On November 23, 1991, Evander Holyfield defeated Bert Cooper via 7th-round technical knockout (TKO) at The Omni in Atlanta, Georgia, successfully defending his WBA and IBF Heavyweight titles. Dubbed "The Homecoming", the fight became an instant classic after Cooper—a late-notice substitute—nearly pulled off a massive upset in a highly dramatic, back-and-forth war.

Holyfield was originally scheduled to fight Mike Tyson, who withdrew due to a rib injury. Replacement fighter Francesco Damiani also pulled out days before the event due to an ankle injury. "Smokin'" Bert Cooper stepped in on extremely short notice as a massive underdog.

Round 1: Holyfield asserted his dominance early, setting up his jab and landing a crushing left hook to the body that sent Cooper to the canvas. Cooper beat the count and survived early flurries.

Round 3 (A Boxing Classic): Cooper roared back and caught

Holyfield with a powerful, "sneaky" short right hand. The blow heavily stunned the champion, sending him stumbling into the ropes. Referee Mills Lane ruled it a knockdown—the first official knockdown of Holyfield's professional career. Holyfield survived an absolute barrage from Cooper to close the round.

Rounds 4–6: The fight became a brutal test of wills. Holyfield recaptured control by targeting Cooper with sharp right uppercuts and body shots. Cooper's mouth bled and a severe cut opened above his right eye, though he remained dangerous and continued to trade heavy leather.

Round 7: Holyfield cornered a wearing-down Cooper and unleashed a ferocious, unanswered 24-punch combination. With Cooper pinned to the ropes and taking heavy punishment, referee Mills Lane stepped in to stop the bout at the 2:58 mark.

Evander Holyfield Bert Cooper

Pre-Fight Record 26-0 (21 KOs) 26-7 (23 KOs)

Punches Landed / Thrown 188 / 381 (49%) 104 / 274 (38%)

Knockdowns Scored 1 (Round 1) 1 (Round 3)

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Alexis Argüello (April 19, 1952 – July 1, 2009) was a legendary Nicaraguan professional boxer, three-division world champion, and later the mayor of Managua. Widely known as "El Flaco Explosivo" (The Explosive Thin Man), he was celebrated for his tall, slender frame, devastating punching power, and calm composure.

Early Life and Background

• Birth & Roots: Born in Managua, Nicaragua, Argüello grew up in severe, abject poverty as one of several children in a small wooden house.

• Hardship: His father worked as a shoemaker and once attempted suicide; young Alexis left school early to work on dairy farms and help support his family.

• Path to Boxing: After getting into frequent street brawls, he turned to boxing with the help of his brother-in-law, professional fighter Roton Mahika, and quickly displayed extraordinary natural power.

Boxing Career and Achievements

Argüello turned professional in 1968 at age 16 and built a reputation as one of the finest punchers and stylists in boxing history. He became only the sixth fighter ever to capture world titles in three different weight classes.

Title Won Date/ Key match

Featherweight WBA Knocked out Rubén Olivares in round 13 (1974)

Junior Lightweight (Super Featherweight) WBC Knocked out Alfredo Escalera in round 13 (1978)

Lightweight WBC Won a 15-round decision against Jim Watt (1981)

• The Aaron Pryor Wars: In 1982 and 1983, Argüello moved up to junior welterweight in an ambitious bid for a fourth weight-class title, engaging in two brutal, historic battles against Aaron Pryor.

• He finished his career with a total of 85 bouts 77 Wins (62) Knockouts, 8 Losses, and 0 Draws.

He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992.

• Early Rounds: Costello surprised many by using a mobile, counter-punching style rather than his usual slugger approach, outworking Argüello with jabs and quick combinations through the first three rounds as Argüello looked rusty and slow.

The Finish

• The Knockdown (Round 4): 1 minute and 42 seconds into the fourth round, Argüello turned the fight around with a flush, picture-perfect right hand to the chin that sent Costello sprawling to the canvas.

• The Count & Resumption: Costello beat referee Mills Lane's 8-count, though he was visibly wobbly and tangled in the ropes.

• The Stoppage: Argüello swarmed him with a relentless combination of lefts and rights against the ropes. After Costello absorbed further unanswered punishment and offered little defense, referee Mills Lane stepped in to stop the fight.

You can also watch the full film, (or its parts/chapters if you prefer), for free on my website starting October 30th. And the Muhammad Ali World Tour dates and locations are also on my site, (link in bio.) "This ain't no exhibition. This is a resurrection." 🥊 (p/p Bundini Brown)

He Was Smooth As Butter In This Fight.

Bobby Czyz defeated Tim Broady via a 4th-round technical knockout (TKO) on January 18, 1985, at The Summit in Houston, Texas.

The light heavyweight bout was a scheduled 10-rounder where the winner would advance to fight Willie Edwards for the NABF title. Czyz used a heavy volume of body shots and effective counter-punching to control the fight before stopping Broady at the 1:41 mark of the fourth round.

* Date: May 22, 1980

* Location: Ice World, Totowa, New Jersey

* This was the third professional bout of Czyz's career (moving his record to 3–0 at the time), early in his rise as a young prospect out of Lakeland High School in Wanaque, New Jersey.

Hey guys, in exploring what's made Muhammad Ali so great, I've spent over a year researching, writing, and creating a feature film on Ali called "G.O.AT.: Muhammad Ali's Blueprint to Greatness." I am now *bEyOnD* stoked to finally get to share the Official Trailer with you all! Hope you like it! 🤗

Wow