NBA Playoffs + Boxing =

[butterfly1964]

vs.

Welcome to the Olympia stadium in Detroit, where Joe Louis will fight Sonny Liston. Over 50,000 came tonight to see if Louis could tie up the series. He is the 3 to 1 underdog. Louis weighed an in-shape 205, and liston was 214. Liston seemed sort of lackadasical in training. Here's the tale of the tape.

Joe Louis

age: 28
height: 6'-2"
weight: 205
reach: 76"
record: 56-1-0 (50ko)

Sonny Liston

age: 28
height: 6'-1"
weight: 214
reach: 84"
record: 28-1-0 (18ko)

And now Sonny Liston is in the ring, and some people boo, some people cheer. He is wearing a black robe. Joe Louis comes down the aisle and the crowd goes wild! Joe is with Jack Blackburn, and he is wearing a purple robe.

And now here is Michael Buffer!

Buffer: Welcome to the Eastern Conference Finals! Introducing, from Philadelphis, PA, wearing black trunks with white strips, at six feet one, weighing two fourteen, The Big Bear, Charles Sonny Liston! Liston! And his opponent, from Detroit, MI, wearing solid purple trunks, at six feet two weighing two oooh five, the Brown Bomber, Joooe Loouissss! Looouiiisss!(the crows cheers)

Conn: You know the rules of the Michigan State Athletic Boxing Commision. Fight clean, and break when I tell you. Any questions? Ok, good luck.

Round 1: Liston is still the pursuer. Louis is not backing up quite as much as in the first fight, but he is still being forced back, somewhat. Louis shoots a hard right to liston jaw, and liston still presses on. Louis is jabbing and throwing combinations when he is in position. Louis is being pressured against the ropes, but he parries most of liston's blows and fires a hard combo of lefts and rights. Liston is stunned a little, but he is fighting back, with his piston jab, he sets up his power shots that keep louis away.

Round 2: Louis is still being pushed back, and liston is trying to rip his body. they both clinch and they do tremendous amounts of damage. Louis fires jolting uppercuts to liston's jaw and he folows up with blistering left hooks. liston fights back with his tremendous bombs and louis is hurt! Liston follows it up with left hooks and overhand rights. Liston keeps up this attack and louis looks done, but the bell saves louis!

Round 3: Louis is still shaken up, but he recovers. They both do work on the inside, and this is where they spend most of their time. Louis is the faster of the two, and he tries to beat him to the punch and outswing liston. liston is calm and ripping the body and following up with big left hooks. Louis is also giving it to sonny by using his perfectly thrown punches at the right positions to put a hurt on sonny. This is an even round, as they both do well.

Round 4: Louis is still determined, and he jabs liston and throws good solid combinations to sonny's body and head. Sonny is slipping some of those pnches to get through with blows of his own. louis still is pressing on, scoring punches and hurting liston. Liston fights back with a one-two that grazes louis' jaw. louis is now the pursuer as he is firing back big shots to liston. but liston is taking every punch, and he will not go down. Liston throws some punches, but louis parries or slips them and counters with shots of his own.

Round 5: Louis is still pursuing, and liston uses his reach to keep joe away from him. sonny is trying to counter joe's blows, but at this point louis is beating to the punch and is just too fast for liston. Louis scores a right to liston's jaw and liston goes down! liston is up at 4, and they continue. Louis is landing great blows and liston is defenseless. Liston tries to fire back, but louis slips the punch and counters with a right and continues his onslaught. Louis is landing telling blows, and it looks like sonny might go down again, but the bell saves him!

Round 6: The corwd is on their feet as they are cheering for a Louis win. Louis is still the stronger of the two. Louis is again landing some hard shots. It's all louis as he pounds liston body and unleashes his fury with tremendous handspeed and accuracy. an overhand right puts liston on the canvas for good.

Michael Buffer: The winner by a knockout, at 0:43 of the sixth round, Jooooe Loouiissss!!

Everyone in the stands is really happy. Louis now evens up the series. Tune in next time for game 3. Once again, the final score is louis-ko6. This is butterfly1964 saying goodnight, from Olympia Stadium!

[butterfly1964]

Hello there, and welcome to The Western Conference Finals! Today, we shall see who will break a deadlock tie.

2. Jack Dempsey vs. 1. Muhammad Ali - Stockyards Stadium, Denver, CO for fight #3. (series tied at 1-1)

Now let's send our crew over to Colorado.

