BoxRec

Right guys, imagine you could get the top 16 heavyweights together to fight in a one-off special tournament, who would you invite in the top 16?

Here's my take:

DEFINITELYS:
Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, George Foreman,
Joe Frazier, Jack Johnson, Mike Tyson, Jack Dempsey

(*NOW, THERE'S 8 BOXERS WHO ARE DEFINITES)

GOOD CHANCE:
Larry Holmes, Sonny Liston, Lennox Lewis, Gene Tunney, Jersey Joe Walcott, Ezzard Charles, Floyd Patterson, Evander Holyfield, Max Schmeling,

OUTSIDE CHANCE:
Max Baer, Ken Norton, Archie Moore, James L. Jeffries, John L. Sullivan, James J. Braddock,

But here's my top 16 that I would invite:

Rocky Marciano, Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, George Foreman,
Joe Frazier, Jack Dempsey, Jack Johnson, Miike Tyson,
Larry Holmes, Lennox Lewis, Sonny Liston, JJ Walcott,
Ezzard Charles, Floyd Patterson, Max Schmeling, Gene Tunney,

Peter Jackson
Jim Jeffries
Jack Johnson
Sam Langford
Harry Wills
Jack Dempsey
Gene Tunney
Joe Louis
Rocky Marciano
Sonny Liston
Muhammad Ali
Joe Frazier
George Foreman
Larry Holmes
Evander Holyfield
Lennox Lewis

I would throw Ike Ibeabuchi into the mix to see how he got on. Maybe David Tua aswell.

I am in almost total agreement with Ezzard. I would make just two changes. Instead of Peter Jackson and Harry Wills, I would have Mike Tyson and Riddick Bowe. (Wills is my #17)

Ambling Alp wrote:I am in almost total agreement with Ezzard. I would make just two changes. Instead of Peter Jackson and Harry Wills, I would have Mike Tyson and Riddick Bowe. (Wills is my #17)

Those were the 2 changes I considered making. From a matchmaking POV I think you want Tyson in the tournament.

Bowe is not quite as strong an argument. I think its close.

in the end I basically got caught up in my imagination and thougth it be more satisfying to be able to watch Jackson and Wills as these guys never got their shots. Tyson and Bowe did and took their skills for granted.

I really think that sonny liston would get to the final unless he fought ali. The man was a best but had such a great jab as well

Jim Corbett, Bob Fitzsimmons and Joe Jeannette?

In his prime Riddick Bowe makes a lot of noise in this tournament!

the first thing to do before starting the tournament is to ask max baer and braddock to kindly leave town and then make a phone call to sam langford and bob fitzsimmons.

Ezzard wrote:Peter Jackson
Jim Jeffries
Jack Johnson
Sam Langford
Harry Wills
Jack Dempsey
Gene Tunney
Joe Louis
Rocky Marciano
Sonny Liston
Muhammad Ali
Joe Frazier
George Foreman
Larry Holmes
Evander Holyfield
Lennox Lewis

I pretty much suscribe to this list.

Ezzard Charles or Mike Tyson for one of Wills, Jackson, Holyfied could be considered, but not Bowe. Other borderline candidates are Walcott and Schmeling.

chop-d wrote:In his prime Riddick Bowe makes a lot of noise in this tournament!

Certainly beats a prime Mikey Tyson

ALthough, you HAVE to bring Tyson into any top 16 Heavyweight tounament.

If only for him to get slightly exposed by a genuine great