Classic fights I've watched recently

[Bodyshot3]

Mike Tyson vs Julius Francis

Tyson demolishes Francis in 2 rounds, Francis down twice in the 1st and 3 times in the 2nd, the fight being stopped after the last KD, left and right uppercuts responsible for a few of the KDs, body shots wilting Francis as well, Francis tried his best and tried to fight fire with fire but he just didn't have the ability or resistence to cope with Tyson and it was a rout TBH

Remember watching this fight live

Is it a myth that big Julius got the soles of his boots/seat of his trunks sponsored to make sure a painful night made him the best possible dollar??
Julius was a bad hombre outside the ring but clearly knew his finances/boxing level and likely outcome.

[handsofstone]

Mike Tyson vs Andrew Golota


Golota quits after 2 rounds in typical bizarre Golota fashion, Tyson put him down with a right hand at the end of a close 1st round, similar to the shot that KO'd Botha,right hand over the jab, Golota made it to the end of the round but there was no fight from him by then and he shipped another big right in the 2nd, still strange to see him refuse to come out for the 3rd, his corner going mental trying to force his gumshield into his mouth, Golota stormed off and was pelted with food and drink as he made his way back to the dressing room

Result later changed to a NC after Tyson tested positive for weed

[handsofstone]

Mike Tyson vs Brian Nielson


Nielson retires on his stool after 6 rounds, he was never in the fight, fast start from Tyson he came out the 1st round and went to town on Nielson whipping shots to heads and body from both hands, Tyson's inside game was good for a change, mainly as Nielson never held which allowed Tyson to get his head on his chest and throw his bombs, he put Nielson down with a 4 punch combo in the 3rd, Nielson was probably saved by the bell, things quietened a little in rounds 4/5 but Tyson hurt Nielson again in 6th and he never came out for the 7th

[handsofstone]

Mike Tyson vs Clifford Etienne


Tyson KOs Etienne with a big right hand seconds into the 1st round, Etienne's plan was to fight it out with Tyson and it proved costly, they got into a trade off, Tyson missed with a left hook then came back over with a right hand that put Etienne down for the count, the last KO win of Tyson's career

[handsofstone]

Danny Williams vs Mike Tyson

Williams KOs Tyson in the 4th, first time ive seen this fight since it happened, Tyson started off fast he wobbled Williams in the 1st with an uppercut and he had a good 2nd, William started to settle down in the 3rd but Tyson was still dangerous with sudden bursts of punches, the ending came out of nowhere really Williams just sprung into a sequence of about 30 unanswered punches, left uppercut/right hand times about 15, just nailing Tyson who tried to slug it out but Williams just kept on punching and the final right hand sent Tyson crashing into the ropes for the count

The ref had a mare, deducting 2 points from Williams for nothing fouls plus no warnings, his count was all over the place as well

[handsofstone]

Kevin McBride vs Mike Tyson


Tyson quits on his stool after 6 rounds in the final fight of his career, an absolute shell of the fighter he once was, it was a messy fight with a lot of holding and spoiling, McBride was guilty of leaning over Tyson as well and it stopped Tyson from getting into a rhythm and his timing was way off, he probably shaded the 1st few rounds but McBride was having some success, McBride started to land cleaner hurtful shots into the 4th especially with the uppercut on the inside, he hurt Tyson at the end of the 5th and Tyson lost it there and then, he tried to break McBride's arm in a clinch similar as he done to Botha then he was deducted 2 points for a headbutt, McBride continued to hurt Tyson and at the end of the 6th he hurt Tyson with a left hook then leaned on Tyson as he crumbled to the canvas, ref ruled it a push but Tyson took ages to get up and he was on shaky legs back to his corner and he never came out for the 7th

[handsofstone]

Joe Frazier vs Oscar Bonavena 1 +2(highlights)


