- Yeah, you'll get it. - You can do it, Rocko!
Getting stronger!
- Up! Up! Up! - Come on!
Go!
- Yeah! - Yeah! Yeah!
Come on, Rocko!
Come on. Come on. Let's hit them. Hit them.
You can do it, Rock.
Getting stronger!
- Up, up, up! - Go! Go!
All right!
Yeah! Yeah!
Yeah!
Rocky Balboa, 217!
The undisputed heavyweight champion, Mason Dixon, 221!
Thank you very much. I appreciate it, champ. Thanks a lot.
Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
- Know how much money is in this? - A lot of it.
Imagine trying to clean this place.
- No, seriously. - Balboa!
You guys, I'll catch up with you all later, okay?
Robert, why don't you hang with me?
- How you doing, champ? - I'm good.
No reason for neither one of us to get hurt in this fight.
I'll do my best to carry you, make sure you save face.
There'd be no embarrassment.
But I promise you, you try to press me, you hit me, you hurt me...
...you hit me low, cheap-shot me, I'll get you out of there.
You know, a lot of people come to Vegas to lose. I didn't.
It's already over.
Ain't nothing over till it's over.
What's that from, the '80s?
That's probably the '70s.
Just remember what I said.
Hey, yo, champ.
Yo, ain't you a little scared?
I don't get scared.
I think you try a little harder when you're scared.
This is what has worked for me.
- I ain't scared. - Oh, yeah. You ain't scared of me?
Come on, let's see what you got. Come on.
Hey, don't hit me, I'm brittle.
- Hey. - Hi.
- How you doing? - I was just thinking.
- Did you wanna come in? - No, no, no, it's okay.
I just wanted to...
...I dor t know, come by and wish you good luck for tomorrow.
- Thanks. - Yeah.
I brought you something.
I hope you don't mind, I took it from the restaurant.
- No. - Thanks.
Adrian.
Yeah. Thought she would keep you safe.
Yeah. Yeah, she always brought me luck.
Yeah.
I wanted to say thanks for everything you've done for me and my kid.
You've been great and...
You know, tomorrow...
...you're gonna prove that the last thing to age on somebody is their heart.
- I'll try. - You go show them.
Thank you.
The heavyweight championship has been...
...one of sports' most coveted titles for 120 years.
Two-time heavyweight champion Rocky Balboa...
...the Philadelphia slugger, renowned for his cast-iron jaw...
...ferocious body attack and will of steel...
...all of which have carried the smaller fighter to victories...
...over the years against physically superior opponents.
And Mason Dixon, the current heavyweight title holder...
...with all the speed, determination and confidence any fighter could want.
But many still question whether he has the heart of a true champion...
...never having been pushed to go the distance. Tonight, we find out.
Here at the Mandalay Bay Event Center in Las Vegas...
...for the much-anticipated showdown...
...between Mason "The Line" Dixon...
...and Rocky "The Italian Stallion" Balboa.
Hello, I'm Jim Lampley with Larry Merchant and Max Kellerman...
...live from the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, where we anticipate...
...one of the most outrageous and compelling events in boxing history.
The unappreciated heavyweight champion, Mason "The Line" Dixon...
...putting his reputation on the line...
...against legendary ex-champion, Rocky Balboa.
Even though most see this as more of a glorified sparring session...
...the energy in the room is electric.
Larry, why is this billed as an exhibition?
Wild guess: So they wouldn't have to call it an execution.
Zacariah 4:6 says, "It is not by strength, not by might...
...but by his spirit we have already claimed the victory...
...in our Lord Jesus Christ."
Good luck, Rocky.
Thanks, Spider. Appreciate it.
Nobody's expecting much, I think, from the way-past-his-prime...
...former champ, Rocky Balboa.
Rock, I gotta talk to you.
Look, I know you got a lot of stuff you gotta get out of your system.
Tonight you do it. Right? Get rid of the damn beast...
...let it be done, once and for all. Please, I love you.
Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
There go the lights. The buzz is building toward a roaring crescendo.
Where did that come from?
I told you. I love Sinatra.
He's very good, Sinatra.
- Let's go. - Very good.
And here comes Rocky Balboa, veteran of the wars...
...here for one more last hurrah.
Or the Last Supper, perhaps, with him as the main course.
What's that music? You can't be serious.
"High Hopes"? Talk about wishful thinking.
Well, maybe no hopes is more realistic. Anyway, the crowd likes it.
Look at the Italian Stallion. Cool and relaxed.
Rocky's an off-the-board underdog, and they don't care at all.
This is about his pride and dignity and his punch, guys.
The last thing to go is a guy's punch.
Rocky always has that puncher's chance.
Rocky Balboa is still, as you can hear, the people's champion.
Prediction, guys: For at least two rounds...
...Dixors gonna have his hands full.
Two whole rounds? We have a cockeyed optimist in the house.
- How you doing? - The crowd wants to see...
...something real, or at least...
