a bit of the Robinson -Fullmer KO, the way the recipient crashed sideways in the direction of the punch. That’s some decent force there, Gene and Ringo had such bull necks I guess there was only so much twist before their whole bodies had to follow along with the force of the punch, LOL.

Ringo had Ali pretty revved pre fight. I think there was some personal feel in Ali’s drive to get to a badly hurt Ringo after the KD.

Also, it’s natural and a professional obligation to want to get back into your opponent when the opp. Is there to finish them.

Another consideration: though he was clearly winning, Ali knew he hadn’t performed at his best - a KO/stoppage was going to be a nice claw back and punctuation mark - and obviously, everyone including Ali first and foremost, knew the hell Oscar gave Joe without being stopped - Ali stopping Ringo, needing only the one fight to do so and being ONLY the second fight in his comeback, would be the perfect one up on Frazier - Oscar did Ali a favour with the workout - Ali needed a lot more than another 3 rounder ala Quarry, esp. since next stop was Smoking Joe.

I recall the ref did try reasonably to keep Ali back - with Ali even going so far as to slap down the refs restraining arm - technically, that was breach IMO but I also don’t believe that Ali’s actions altered the ultimate outcome - Oscar was going to be discombobulated for a good while after that first KD, he looked totally f*cked, easy pickings for the follow up, fight ending KDs - as can be clearly seen.

 

There was some wisdom behind the 3 KD rule though severity of KDs vary from one fighter and fight to another. I think it worked perfectly for this fight - Oscar was done, he didn’t want any more and he certainly didn’t protest. Another way to look at it is: if Oscar somehow held his feet for longer after the first KD, he might’ve copped worse and more serious damage, leading to being outright unconscious.

The legacy of hurt from the first KD held strong and Oscar dropping for less potent punches thereafter (though still good shots) saved him from more severe punishment, so, it was in natural balance that the fight was stopped.

 

Im watching the fight now and I'll admit my bias but I'm not seeing the same fight Yancey and Journeyman saw.

 

We know what would have happened. It would have went to the cards where he was losing by lopsided margins. I'm sure Ringo lost some points for low blows

 

No need for all the invectives. I'm beginning to worry about your mental health but I'm glad you're taking your anger out on me and not your partner, children, or pets if you have any.

 

Round 11. Bonaveana reminds me of Rocky, not Marciano but Balboa.