THE NEWS
GROUP A:
Group A was owned by Joe Louis… Louis looked at impressive as ever as he dispatched his opponents with impressive combinations and deadly skill.
Ezzard Charles was favourite to go through in second place, but Riddick Bowe beat him to it, having the fights of his life in this group. Bowe is satisfied with his performances and looks forward to the next round draw with excitement and renewed vigour.
Charles thinks sadly of what might have been, and decides to go in for the Light Heavyweight tournament…
Corbett has no comment in the press conference.
GROUP B:
The crown of Group B was never in doubt after people seen Ali’s first round against Patterson…The group was his and he knew it… After three convincing victories, Ali has a press conference and predicts that he will win the tournament… Then hits the gym.
Floyd has no answer for the Kentucky mouthpiece, but still does enough to go through and thinks to himself: “well it couldn’t have got more difficult than that” and is happy enough to remain in contention.
Witherspoon, (nearly threw a spanner in the works for Floyd Pattersons tournament) feels he was robbed at his points defeat to Patterson. Tim realises his group was difficult, but still feels he’s good enough to go through into the next round. Sadly, he won’t though.
Herbie Hide believes that the referee stopped the fight to early against Ali, but publicly congratulates Ali and Patterson for their successes.
GROUP C:
Larry Holmes belief in himself and ability, convinces bookmakers to shorten the odds on him… Holmes laughs off reporters when they ask him if they believe he got the “easy draw”… Holmes replies that it doesn’t matter who was in the group, he would have won it anyway.
Gene Tunney remains humble and in high spirits despite coming second to Holmes… Reporters ask Tunney who he wants to face in the next round… “Jack Dempsey” he answers cheerfully.
Jeffries declares that a white man will win the tournament, win asked to predict the eventual victor.
Michael Dokes came out of hospital in a healthy state of mind… Though he does suffer from migraines from time to time.
GROUP D:
****(Despite some voting a Marciano 3 times in this group, more have voted Lewis… And as such, Lewis tops the group)****
Lennox Lewis sits proudly at the top of the group D table and sits in the same way in the press conference. He speaks articulately and pays homage to Rocky Marciano’s performances in the group. Already people are making comparisons on Lewis fighting style with that of Larry Holmes.
Rocky Marciano stays humble at the press conference. Clearly in a disappointed mood, The Brockton Blockbuster remains convinced that he won his fight against Lewis, because he landed “the bigger shots” and insists he was “never hurt”… Some members of the press agree with Marciano’s statements, and write an impassioned defence of him in their columns… “The Indestructible” he is repeatedly called.
Ernie Terrell believes that Lewis and Marciano deserve to go through…”Two ring legends” he describes them as. And he causes controversy by saying that “Cassius Clay will meet his maker if he encounters any of these two busters”.
Jess Willard announces his retirement form the sport of boxing… Declaring that he will work on his fathers farm and have absolutely no interest in the tournament as it progresses… He also touts “Jack Dempsey” as “the champion in waiting”.
GROUP E:
(There was a lot of disagreement about Group E in particular… Some had Johnson winning the group, and having Tyson third… While others had Tyson winning the group with Johnson just behind…)
Mike Tyson was at his destructive best in this group… And two quite difficult fights against Johnson and Walcott have let “Iron Mike” know that he’s not gonna get it all his own way in this competition. Yet, Mike remains confident and asks; “who can last the distance with me?”
Johnson suffers a loss so early in the tournament and is angered upon the bookmakers going off him. Johnson declares that he is “the best fighter and the best lover” among those remaining… (temporarily forgetting his loss to Tyson earlier in the group).
Jersey Joe Walcott gave these two past greats a run for their money and he was just brushed out into third, and thus eliminated from the tournament. Although he’s much relieved that the ordeal is over, he believes that “Joe Louis is the no 1, never fought anyone like him”… Walcott remains ever popular with the crowd.
Primo Carnera stays unusually quiet at the press conference… Possibly contemplating his three losses in the group… Living proof that size doesn’t always matter.
GROUP F:
Sonny Liston looked deadly in his battles against Dempsey and Burns… Liston plays himself up during the press conference, claiming that he “feared no-one”.
Dempsey (with nose readjusted) says that he’s happy to progress and that he knows that the fans will enjoy greater slugfests in the future. Dempsey smiles to himself when asked who he thought was the favourite.
Leon Spinks admits that he was outclassed in the group…”Sonny was too strong, and Jack was too tough”. Spinks still believes in his own boxing credentials, and believes that another time things might have been different, and he’d still be in the tournament.
Tommy Burns voiced his shock that Jim Jeffries had been eliminated and voices his concern about the objectivity of the judges… He says that he will return home to Canada, and follow the tournament eagerly.
GROUP G:
“Smokin” Joe Frazier had Group G in his pocket since his KO victory over Oliver McCall. At the press conference, when asked if he thought he was good enough to win the tournament, replying “I am what I am”… He also expresses his confidence that Rocky Marciano will make a great comeback and go far in the tournament… His last answer upon leaving the press conference causes stirrings: “Who do you wanna fight next Joe?”
“Muhammad Ali”
Vitali Klitchsko is in buoyant mood at the press conference. He seems calm and relaxed while the questions are fired at him. He believes that he deserves his place in the last 16, and that he still has so much to give… And he dedicates his victories for mother and his brother.
Mike Weaver seems disappointed in himself for not progressing. At the press conference he announces that he’s going to keep training “harder than ever”, and lastly offers: “if Joe Frazier ever needs a sparring partner, he knows where to find me”. Great sentiments from a disgruntled Weaver.
Oliver McCall does not show up for the press conference of Group G. But his lacklustre performances against his opponents…maybe are words enough.
GROUP H:
“Big George” fought like an earthquake in the ring. In his three fights, he rumbled his opponents constantly, (Only Holyfield lasting the pace). When asked if he thought the bookmakers got it wrong, making him one of the favourites, he answered: “I wouldn’t bet against me”.
Evander Holyfield, still with a puffy eye, replies that he’s ready for whatever comes his way after the fight against Foreman.
Ray Mercer says that he had never been beaten so much in his life, after his fights with Foreman and Holyfield, “and I’ve fought Kimbo Slice!” he joked…Mercer believes that he had one of the more difficult groups, but doesn’t want to use that an excuse… He says that he will continue watching the tournament, even if he’s not fighting in it anymore.
Henry Akinwande admits that he was “just not good enough” in his three consecutive losses. But says that he has thoroughly enjoyed himself and it is a pleasure to be in such esteemed company… Akinwande predicts that Muhammad Ali will win the tournament… “There’s only 1 Ali” he declares as he raises from the table to a rapturous applause for his efforts.