Frazier has to get off the floor twice in their 1st fight to win a 10 round SD, he was only a 11 fight novice and Bonavena was his 1st big test, Bonavena had him down twice in the 2nd round, first with a cracking right cross then right after with a left hook which looked more balance with Frazier's legs still a bit unsteady, Frazier done well to recover though and won pretty much everything thereafter, Bonavena choosing to try and box Frazier allowing to Frazier to outhustle him, not too many clean punches landed from either man though, Bonavena done a good job of avoiding Frazier's clubbing shots

I could only find 11 minutes of highlights of the rematch, looked a good fight as well, Frazier won a 15 round UD to retain his world title, the cards were wider but Bonavena had his moments in the little I saw, Frazier too seemed to find the target a lot more as well, pity the whole fight isn't available

[Ambling Alp II]

Some good action in this fight.
Had the fight been scored on a points system, and the 2nd round is scored 10-7 for Bonavena, he would have won the fight.

The 2nd fight was good but not as close. Frazier had improved and Bonavena had pretty much stayed the same.

[handsofstone]

Joe Frazier vs Eddie Machen(highlights)

Another one of Frazier's earlier fights where there's only highlights available, gutted again because Frazier looked bang in form, he was relentless pounding away at Machen's body, Machen tried to fight it out in ring centre in the 1st but Frazier put him down and through the ropes with a massive left hook right at the end of the round, the bell not coming a moment too soon for Machen

After that from what I seen Machen didn't have the legs to dance away from Frazier so spent large spells trapped on the ropes as Frazier clubbed away at him to head and body, looked to be a bit of a beating for Machen, still I thought the ending might have been premature, it was the 10th and final round when the ref stepped in after Frazier landed a couple of decent shots, Machen didn't look close to being KO'd or that but the ref must've finally seen enough and Frazier got the TKO in the end

[handsofstone]

Joe Frazier vs George Chuvalo


Frazier stops Chuvalo in the 4th, Chuvalo turning away after Frazier caught him with a left hook, worsening a cut to his right eye which was already bleeding bad from the 2nd, it was a really tight fight, all fought at close quarters, both guys landing all their shots from the inside and Chuvalo had as much success as Frazier, just a shame his eye bothered him, still surprised to see Chuvalo turn away like that, he's a tough dude

Its funny because Chuvalo is one of the most durable heavyweights of all time and he's been in some wars but if he'd done that today, he'd have been called a quitter from a lot of people

[SenorPipino]

I may be wrong and correct me if I am, but I believe that 3 years later, Chuvalo also turned away from Foreman.

Even the most durable guys around, don't care to be battered by power punchers.

[handsofstone]

Joe Frazier vs Buster Mathis


Frazier KOs Mathis in the 11th to become world heavyweight champ, Mathis had beaten Frazier in the 64 Olympic trials before withdrawn injured where Frazier replaced him to win gold in Tokyo, Mathis started off this one well, he's a decent stand up boxer but he doesn't do enough, same as when he fought Ali, he can be outworked, sometimes he'd burst into a fast flurry and he does have quick hands but he doesn't do it nearly enough

Frazier improved as the fight went on and his constant pressure just wore Mathis down to the point where it was only really Frazier throwing, he hurt Mathis right at the end of the 7th with a left but the bell went as he went in for the kill, Frazier just clubbed away as he always did and in the 11th it was unsurprisingly a left hook which he drew across the chin on the inside of Mathis which put him down for the count

[handsofstone]

Joe Frazier vs Jerry Quarry 1+2


Quarry is pulled out in his corner after 7 rounds of the 1st fight, his eye was a bloody mess, he had a great 1st round, was quicker to the punch on the inside but after that it was a one sided beating really, not sure if Quarry injured his right hand as he never threw it, Frazier done his usual just broke his opponent down getting busier by the round

Frazier stops Quarry on his feet in the 5th round of the rematch, again Quarry held his own in the opener but it was more one sided than their 1st fight, Frazier hurt Quarry several times, he put him down with a left to the body at the end of the 4th at the bell, Quarry was still hurt in the 5th and he was cut again, eventually the ref(Joe Louis) stepped in when it got too much for Quarry, Frazier couldn't miss, Quarry brave as ever but outgunned

[SenorPipino]

I believe that the NY state commisioner at ringside had to signal Louis to halt the bout with a helpless Quarry being battered.

