Behind on All Three Cards, He Wins by TKO

Baltimore heavyweight Reggie Gross overcome an almost impossible deficit on scorecards to post a stunning eighth-round victory over previously undefeated Bert Cooper of Philadelphia Friday night.

Gross, trailing 7-0 on one scorecard and 6-1 on two others, switched to a southpaw stance and rained a barrage of head blows to Cooper, who turned his back.

Referee Rudy Battle issued a standing eight count and subsequently stopped the scheduled 10-round bout at 1:24 of the eighth.

“I knew I was behind, but I knew he was tired,” Gross said. “It’s my strategy to wait until guys tire out and finish them off. But I’ll never do it again.”