Rocky Balboa just asked me how I'm doing.
I grew up watching this guy. I never thought I'd be calling one of his fights.
This is unbelievable. I'm a fan, I can't help it.
Now here comes Mason Dixon.
Mason Dixon establishing his presence in the ring.
And suddenly now a conversation breaking out at ringside.
Mike Tyson calling out Mason "The Line" Dixon.
You can't call no shots here. I'm the champ.
You not doing nothing. This is charity work.
You got that midget with you right there.
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Mandalay Bay...
...resort and casino of Las Vegas.
And a special main event of the evening...
...10 rounds of heavyweight excitement...
...sanctioned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
And when the bell rings, the referee in charge of the action, Joe Cortez.
And now, for the thousands in attendance...
...and the millions watching around the world, ladies and gentlemen...
...let's get ready to rumble!
Introducing first, fighting out of the blue corner...
...wearing black with gold, official weight, 217 pounds.
His professional record, 57 victories including 54 knockouts...
...with 23 defeats and one draw.
He is the fighting pride of Philadelphia...
...the two-time heavyweight champion of the world...
..."The Italian Stallion"...
...R ocky...
...Balboa!
Hope he gets his head busted.
Shut up.
Across the ring, fighting out of the red corner...
...wearing white with blue, official weight, 221 pounds.
He has a perfect professional record, consisting of 33 bouts...
...33 victories, including 30 knockouts.
Originally from Tampa, florida...
...but now fighting out of Las Vegas, Nevada...
...the reigning undisputed, undefeated...
...heavyweight champion of the world...
...Mason "The Line"...
...Dixon!
All right, gentlemen.
All right, Mason, Rocky. We went over the rules in the dressing room.
I expect a good, clean fight. Watch the kidney punches, rabbit punches...
...Iow blows, be careful with those. Give me good sportsmanlike conduct.
Remember, gentlemen, I'm fair but I'm firm. Touch them up!
- Enjoy the ride. - The champ is not in the best shape...
...we've seen him in. Maybe he plans to phone this in and go home early.
- That wouldn't be a surprise. - Glad you could make it.
One thing about Rocky we know for sure:
This guy's showing up in shape.
- The old mars crazy. - He's gotta be crazy. He's in here.
- Okay. - Take it easy. This is an exhibition.
All right? Do it to him.
You got three rounds to set a pace. Every time you hit him, make a dent.
- Got it. - The moments before...
...a Rocky Balboa fight? I can't believe it's here!
Round one begins.
If old George foreman shocked the world with one punch...
...why can't old Rocky Balboa?
And as much excitement as there is in the arena...
...there's a sense of foreboding as well.
And now, Mason "The Line" Dixon goes to work with his jab as though...
...he's fighting against the number one challenger in the heavyweight division.
See, this is to be expected early on.
You knew the champ would control the distance with his jab...
...his height, his range.
Balboa looking to get in a shot, misses wildly.
Did you like that?
It looks like a speed bag against a punching bag.
Rocky's understandably frustrated...
...but he came out of retirement to get into a fight.
Guys named Rocky don't like to be toyed with.
One punch could still turn it around.
Apparently he forgot his arthritis meds this morning.
Rocky misses.
There's a meat-seeking missile on the point of the chin by the champ.
- More pinpoint jabs by Dixon. - Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
And there's a hard right hand and a left and a right by Balboa!
He drives Dixon into the ropes with a series of shots!
And the crowd goes berserk!
Dixon punishing Balboa for the temerity of landing those shots.
It's toe to toe in the corner. Balboa and Dixon letting it all go.
Balboa landing potent combinations to the head of the champion.
A wake-up call for Dixon.
- You all right? - Yeah, I'm all right.
- The mars got bricks in his gloves. - Where's the stuff in the basement?
- It's still there. - He came to battle, okay?
- Trying to knock me out. - Listen.
If there's a bone he can break, he's gonna do it.
- Give the man respect. - What about my respect?
CompuBox numbers tell the grisly story here.
Balboa landed nine of 13 punches in that round.
Dixon landed an incredible 59 out of 69.
- Why don't you listen to me? - Rocky's been here a million times.
Coming out to start a round after he took a beating in the previous one.
- Remember what I said, okay? - I warned him. I warned him.
He's tired. His legs are going fast, or already gone.
And what's truly extraordinary is that Rocky can still take it.
The boxing commission, which was criticized for licensing him...
...would be massacred if something happened to Rocky.
And a monstrous straight left hand! Down goes Rocky!
And that could conceivably be the end of the fight!
That could be the exhibition right there. But no. Balboa up.
Referee Joe Cortez asks if he wants to continue, and Rocky says yes.
Even Rocky Balboa could be too brave for his own good.
Dixon comes right back to try to finish it. Balboa almost went down!
Rocky actually shoves Dixon back.
As Dixon lands these brutal shots.
- Cover up! Cover up! - Open shots at close range.
Right and left hands, and down goes Balboa!
