15 Rounds Vs 12 Rounds: A Look at Some Major Fights that Could have had Different Outcomes

By Anne “Boxologist” Whitlock

It has been argued that “some of the greatest moments in sports would never have occurred” were the 12-round limit imposed in earlier matches. Nonetheless, entirely different strategies might have been used were the fights scheduled for only 12 rather than 15 rounds, so it is possible that some or all matches could have ended the same way regardless of whether the scheduled distance were 12 or 15 rounds. The following are some of the most notable longer championship distances, including the “Fight of the Century, that would have had the reverse result were they abruptly ended after the 12th round.

June 18, 1941….

Joe Louis Vs Billy Conn

Joe Louis faced light heavyweight champ Billy Conn for Louis’ heavyweight title. Leading on all three scorecards, Conn would have captured the title were the bout only 12 rounds long, which might have prevented Louis from retaining the title by knocking out Conn with a six-punch barrage in the 13th round.

June 17, 1954….

Rocky Marciano Vs Ezzard Charles.

For much of the match, it appeared that Charles would become the first former champion to regain the heavyweight crown. However, in each of the final rounds Marciano unleashed three-minute non-stop striking combinations, earning a close but unanimous victory over Charles. Had this been 12 rounds, Marciano would not have become, to this day, the only Heavyweight Champion to have finished his career undefeated. Charles also became the only man ever to last the full 15-round distance against Marciano during his reign as Heavyweight Champion.

July 13, 1966…..

Emile Griffith Vs Joey Archer

Had this middleweight championship not gone the 15-round distance, the title would have been captured by Archer, but the defender outlasted and wore down Archer to retain it in the end.

March 8, 1971…..

Joe Frazier Vs Muhammad Ali

Billed as the Fight of the Century. It has been argued that the apparent outcome of the match was reversed after “one of history’s greatest left-hooks ever,” which was thrown in the 15th round.

September 16, 1981….

Sugar Ray Leonard Vs Thomas Hearns

In what has been called “the biggest and most anticipated fight in welterweight history,” Leonard was behind on the scorecards after the 12th round, though rallying to win in the 14th.

November 12, 1982…

Aaron Pryor Vs Alexis Arguello

In what was ultimately named “The Fight of the 1980s”, former three weight champion Alexis Arguello moved up to challenge for undefeated Aaron Pryor’s Light Welterweight championship. In what would prove to be a brilliant ebb and flow fight, the slicker, smaller puncher, Arguello, though behind after 12 rounds was coming on in the fight.

However, in between the 13th and 14th rounds, Pryor’s head trainer Panama Lewis was heard to ask for “another bottle…the one I mixed”. Any drink but water has been strictly regulated since the Marques of Queensbury Rules were introduced in the 1800s. Rumors abound that the new bottle contained anything from Schnapps, to Alka Seltzer, PCP or an anti-asthma drug that opens the sinus cavities. Whatever the case, a suddenly revived Pryor stormed out of the corner and landed punch after punch on Arguello ultimately ending the Nicaraguan’s bid to become a four weight champion. Had the fight only gone 12 rounds, it is argued that Arguello would probably be considered among the top three or four fighters of all-time.

It has also been argued that extra rounds would have changed the following fights.

April 6, 1987….

Marvin Hagler Vs Sugar Ray Leonard

Before the match, it was believed that Leonard’s decision to challenge Hagler, the World Middleweight Champion, was a dangerous mistake that seemed destined to result in “a brutal knockout loss.” However, Leonard prevented Hagler from scoring by repeatedly dodging Hagler’s heavy hits for the surprising upset victory by points. It was noted that Leonard was clearly more exhausted by the tactic than Hagler towards the final rounds and might not have been able to maintain his points lead for 15 rounds.

July 16, 2005…

Bernard Hopkins Vs Jermain Taylor I

The debate following the fight raised the question of whether Taylor, who was “losing steam” in the later rounds, would have won the title match were it a 15-round bout.

These are just a few examples of major 12 round and 15 round fights that could have had different outcomes….