[butterfly1964]

vs.

Welcome to The Stockyards Stadium, where Jack Dempsey the number two seed will try to beat the number one seed Muhammad Ali. Dempsey is the 3 to 2 favorite. Dempsey was in shape at 187, while Ali came in suprisingly light, suprisingly low, 199! Ali had not been this thin since 1961! He trained like a madman for this fight, determined to win. Over 70,000 people came today to watch this fight. Here's the tale of the tape.

Jack Dempsey

age: 28
height: 6'-1"
weight: 187
reach: 77"
record: 61-4-9 (49ko)

Muhammad Ali

age: 25
height: 6'-3"
weight: 199
reach: 83"
record: 29-0-0 (23ko)

Ali is now bouncing down the aisle into the ring. He is staying warm in there, shadowboxing and moving. Now Jack Dempsey is seen and many people cheer his arrival. Both men look determined.

Michael Buffer: Introducing, from Houston, TX, he's wearing white trunks with black strips, he stands six feet three inches, he weighs one hundred ninety-nine pounds, Muhaaamaaad Alliiii! And his opponent, from Manassah, Co, he''s wearing black trunks, he stands six feet one, weighing one hundred eighty-seven pounds, Jaaaaaack Deeempseeeey!!!!!!!!!(the crowd cheers) 15 rounds! Llllllets get ready to ruumbllllllllllle!!!!!!!

Mark Conn: You both know the rules of the Colorado State Athletic boxing Commision. Protect yourself at all times. Beak when I tell you to break. Any questions? Shake hands.

Round 1: Ali is on his toes, circling and popping that jab. Dempsey is crouched low, and rolling with punches. Ali is using the entire ring to stay away from Dempsey. Dempsey gets inside and pounds the body a little, but Ali is right there to tie him up. Ali keeps landing his quick combinations, and Dempsey is scoring with a left hook now and then. Ali boxes well, keeping Dempsey off-balance and tying him up: Both Hayes and dundee are giving instructions to their fighters.

Round 2: Dempsey is patient looking for an opening to land his crushing blows. Ali keeps away, landing shots and scoring points. Ali keeps this up and doesn't try to take dempsey out, but he just keeps on that bicycle and makessure that he cleanly wins the round. Dempsey lands a few punches, but ali is not close enough for dempsey to open up on him: Hayes is applying ice to dempsey's eye, which is a little puffed up.

Round 3: Dempsey is still patient, and not going after him, but he is just bobbing in and out, looking for the right spot to throw a punch. Ali is still on his toes and using his jab effectively. ali ties dempsey up in the clinches and then throws left and right hooks to the body, then pulls back from any counter punches from dempsey. Ali looks impressive once again as he uses the ring and keeps away from the always pursuing dempsey: Teddy Hayes is applying more ice to dempsey's shkin, and dundee is wiping down ali.

Round 4: Ali is still on his toes, and his stamina looks better than ever. That extra training he did will enable him to dance all night long if he needs to. Dempsey somehow gets inside and lands some good body and head shots. demspey bobs under ali's jabs and gets inside once again. Ali ties him up and they continue. dempsey scores with his left hook and is looking better. ali is still on his toes, sticking out that jab. they both clinch, and dempsey bullies ali against the ropes and jack lands left hooks and rights to the head. ali is stunned a bit, but he presses on. This is a good round for dempsey as he lands more crisp punches: Dundeee is working over a winded ali.

Round 5: Ali recovers from that exchange in the last round, and is still dancing around the ring. Ali's punches lack the power that it did in his previous fights, probably because he weighs 199, while his usual fighting weight is more around 210, and the lack of pounds equals lack of power. however his punches still sting and dempsey is feeling the sting, as his face is marked up a bit. Dempsey gets inside a few times and this impresses the judges, somewhat: Dundee is working ali over, and Hayes is working on jack's eyes.

Round 6: Dempsey is pursuing Ali and gets inside again. they get into a slugfest and ali is tunned! dempsey follows up with hellacious punches that keeps ali against the ropes. ali somehow stays up and fights back, but dempsey walks through those punches. ali is a bit slower now and dempsey can get to him easier. it's all dempsey as he lands a lot of left hooks this time: Dundee is chewing ali out for trying to slug with dempsey and hayes is still applying ice to the puffed up eye.

