BEATDOWNS

Without any premeditation, this blog has turned into a top 5 list. I now present the 5 worst beatdowns received in heavyweight history. Actually, make it 10. Again, the guys on this list got their heads handed to them...

1. George Chuvalo (vs Joe Frazier, 1967) - The iron-chinned Chuvalo caught a harsh beatdown in this fight from Frazier. Not that he wasn't landing his own shots (73 of them), but Chuvalo was tagged 106 times in just 4 rounds! That's 26.5 per round! Chuvalo was finally TKO'd without going down.

2. Jerry Quarry (vs Ken Norton, 1975) - In perhaps the last high-profile fight of his career, Jerry Quarry caught a harsh beating from Ken Norton in this fight. Norton brought the full arsenal and had no fear of Quarry's counters. While Quarry landed a respectable 73 punches over 5 rounds, Norton landed 126! That's 25.2 per round!

3. Alex Stewart (vs Michael Moorer, 1991) - This heavyweight slugfest was great because both guys felt they could KO the other. The lack of defense made for a great fight where both men were hurt and found ways to recover. Ultimately, Moorer's sharper punches did Stewart in, KO'ing him in the 4th round. But not before he'd landed 86 punches (to Stewart's 60). Stewart was getting nailed 21.5 times per round!

4. Bert Cooper (vs Evander Holyfield, 1991) - Cooper was a replacement contender in this fight, but his 3rd round knockdown of Holyfield demonstrated his remarkable power and will to fight. Cooper did land 58 punches (8.3 per rd) in this fight, but the problem was he was eating power shots at will, including a heavyweight record of 37 uppercuts! After 7 rounds, Mills Lane stopped this fight, after Cooper had been hit 135 times, that's 19.3 times per round!

5. Jerry Quarry (vs Joe Frazier, 1969) - Both fighters make their 2nd appearance on the list in this one. Jerry Quarry battled Joe Frazier toe-to-toe for the Heavyweight Title in this fight. After staying with Frazier punch-for-punch through 2 rounds, Quarry began to take an endless barrage of hooks and body shots, finally succombing in the 7th round after being outlanded 133 to 94. Quarry's bravery can never be questioned, but in this fight, he was getting nailed 19.0 times per round!

6. Ron Lyle (vs George Foreman, 1976) - Ron Lyle played with fire in this all-time-great heavyweight slugfest. Standing toe-to-toe, Foreman and Lyle knocked each other down twice in this 5 round brawl. However, it was Foreman who pounded Lyle into submission in the 5th, outlanding him 95 to 74. Ron Lyle was getting hit 19.0 times per round (by George Foreman!)

7. Joe Frazier (vs George Foreman, 1973) - In this high profile heavyweight title fight, young George Foreman proved himself against the accomplished champion, Joe Frazier. Foreman was too big and strong for Frazier and he fought with an accurate ferocity. Following 6 knockdowns, Frazier was KO'd in 2 rounds, catching 38 punches in the process (and landing only 11). In this fight, Frazier was getting tagged 19.0 times per round!

8. Pierre Coetzer (vs Riddick Bowe, 1992) - South African tough guy Pierre Coetzer got his chance to battle Riddick Bowe in a winner-fights-for-the-title eliminator bout in 1992. While Coetzer showed great heart and decent technique (landing 87 punches in 7 rounds), he was getting constantly bombarded by the hard jabs and clubbing rights of a prime Riddick Bowe. Following 131 punches to his head and body, Coetzer was TKO'd. He was hit 18.7 times per rd!

9. Oscar Bonavena (vs Joe Frazier, 1966) - Although he was competitive, Oscar Bonavena took a ton of shots in his split-decision loss to Frazier in '66. Bonavena managed to land his own punches at a high rate (15.6 per round) and this fight makes the top 5 for total landed punches. However, "Smokin" Joe Frazier hit Bonavena 183 times, that's 18.3 times per round!

10. Leon Spinks (vs Larry Holmes, 1981) - When you examine his career, you have to conclude that Leon Spinks really wasn't that good. He got a crack at Larry Holmes in '81 though and scored a few shots (16) in this three round shootout. However, in the 3rd round, Leon was reduced to a punching bag, eating an incredible 55 punches in just 3 rounds. Leon Spinks was getting hit 18.3 times per round!