Hevyweight Boxing Tournament: Last 32;

[hitman09]

Just out of curiousity what film (of Wills) are you going off of?

I don't possess any. I'm going off what I've read over the years, and his record.

Similarily, I don't possess any of Harry Greb, but from his record, I know he's most likely pretty damn good.

That's where you're confused.

We're not debating their legacies or how great they were in their career, we're discussing peak-for-peak head-to-head match-ups. That is why I am finding it difficult to see your reasoning behind a peak Wills over a peak Tyson.

I don't think an awful lot of a peak Tyson. His mentality is suspect, and I'm sure Wills would have given him a tough fight at the very least, and I suspect he'd have folded at the test.

[Ezzard]

Wills had the dimensions and style to beat Tyson. Considering Wills’ opponents he was obviously a top drawer fighter. He used his size and was durable so he has a great chance.

Hey, Tyson could win. I think there’s an argument either way and neither is an outlandish claim.

[Ezzard]

A Dempsey, Schmeling
B Tunney, Wills
C Louis, Jeffries
D Foreman, Holmes
E Marciano, Charles
F Johnson, Frazier
G Holyfield, Langford
H Lewis, Liston

?

I’m as big a fantasy boxing geek as anyone here. I have got a bit stretched out by HW tournaments in which the final is always Ali-Louis.

I have a list of fighters who, though not as good, could pull off a shock based on styles. Holyfield is one of the fighters who could upset Ali IMO. He gets drawn against him here. Langford is a fighter who could have beaten anyone and if there was extensive footage available of the great man his record suggests he’d have a genuine chance at pipping Robinson to the mantle of best ever.

So for the sake of something different I gave these guys the benefit of the doubt. In the end all of the Ali votes will see him through. I’m just trying to think that if Ali fought Holy 10 times he’d lose at least a couple. I reckon I’ve put Ali through in enough times to warrant the odd change. And for the sake of fairness I’d give Johnson and Tunney the nod over Louis (with the same explanation).

[Crease]

BUMp. I forgot about it, lets continue it tomrrow.
I will post the results then.

[Crease]

And so ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, here are the results of the Last 32:

Group A Winner: Jack Dempsey
Group A Runnerup: Max Schmeling

Group B Winner: Mike Tyson
Group B Runnerup: Gene Tunney

Group C Winner: Joe Louis
Group C Runnerup: Jim Jeffries

Group D Winner: George Foreman
Group D Runnerup: Larry Holmes

Group E Winner: Rocky Marciano
Group E Runnerup: Ezzard Charles

Group F Winner: Jack Johnson
Group F Runnerup: Joe Frazier

Group G Winner: Muhammad Ali
Group G Runnerup: Evander Holyfield

Group H Winner: Lennox Lewis
Group H Runnerup: Sonny Liston

[Crease]

I have decided that the next round, the last 16 boxers will again be drawn into groups.
(I find this the best way, so that boxers don't get a favourable draw and go qualify through a round but by edging a single fight).

Group draws are much more measured...

There will be:
4 groups of 4 boxers.

Each group will consist of;
2 Group Winner
2 Runners up