The Hardest Men To Ever Step Into The Ring [Archive]

Russell

08-23-2009, 08:56 PM

Fighters who consistently looked inside of themselves for deeper and deeper reservoirs of bravery and willpower, and who were never found wanting. Examples of them doing this in the ring.

The following types of fighters need not apply, as brave as they COULD be they could always fall quite far in the opposite direction. I'm looking for the most exceptionally brave and ballsy fighters of all time.

Duran. Quit jobs, constant excuses.

Liston. Fighting on with a broken jaw but also being cowardly on more then one occasion.

Things like that don't fly with this particular question.

So, who are they and what made them so exceptional in this regard?

Bill1234

08-23-2009, 09:03 PM

Carmen Basilio
Rocky Marciano
Ron Lyle
Jerry Quarry
Sam Langford

TBooze

08-23-2009, 09:07 PM

George Chuvalo

Craig Bodzianowski

Joe Grimm

The Wanderer

08-23-2009, 09:08 PM

djanders

08-23-2009, 09:12 PM

Jeffries.

PetethePrince

08-23-2009, 09:13 PM

Carmine Basilio
Rocky Marciano
Joe Frazier
Jerry Quarry
Jack Dempsey
Marvin Hagler
George Chuvalo
Evander Holyfield
Arturo Gatti
Chuck Wepner
Mickey Ward

And in the non-traditional fighting style sense Muhammad Ali. How could he not deserve to be on this list. He was blinded and although he did want to cut his gloves it was to expose Liston. He went on the Lions den and took body shots from Liston and came back to make HIM quit. Fought through a broken jaw with Norton. Got up and kept fighting like a champion in FOTC. He toughed it out against Foreman taking tremendous body shots. He willied himself against Frazier in Manila. He outworked the younger Spinks in the 78 rematch. He took a beating from Holmes without being the one to quit first while being completely dehydrated, faded, and shot as a fighter.

If I had to pick a top 3 fighters for this thread it would be (In no order)...

Arturo Gatti
Rocky Marciano
Carmine Basilio

This is the ultimate Italian fighter thread in a way I guess in my mind. In reality, it's an ultimate Arturo Gatti thread. What a warrior. Unbelievable. Good timing for a thread being not too long since he died. Rest in peace champion.

I also think Marciano and Basilio are top picks. Basilio would tell you that closed eye didn't matter in the SRR fight. He fought bigger men and trenched forward with resilence. Marciano took batterings, cut noses, and just refused to be denied.

essexboy

08-23-2009, 09:18 PM

Some of my picks woulds probably include:

Joe Frazier (first name to come to mind)
Marvin Hagler
Marciano
Dempsey
Chuvalo
Quarry
Basilio
Lamotta? (Don't know if you'd count the thrown fight with Fox against him)
Mosley? (Nice guy, but never gave up, stepped back, or quit, not even when Forrest was beating the piss out of him in their first fight).

Chavez would have been on the list through his first 90 fights or so, but the behavoir with the second Randall fight, as much as I love Julio, is questionable for this category.

Having trouble thinking of any others right now.

I think LaMotta deserves to be off the hook. Its all well and good us lot discussing how wrong it is to throw a fight but unless we were in his situation, knowing you'd never get a title fight without taking a dive we cant really take the moral high ground. In fact I know I'd have thrown the fight, I simply wouldnt have been able to live my life knowing I never got a shot at the title. For me LaMotta is one of the toughest guys to step in the ring, for sure.

essexboy

08-23-2009, 09:20 PM

Carmine Basilio
Rocky Marciano
Joe Frazier
Jerry Quarry
Jack Dempsey
Marvin Hagler
George Chuvalo
Evander Holyfield
Arturo Gatti
Chuck Wepner

And in the non-traditional fighting style sense Muhammad Ali. How could he not deserve to be on this list. He was blinded and although he did want to cut his gloves it was to expose Liston. He went on the Lions den and took body shots from Liston and came back to drop him. Fought through a broken jaw with Norton. Got up and kept fighting like a champion in FOTC. He toughed it out against Foreman taking tremendous body shots. He willied himself against Frazier in Manila. He outworked the younger Spinks in the 78 rematch. He took a beating from Holmes without being the one to quit first while being completely dehydrated, faded, and shot as a fighter.

If I had to pick a top 3 fighters for this thread it would be (In no order)...