Perhaps for the last time in his fighting career!
- That should do it. - Three! Four!
Five! Six!
Get up! Get up! - Seven!
Eight! Nine!
- How do you feel, man? You okay? - Now Rocky is furious with himself.
He convinces Cortez he wants to keep fighting.
Dixors pointing at the ref to end it.
Rocky waving his arms and saying he's fine.
- He wants to go on! - Let it go! Let it go!
And Balboa comes back! With a left and a right...
...and bulls Dixon into the ropes for the second round in a row!
Back comes Dixon with brutal left-hand shots.
- Dixon hurt his hand there! - Go after him!
This is Rocky's best chance!
The champ obviously hurt his hand on Rocky's hip!
And Balboa immediately going to work to the body! Huge right hook!
Balboa ripping away at Dixors body! These are big punches.
Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
Yes!
Rocky Balboa has knocked the reigning heavyweight champion down!
- You hurt him! - Mason "The Line" Dixon...
...has never taken this kind of punishment...
...in his entire professional career!
Maybe he's clearing his head, but the body shots really caved in his ribs.
Balboa is thinking knockout himself!
Another counterhook by Balboa, followed by two more!
Dixon fires back his own hooks! Now Rocky's stunned.
It's an all-out war along the ropes...
...as round two comes to a close amid a giant tumult in the ring!
Incredible.
All right!
Welcome to Rockyland.
- How's the hand? - My hand's broken.
We lose, it's your ass! Your ass!
It will numb up on you in a few rounds.
Once that hand numbs up, Dixon will be able to throw it hard.
Until then, here is Rocky's chance.
- No reverse! - Take the pain, champ.
Stay on him! Everybody thought this was a joke, including me!
Now nobody's laughing! Stay on him! You go get him!
Go out strong!
Keep him off you!
That's it! That's it!
You won that round. Break him down.
Bomb him! Bomb him!
Yeah!
Just keep throwing them bombs!
Come on.
You can do this.
Rocko. Rocko.
Yeah, come on, go!
Go through him! Run over him!
Unload on him!
Get down, Mason!
They're leaving nothing on the table, guys.
The fans are still standing. They may not be able to sit down for a week.
- You're doing great! - I'm doing better than I thought.
- You sure he's okay? - I've had worse.
Toe to toe, one round to go. Who would've believed this was possible?
- Can you see out of that eye? - Let me talk to him.
Don't take any more chances than you have to.
There's nothing more to prove, Pop. There's nothing more to prove.
I gotta go out the way I gotta go out.
You can do it, Rocko!
- One more round, we go home. - Okay, then do it.
There's an old saying that every great champion has...
...one great fight left in him, and Rocky is proving it so far.
- Come on. Touch them up. - Rocko! The last round of your life!
- Come on, guys. - The last round!
Come on. Touch them up, let's go. Touch them up.
- You are one crazy old man. - You'll get there.
Let's go.
Tenth round of a scheduled 10. Who would ever have dreamed...
...that Rocky Balboa would still be in this quote, "exhibition," against...
...the heavyweight champion? - You can do it! Come on!
This fight is as though Dixon got on-the-job training in courage.
- Cover up! Cover up! - They're both in a pain-free zone!
These guys are fighting in another dimension right now!
Beyond belief! Balboa just walking straight into Dixors punches.
Target practice for Dixon.
They're exchanging right hooks! Balboa's drilled!
Here comes Dixon! He's exhausted from just punching the man!
Knock this bum out, Mase!
What is it you said to the kid? It ain't about how hard you hit.
It' about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.
How much you can take and keep moving forward.
- Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! - Get up.
- Let's go! Get up! - Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
Get up.
Another monster body shot. Rocky's ancestors must have felt that one.
Come on, Rocky! Start moving those hands!
Less than two minutes to go.
The crowd is astonished that Balboa got up.
- Come on! - Turn it over! All the way through!
And retaliates with fury!
Chop him down!
Come on, Rocky! Come on!
Take him out now!
They're trading shots again!
Balboa is trying to hit anything and anywhere!
Win it! Win it!
Yes!
You're a great champion. You got heart.
Thanks for the opportunity. Good man.
That was unbelievable. That was the greatest thing I've ever seen.
You did it. That's the kind of fighting you're talking about.
Hey, Paulie.
That beast is gone now. The beast is out.
One of the most overused words in sports, guys, is "incredible."
I hate to say it. This is incredible.
Let's go!
Ladies and gentlemen, before we go to the scorecards...
...a round of applause for these two heavyweight warriors!
We have a split decision.
Adelaide Byrd scores it 95-94...
...Dixon.
Chuck Giampa has it 95-94...
...Balboa.
And Bill Graham scores it 95-94...
...for the winner by split decision, and still undefeated...
...the heavyweight champion of the world...
...Mason "The Line" Dixon!
Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!
You know, I couldn't have done nothing without you.
Yo, Adrian, we did it.
We did it.