A tribute to this great heavyweight champion, a simply breathtaking article.

fightnews.com

A man that will never be forgotten

Carl was the best.....with an undefeated heavyweight championship record consisting of 48 wins and 48 knockouts nobody would of ever dreamed of an upset.
However on that brutal night, things would change for the worst and that's when his integrity would be challenged the most.
Good friend Sly tells it best:

"Unfortunetly what was supposed to be a joke (more of a exbition really) turned out to be a disaster when he fought Rocky Balboa on his final 49th retirement fight. Although he won, he won ugly...winning a split decision in which most ringside observers thought it could of gone Balboa's way or atleast a draw."

Sly takes a sip of his cofee and gently scrathes his head to remember that events that were about to follow.

"Hmmmmmmmm......yeah...When they got it on in the rematch 6 months later, Carl suffered his first defeat as a pro and lost his heavyweight title to Rocky Balboa (a personal friend, i might add) via knockout in the 12th round. Although most people were down including myself, i was happy that an underdog was able to achieve his dream.
Anyway, due to such a close fight Carl retired for 5 years, only to come back for his final fight at Las Vegas."


The events that were to follow were catastrophic, Carl got knocked out in the 2nd Round by the up and comer Ivan Drago, he was down in the first and finished in the 2nd. Carl tragically died in the ring that night, due to his limitless courage and charisma his dream of ruling again would come to a full stop. A star that shined so brightly that would only come crashing down, due to it's natural course. Thud Thud Thud.

RIP Carl. Heavyweight Champion of the world.

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Carl Weathers step son Antonio Tarver is current heavyweight champion, thus the last chapter of the story comes to a final twist. Former heavyweight champion Rocky Balboa at the age of 104 is making a comeback, for one final fight of his colourful career.
Can he do it, most experts doubt it. Rocky was a fine champion, but his time of old vs new will be realised come christmas day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRzy67ijlmc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH3n0uEF0PQ