Arturo Gatti
Rocky Marciano
Carmine Basilio

This is the ultimate Italian fighter thread in a way I guess in my mind. In reality, it's an ultimate Arturo Gatti thread. What a warrior. Unbelievable. Good timing for a thread being not too long since he died. Rest in peace champion.

I also think Marciano and Basilio are top picks. Basilio would tell you that closed eye didn't matter in the SRR fight. He fought bigger men and trenched forward with resilence. Marciano took batterings, cut noses, and just refused to be denied.

Talking about Gatti, his great rival Mickey Ward was a hard man as well.

PetethePrince

08-23-2009, 09:22 PM

Talking about Gatti, his great rival Mickey Ward was a hard man as well.

Ah how did I miss that one. I agree with you on Lamotta but because of the criteria the OP wanted I excluded him.

TBooze

08-23-2009, 09:24 PM

Talking about Gatti, his great rival Mickey Ward was a hard man as well.

But neither were Ivan Robinson, a true warrior, who brought more out of Gatti (overall) than Ward.....

Peter Buckley deserves a call on this thread as well; ditto Marion Wilson.

essexboy

08-23-2009, 09:26 PM

But neither were Ivan Robinson, a true warrior, who brought more out of Gatti (overall) than Ward.....

Peter Buckley deserves a call on this thread as well; ditto Marion Wilson.

Good call. :good

dpw417

08-23-2009, 09:28 PM

Marciano
Ali
Frazier
Greb
Basilio...
I've been reading up on Fitzsimmons, Ketchel, and Langford lately...and my appreciation grows and grows. Incredibly tough minded fighters.... Never say die.

Addendum: Walker!!! Can't forget the "Toy Bulldog".

PetethePrince

08-23-2009, 09:28 PM

But neither were Ivan Robinson, a true warrior, who brought more out of Gatti (overall) than Ward.....

I would disagree with this. Robinson as a fighter was much superior to Ward. Ward beat Gatti in a close contest. Gatti could find a way to out-muscle Robinson. I feel Ivan fought too brawl-like and not smart enough in order to try winning. Ward would never give you every ounce he had. Ivan hurt Gatti at times but Gatti started to overcome him and break him down. He was a warrior but I don't put him ahead in this category.

TBooze

08-23-2009, 09:32 PM

I would disagree with this. Robinson as a fighter was much superior to Ward. Ward beat Gatti in a close contest. Gatti could find a way to out-muscle Robinson. I feel Ivan fought too brawl-like and not smart enough in order to try winning. Ward would never give you every ounce he had. Ivan hurt Gatti at times but Gatti started to overcome him and break him down. He was a warrior but I don't put him ahead in this category.

Surely that proves his hardness? Despite having the brains (as you mentioned) to win, he still preferred to win it the hard way!

Seamus

08-23-2009, 09:35 PM

Craig Bodzianowski

Fighting on one leg and being good. Wow.

Seamus

08-23-2009, 09:35 PM

Azumah Nelson.

Jear

08-23-2009, 09:42 PM

Ali twice stepped in against invincible wrecking machines plus went to war with Frazier

TBooze

08-23-2009, 09:44 PM

Ali twice stepped in against invincible wrecking machines plus went to war with Frazier

But when the going got real, quit or show balls miles past your prime tough (Holmes) Dundee retired him....

essexboy

08-23-2009, 09:46 PM

But when the going got real, quit or show balls miles past your prime tough (Holmes) Dundee retired him....

He wanted to quit against Frazier in the thriller in manila as well.

Russell

08-23-2009, 09:52 PM

I think LaMotta deserves to be off the hook. Its all well and good us lot discussing how wrong it is to throw a fight but unless we were in his situation, knowing you'd never get a title fight without taking a dive we cant really take the moral high ground. In fact I know I'd have thrown the fight, I simply wouldnt have been able to live my life knowing I never got a shot at the title. For me LaMotta is one of the toughest guys to step in the ring, for sure.

Carmen Basilio had the mob come down on him hard and told them to go fuck themselves.

A much harder, and prouder man then LaMotta.

TBooze

08-23-2009, 09:53 PM

He wanted to quit against Frazier in the thriller in manila as well.

But he did not, and won!

Ali was a hard man, a great of boxing, it is just I do not think he should be on this particular thread, because he has a 'L retirement' to his name (all be it miles past his best).

This thread should be devoted to the hardest of hard men, and although he was mighty great, and hard, he was not one of the .0000001% hardest ever.

essexboy

08-23-2009, 09:54 PM

Carmen Basilio had the mob come down on him hard and told them to go fuck themselves.

