British SMW Champs - The Dream Tournament

[Bodyshot3]

I wonder who would come out on top of this Super 8 tournament of British Super Middleweights....a division which has proved to be 'golden' for British fighters for over 20 years. Everyone is considered to be in their prime and the fact that it has to be a gruelling 8-man tourney (held over 18 months) shows the sheer depth of quality available.

Steve Collins steps aside as an Irishman and the class is so high there is no room for top-notch world title challengers like Henry Wharton, Herol Graham, George Groves or Ray Close.

Calzaghe, Froch, Benn and Eubank are seeded.....

GROUP 1

Round 1

Joe Calzaghe (1) v Michael Watson
Nigel Benn (4) v Richie Woodhall

Round 2

Joe Calzaghe v Nigel Benn
Michael Watson v Richie Woodhall

Round 3

Joe Calzaghe v Richie Woodhall (rematch)
Nigel Benn v Michael Watson (rematch)

GROUP 2

Round 1

Carl Froch (2) v Glenn Catley
Chris Eubank (3) v Robin Reid

Round 2

Carl Froch v Chris Eubank
Glenn Catley v Robin Reid

Round 3

Carl Froch v Robin Reid (rematch)
Chris Eubank v Glenn Catley

SEMI FINAL

Winner of Group 1 v Runner-up of Group 2
Winner of Group 2 v Runner-up Group 1

[SamWise72]

Jeez, Herol would have beaten most of these, though he was never a super middle champ. What an insult to put him in the same bracket as Wharton and Close.

[Crease]

Often when these fantasy tournaments are done, the draw can decide who does better in the tournament rather than ability.

For example, in a 128-man Heavyweight straight-knockout tournament, Joe Louis could be drawn against Muhammad Ali and one of them would be eliminated when other such (less-deserving) fighters would make it through.

You have to pick a certain amount of fighters (let's say between 8-10) and all of them must face each other, only that way will you have a comprehensive overview of where each fighter is graded.

[Crease]

So you have you eight, and let's throw in Bonber Graham and Cobra Froch, and that will be your ten.

And it's much, much too soon to start talking about George Groves.

[Bodyshot3]

Cheers Crease....but Froch is in there and fighting for the top prize mate!

And I did not pick Bomber, although I rate him massively, because he was at his prime as a middleweight and this is a SMW tournament. He gets a first reserve spot just because of his sheer talent and ability to be a decent contender at this weight even at the fag-end of his illustrious career.

Just for the record I think Calzaghe still finds a way to win this one.

[Crease]

Cheers Crease....but Froch is in there and fighting for the top prize mate!

Yeah, my fault. I meant Steve Collins. Don't know how I got them mixed up.

[SamWise72]

Fair point. It was just because he was mentioned, and he'd have stood Catley, Woodhall and Reid on their heads ten times out of ten. I'd have him beating everyone in this tournie, really, but as you say, he wasn't really a super middle.

[Barry Washington]

My semi would be :

Watson vs Froch
Eubank vs Calzaghe

[Bodyshot3]

That's a mouth watering semi Barry......I think Watson was more than good enough to have reached this stage. But as much as I like Michael, Nigel, Chris and Carl; I am sticking with the Prince of Wales winning this one.

Joe v Benn is still the grand final fight I'd loved to have seen. Prime v Prime and with Benn absolutely fired-up and bringing the sheer heat and intensity he delivered against the G-Man. Meanwhile, in the other corner we get the Joe C who made Jeff Lacy look like an outclassed club fighter.

[Crease]

For me, it looks like this:

GROUP 1

Round 1

Joe Calzaghe (1) v Michael Watson - Calzaghe wins by UD.
Nigel Benn (4) v Richie Woodhall - Benn wins by TKO 12.

Round 2

Joe Calzaghe v Nigel Benn - Cazlaghe wins by SD.
Michael Watson v Richie Woodhall - Majority Draw

Round 3

Joe Calzaghe v Richie Woodhall (rematch) - Calzaghe wins by UD.
Nigel Benn v Michael Watson (rematch) - Benn wins by TKO 11.


GROUP 2

Round 1

Carl Froch (2) v Glenn Catley - Froch wins by KO 6
Chris Eubank (3) v Robin Reid - Eubank wins by KO 10

Round 2

Carl Froch v Chris Eubank - Eubank wins by UD
Glenn Catley v Robin Reid - Reid wins by UD

Round 3

Carl Froch v Robin Reid (rematch) - Froch wins by UD
Chris Eubank v Glenn Catley - Eubank wins by KO 9

SEMI FINAL

Joe Calzaghe v Carl Froch - Cazlaghe UD

Chris Eubank v Nigel Benn - Eubank SD

FINAL

Joe Calzaghe vs Chris Eubank - Calzaghe UD

[Bodyshot3]

Great post Crease......very credible predictions and thanks.

The Reaperman, Woodhall and Catley are the outsiders (despite all winning the big green belt) in this tourney but I'd like to think one of them was good enough to have upset the proverbial applecart.....my money would have been Robin. At his best he was one heck of a fighter.

[Tomasino]

That's a mouth watering semi Barry......I think Watson was more than good enough to have reached this stage. But as much as I like Michael, Nigel, Chris and Carl; I am sticking with the Prince of Wales winning this one.

Joe v Benn is still the grand final fight I'd loved to have seen. Prime v Prime and with Benn absolutely fired-up and bringing the sheer heat and intensity he delivered against the G-Man. Meanwhile, in the other corner we get the Joe C who made Jeff Lacy look like an outclassed club fighter.

[Crease]

Great post Crease......very credible predictions and thanks.

The Reaperman, Woodhall and Catley are the outsiders (despite all winning the big green belt) in this tourney but I'd like to think one of them was good enough to have upset the proverbial applecart.....my money would have been Robin. At his best he was one heck of a fighter.

Reid's fitness was incredible. And it doesn't get mentioned anywhere near often enough.

[Crease]

Great post Crease......very credible predictions and thanks.

:)
You are welcome.


Though anyone reading my post would think that I don't rate Michael Watson, and it couldn't be further from the truth. I actually think that Michael was a very good fighter, it's just that he's in against the greatest British Super Middles in history and unfortunately these wouldn't have been his nights.

[Bodyshot3]

@Crease.....agreed about Watson.

Mike was an exceptional fighter and the whole iconic saga of huge British fights at MW and SMW arguably begins with Watson beating Benn at their classic Finsbury Park encounter. That fight, with Watson victorious, started the golden era.

Michael's win that night was a spectacular and one of the smartest displays I've ever seen. I rewatched the fight on YouTube and it really is one of the classics.

Although both unseeded, Watson and Reid both have the potential to turn this tournament on it's head.

[gilgamesh]

I definitely need to find out more about these guys. I'm familiar with the great British fighters since I've been following the sport, but I know very little about the Michael Watson's and Chris Eubank's and Nigel Benn's of Boxing's not too distant past. I need to rectify that.

[Bodyshot3]

And here's Watson at his best.....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAR8PYfe8Zw

[Vladimir5555]

Watson was much better in middleweight division.

[Sklar]

No way does Eubank or any of the others stop a twenty-something Robin Reid. His chin was granite back then. He'd get outworked by some but not dropped.