The Italian Stallion vs The Line (2024)

Mason Dixon vs Rocky Balboa, billed as The Italian Stallion vs The Line, or Skill vs Will, was an exhibition bout between the two Heavyweight champions held in 2006 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Rocky who was 60 and a widower of losing his wife Adrian, came out of retirement to potentially give one last fight for a chance to prove he's still good. Mason accepted the bout due to failing to capture the fans of the sport due to a lack of worthwhile contenders. Dixon had yet to face a real challenge and people believed that if Dixon was tested, he would lose.

The fight went the whole 10 rounds with each boxer giving their all after the last 5 movies of 15 rounds of the boxing battle. The fight ended in a split decision that went in favor to Dixon. Dixon earned the respect of the media, fans and proved that he can battle through adversity.

Background[]

Mason Dixon (35 years old) was at the height of his career at 33-0-0 with 30 KOs. He was a Tampa, Florida native who now resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. Despite the initial promise of his career and the fame that came with being undisputed champion, over the years, with the decline of the Heavyweight division and boxing in general, he had failed to capture the fans of the sport due to a lack of worthwhile contenders. He had the media questioning "is Mason Dixon that good? Or is his competition that bad?" Dixon had yet to face a real challenge and people believed that if Dixon was tested, he would lose. This is most evident in his latest title defense before the Balboa fight, where after a quick knockout win, the spectators showered him with boos and even pelted him with ice.

Rocky, now a 59 year old, has been retired from boxing for twenty years and lives a quiet life as a widower. His wife Adrian had died from cancer four years earlier. Adrian's is still very successful, where he regales his patrons with stories of his past. He is still a big shot celebrity and Philadelphians have never forgotten him wherever he goes. He also has gotten better in his financial situation, not being broke like he was in 1986. He also battles personal demons involving his grief over Adrian's death, the changing times, and his eroding relationship with his son Robert, a struggling corporate employee. Although it's not shown outside the ring, Rocky still battles some level of PTSD from his fight with Drago twenty-one years prior, having flashes of the brutal punches and injury he sustained from the Soviet fighter.

Meanwhile, ESPN broadcasted "Then and Now", a segment pitting the best athletes of the past against the best of the present, and Dixon was matched up against Balboa. The simulation ended in an 11th round knockout victory of Balboa over Dixon, with fans and media already disliking Dixon, they ran with this simulation and supported the Balboa victory. Dixon's promoters went public with a strong denouncement of the simulation, going as far as to insult Balboa for owning a small successful Philadelphia restaurant. Rocky Balboa with the intention of fighting a few small local fights re-applied for his boxing licensed and got it renewed since he passed his physical, Balboa passing made it onto the front page of the paper, alerting Dixon's managers. Dixon initially scoffs at the idea of fighting a 59-year-old Rocky Balboa, claiming he would beat Balboa "with his arms tied behind his back'' but his managers remind him that the last two PPV's were in the toilet and that there are no worthy challengers out there, meaning that nobody will pay to watch Dixon fight, they urge Dixon to capitalize on the computer fight, capitalize on nostalgia, telling him that he would make an easy $20 million from the fight, and have the chance to reinvent his image. Dixon's managers journey down to Philadelphia to try and talk Rocky into an exhibition match, they mention that a portion of the fight will be donated to charity and that Balboa wouldn't be brutalized because it will be an exhibition, like a glorified sparring session and Rocky agrees.

The fight was marketed as "Will (Balboa) vs. Skill (Dixon)". The press conference took place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Dixon's manager opened the conference by stating the fight was Mason Dixon's idea, calling it the "brainchild'' of Mason Dixon as he hopes to honour past heavyweight champions, warriors like Rocky Balboa. Dixon seemed relaxed and chilled out, he was asked what would happen if he lost, in which he responded with a laugh and said ''You know that'll never happen'' Dixon lost his cool when a reporter questioned that Dixon's legacy and popularity were in doubt, causing Dixon to stand up, and take stance at the podium. He mentions that he is ''33-0, with 30 knockouts, what else do I have to do?" Dixon then goes on to say that he is having this exhibition for the fans and they still want to make a mockery out of him? Balboa and Dixon speak off the record at the weigh-ins, Dixon tells Balboa that he will do his best to carry him through the fight and that he won't get embarrassed, but if Balboa tries to press him, hurt him or hit him low, he will ''Get [Balboa] outta there'' meaning he will quickly KO him. Balboa tells him that he came to win, Dixon fires back by telling him it's already over, prompting Balboa to say it ain't over till it's over. Balboa then asks Dixon if he gets scared to which Dixon replied ''I don't get scared."

