10. CAVEMAN LEE vs JOHN LOCICERO, (Round 5) TWENTY GRAND BALLROOM, DETROIT, MICHIGAN, SEPTEMBER 6, 1981
The most relatively obscure fight listed here but a bona fide American club classic in an era when title shots weren’t awarded in raffles.
Lee had taken a sustained beating in the previous round but came out revitalised in the 5th, putting a fatigued Locicero in reverse gear before dropping him with a right uppercut. As the middleweight contender from the Motor City went looking for the finish he was caught by a huge overhand right before LoCicero frantically pummelled him with a plethora of hooks from either hand and a couple of uppercuts by way of returning the compliment.
‘Either of these fighters could go at any moment’ proclaimed the ESPN announcer above the obtrusive din of a boisterous, baying crowd.
As fate would decree, it was LoCicero who ‘went’ when, having backed the ‘Caveman’ into a corner, he was nailed with a short left hook for the full count.