A much harder, and prouder man then LaMotta.

Really? I didnt know that, your right. Tough guy.

It must be mentioned as well that LaMotta wasnt much of a man outside the ring just a warrior inside but I suppose most people know about that.

young griffo

08-23-2009, 09:54 PM

He wanted to quit against Frazier in the thriller in manila as well.
But he didn't and I'd bet the house he would've stepped out for the 15th if Futch had've let Frazier go out as well.

As for hard men Wayne McCullough is one of the toughest men who ever fought imo.

Fighting Weight

08-23-2009, 09:57 PM

But he didn't and I'd bet the house he would've stepped out for the 15th if Futch had've let Frazier go out as well.

As for hard men Wayne McCullough is one of the toughest men who ever fought imo.

First name that sprang to my mind too mate. An absolute monster.

Hagler is also right up there.

PetethePrince

08-23-2009, 09:58 PM

Surely that proves his hardness? Despite having the brains (as you mentioned) to win, he still preferred to win it the hard way!

He's a fair nomination. Gatti fought the wrong fight but survive and gallantly kept going. He should've boxer with Ward more but he didn't. The way Gatti took those body shots and came back. Robinson seemed more trouble and passive afterwards.

PetethePrince

08-23-2009, 09:59 PM

He wanted to quit against Frazier in the thriller in manila as well.

No he didn't. He said it felt like he was dieing. He wasn't going to quit.

Ali belongs in the thread. It's just his talent overshadows his hardness. But what he went through to overcome the odds and win his goals was tremendous. Post exile Ali didn't have that defense and technical aspects so he relied more on his toughness.

essexboy

08-23-2009, 10:01 PM

But he didn't and I'd bet the house he would've stepped out for the 15th if Futch had've let Frazier go out as well.

As for hard men Wayne McCullough is one of the toughest men who ever fought imo.

He may very well have come out but he was actually begging to him to end the fight. Still his win against Foreman and all the beatings he took in the three fights with Frazier make up for it, he was a courageous boxer.

essexboy

08-23-2009, 10:02 PM

No he didn't. He said it felt like he was dieing. He wasn't going to quit.

Ali belongs in the thread. It's just his talent overshadows his hardness. But what he went through to overcome the odds and win his goals was tremendous. Post exile Ali didn't have that defense and technical aspects so he relied more on his toughness.

Really? I heard otherwise. :?

COULDHAVEBEEN

08-23-2009, 10:44 PM

Here's a new one into the mix - Jeff 'Hitman' Harding.

Harding didn't have an enormous amount of ability, and may not be known by many, but he won the world light heavy title on pure heart via last round stoppage against England's Dennis Andries.

Jeff Harding's trilogy with England's Dennis Andries is much underrated.

Few harder man with bigger hearts ever entered a boxing ring than Jeff 'Hitman' Harding.

Jear

08-23-2009, 11:47 PM

But when the going got real, quit or show balls miles past your prime tough (Holmes) Dundee retired him....

Getting in the ring in the state he was in surely showed just how big his balls were.

Thyroid medication, suffering the onset of Parkinsons, well past his best and still he stepped in with an all time great in his prime.

Surely you jest to say he doesnt belong here

Addie

08-23-2009, 11:49 PM

Julio Cesar Chavez gets my vote. He walked through an insane amount of punishment through his 100+ fight career.

Bad_Intentions

08-23-2009, 11:53 PM

Carmen Basilio
Rocky Marciano
Ron Lyle
Jerry Quarry
Sam Langford

George Chuvalo

Craig Bodzianowski

Joe Grimm

:good

Russell

08-24-2009, 12:02 AM

Julio Cesar Chavez gets my vote. He walked through an insane amount of punishment through his 100+ fight career.

Difference between a chin and true grit.

He was a literal crybaby when he lost, he blatantly fouled his opponents when he was losing (Loved the headbutts and ball shots against Tzysu) and pulled a No Mas quitjob against Randell in their second fight.

Of course if he hadn't done those things and simply the good existed he would qualify. But this is about the fighters that are epitomes of being hard, brave, etc.

Addie

08-24-2009, 12:06 AM

Difference between a chin and true grit.

He was a literal crybaby when he lost, he blatantly fouled his opponents when he was losing (Loved the headbutts and ball shots against Tzysu) and pulled a No Mas quitjob against Randell in their second fight.

