Louis getting hit with much smaller gloves. Don't forget that part. People say smaller gloves don't do anymore damage punch for punch, which may me true, but what smaller glove does do is they can far more accurately single out a smaller target. The point of the chin. The temple. Floating rib. The heart. The kidney. The solar plexus. A direct hit.
Similar to Taylor vs Chavez, Meldrick was working hard and winning rounds, but Chavez was landing the punches that had a real lasting impression and it showed in the end.