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On January
22, 1973, at Kingston, Jamaica, Frazier, a 3-1 favorite, was
floored six times by Foreman before referee Arthur Mercante
stopped the action at 1:35 of the second round before 36,000
fans.
Frazier pressed the attack, but was met by a challenger who moved
not a step backward. A right to the jaw by Foreman achieved the
first knockdown midway into the first round. Frazier got up,
exchanged a few punches, and was down again from a series of
rights to the head.
Again Frazier rose quickly, but obviously dazed, and was decked a
third time as the bell ended the round. As set down by the
rules, counting did not end with the bell, but was continued
until Frazier struggled up at the count of three.
Frazier opened round two with a rushing attack and a left hook to
the head, but it was a short rally. Foreman, who weighed 217 to
Frazier's 214, sent the champion to the mat for the fourth time
with a left-right to the jaw. Up at the count of two, Frazier
was dropped by two left hooks. Again Frazier struggled up but
then went down for the last time from a series of punches.
Frazier gamely got to his feet, but referee Arthur Mercante looked
at his glazed eyes and reeling figure and signaled that there
was a new champion. |
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