[kenyan_cheena]

ROUND FOUR

Buddy Baer receives a dressing down from his trainer during the intermission. He comes out for the fourth round with renewed vigour, realising that he really needs to win the round if he is to have any hope of winning the fight. He immediately jumps on Ray, landing a crushing right hand early in the round that stuns Elmer. Baer is visibly tired, breathing heavily as he stalks his opponent. He catches up with him, and the two trade punches, none of which do any real damage. Baer initiates a clinch, and as referee Branson separates them, Ray wings a big left hook at Baer. But Baer evades it, feeling nothing but a cool breeze. He fires back with a nice uppercut that catches Elmer flush on the chin. Ray goades Baer, calling him in, shouting what sounds like "Bring it on!" Baer throws a right cross that misses, and Ray counters with a pounding shot to the ribs. Baer takes a step back and unleashes another crunching uppercut, buckling Ray's legs for the first time in the fight! A follow up right hand almost drops Ray, and the crowd rise to their feet as one. Ray stumbles backwards. His knee almost touches the canvas but he maintains his footing, leaning against the ropes for support, covering up. Baer crowds him, throwing desparate, panicked punches, trying to end it, fighting against the exhaustion that is overcoming his body. His corner urges him on, knowing this could be his only chance. Ray slips inside Baer's punches, parries some of them and retaliates with quick, two and three punch combinations for the next thirty seconds, weathering the storm, allowing Baer to further tire himself out. It looks like Baer has missed his opportunity. His punches are weak, ineffective, off the mark. It looks even more so when Ray connects with a hard right hand that backs Baer up, stunning him. Ray marches forward, scoring with a nice right hook. Baer clinches, hanging on for dear life. The round ends with the two men still locked in this embrace.

Buddy Baer has earned my respect for the way he rallied in the 4th round. He has a big heart, without a doubt. But at the end of the round, he looks totally spent. Yes, the fight is close, but will he be able to last two more rounds?

MY SCORECARD: BAER 10-9 (ALL TIED UP AT 38-38 AFTER FOUR ROUNDS)


ROUND FIVE

Elmer Ray has a look of disgust on his face as the 5th round begins. Perhaps he is upset with his effort in the 4th round. He comes out in the 5th ready and determined to end the fight. Baer unloads with a big right hand which, unfortunately for him, misses. He almost succeeds in throwing himself off his feet. Ray lands a hard cross that staggers Baer. He comes at Ray again and whiffs another big right hand. He's going for a lucky one punch knockout, knowing he has hardly anything left in the tank. Ray fires away from in close, landing at least three clean punches. Baer leans on him, allowing himself a few precious seconds to recover. Ray pushes him away, aggitated, crashes another right cross against Buddy's cheek bone. Baer is running on heart now. He misses with a left and a right, Ray side-stepping his opponent. Baer's corner continue to shout their encouragement, although they must know that their man's chances diminish with every missed punch. Ray doubles up on the hook, scoring to both the body and head. It's a miracle that Baer is still standing. He's starting to resemble a drunken sailor. Ray fights from the outside, making Baer chase him. Baer obliges, swings at Ray and misses, tries to land a leaping left hook and again almost falls flat on his face. The crowd applaudes his determination. Ray plants his feet and fires a spearing right hand through Baer's defences. He doubles up, forgetting the jab and landing another flush right hand, wobbling the big man. But Baer returns fire. The bell rings and he keeps on swinging! Ray retaliates, smashing a wicked right hand against Baer's left eye, cutting him. Baer grabs him in a headlock and the two tumble to the canvas! Referee Branson struggles to separate them as the ring is flooded with cornermen. The crowd is in a frenzy. The two warriors are forceably returned to their corners, Ray sounding off at referee Branson. Baer is pressing his glove against the cut over his left eye. He slumps onto his stool, mouth open. His cornermen work feverishly on his wound. Referee Branson converses with Ray's trainer, who is seriously peeved by Baer's after the bell antics. All I can think is "What a great fight!"

Elmer Ray probably should have put Baer away in the 5th. The man was practically out on his feet. I doubt that Baer will last until the final bell, but stranger things have happened.

MY SCORECARD: RAY 10-9 (RAY 48-47 AFTER FIVE ROUNDS)


SIXTH AND FINAL ROUND

Buddy Baer steps up to the plate for the final round. He is a tough customer, no doubt. The crowd offers up a deafening round of applause as the two men touch gloves. Baer looks determined to go the distance. Ray looks determined to knock him out. Baer wraps up Ray before he can get a punch off, leaning on Ray as Ray leans on the ropes. But Elmer fights free and stuns Baer with a fierce uppercut, followed by a painful hook to the body. Ray appears to be adopting an economical approach with his punches, making each one count. He traps Baer in his own corner and torments him with another brutal right hand. For a moment, the only thing holding Baer up is the ropes. The round is half over but to Baer, the final bell must seem years away. He deflects Ray's jab. But now, Ray has gone into a frenzy (as has the audience), like a shark feeding on his prey. Bulldozing left hooks and right hooks and straight rights and uppercuts are smashing into Baer's head and arms. Baer now appears helpless, defenseless. Branson looks about ready to stop the fight. Ray measures his punches. He punishes Baer's midsection, pounding his ribs and abdominals. Baer's hands drop slightly, allowing Elmer Ray to land the best and final punch of the night, a perfect left hook that snaps Baer's head around on his neck. It's the kind of punch that would have stopped most in their tracks, in the first round or the last round or anywhere in between. Baer is unconscious before he hits the canvas, but Ray still has his right hand cocked, ready to follow up. The referee pushes him aside and begins the count. Ray walks to a neutral corner, pumps his fist in the air. He stands up on the corner ring buckle, gesticulating to the crowd, wearing a furious scowl. Sadly for Baer, he does not beat the count. He does not even move. The fight is over at the 2:22 mark of the final round...