Of course if he hadn't done those things and simply the good existed he would qualify. But this is about the fighters that are epitomes of being hard, brave, etc.

I knew you would call me out on that, but I still consider Julio Cesar Chavez as one of the toughest and hardest men to ever have boxed, irrespective of some of his shortcomings. He proved his grit against world class opposition in Meldrick Taylor, and wouldn't go down and stay down against a peak Oscar De La Hoya despite being past his sell by date.

Randall Tex Cobb, otherwise.

BIG DEE

08-24-2009, 12:23 AM

BIG DEE HERE= The first two on any list of hard guy`s in ring history should be the two who fought the greatest, bloodiest and most brutal fight in the history of the ring.
Oscar (Battling) Nelson and Ad Wolgast (The Michigan Wildcat) as they fought a fight that
today seems beyond belief. These men went to war for 40 three minute rounds in one single fight and today they think that 15 rounds is too much to ask. Wolgast took the title from the man he hated most on this planet callled earth on Feb 22, 1910 in Pt.Richmond ,California. These two men beat each other to the point of the impossible
on that day in 1910 their physical shape on that day was and is this. No fighter walking the earth today could fight a fight like they fought no matter what the modern
fight fan believes as these men were the hardest of the hard. Wolgast and Nelson
averaged 80 punches a rds for 40 rds so who could do that today. I don`t know any fighters today that could even do that in a gym setting much less a real fight with a world class fighter who is trying with all his might to take your head off. Believe me these two were trying to do just that as they hated each others guts for real. The true funny part about the whole thing is that Wolgast and Nelson`s wives loved each other
and became life long friends. The next hardest man behind these two is the greatest Middleweight and pound for pound fighter who ever stepped into the squared circle
HIS NAME WAS HARRY GREB (THE PITTSBURGE WINDMILL ) fought the last 6yrs of his career blind in one eye and fought middleweights,Lt Heavyweights and Heavyweights
while never weighing more than 170 lbs. He defeated ever fighter that held the Lt Heavyweight title between 1914 to 1932 the last being Maxie Rosenbloom. Harry
Greb was as hard a man as they come with 300 pro fights in a 12 yr career. 1914 to 1926.

KOTF

08-24-2009, 12:24 AM

Tex Cobb. Have no idea how the fight w/ Holmes went 15

BIG DEE

08-24-2009, 12:55 AM

BIG DEE HERE= I would like to change that about Greb beating every Lt Heavyweight champion as the following ducked him Georges Carpentier, Battling Siki, Jack Delaney,
Mike McTigue, Paul Berlebach and Young Stribling even though he never held the title.

Russell

08-24-2009, 12:56 AM

I knew you would call me out on that, but I still consider Julio Cesar Chavez as one of the toughest and hardest men to ever have boxed, irrespective of some of his shortcomings. He proved his grit against world class opposition in Meldrick Taylor, and wouldn't go down and stay down against a peak Oscar De La Hoya despite being past his sell by date.

Randall Tex Cobb, otherwise.

The fact that you admit he has those flaws ends this debate, he doesn't have a place next to the fighters who never had those flaws.

KTFO

08-24-2009, 01:07 AM

The Real Deal

groove

08-24-2009, 02:18 AM

TBooze change your name to TTotal - maybe your posts won't be as foolish. Agree with most of the names here.

PunchOut

08-24-2009, 02:21 AM

PRIME JCC
Sal Sanchez

Flea Man

08-24-2009, 02:46 AM

Hagler. Duran.

Flea Man

08-24-2009, 02:47 AM

Chuvalo.

young griffo

08-24-2009, 03:09 AM

Hagler. Duran.
I agree with Hagler.

Duran quit with a tummy ache.That disqualifies him from ever being mentioned in the same breath as the true blood and guts warriors,despite his undoubted greatness as a fighter.

ChrisPontius

08-24-2009, 03:45 AM

Danny Williams. His training regime is shit, but continuing several rounds with his shoulder visually dislocated and still managing to score a knockout, is nothing short of amazing. He took a vicious, VICIOUS beating from Vitali Klitschko without backing down as well.

Flea Man

08-24-2009, 04:42 AM

TBooze

08-24-2009, 04:42 AM

TBooze change your name to TTotal - maybe your posts won't be as foolish. Agree with most of the names here.

