I never saw this but if ever a fighter was saved by the bell it was Saad, then Matt Franklin, here ... This content is protected ( go to 16:45 ) ... would have changed light heavyweight history a bit ..
Interesting point, though I don't know. Saad was ridiculously quick to recover and rally. Plus, a loss against good opposition in that day and age was no deal breaker in terms of long range career planning. This was "only" for the NABF title so the stakes weren't quite as high as if the WBC title was on the line. But yeah, Kates put him on his face there.
Awesome fight. Saad was very lucky that kd happened at the end of the round. Kates went down face first at the end of the next round and was himself saved by the bell.
Perhaps...But Kates was saved by the bell in the next round after suffering his own involuntary face-plant.
In some ways a typical Matt Franklin fight, massive swings in momentum for each fighter. Franklin seemingly always in life or death struggles. Franklin was really toast after eating that right hand, as was Kates the next round. Reminds me of the Lyle vs Shavers fight. Shavers almost killed Lyle with a left hook, but it was at the end of the round, Lyle barely made it up, but did and recovered.
It reminded me of Shavers - Lyle as well. Saad had that huge heart and big big power which led to a great many comeback wins.
I'm just an oft ignorant classic lover. I never knew these guys ever fought; right in between Matt-Marvin 1/2?? What was I smoking?...well, quite a bit at the time. Great post!!!
