Boxing fans have been hooked by an EA Fight Night Champion tournament starring heavyweight greats - and Mike Tyson vs Muhammad Ali in the final was a thriller.
Both had been destructively dominant in the World Boxing Super Series eTournament - a fun counterpoint to the real-life, eight-man competitions that the WBSS stage.
Tyson had fed Butterbean - a controversial inclusion - a diet of brutal punches, before sending Big George Foreman back to the grill. Ali broke down Evander Holyfield, then blitzed old rival Sonny Liston.
Now 'The Greatest' and 'The Baddest Man on the Planet' met in a dream final.
Advert
A cagey first round ended in shocking fashion as Ali caught and dropped Tyson just before the bell. Proving it was a flash knockdown - and squashing pre-fight rumours that he'd not been taking training seriously - Tyson got up and came right back.
A titanic right hand sent the usually iron-chinned Ali to the canvas in round two and the pair had traded surprise knockdowns.
Ali controlled the fight at range with his rapid-fire jab until the fifth round, when he was visibly hurt by a monstrous left hook - widely viewed as his kryptonite - then felled with a follow-up right
Advert
The three-time heavyweight champion hauled himself up and at the halfway point, eboxing connoisseurs were already calling this contest an all-time classic.
The ferocious pace couldn't keep up and both men started to tire down the stretch, their bodies just lumbering vehicles for the incredible desire on show. A close decision was inevitable - but the end result was still a shock.
The result after a 12-round war was Tyson by decision, 114-111 on all three scorecards. It was a remarkable result considering - with Iron Mike's early power and Ali's famed endurance - most experts thought a distance fight would suit Ali.
The great man looked distraught with the judges, as Tyson leapt around the ring after having his arm raised. It earned him, ironically, the eAli Trophy named after the man he'd conquered - though most spectators agreed eboxing was the real winner.
Advert
Fight-starved fans are now yearning for a rematch - although eDave Allen is said to be the mandatory challenger to the new champion.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: GAMING, Mike Tyson, Boxing News, Boxing, muhammad ali
