[bigMatt]

CHICAGO - Soldier's Field hosted the highly-anticipated rematch between PBF champ Muhammad Ali and challenger Teofilo Stevenson.

Both fighters are ready to go this time around as they entered the ring. It will be two finely tuned fighters at the top of their form going at it for the PBF title.

Round 1 looks to be all Ali early, who uncharacteristically goes right after it from the opening bell. Stevenson appears surprised by Ali's aggression, adopting a defensive response to the advancing champ. A couple of hard shots mid-round looked to rock the Cuban, but by the end of the round, he looks to be settling in, his confidence returning along with some success against the champ.

Stevenson builds from the late success in round 1 to put together a solid second frame, hitting Ali with several hard shots, one of which draws blood from the mouth of the champ. Ali for his part does not idle down, but continues to find Stevenson's face with his sharp jabs and combinations, raising an ugly welt under the Cuban's left eye. Round 2 ends a close one, with a slight nod on my card to Stevenson.

The two fighters continue to trade hard shots in round 3, the first one a roundhouse hook by Ali that shakes Stevenson. Stevenson returns the favor with a 3-punch combination that stops Ali cold, followed by a hard hook to the head that staggers Ali. Ali regroups and goes back to work on Stevenson, landing a 3-punch combo of his own that leaves Stevenson wincing. The round ends with both fighters looking strong.

Stevenson stormed out at the sound of the bell tolling round 4, applying a hard body shot to Ali then a solid right flush to the chin of Ali. That punch would have sent many fighters to the canvas, but Ali shakes it off. Ali spins Stevenson around with a wicked hook that tears the Cuban's mouth open. The blood seems to spur Stevenson to a fury, as the Cuban unleashes a crippling right to the head of Ali, then sets about addressing Ali's body with another combination. The round ends with both fighters bleeding from the mouth, and Stevenson collecting the round.

Round 5 begins like all others, with both fighters willing to trade at ring center. Ali flicks a couple of scoring jabs at the face of Stevenson, but a third advance earns Ali a first-hand encounter with a tremendous left by Stevenson to the side of the head that staggers the champ. Stevenson follows by driving a solid right into Ali's midsection, bending his opponent over in pain. Ali slides into his corner, trying to cover up and avoid further damage. Stevenson advances and lands a devastating uppercut to Ali's head. It is now obvious that he has Ali hurt, and is raining blows on the champ in an attempt to drop him. Ali now shows some swelling under his left eye. Stevenson wings another cross at the side of Ali's head. And yet another one lands. Referee Richard Steele shouts to Ali "Do you want me to stop the fight?" The answer of course is "no". The fight continues with Stevenson stalking a seriously hurt Ali. Stevenson launches a wild right that misses the champ as the round ends.

When round 6 begins, Ali looks to have cleared his head. He is bouncing in customary style. A left hook to the side of Stevenson's head enlarges the swelling that began there several rounds ago. Ali scores again but Stevenson's counter is a hard right that stops Ali cold. The swelling is growing worse under Ali's left eye. Trading at ring center, Ali sends a crushing hook into the face of Stevenson that staggers him. Another hook to the body makes the Cuban wince and another shot to the head leaves Stevenson shaken. All of a sudden, the champ who looked about ready to go in round 5 has assumed the advantage once again. Ali lands a vicious combination to Stevenson's face, and the swelling under Stevenson's left eye is beginning to look positively ugly. Ali lands an uppercut the buckles Stevenson's knees. Another cross from Ali lands flush on Stevenson's damaged left eye, which is now nearly shut. Ali follows with a perfect hook that drops Stevenson to the canvas. Stevenson tries unsuccessfully to climb to his feet at the count of 3, and somehow manages to get to his feet at 7. Steele asks Stevenson if he wants to continue, and the Cuban nods in the affirmative. But as the fighters commence again, Stevenson is obviously out on his feet. Referee Richard Steele wraps his arms around Stevenson and declares the fight over. An electrifying TKO win for Muhammad Ali, who retains his PBF title.

A post-fight peek at the judges scorecards showed Stevenson ahead on all cards going into round 6. It was truly a match worthy of title status.

November 28, 1890
HW: PBF Title: Muhammad Ali 19-0-0 (8) TKO6 Teofilo Stevenson 13-3-1 (6)
HW: Dominic McCaffrey 17-2-0 (3) UD10 Posh Price 12-2-1 (2)
HW: Billy Australian Smith 13-3-1 (4) KO3 Billy Wilson 13-2-2 (1)
HW: Scott Landsdowne 10-3-1 (2) MD6 Ian Millarvie 6-6-2 (2)
HW: Fred Crossley 11-5-1 (2) TKO6 Jack Fallon 10-5-0 (0)
HW: Charles Cooley 11-4-2 (2) MD6 Joe Hess 6-8-1 (1)