Madison Square Garden has long been
entertainment’s biggest stage and housed some of Pro Boxing’s most memorable
bouts. UFC 205 promises to offer a fight card that surpasses all predecessors,
headlined by three championship fights. Past fighters have solidified their
spots in history with impressive showings in the Big Apple arena. No doubt the
shine on someone’s star will be enhanced at UFC 205, with such a stacked
line-up question is, whose performance will prove most memorable?
Rather
than speculate on the uncertain, let’s take a moment to relive one of Madison Square Garden’s most memorable
fights and celebrate the structure’s star building capabilities. October 26th
1951 Joe Louis VS Rocky Marciano. Louis entered the fight a 6-to-5 favorite, a
forgotten fact due to the popular postscript that the 37 year old, Brown Bomber was a diminished combatant
entering the bout. At the time most fight fans hadn’t been introduced to the
devastating punching power Marciano possessed. MSG and a high profile opponent offered Rocky opportunity to prove
himself on a big stage and he seized it with a mythical performance.
Joe
Louis is one of Boxing’s best Heavyweight Champions. He holds the record for
longest reign as HW Champ at 140 months with Twenty-five Title defenses. Louis
was an iconic sports hero, joining the US Army in 1942 (during World War II). His
statement, “We’ll win because we’re on God’s side” broke racial walls and
created fans from all backgrounds.
Louis
fought in Military charity bouts and donated his winnings to the fund numerous
times. These actions ingratiated the Brown
Bomber with the media, in return he was covered free of the racial bias
non-white athletes experienced in the press, during the era. These fights
generated over Ninety Thousand dollars, all donated, but the Internal Revenue Service credited these
as taxable income. Louis retired with the HW Belt after an eleventh round KO of
Jersey Joe Walcott (6/25/48). Following
his retirement the IRS informed Louis
that he owed ½ a Million in back taxes.
Louis
came out of retirement to pay his debt, he lost a Fifteen Round Decision to
(then Champion) Ezzard Charles. After paying his 100K purse to the IRS Louis was still in the hole. He went
on to win eight straight fights against lesser opponents and was paid accordingly.
Joe needed to face a Top Contender to earn a bigger pay day. Louis was
guaranteed $300,000 to face undefeated Rocky Marciano.
The Brockton Blockbuster was 37-0 with
32 KO’s going into the fight with Louis. This fight at MSG put Marciano on the map. After Knocking Louis Out, in dramatic
fashion, Marciano went on to stop his next four opponents before getting his
shot at the HW crown. He KO’d Jersey
Joe Walcott in the Thirteenth Round to become The Ring Heavyweight and World
Heavyweight Champion (9/23/52). The
Rock from Brockton defended the belt six times and went on to become the
only HW to retire as an undefeated Champion at 49-0 with 43 KO’s. His 87.75
Knock Out Percentage is the highest amongst retired Champions.
On that
October night in 1951, the shorter Marciano stalked Louis keeping the pressure
on him. Louis was able to avoid much of Rocky’s lunging attacks causing The Brockton Blockbuster to miss several
winging punches, but in the Eighth Round Marciano found his target. A hard left
hook sent Louis to the canvas, the referee only got to a four count before The Brown Bomber was ready to continue. He
attempted to tie Marciano up and recover, but a left hand dazed Louis. Another
left stiffened the former champ’s legs before Rocky uncorked a Right that ironically
sent Louis careening between the ropes, onto the media table. The gesture
commanded Boxing writers to witness the unquestionable power that Rocky
possessed in both hands.
Diamonds
sparkle brightest beneath the whitest lights. Madison Square Garden has offered that bright light to many stars
of the past, at UFC 205 which fighter
will take advantage of the added attention and stamp their mark on the UFC’s inaugural fight card?
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