Round 7: Both men are flatfooted. Dempsye is stuill the pursuer, and ali just uses his reach advantage to keep dempsey off of him. dempsey gets in pretty easily and ali is once again winded from body shots by dempsey. Ali ties up dempsey once, but that is not enough as dempsey still wins this round as ali's jabs are not enough to stop dempsey: Hayes is giving jack instructions, and muhammad is a bit winded from the punishment.

Round 8: Ali is now back on his toes and boxes well. He recovered from the punishment that dempsey was administering to him. Dempsey is landing his left hook well and ali is landing good combos to keep dempsey off balance. both men do good in this round, but ali lands more punches: Ali still looks fresh after that round, but dempsey is a bit tired.

Round 9: Ali keeps sticking that jab, and dempsey cannot seem to get through ali's long reach and just settles for long, looping, grazing left hooks that doesn't bother ali. ali game plan seems to be working once again, as ali uses the ring and commands the action as he always does: Dempsey's eyes are well swollen now and are on the verge of cuts.

Round 10: Ali is not changing anything. he still boxes from ring center and dempsey can barely land any punches, except for a left hook here and there. demspey is getting a little impatient and he tries to go after him and land a big bomb imediately, but ali makes him look ****** and dempsey throws punches to the wind. Ali si doing well, as he circles the ring with great speed and moving and punching from all angles: Ali still looks pretty good, stamina-wise, while dempsey is tired.

Round 11: Dempsey is looking for one big bomb to take muhammad out, but ali is at this point unhittable as dempsey slows down from fatique and ali keeps on his toes and keeps working on jack's eye, which is very close to being cut. Ali keeps doing this until the end of the round: Dempsey is tired and a bit frustrated. Ali is a bit winded as well, but not as much as dempsey.

Round 12: Dempsey looks mad and he comes out and throws wild shots, but ali simply works this to his advantage and counter punches from tricky angle s and he is able to stun dempsey! Ali follows up with good punches, but demspey clinches with ali, to buy time to recover. Ali still looks good although he is getting a bit sloppy and demspey is landing more shots: Dempsey face is very swollen, and ali looks poised and ready.

Round 13: Dempsey is still croutched, looking for a spot to land his devastating left hook on ali's jaw. ali lands good, solid combinations, and dempsey is dazzled. Dempsey does some body work, but ali ties demspey up most of the time. Ali boxes a smart fight, utilizing the philosophy of "hitting and not being hit": Hayes is tending to dempsey's now cut eye, and dundee is giving ali instructions.

Round 14: Dempsey is still looking for that one big shot, becaus ehe knows he is well behind on points and a knockout is his only hope for victory. Ali is landing his strsight right well, and dempsey is troubled by it. Ali is working on that eye, which is now trickling a bit of blood. ali keeps on his toes and his stamina is remarkable. Ali keeps this up until the end of the round: Hayes is trying desperately to keep that eye under control.

Round 15: Dempsey is still looking for the knockout blow. Ali is very cautious and throws minimal punches. Muhammad just concentrates on moving and avoiding getting knocked out. Dempsey cannot find his target and jack is really tired, not to mention his fire power has greatly dimished. Ali just circles his and land a jab and a straight right now and then. Ali does his little shuffle and one-two's dempsey and then he keeps on the move, jabbing and jabbing until the end of the round: Dundee is congradulating ali, and Hayes is now putting tape on the eye.

There have been no knockdowns, and Dempsey had a cut right eye, while Ali was unmarked. Here is Michael Buffer with the decision.

Michael Buffer: Judge Artie Aidala scores it 9-4-2 for Ali! Judge Tony Castellano scores it 11-3-1 for Ali!(Ali raises his hands in victory) Referee Mark Conn scores it 10-5 for Ali, winner by unanimous decision, Muhammad Aliii!

Well, Ali takes the 2-1 series lead and dempsey will have to work extra hard to beat this guy. That does it for today. The final score is ali-ud15. This is butterfly1964 saying, Peace!!

[butterfly1964]

Hello there, and welcome to The Eastern Conference Finals! Today, we shall see who will break a deadlock tie.

6. Sonny Liston vs. 1. Joe Louis - Convention Hall, Philadelphia, PA for fight #3. (series tied at 1-1)

Now let's send our crew over to Pennsylvania.

[butterfly1964]

vs.

Welcome to Convention Hall, where Sonny Liston will try to take the series lead against Joe Louis. Although there is no clear favorite, the fans in this arena are backing for a liston win. Both men were in top condition. Here's the tale of the tape.

