Ricky Hatton
Former two-weight world champion on BBC Radio 5 live

"Now would be the time to say to Ali: 'Listen, start putting some meat behind the punches, because this fella doesn't look like he has got a leg under him now.' Ali looks like a lion in the long grass just waiting for his moment now.

"It's a hard round to score, because George was throwing punches and a lot of them were missing, but Ali's work-rate was terribly low."

Image source, AP

The bell goes for the start of the round and Ali doesn't even bother making his way to the middle of the ring this time, he immediately assumes his position on the ropes. Ali grabbing Foreman's ample neck and pulling him down, Foreman still pawing with that right hand... both men look shattered now, as if fighting in sand... huge left on the walk from Foreman but nothing is getting to Ali, at no point has he looked unduly troubled...

David Haye
Former world heavyweight champion on BBC Radio 5 live

"Ali is not throwing as many punches but the punches he is throwing have a bit more meat behind them. He's thinking: 'I've tired George Foreman out, I don't need threes and fours and fives here, I need solid ones and twos.'

"Ali has probably got the fastest feet in boxing but he has not used any of that tonight. But Foreman is just emptying the tank, he is ready to go. He staggered back to that corner. That was a big round for Ali, he seems in complete control."

Carl Froch
World super-middleweight champion on BBC Radio 5 live

"Ali is not doing a great deal but Foreman looks half the fighter he was in the previous round and that's because of what Ali took out of him. There is absolutely no power in George's punches. Maybe Ali can do it…"

Ricky Hatton
Former two-weight world champion on BBC Radio 5 live

"George Foreman's work rate hasn't dropped one bit, he is still going, but you can see the snap has gone from his punches and he is staggering about the ring. His legs look like they have turned to jelly.

"Ali is just making him miss, making him miss and in the last 10 seconds, just when George stepped back and wanted to take a breather, Ali put his foot on the gas again. Can this dream come true? Is he going to do the unthinkable?"

Image source, AP

The ropes were tightened up between rounds, presumably a member of Ali camp making sure their man doesn't end up in the press seats. Ali show no ill-effects from that pounding in the previous round and it's Foreman looking the wearier, falling into clinches, like a drunk man toppling into some shrubbery... more meat in Ali's punches now, and it's more educated work than Foreman's... Ali's trainer Angelo Dundee imploring his man to get off the ropes, and he does so towards the end of the round before threading together some wicked combinations... Ali's round, Foreman looks ground down...

Ricky Hatton
Former two-weight world champion on BBC Radio 5 live

"Ali started a little bit slower and barely threw a punch. The writing is on the wall for Ali here. He is not coming back with any counter and his legs are glued to the canvas. George is probably thinking: 'Ah-ha, I have got you now…'"

Carl Froch
World super-middleweight champion on BBC Radio 5 live

"Foreman was getting on top but Ali was still taunting him and soaking shots up. But shots are getting through, especially the body shots.

"Frightening, that's all I can say about that, you have got to score that round to Foreman. But Ali finished that round strong."

David Haye
Former world heavyweight champion on BBC Radio 5 live

"Foreman has started to loosen up a little bit, he is not looking as stiff as he did in the first four rounds.

"Ali is taking some vicious body shots here, his legs are stuck to the floor and he's not punching back. If you didn't know Foreman had had 40 professional fights, you'd be surprised if he'd had 40 amateur fights looking at some of the wild swings and misses. But I'd still give that round to Foreman."

Image source, AFP

Ironically, light-heavyweight legend Archie Moore, in Foreman's corner tonight and who fought Ali in 1962, was a master at using the ropes to his advantage. But it's not working for Ali in this round, Foreman starting to take chunks out of Ali's defence now...

Ali not throwing anything here and there are gut-wrenching cries of "careful, Ali!" from an Englishman in the crowd. Foreman pouring it on now but these punches haven't got much heft behind them, they're arm punches, not much more...

Paul Judge:, external I'm going for Foreman in the ninth - he looks hungry - Ali past it!

Carl Froch
World super-middleweight champion on BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, BBC Sport

"Unbelievable stuff really, it's compelling viewing. The longer this fight goes on, the more questions George will ask himself: 'What have I got to do?' I almost feel sorry for him."

Ricky Hatton
Former two-weight world champion on BBC Radio 5 live

"Muhammad Ali is breathing heavily here, he is not going to be able to take much more of this.

"This is unknown territory for George - he has had so many knockouts so early on, he probably doesn't know any better. But I would give that round to Foreman, his pressure and work-rate were good."

David Haye
Former world heavyweight champion on BBC Radio 5 live

"From the outside it looks like a suicide mission but in that ring, in the heat of the battle, Ali knows what he is doing. He looks cool, he looks calm, because Foreman is emptying the tank.

"If Ali is feeling that he can land his punches cleaner now than he could do in the first round it's going the right way for him. The quality punches were landed by Ali so I will go with Ali in that round."

Image source, Getty Images

Foreman is in scary territory now, he hasn't been beyond the fourth round for three years. Let's see how that stamina stands up in this wilting heat. Ali starts at Foreman before putting on the breaks and moving back to the ropes again. Foreman staggered! Foreman staggered! Spearing right-hand lead by Ali and Foreman's right eye is puffing up. Foreman marching forward but all the clever work is coming from Ali, who is tying the champion up and scoring with razor-sharp combinations. It's looking grim now for Foreman, he looks like he might be spent already and there's a long way to the top of the mountain...

David Haye
Former world heavyweight champion on BBC Radio 5 live

"All Ali is doing is trying to stop Foreman landing clean. That's it. He was on the ropes, not worrying too much about what he was throwing, using the loose ropes to sway away from the punches.

"No-one practices missing punches, you are not conditioned to miss with punches. You are conditioned to land. So when someone makes you miss, you are running out of steam and you are getting disheartened.

"Everyone has told George that all he has got to do is land and the fight is over. He is the biggest punching heavyweight in history so why should he have to pick his punches? Just keep punching."

Ricky Hatton
Former two-weight world champion on BBC Radio 5 live

"Those top ropes do look a little bit loose. But it doesn't seem to be putting Foreman off. He's probably thinking: 'I'll get him, I'll get him, he can't stand much more of this.'

"George's punches are landing so they are scoring - but are they doing any damage? Probably not."

Carl Froch
World super-middleweight champion on BBC Radio 5 live

"Ali is landing and looks like he is taking control. You've got to score that round to Ali. But it's an even match, it could go either way."

Image source, Getty Images

Ali lands with a combination to Foreman's chops but immediately backs onto the ropes... big right from Foreman but many of the champion's punches are little more than paws... fast hands from Ali before Foreman lands with a horrible left to the body... left from Foreman, followed by a right, this is suicidal stuff from Ali... but still Ali talks to Foreman after crashing down on top of the champion... spearing left from Ali but Foreman stuns Ali with a savage left, perhaps the biggest punch of the fight so far... right-hand lead again from Ali towards the end of the round.

It's Foreman's body punches against Ali's speed, and at the moment Ali's speed is winning...

Graham Bell:, external Great start by Ali, showing he won't be bullied. His hand speed is phenomenal.