1970's ~ Top Heavyweight Upsets

[Bill Paxtom]

'Upset Special #19'

Wednesday ~ December 12, 1979

Veterans Memorial Coliseum ~ Phoenix, Arizona

Attendance ....... { 4175 }
Gate Receipts..... $32,475

Ron Lyle ~ 37-5-1 {25 KO's} ~ 222 lbs. ~ 6' 2 1/2" ~ 76" Reach
vs.
Lynn Ball ~ 10-4-0 {7 KO's} ~ 212 lbs. ~ 6' 0" ~ 77" Reach

Ron Lyle {Age; 38 year, 5 months} was taking a 'tune-up bout', as he was scheduled
to face WBA Heavyweight Champion - John Tate in February 1980.

Ron was currently ranked as the #4 WBA Heavyweight

Ron, had last fought {7-Months earlier} on May 12, 1979 where he won a 'close'
10-Round Split-Decision over Scott Ledoux.

Lynn 'The Bullet' Ball {Age; 27 years, 6 months} was a Heavyweight from Dallas, Texas.
Lynn had lost 4 of his previous 5 bouts, and appeared to be a relatively safe opponent.

Lynn did have quick-hands and a pretty good left-hook, but he had a 'suspect chin'.
__________________________________________________ _________________________

~ Ron Lyle Beaten In 2 Rounds ~

Ron Lyle the #4 WBA-ranked Heavyweight was 'upset' as he was stopped by Dallas, Texas
Heavyweight - Lynn 'The Bullet' Ball at 2:55 of Round 2.

The 38 1/2 year-old Lyle {222 lbs.} came into the bout slightly puffy against the little known
27 year-old Lynn Ball {212 lbs.}

Lyle got off to a steady start in Round 1, as he used a thudding left-jab on the shorter Ball.
Lyle showed off some of his power, as he tagged the 'stocky' Dallas Heavyweight with '2'
jarring right-hands to the head late in the Round, as he had Ball a bit groggy at the Bell.

But, Lyle was very slow in Round 2, and had no answer when Ball attacked with fast
'left-right' combinations.

Lyle looked out-of-sorts, when he was tagged by a hard left-hook at the 1:40 Mark, and
backed away from the forward-pressing Ball.

Ball continued to explode with 'smashing' left-hooks to the head, as Lyle wobbled to the
back Ropes. There, the Dallas Heavyweight unleashed with a barrage of fast 'left-right'
punches to the head as Lyle sagged into the Ropes.

Ron Lyle was 'out-on-his-feet' as he laid back on the Ropes, where Referee - Bobby Ferrara
jumped in at the 2:55 Mark of Round 2.

Fight Purses
* Ron Lyle ..... $10,000
* Lynn Ball ..... $2200