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

"Ali's getting hit with far too many shots, body and head, the writing is on the wall. If Foreman can sustain that for another round, you'd expect Ali to fall apart."

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

"Ali's pulling away, taking the sting out of the punches. George is getting a lot of solid punches through but also hitting a lot of fresh air or Muhammad's getting half a shoulder or a glove in the way.

"George is thinking: 'Ultimately I'll get him, I'm too strong, I'm too powerful, too young.' But there will be a few doubts creeping in. I'd probably give that round to Foreman, just, on work-rate."

David Haye
Former world heavyweight champion on BBC Radio 5 live

"Going to the ropes like that and absorbing some vicious body and head assaults, that will be doing some serious internal damage.

"But although Ali was on the ropes, under fire, he landed the cleaner, quality shots."

Image source, AP

Foreman lands with a good left hand as Ali retreats to the corner... Ali blocking Foreman's punches with his elbows and gloves before backing into the opposite corner and landing with two razor sharp lefts... Ali leaning right back now as Foreman flails away at his body, head down, not much thought, like a navvy tamping down cement with a length of four by two... left-right from Ali, but strange tactics from the challenger, crazy in fact...

Andrew Priestley:, external You can see Ali chirping away in Foreman's ear. Always talking, all the time wearing him out psychologically.

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

"Ali started the round well and finished it well, I think he took it…"

David Haye
Former world heavyweight champion on BBC Radio 5 live

"Ali is using raiding tactics, staying out of range, bouncing around, and when Foreman picks his legs up to chase him he lands a couple of shots, ties him up and steps to the side.

"It's a dangerous strategy to throw a right hand first because you leave yourself vulnerable to a counter-attack, but Ali makes the rules up.

"George just wants to get Ali out of there, he's not pacing himself. But he didn't land any clean shots, that first round went to Ali."

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

"Ali threw the first punch and that was the nerves gone. Some of the best fighters down the years have been able to throw right-hand leads and that's because they've got the speed. Foreman will not be happy with that first round… "

Image source, Getty Images

... Ali comes skating across the ring and lands with a lead right hand, that must have hurt Foreman, he wouldn't have been expecting that. Ali tying his man up, messing Foreman up, blocking Foreman's shots. Ali on his bike, making Foreman lumber forward like the mummy the challenger said he is... Wild left hand from Foreman but he lands with a vicious left under the heart. But Ali stands up to it... Ali pinned in the corner now, looking tired. What a first round...

And we're under way... Foreman v Ali start trading blows...

Robbo7:, external Can't see how Ali can win - it would take a genius to beat a puncher like Foreman.

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

"It's occasions like this where legacies are built."

David Haye
Former world heavyweight champion on BBC Radio 5 live

"Non-stop talking from Ali, non-stop getting under Foreman's skin."

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

"Foreman will be really riled up and that's exactly what Ali will want.

"This is the time now. Do or die. Fight or flight."

Eight minutes after Ali's entrance, Foreman comes running into the ring like a man who wants out of Africa, and fast. A few boos rippling around the stadium and here's Ali ramping up the crowd and he's assailed with cries of "Ali bomaye!", which translates as "Ali kill him!". Not likely, I'm afraid, unless he's got a bazooka secreted under that magnificent gown...

Roy Foreman, George's younger brother: "At 13 years old, George was about 6ft 2in, 200lb and the terrorist in the neighbourhood. And when you're bigger and stronger and think you're better than everyone else, you take things.

"He might take your bicycle, not because he liked riding but because he could; he might take your cigarettes; the only reason he wouldn't take your clothes was because he was so big. He carried that fierceness all the way to the ring. He always said he wanted to kill somebody in the ring. And I believed him."

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

"Ali has got his fans but there will be a lot of people wanting him to have his mouth closed. He looks like someone who knows he's going to do the business, though."

Marvin Edgar Ochieng:, external I'm risking heavy punches by declaring heavyweight purists like me have never been wowed by Ali.

Perhaps the next hour will change your view...

David Haye
Former world heavyweight champion on BBC Radio 5 live

"George looks a lot bigger - wider, thicker, bigger head - but the stats don't reflect that. It's one thing having a great knockout ratio fighting bums, but Foreman's knocked out some of the all-time great fighters, smashed them to smithereens. If you're in Ali's corner you'll be thinking: 'Do not get hit, under any circumstances.'"