ten-rounds contest on the program instead. Weaver was 19-8 coming in, compared to undefeated Holmes' record of 30-0. Despite the disparity in records, it was a highly competitive bout, until Holmes dropped Weaver in round eleven and stopped him in round twelve to retain the belt. Despite defeat, Weaver gained credit for his showing among boxing fans and critics. Weaver had Holmes hurt and Holmes needed attention immediately after the contest was over. Weaver rebounded with two more wins, over Harry Terrell and Scott LeDoux. The win over LeDoux allowed him to capture the United States Boxing Association's regional, Heavyweight championship and be ranked by the WBA. Weaver challenged the WBA's world Heavyweight champion, John Tate, on March 31, 1980, at the champion's hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee. Weaver, a hard puncher, was decidedly behind on the three judges' scorecards and on his way to a points loss when he connected with a right to the body followed by a short left hook that lay Tate on the floor. Referee Ernesto Magaňa counted the champion out at 2 minutes and fifteen seconds of the fifteenth and last round, making Weaver the WBA world heavyweight champion with only forty-five seconds left in that contest, the punch that landed Weaver the championship still being remembered decades later. Weaver was about to defend his title against former sparring partner Muhammad Ali; Ali even took to nicknaming Weaver "Weaver the beaver" in the same style he used to nickname Joe Frazier "the gorilla" and Earnie Shavers "the acorn" for example. But Weaver-Ali was not meant to happen as Ali instead challenged Weaver's former conqueror Larry Holmes for Holmes' WBC version of the championship. Weaver defended his title twice; first by a thirteenth-round knockout win against future WBA world champion Gerrie Coetzee on Saturday, October 25, 1980 in Sun City, South Africa, and then, by a fifteen-rounds unanimous decision against James Tillis on Saturday, October 3, 1981 at Rosemont, Illinois. A tentative agreement was announced for Weaver to fight Gerry Cooney in defense of his title instead of James Tillis, the WBA, however, ruled that Weaver had to fight James Tillis instead before Weaver vs. Cooney could take place. Eventually, Cooney faced WBC champion Holmes instead, June 11 of 1982. Due in part to the WBA's refusal to sanction a contest between Weaver and Cooney, Weaver came into the first contest between him and Dokes following