Ali brought an unusual story into the title fight. The Nigerian-born challenger, also known as Bashiru Lawrence Ali and “Mr. President,” talked openly about eventually running for president of Nigeria. He claimed a world championship would increase his stature and help finance those political ambitions.
Winning the belt proved considerably more difficult.
Controlling Ali from the opening bell with a steady jab, Czyz repeatedly followed it with hard right hands, uppercuts and combinations. Ali was naturally strong at cruiserweight and possessed an excellent chin, but his durability became his primary asset as the rounds accumulated.
There were opportunities for the champion to finish him. Ali’s face began showing the effects of the punishment, particularly around the eyes, while Czyz remained largely untouched. When Czyz opened up, Ali frequently responded by tying him up rather than exchanging.
Broadcast punch statistics illustrated the scale of the beating, crediting Czyz with landing 435 of 733 punches, an extraordinary 59 percent. Ali connected at approximately 28 percent.
The knockout that might have transformed an otherwise methodical defense into a spectacular one never came.
By the championship rounds, the outcome had long since been decided. Judges John Potera, Vinny Rainone and Phil Newman each scored the fight 120-108, giving Czyz a clean sweep on the cards. Steve Smoger served as referee.
The performance kept alive talk of a lucrative fight with Thomas Hearns, although that matchup never materialized. Czyz instead defended his WBA championship against Donny Lalonde in May 1992, winning another 12-round decision.
The Nigerian challenger left Atlantic City without the belt, though his reputation for toughness remained intact. He continued fighting for years afterward, while his political ambitions and attempts to stage a record-setting boxing event eventually became major stories in Nigeria.
The night was less about drama than complete control: 36 minutes, 12 rounds and every one of them belonging to Czyz.
Ali landed his share of big shots throughout the fight, but Czyz took them without giving ground and repeatedly came back with harder punches of his own. The 120-108 cards told the story of who won the exchanges.
