Tonight on American Idol, it was the final duel of the Davids at L.A.'s Nokia Theater. Mentored by Clive Davis and Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Cook and David Archuleta went head to head for three rounds, and the show worked a boxing theme all night. ''You gotta have a desire to win,'' Simon told the two remaining contestants, slyly adding, ''And you've got to hate your opponent.'' But so much for Eye of the Tiger: As far as David Cook was concerned, the competition was over. ''We're just havin' fun,'' he told the judges.

Legendary record producer Davis selected the first pair of songs, handing David Cook U2's ''I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For,'' a performance that prompted Paula Abdul to declare, ''You may not have found what you're looking for, but we have found David Cook.'' Cook also started the night on a high note with Simon: ''I thought it was phenomenal.''

As impressed as the judges were with David Cook's opening number, David Archuleta effectively countered with Clive Davis' pick of Elton John's ''Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me.'' It was ''one of the best performances of this whole season and you picked the right time to peak,'' Randy Jackson told the teary-eyed singer. While Simon criticized Archuleta for an ''okay'' showing last week, he declared Archuleta's performance tonight ''arguably the best you've done so far.'' For those keeping score at home, Simon called the first round in Archuleta's favor.

In the second round, the contestants selected a new song written by one of ten aspiring songwriters. The judges were not excited about Cook's selection, ''Dream Big,'' by Emily Shackelton. ''What made it work was your voice...you were singing your face off,'' said Randy. Paula was also won over, noting that she was among millions of viewers who ''sit in awe, mesmerized'' by Cook. But Simon called the performance ''a bit of a lightweight'' and felt it failed to live up to his expectations of a ''winning moment.'' Much more to Simon's liking was Archuleta's choice, ''In This Moment,'' by songwriter Ryan Gillmor, and the other judges agreed. ''Another heartfelt performance,'' Paula told him, and Randy was equally impressed, telling the singer that he was ''in the zone.'' Simon declared Little David the winner of round 2.

In the third and final round, David Cook selected a song he had not previously performed on Idol, ''The World I Know,'' by Collective Soul. Impressed by the singer's versatility, Randy praised Cook for showing his many sides as an artist, including his ''very nice, sensitive side.'' Paula commended him for ''delivering unbelievable songs with integrity and originality.'' Softening his blow by calling Cook ''one of the nicest, most sincere contestants'' in Idol history, Simon was ultimately unhappy with Cook's final song selection, labeling it ''completely and utterly wrong.'' Once again, Simon was far more impressed with the song choice of Archuleta, who closed the night with John Lennon's ''Imagine.'' ''You are so good tonight,'' declared Randy, and Paula agreed, telling him he was ''pure magic...a star.'' Though he thought both Davids delivered ''one of the great finals,'' Simon ultimately declared David Archuleta the winner of the night. ''You came out here tonight to win,'' he told the younger David, ''and what we've witnessed is a knockout.''

For a full analysis of Tuesday's show and to weigh in with your own comments, check out Michael Slezak's American Idol TV Watch. And be sure to join us at EW.com tonight during the Idol finale, when Mandi Bierly and Kate Ward will be live blogging the show and welcoming your comments at our PopWatch blog. Until then, let us know which David you think will go home tomorrow as the next American Idol champ by casting your vote in our poll below.

THE FINAL SET LIST

DAVID COOK
''I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For,'' U2
''Dream Big,'' Emily Shackelton
''The World I Know,'' Collective Soul

DAVID ARCHULETA
''Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me," Elton John
''In This Moment,'' Ryan Gillmor
''Imagine,'' John Lennon

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