The Fight[]

On the night of the fight, many were predicting a 1st, 2nd or 3rd round TKO victory for Mason Dixon, with the commentators calling it an ''execution'' before the fight began. The fight went exactly as experts predicted in the fight two rounds, Balboa was far too slow for the ultra-fast Dixon, Balboa was throwing hooks that weren't landing anywhere near Dixon, meanwhile, Dixon used his distance to slowly pick apart Balboa with his jab. Balboa landed a quick 1-2 towards the end of the first that shocked Dixon, causing him to push Balboa back and unload with strikes, knocking Balboa all the way back to the corner and unloading in the final 10 seconds of the round. The stats for the first round had Balboa land 9 out of 13 punches compared to Dixon's 59 out of 69. Dixon's corner man Martin told Dixon that Balboa came to battle and that Dixon needs to show Balboa some respect. Dixon replies with ''What about my respect?'' pushing past Martin as the second round begins, clearly wanting to end the fight.

Dixon opens the second round with the same game plan, using his range and distance to keep Balboa at bay with jabs, but Dixon is clearly more agitated this round and is firing off a lot more quick jabs, hoping to end the fight. Dixon lands a right hook, dropping Balboa for a five count. Dixon immediately rushes Balboa, landing combinations to the gut and head, dropping Balboa for a second time with a left and right hook combo. The commentators, audience, Dixon are all adamant that the fight is over, but Balboa is able to get up at the count of nine. Dixon argues with the referee to stop the fight, but as he does this Balboa catches him with a right hook, followed up with a left and right hook combo, pushing Dixon into the ropes. Dixon fights back and lands another combo, but breaks his right hand after a shot to Balboa's ribs. Dixon in clear pain backs away, but Balboa rushes him, unloading with shots to the ribs and head. Finally, Balboa traps Dixon in the corner and pummels him with shots to the ribs, causing Dixon to drop.

Dixon is able to get back up at eight and the two fighters trade strikes until the end of the round. Dixon fought the next three-four rounds with one hand, unable to throw his right hand. Due to this, Balboa won the third and fourth rounds by trapping Dixon in the corners and unloading with rights and lefts to the body and head. Balboa was able to close the range and distance easier as well because Dixon couldn't throw his right jab, the jab that kept Balboa at bay. Balboa's speed was a huge negative earlier in the fight, but now he didn't need to worry as much because he was able to get in close and catch Dixon because Dixon couldn't defend himself with that jab. In the 5th round, Dixon was able to fight back slightly, his right hand was beginning to numb up and he was slowly starting to use it again. Dixon used his evasive skills to dodge Balboa and pick him apart to win the round.

Heading into the tenth and final round, Dixon had won five rounds, presumably the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 7th, and 8th. Balboa had won four, presumably the 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 9th. At the beginning of the final round, Dixon chuckled as he called Balboa "One crazy old man'' Balboa responded by saying "You'll get there'' Balboa and Dixon mostly traded strikes for the final round, but Dixon was able to drop Balboa down to one knee at one stage with a heavy hook. Balboa was able to get back up and they continued to trade punches until the end of the round. At the end of the fight, Balboa and Dixon hugged, with Balboa calling Dixon a great champion, telling him that he has heart, and thanking him for the opportunity. The fight goes to the judge's scorecards, Michael Buffer announcing that it is a split decision, Dixon seems annoyed and shocked by this, Buffer begins reading out the scores, 95-94 Dixon, 95-94 Balboa, and 95-94 Dixon, giving Mason Dixon the split decision victory.

Alternate Ending[]

In the Alternate Version after finishing the 10th and final round, the fight goes to the judge's scorecards and Michael Buffer announcing that it is a split decision, Dixon seems annoyed and shocked by this, Buffer begins reading out the scores, 95-94 Dixon, 95-94 Balboa, and 95-94 Balboa, giving Rocky the split decision victory of becoming the three-time champion (in a Lineal sense, not officially, for the fight was an exhibition) and Dixon's winning streak is finally snapped.

Aftermath[]

Dixon earned the respect of the media, fans and proved that he can battle through adversity. The fans still cheered for Rocky and he became a bigger celebrity for going the distance against Dixon. He finally got a chance to say goodbye to boxing for good. In the closing shot, Rocky returns home and visits Adrian's grave again; thanking her for helping him.

The fight was officially Rocky Balboa's last boxing match and commentators called one of the greatest ways to go out in the boxing world. Rocky hung up his gloves for good after his final comeback in 2006 and went back to his normal routine; he still ran Adrian's and makes regular visits to his beloved wife's grave and would read the paper to find what was "new in the world today". He also stopped going back to Mickey's gym, no longer a trainer for boxers anymore, though he still retained ownership of the place, and left the care and running of the place to his gym manager.

Trivia[]

• This is the 2nd fight event that is live in Las Vegas, Nevada. The first being "The Master of Disaster vs The Siberian Express".
• This is the first fight that doesn't last 15 rounds due to after the death of Korean boxer Kim Duk-koo in a fight against Ray Mancini in 1982.

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