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News Updates - Heavyweight Prelim - Round 3
3rd Round of Preliminary Bouts Sees More Great Action - Louis, Tyson Overshadowed by Early Action
CINCINNATI, OH - The story of the night was the first "Super Fight" of the Preliminary rounds, pitting Joe Louis (2-0, 2 KO) vs. "Iron" Mike Tyson (1-1, 1 KO). But the crowd would go away talking about two other fights.
In the opening contest of the evening, the red-hot, #1 rated Michael Moorer (2-0, 1 KO) squared off with Jersey Joe Walcott (0-2). It was a fight to be remembered. The early rounds saw Moorer, in a replay of his previous win over Ezzard Charles, easily out boxing his opponent. In the sixth round, however, Walcott stunned Moorer and began slowly taking over the fight. By round 15, Moorer was in desperate shape, having been nearly stopped in the 14th by a series of wicked combinations from Jersey Joe. But Moorer, as he had in previous fights, reached down for something extra. Early in the 15th, he landed a perfect cross that sent Walcott reeling. The wily veteran was reduced to covering up for the remainder of the round. When the scorecards were read, Judges Tommy Kaczmarek and Chuck Giampa scored the fight a draw (143-143), while Judge Harold Lederman scored the fight narrowly for Walcott (143-142). An immediate rematch was ordered to settle the score.
As great as the Moorer/Walcott
fight turned out to be, it paled in comparison to the bloody, dirty war between
Jim Jefferies (2-0, 1 KO) and John L. Sullivan (0-2). Needing a
big win,
Sullivan came out strong, scoring a second round knockdown and controlling the
fight through the middle rounds. But once again, conditioning hurt the
Boston Strong Boy. He was clearly spent by the 11th round, and Jefferies
scored knockdowns in round 12 and 14 to rally back for a split decision victory.
The victory was tainted slightly, however, by a controversial scorecard turned
in by Chuck Giampa. Both Tommy Kaczmarek (142-141 Sullivan) and Harold
Lederman (143-142 Jefferies) scored the fight within one point. Giampa,
however, scored it 146-138 in favor of Jefferies, prompting calls for an
investigation from the Sullivan camp.
"That Italian [expletive deleted] isn't fit to judge a boxing contest! I demand a rematch!", screamed an incensed Sullivan after hearing the deciding score.
The commissioners office has stated that it will review the situation thoroughly and issue a report.
In the end, the much hyped
contest between Louis and Tyson turned out to be quite anticlimactic. The
Brown Bomber had little trouble with the disappointing Tyson, who was outworked
from the opening bell. Louis dropped Tyson in the 11th round, and then
twice more in the 15th, but Tyson managed to survive, albeit barely, to hear the
final bell.
For complete results, check the "fight results" section.
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