Louis seemed way out of his element, lost and confused.

They used to assign these celebrity referees to some big fights ( remember Walcott rendered clueless during Ali-Liston II?) to supposedly drum up interest and lure the curious.

But you need referees that have experience. Know what they're doing.

Boxing is a dangerous sport and you can't cavalierly assign a novice third man in the ring as if it's a casual badminton match.

Luckily Quarry wasn't seriously injured due to this misguided publicity stunt.

I'm certain that Joe Louis never refereed again.

[handsofstone]

I believe that the NY state commisioner at ringside had to signal Louis to halt the bout with a helpless Quarry being battered.

Louis seemed way out of his element, lost and confused.

They used to assign these celebrity referees to some big fights ( remember Walcott rendered clueless during Ali-Liston II?) to supposedly drum up interest and lure the curious.

But you need referees that have experience. Know what they're doing.

Boxing is a dangerous sport and you can't cavalierly assign a novice third man in the ring as if it's a casual badminton match.

Luckily Quarry wasn't seriously injured due to this misguided publicity stunt.

I'm certain that Joe Louis never refereed again.

There was no doubt the end was nigh for Quarry but Frazier turning away as if to say to Louis that he needs to stop it put pressure on the Louis to stop the fight so fair play to Louis for sticking to his guns there, fighters signalling to the ref to stop fights always puts pressure on refs to stop fights to someone elses tune as opposed to their own

I agree about ex fighters being terrible refs but in my experience of watching old fights, almost all refs are dreadful, different times I know but refs were dangerous back then, guys staggering about the ring after a knockdown and the refs can't get them back up and fighting quick enough

[SenorPipino]

Well nowadays the refs are often a little too quick on the trigger to stop fights.

There's more of a concern for fighter safety. Modern boxing hates to be viewed strictly as a brutal, uncaring blood sport.

But even in the 70s, most experienced refs would have halted Frazier vs Quarry long before Louis was coaxed into it.

I don't blame referees for ignoring a fighter's plea to stop a bout to save an opponent.

That's entirely self serving on the part of the boxer.

I recall Ali motioning repeatedly to referee Mike Kaplan to stop the fight during the 7th round of his rematch with the same Quarry (Poor Jerry. These rematches were brutal to him)

Quarry was finished and taking a drubbing but the ref was correct in ignoring Ali's plea.

Quarry hadn't been dropped or truly staggered. He was simply absorbing unreturned punishment.

Kaplan did eventually call a halt and few complained, but Quarry was much more hurt and in danger against Frazier.

The difference was that Kaplan was experienced and knew what he was doing.

Louis didn't.

[handsofstone]

Yeah Quarry's rematch with Ali should've been stopped a round earlier, it was target practice for Ali

[Ned Merrill]

Joe Louis/Tony Galento. I love this one. Louis at his best; crisp, quick hands, studied technique and focused.

[Ambling Alp II]

It's too bad that most people just think of the knockdown when they think of this fight. Galento's whole career was made from that. Otherwise Louis for the most part looked pretty good.

[handsofstone]

Joe Frazier vs Jimmy Ellis 1+2


Ellis is retired on his stool after 4 rounds in the 1st fight making Frazier undisputed Heavyweight champ after adding Ellis's WBA title to his WBC belt, good performance from Frazier there wasn't too much in the exchanges, Ellis is a sharp boxer but it was Frazier's strength and power which made the difference, he put Ellis down twice in the 4th round, firstly with a cracking combination which hurt Ellis badly, fair play to Ellis he hung in there but he was on borrowed time, Frazier put him down again heavily with a crunching left hook right at the end of the round where the bell saved Ellis, Angelo Dundee had seen enough though and pulled Ellis out when he came back to his stool

