SOLE BELIEVER
OUT OF GAS Heavyweights who were doing well until they weren’t. Muhammad Ali vs. George Foreman – Big George had become accustomed to physically imposing his will on opponents. But Ali was smart, avoiding big shots and – using the rope-a-dope – allowed Foreman to punch himself out. Ali stopped an exhausted shell in Round 8. John Tate vs. Mike Weaver – Tate, the newly crowned WBA titleholder, was largely dominant against the muscular Weaver for 14- plus rounds, only to take a perfect left hook to the chin that knocked the dead-tired champion flat on his face and out. Only 45 seconds remained. Wladimir Klitschko vs. Ross Puritty – An unbeaten Olympic gold medalist and only 22 at the time, Klitschko was dominating his overmatched but durable opponent when he punched himself out and couldn’t continue in the penultimate round. Derrick Jefferson vs. David Izon – The then-unbeaten Jefferson did everything right for almost the entire fight, clearly outworking an overmatched opponent to build a big lead. Then he simply hit the energy wall and Izon won by ninth-round KO. Wladimir Klitschko vs. Lamon Brewster – Deja vu? Five-plus years after his strange loss to Puritty, Klitschko again manhandled his opponent, only to get caught with some hard punches and run out of gas in Round 5. He’d be back.
After trying to KO Ali in the jungle, Foreman ran out of rumble.
36 RINGMAGAZINE.COM
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