1 Muhammad Ali vs 5. Rocky Marciano 1. Joe Louis vs 2. Larry Holmes What a final 4...Ali enters the rd as the clear favorite, and fresh off of brilliant performances against Tyson and a one sided clinic against Bowe. Marciano enters off of a brutal majority decision against Frazier that might be the fight of the tourney. Will Ali continue to overwhelm the competition, will Marciano continue to out work and out hustel his opponents? At one time a computer decided the out come...now you do! Joe Louis comes in off of a great closely contested boxing match against patterson and a one sided clinical display against the overwhelmed jeffries. Holmes comes in having won a very narrow decision against Lewis in what may have been the best boxing match thus far, and a brilliant display of skill in a lopsided win over Liston. Will Louis continue to quietly do away with competition...will Larry be able to overcome him and earn what he feels is rightfully his top spot??? YOU DECIDE!
Ali UD. Ali punishes Rocky in this one overall but Rocky gives Ali one hell of a fight. Holmes by close decision. I like Holmes' style against Louis.
Muhammad Ali vs Rocky Marciano Ali is able to keep him at bay and mangle Marciano's face, with the jab for the first 3 rounds. As the fight goes on Rocky's relentless pressure and determination allow him to pick up several rounds on attrition. In the late 8th upwards rounds, Ali is still scoring well, outboxing Rocky at times in very close rounds. In the 13th after Ali becomes comfortable coasting after a decisive 12th round in which Marciano took his foot off the peddle slightly, Marciano catches him flush on the chin with a well placed right hook, causing a flash knockdown. Ali recovers immediatley. The final two rounds Marciano puts his foot on the peddle, and Ali shows his heart and class by straight up trading with Marciano, too tired to run, yet too good to be beaten down, Ali holds his own and the final two rounds are very hard to score. Marciano wins a Split Decision. The knockdown being the decisive factor, perhaps. Joe Louis vs Larry Holmes In the opening round Louis attempts to fully impose his will on Holmes. Louis backs Holmes into a corner and unloads, hurting Holmes with a flurry to his mid-section, a vicious left hook to the ribs gets through and Holmes is clearly in trouble, the crowd are on their feet. Holmes is forced to hold and spoil for the rest of the round and although clearly hurt, he handles it like a pro and is able to recover, though a little shook up. Round 2 begins, Louis comes out excited, but Holmes is posed and focused, and finds the jab consecutively the next two rounds. 4th round at the break of a clinch, Louis fires off rapidly with a blistering combination sending Holmes reeling, Louis charges him to finish but Holmes fires back with a beautiful straight off the back foot knocking Louis down. Louis is clearly stunned and Holmes methodically picks him apart for the rest of the round, but he survives. Rounds 5th-7th both men become pure boxers, weary of each others arsenal, the rounds are close but Holmes' jab is significantly effective. 8th round begings and Louis picks up the pace, pressuring Holmes and backing him into the corner once more, Holmes covers up and weathers the storm, Louis becomes slightly more erratic in his attack and the perfectly composed Holmes is able to counter to several shots with his straight right, Louis is wobbled by one and backs up, Holmes ceases the opportunity and pops up with a precise one-two putting Louis on the floor once again. Holmes presses home in the final 20 seconds, although hurt and dazed, Louis fires back slightly neutralising the intended onslaught at and surviving the round. The crowd is ecstatic! Lampley is foaming from the mouth! 9th round begins, Louis' left eye is almost shut, Holmes has never looked so confident. Holmes assumes the offensive, but Louis meets him head on and they clash in the middle of the ring. A fire fight ensues, Holmes seems to hold the power, then Louis lands an almight uppercut knocking Holmes to the ground. He beats the count but is clearly rocked...Louis closes in aggressively, yet throws his bombs assertively, in a masterclass of combination punches. Holmes is in deep ****, his legs are gone, hanging on with sheer heart alone, he tries to clinch but Louis throws him off and fires more bombs, putting Holmes on a knee for a second knockdown. He beats the count amazingly, but is clearly in a bad way. Louis wastes no time backing him onto the ropes, unleashing with 3-4 vicious shots at a time, nothing is being thrown back, the referee steps in and calls an end to the fight. Holmes is finished, yet still on his feet. TKO 9th round Louis. Fight of the century