Frazier TKO'd Ellis in the 9th round of the rematch, for the first 5/6 rounds there wasn't much to write home about, neither guy in control but Frazier's harder punches winning rounds more than the quicker boxing of Ellis, around about the 7th Frazier started to break Ellis down and Jimmy was looking worn, Frazier was whipping in the left hooks and right hands to the head and body and in the 9th Ellis began to wilt, after a combination that had Ellis backing up, Dundee again signalled to the ref(Bob Foster) to end things, good call

[handsofstone]

Joe Frazier vs Bob Foster

Frazier KOs Light Heavyweight champ Foster in round 2, Foster tried to use his reach and jab Frazier in the 1st always moving on his toes but Frazier punches always looked dangerous and he was stalking Foster, bobbing and weaving as ever, he put Foster down heavily with a left hook and really Bob probably shouldn't have been allowed to carry on as he was done, he made the count and even touched down again but the ref ignored it , Frazier was never gonna let him off the hook though and finished him with another sickening hook which knocked Foster out cold

Ive seen this KO a few times over the years, a proper highlight reel KO

[handsofstone]

Joe Frazier vs Floyd "Jumbo" Cummings


Frazier comes out of nearly 6 years retired to draw with Cummings over 10 rounds, never scored the fight but I wouldn't argue with a draw, maybe Cummings might have just nicked it but it was definitely close, it wasn't a bad fight TBH considering where Frazier was at his career, he kept it competitive, Cummings started of sharper and probably won the first 3 rounds as the much slower and out of shape Frazier tried to get going, after about the 4th Frazier started to find his range and started to get home some of those famous left hooks, I think he hurt Cummings more than once but TBF to Jumbo he recovered well, it was give and take for a few rounds until Cummings hurt Frazier in the 8th and opened him up but credit to Frazier he rode the storm and finished in decent form

Frazier's last ever fight and although it wasn't a classic by any means it was an ok fight

[handsofstone]

Rocky Marciano vs Joe Louis


Marciano KOs an ancient Louis in the 8th, pretty poor sight to see Louis laying through the ropes out cold, head being held up by someone ringside, terrible way for a great champ like Louis to go out, Louis looked massive compared to Marciano but he was slow and he couldn't get out the way of Marciano's big right hands over the top, even on the inside Marciano was able to outhustle Louis and get his shots off, he was like a bull on the inside and Louis struggled for the first few rounds

Louis started to come into it a little after 3, not sure if he won the rounds as the ref and judges thought but he started to get his jab off but he couldn't get the right hand going, Marciano started to come on strong in the 7th and began hurting Louis

In the 8th he put Louis down with a left hook, Louis just made the count but Marciano tore into him and was rocking his head with clean shots, a left hook did the trick and Marciano landed another sickening right hand to KO Louis through the ropes

[Tomasino]

Rocky Marciano vs Joe Louis


Marciano KOs an ancient Louis in the 8th, pretty poor sight to see Louis laying through the ropes out cold, head being held up by someone ringside, terrible way for a great champ like Louis to go out, Louis looked massive compared to Marciano but he was slow and he couldn't get out the way of Marciano's big right hands over the top, even on the inside Marciano was able to outhustle Louis and get his shots off, he was like a bull on the inside and Louis struggled for the first few rounds

Louis started to come into it a little after 3, not sure if he won the rounds as the ref and judges thought but he started to get his jab off but he couldn't get the right hand going, Marciano started to come on strong in the 7th and began hurting Louis

In the 8th he put Louis down with a left hook, Louis just made the count but Marciano tore into him and was rocking his head with clean shots, a left hook did the trick and Marciano landed another sickening right hand to KO Louis through the ropes

Joe look really old in that one, wasnt a good sight. Marciano was reportedly very upset after it.

[Tomasino]

Joe Louis/Tony Galento. I love this one. Louis at his best; crisp, quick hands, studied technique and focused.

Galento had concrete hands and was cagey in this one. I really think he thought he could take Louis.