George Foreman vs Jose Roman

George Foreman made the first defence of his World Boxing Association and World Boxing Council heavyweight championships by knocking out Jose “King” Roman after two minutes of the opening round at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo on September 1, 1973. It was the first world heavyweight championship contest staged in Japan. Approximately 7,500 spectators attended, and the fight was shown by closed-circuit television in the United States. Foreman weighed 219 pounds, while Roman was officially listed at 196½ pounds, leaving the Puerto Rican challenger at a substantial disadvantage in size and punching power.

Foreman had won the championship only seven months earlier by flooring Joe Frazier six times and stopping him in the second round at Kingston, Jamaica. The manner of that victory had immediately established the unbeaten 24-year-old as the most physically imposing heavyweight of his time. He arrived in Tokyo with a record of 38 wins, 35 by knockout, and was a prohibitive favourite. Roman, the Puerto Rican heavyweight champion, had won 44 of his 52 professional contests but had suffered seven defeats and was not regarded as a leading threat when negotiations began. He was subsequently placed ninth in the rankings of both governing bodies, making him eligible for the championship contest. Roman nevertheless made history as the first Puerto Rican to challenge for the world heavyweight title.

The financial terms reflected the fighters’ differing standings. Foreman was guaranteed $1 million, and he announced a $10,000 donation to a Japanese home for disabled children. Roman received $100,000. The contest took place in a small 17-foot ring, an arrangement which plainly favoured the champion by reducing the space available to a challenger who intended to move. Referee Jay Edson of Phoenix was appointed as the third man, with Takeo Ugo and Clay Nixon named as judges for a fight scheduled over 15 rounds.

Roman began by circling and attempting to remain beyond Foreman’s reach. He moved rapidly around the perimeter, keeping his hands high and looking for room in which to avoid the champion’s advance. Foreman followed without haste, extending his left hand to measure the distance and gradually driving Roman towards the ropes. The challenger’s movement offered temporary protection but little offence. He lacked the jab necessary to check Foreman’s approach and was soon retreating rather than manoeuvring with any purpose.

After a little more than a minute, Foreman trapped Roman against the ropes and began throwing heavy punches with both hands. Roman bobbed and weaved beneath several wide swings, but the champion continued to crowd him and prevented his escape. During the assault, Roman went down near the ropes. Edson ruled that the fall was not a knockdown, apparently judging that Roman had slipped or been pushed while trying to avoid the punches. As Roman was descending, Foreman’s right hand struck him on or near the jaw while he was on the canvas.

Roman’s manager, Bill Daly, and trainer, Al Braverman, immediately climbed onto the ring apron to protest. They maintained that Foreman had struck their boxer while he was down and that Roman should have been given time to recover. Edson rejected the complaint, stating that the punch had been part of Foreman’s follow-through and was not an intentional foul. He also said that Roman, who had been down for fewer than ten seconds, had indicated that he was fit to continue. No additional recovery period was allowed, and the action resumed while Roman’s corner was still dissatisfied with the decision.

Foreman closed in again almost immediately. A heavy right hand to the chin sent Roman down for an official count. The challenger rose, but his balance and resistance had gone. Foreman advanced before Roman could regain his position and drove a right uppercut through his guard. The blow dropped Roman heavily for the final time. He remained on the canvas while Edson completed the count, bringing the contest to an end at exactly 2:00 of the first round.

The result raised Foreman’s record to 39 victories without defeat and completed one of the shortest heavyweight championship contests on record. Roman’s protest concerning the punch delivered during the first fall was subsequently considered but did not alter the result. Foreman’s strength, pressure and punching power had rendered the difference in class unmistakable, although the disputed blow remained an unsatisfactory feature of an otherwise decisive finish. On the undercard, Ricardo Arredondo retained the WBC super-featherweight championship by knocking out Morito Kashiwaba in the sixth round. Foreman next defended the heavyweight title against the more highly regarded Ken Norton in Caracas in March 1974, stopping him in the second round before losing the championship to Muhammad Ali later that year.