Sonny Liston

age: 28
height: 6'-1"
weight: 211½
reach: 84"
record: 28-1-0 (18ko)

Joe Louis

age: 28
height: 6'-2"
weight: 204
reach: 76"
record: 56-1-0 (50ko)

And Joe Louis is coming down the aisle and into the ring and some cheers could be heard. Now the stadium erupts as Liston climbs into the ring.

Buffer: Welcome to the Eastern Conference Finals! Introducing, from Detroit, MI, wearing solid black trunks, at six feet two weighing two oooh four, the Brown Bomber, Joe Loouiss! Loouiss! And his opponent, from Philadelphis, PA, wearing black trunks with white strips, at six feet one, weighing two eleven and a half, The Big Bear, Charles Sonny Liiistooooon! Liiiiistooooooon!(the crows cheers)

Conn: You know the rules of the Michigan State Athletic Boxing Commision. Fight clean, and break when I tell you. Any questions? Ok, good luck.

Round 1: Both men move out and use their jabs. They fight at a measured pace. Both men are cautious and fight a tactical battle. Liston is the stronger one in the clinches. Liston lands a left hook to the head and a right cross to the body. Louis forces a left jab to the chin, and left and right to the midsection and a right cross to the chin, and a one-two to the body. Both men land good solid punches in this round. Louis is stunned in the first half of the round, and Liston is stunned in the second half of the round: Reddish and Blackburn are both trying to revive their fighters.

Round 2: Liston is the pursuer and he lands his jab and a one-two. Louis hits charley with short left and right hooks to the body and an uppercut to the chin. They both do some work on the inside and they trade blows. In about 25 seconds, Louis is staggered by a right uppercut by Charles, and Liston keeps on his hurt opponent. Liston lands crushing telling blows and a big overhand right drops louis... for the count!

Michael Buffer: The winner by a knockout, at 1:01 of the second round, Sooonnnnnnyyyyyyy Liiiiiistooooooonnn!(the crowd rejoices!)

Wow, that was unexpected! What will happen next? Tune in to find out. Once again, the final score is, liston-ko2. This is butterfly1964 saying goodbye from Convention Hall!!

[hellfire508]

Liston knocks Louis out in 2? What dream was this in Butterfly? Should I say, "what wet dream?"

[butterfly1964]

Liston knocks Louis out in 2? What dream was this in Butterfly? Should I say, "what wet dream?"

Haha, very funny.

[hellfire508]

I try my best.

But seriously... 2 rounds?

[butterfly1964]

I try my best.

But seriously... 2 rounds?

It's a seven game series. Anything can happen.

[SABBATH]

It's a seven game series. Anything can happen.

I don't think a 2nd round KO is the most likely scenario but it's still an excellent match-up. Both guys are similar in style being patient boxer/punchers who both were cautious and willing to give ground and back off at times which may prevent this fight from being an early KO. Both guys could cut-off the ring but were succeptible to movement. That wouldn't be a factor here as both fighters would likely be flat footed in front of each other in a chess match.

Louis is slightly taller but Liston has the much longer reach and harder jab. Louis is the sharper, quicker more accurate puncher and has the better right hand but Liston has the better left hook and is physically stronger with the better chin. Both guys have good uppercuts and Louis is better at accurately gauging timing and distance on an opponent.

Both guys are top notch finishers when they have an opponent hurt. Louis' power was best applied with short punches but Liston's power was effective long range as well as in close.

Both guys also had good stamina when in shape so I don't see fatigue costing either fighter. Defensively they were also both good with Louis more of a blocker of punches and Liston more a slipper of punches, relying more on head movement and this could be the key to the fight. How effect will Louis parrying hand be against Liston's 84' reach power jab? Louis didn't use much head movement and instead parried jabs with his right glove and usually countered with his own jab. Against Liston he would often fall short with it if Sonny utilized his reach advantage.

Both guys could cut-off the ring but were succeptible to movement. That wouldn't be a factor here as both fighters would likely be flat footed in front of each other in a chess match.

Personally I think Louis is in a very precarious fight here. He has to solve the reach difference and Liston's jab then get close enough to use his superior handspeed and accurate punching. Other than the Schmeling and Marciano KO losses, all of Joe's trips to the canvas were in the first four rounds, so Louis has a history of being vulnerable early. Can Louis get the closer gaped distance he requires before Liston's long range power gets to him first? Butterfly just gave his opinion with his 2nd round KO result.