So you do not think a man who was never off his feet, fighting the best 60s and early 70s Heavyweight boxing had; a man who came back from a crash, with only part of a leg and became a contender (all be it at Cruiserweight); and a man who could rise from 10+ knockdowns against Jack Johnson to go the distance, are not some of the hardest men in boxing?

mcvey

08-24-2009, 04:55 AM

lucatoni08

08-24-2009, 05:54 AM

Dont know if he has been mentioned, but Wayne Mccullough immediately springs to mind......

McGrain

08-24-2009, 06:05 AM

If I had to name only one man I would name Battling Nelson.

"No, Eddie, no, I can lick him!"

Nelson to to referee Eddie Smith upon his stopping Nelson in his "160 minutes of Hell" against Ad Wolgast.

itrymariti

08-24-2009, 06:19 AM

My vote goes to Carmen. A "rough and tumble" Onion farmer, came out of the marine corps, took some of the worst beatings imaginable and wouldn't flinch. He quite literally let people punch themselves out on his chin sometimes - check out the Demarco fights.

Unforgiven

08-24-2009, 06:36 AM

Tom Sharkey deserves a mention.

he grant

08-24-2009, 07:47 AM

Marciano
Frazier
Dempsey
Ali
Holmes
Holyfield
Morales
Greb
Saad Muhammad

FROST

08-24-2009, 07:57 AM

Dwight Quawi deserves a mention here

TheGreatA

08-24-2009, 09:48 AM

Henry Armstrong

patscorpio

08-24-2009, 12:56 PM

BIG DEE HERE= The first two on any list of hard guy`s in ring history should be the two who fought the greatest, bloodiest and most brutal fight in the history of the ring.
Oscar (Battling) Nelson and Ad Wolgast (The Michigan Wildcat) as they fought a fight that
today seems beyond belief. These men went to war for 40 three minute rounds in one single fight and today they think that 15 rounds is too much to ask. Wolgast took the title from the man he hated most on this planet callled earth on Feb 22, 1910 in Pt.Richmond ,California. These two men beat each other to the point of the impossible
on that day in 1910 their physical shape on that day was and is this. No fighter walking the earth today could fight a fight like they fought no matter what the modern
fight fan believes as these men were the hardest of the hard. Wolgast and Nelson
averaged 80 punches a rds for 40 rds so who could do that today. I don`t know any fighters today that could even do that in a gym setting much less a real fight with a world class fighter who is trying with all his might to take your head off. Believe me these two were trying to do just that as they hated each others guts for real. The true funny part about the whole thing is that Wolgast and Nelson`s wives loved each other
and became life long friends.
i read that nelson-wolgast fight basically turned them into invalids afterwards cuz it was that brutal

Bokaj

08-24-2009, 01:21 PM

The guy in my avatar.

But really, there are quite a few. Armstrong, Greb, Holyfield, Ali, Basilio, Frazier, Marciano... the list goes on. Louis probably belongs on this list too, even though he didn't really have wars of that magnitude. But when you watch him you feel like watching Terminator in a way. He comes on methodically till you finally have separated his mind from his body. That's what it takes. Nothing less.

safc1990

08-24-2009, 01:35 PM

Diego Corrales?

Chinxkid

08-24-2009, 01:46 PM

The Real Deal

My answer as well. :good

GPater11093

08-24-2009, 02:10 PM

For me Carmen Basilio is top. A tough tough fighter in the ring had a very underrated defence but it stil want that good but he had the heart and the chin to keep going as well as being very strong. His win over Ray Robinson just shows his toughness.

Roberto Duran belongs in here. The ultimate personification of 'macho'. I believe in quit against Leonard because he was too 'macho' but thats a different topic.

Alexis Arguello a very tough fighter and a great boxer. Just watch the first Pryor fight to see his resolve.

Ken Buchanan very tough guy.

Alan Rudkin after getting outboxed from Lionel Rose for at least 6 rounds he mounts an amazing come back when many less tough fighters would have lost heart.

Jung Koo Chang just a relentless fighter keeps coming all night very tough guy

Russell

08-24-2009, 02:50 PM

Per his past history, the way he reformed himself, and his career, I'd say Bernard Hopkins is up there.

Ehh, I love him as a fighter but I think milking a arm injury against (Echols?) and the Calzaghe low blows DQ's him here. Savy, but not very warrior like.

Russell

08-24-2009, 02:50 PM

TheGreatA

08-24-2009, 03:01 PM

Ehh, I love him as a fighter but I think milking a arm injury against (Echols?) and the Calzaghe low blows DQ's him here. Savy, but not very warrior like.

