I believe the quick win for Rocky Marciano in my first attempt at this fight was something of an anomaly so I endeavoured to try againat a later date, resulting in more of the real thriller I had been expecting thanks in part to my stamina comment for the original fight coming to pass.
Going into the third both men had a round under their belts; Ali totally dominating the first with Rocky unable to land a single punch, and Marciano claiming the second, busting his opponents nose in the process. It was two in a row for Marciano, but only due to a single judge going against his colleagues in scoring it a draw. The fourth proved to be another close one, this time Ali's stick and move strategy impressing the judges enough to unanimously make it two rounds a piece.
Another thoroughly dominant round was Ali's in the fifth, connecting on Marciano eleven times and showing confidence in his movement. The rounds were even again when Rocky was given the benefit of the doubt by all three judges in an electrifying sixth round where both men connected five times and looked as even as a calm. The difference may have come due to the unsightly injury inflicted above Ali's left eye.
It was at this halfway stage that Rocky Marciano looked to be past his best and Ali's superior stamina would threaten to take control of the match. However, another favourable scoring round in the seventh followed by a punishing eighth had Marciano ahead before Ali took a tight one of his own in the ninth outhitting the other man successfully 5-4.
The severe fatigue felt by Marciano was now very apparent as he just connected once on four attempts during the tenth round to Ali's seven from thirteen. It would have been another tough call for the judges after the penultimate round if not for an early stinger from Ali knocking a burned-out but sly in his movement Marciano to the mat. Ali then took a final pounding throughout the final round to give Marciano a 7-5 advantage in rounds won, but it all came down to the judges score.
Punches Landed/Attempted - Ali 61/111 (54.95%), Marciano 52/100 (52.00%)
Total Points (at the end of the last completed round) - Ali 223; Marciano 205
Judges Cards (at the end of the last completed round) - Ali 116-115, 115-114, 114-114 Marciano
Fouls - Ali 0; Marciano 0
Cuts Opened - Ali 0; Marciano 2
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