I thought he was being a "warrior" in the Echols fight for continuing with an injured shoulder (from Echols' slam). He did use some other questionable tactics in that fight though.

The fight in which he could not continue due to an injured arm was the first Robert Allen fight.

I'm not sure if I'd call him a warrior in the ring but he has had to overcome many obstacles inside and outside of the ring to get where he is at.

Russell

08-24-2009, 03:06 PM

It's debatable if his shoulder was really injured, or his arm for that matter.

Kind of reminded of the over-milking of the Clottey/Cotto throw.

TheGreatA

08-24-2009, 03:28 PM

It's debatable if his shoulder was really injured, or his arm for that matter.

Kind of reminded of the over-milking of the Clottey/Cotto throw.

Maybe but I think the throw in Hopkins-Echols two was a bit more serious. He also landed on his shoulder while in Cotto/Clottey I didn't really see any way in which Clottey could have been harmed from the push.

I do agree that Hopkins might not belong in this thread though. Fighters like Basilio, Armstrong and Battling Nelson walked through punishment and never showed any quit under any circumstances, it's no insult to not be comparable to them as far as being a warrior goes.

mattdonnellon

08-24-2009, 04:11 PM

Check out Bartley Madden, a real hard man.

BENNY BLANCO

08-24-2009, 04:24 PM

Juan Laporte deserves a big mention.

BUDW

08-24-2009, 07:05 PM

Zale.Zivic.Lamotta,Armstrong

brando18b4h

08-24-2009, 08:40 PM

Basilio all around, how about Matthew Saad Muhamad.

Addie

08-24-2009, 10:29 PM

Basilio all around, how about Matthew Saad Muhamad.

Matthew Saad Muhammad is one hell of a pick. The way he took punishment in the Yaqui Lopez fights was unbelievable, and he had to do it pretty much every time out. A great fighter, and so so tough.

junior-soprano

08-25-2009, 08:59 AM

basilio
gatti
but most of all : frazier. i think joe is the kind of fighter that never ever would quit. you have to knock him out or maybe his trainer or the referee would stop the fight but if he could only use one arm he still would go on.

Smith

08-25-2009, 12:39 PM

Koki Kameda

PbP Bacon

08-25-2009, 05:03 PM

I can't believe it: a thread 5-pages long and nobody has mentioned Barney Ross yet... what kind of bizarre forum is this? :verysad

Barney belonged to a long gone era, when referees wouldn't stop a fight unless you were already half-dead. He was never KOed. His fights with ATG Canzoneri, McLarnin and Armstrong were vicious all-out battles. In particular, his last fight with Armstrong has the stuff of legends:

"In his last fight, Ross defended his title, on May 31, 1938, against the fellow member of the three division world champions' club Henry Armstrong who beat him by a decision in 15. Although Armstrong pounded Ross inexorably, and his trainers begged him to let them stop the fight, Ross absorbed the abuse and refused to stop. And he refused to go down. Barney Ross was never knocked out in his career and was determined to leave the ring on his feet. Some boxing experts view Ross's performance against Armstrong as one of the most courageous in history. Some believe that Ross's will to survive every tough fight on his feet had to do with his understanding of his symbolic nature as a Jew. That is, Jews would not only fight back, but they wouldn't go down."

"Ross’ most courageous prize fight was his last, in 1938, against Henry Armstrong, the only man to hold the featherweight, lightweight and welterweight crowns. By the time he fought Armstrong, Ross — although only 28 years old —had fought almost 300 times. Although he started strong, Ross fired after the fourth round and Armstrong pummeled him at will. After the tenth round, the referee asked Ross if he wanted to stop, but the champion said no. After the twelfth, the referee approached Ross’ managers, asking them to throw in the towel, but, Ross told them, "You do that and I’ll never talk to you again. I want to go out like a champion." To Ross that meant standing on his feet when the final bell sounded, Through rounds thirteen, fourteen and fifteen, Armstrong pounded away at the exhausted Ross, who would not go down. Voices in the crowd pleaded with the referee to stop the fight, but he respected Ross’ wish to end his career never having failed to go the distance. In the last minute of the fight, Ross rallied and stood toe to toe with Armstrong, exchanging blows. The crowd was on its feet many with tears in their eyes, cheering for Ross, knowing they had seen the heart of a true champion."