All-Time Virtual Heavyweight Tournament Round Three
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
In an experiment, I took the famous names in the heavyweight division, champions and contenders, past and present, and did my own all-time heavyweight tournament on paper. Here are my results for round three. I began this project with more than the standard 64 names for elimination. You can take it as you will. The rules are simple: there’s no time barrier for entry in the tournament. Anybody can throw their hat into the ring, past and present, and try to win the virtual tournament.
The matchups come out of a computer with a random imagination, sort of like picking a number out of a magician’s hat. Therefore, please do not try to rationalize these matchups. In a few cases, fighters fought more than once in round one, and got a second chance in round two. This is to give all participants in the all-time virtual heavyweight championship tournament a fair chance to participate and advance, rather than just single elimination.
In terms of name additions, Deontay Wilder, Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Joseph Parker, Alexander Povetkin and Manuel Charr were added to the mix, as their names, which are prominent now, were not seen as prominent during round two of the tournament in 2013. Note the 15 round format is not being used in these virtual calculations, not the current 12 rounds. Previous virtual tournament rounds had titular bouts going as long as 20 rounds.
For point of reference, the late world light heavyweight champion, Archie Moore, ‘The Old Mongoose’, did hold a version of the world heavyweight title during his career.
Probably the most noteworthy result in round three is Rocky Marciano’s virtual TKO victory over Charles (Sonny) Liston. Some experts think Liston would have bested Marciano. Respectfully, I completely disagree. Marciano would have knocked out Floyd Patterson or Ingemar Johansson. Liston, like Ezzard Charles, would have gone the distance with Marciano in a challenging bout. Rocky would have backed Liston up and outworked him, despite Liston landing his powerful left on frequent occasion in what would have proved an interesting bout if it had ever had taken place. Bureau of the Census records have confirmed Liston was in fact born in 1932, not 1919. Author Paul Gallender spent 30 years researching Liston for his 2012 book ‘Sonny Liston-The Real Story Behind the Liston-Ali Bouts’ and claimed the 1919 Liston birthdate was correct. Liston would have been nine years younger than Rocky if 1932 is correct, four years older than Rocky if 1919 is correct. BoxRec indicates Liston was born in 1930 with no month or year, another claim.
In 1955 or 1956, Marciano would have decisioned Liston. Records indicate the big and bad Liston was lucky to win a six round split decision over Bennie Thomas, won a six round decision over Stanley Howlett, and an eight round split decision over Johnny Summerhays. In fact, this was the second time Liston had gone the eight round distance with Summerhays. Liston then lost an eight round split decision to Marty Marshall in which he suffered a broken jaw in the fourth round. Liston subsequently stopped Marshall in six, and won a 10 round decision over Marshall. Liston won 10 round decisions twice over Bert Whitehurst, and won a 12 round decision over Eddie Machen in about where he was penalized two points for low blows. Machen got knocked out in the first by Ingemar Johansson two years before he fought Liston, and Liston could not do anything with him.
It all has to do with style. In has been said styles make fights. Leotis Martin knocked out Liston in nine rounds. Cassius Clay, later known as Muhammad Ali, stopped Liston in six rounds. Given the considerable trouble Liston had with talented and skilled defensive experienced heavyweights, it is a fair conclusion to state Marciano would have stopped Liston in eight, nine or ten rounds in 1955 or 1956. Marciano still had two or three good fights left in him, by his own acknowledgment. Since both he and Liston were active at this time, Marciano would have won within the distance rather easily. In his prime, Joe Louis, who retired in 1951, would have outworked and stopped Liston in the later rounds as well. Even if Louis came out of retirement to fight Liston, who went pro in 1953, Louis would still have outpointed Liston over 10 rounds. Marciano, Ali, Louis and Martin were all skilled technical fighters who were not intimidated by reputation or chatter.
Smoking Joe Frazier would have stopped Max Schmeling in a difficult technical bout. Deontay Wilder would have outpointed Nicolai Valuev, but given Valuev’s incredible size, Wilder, like David Haye, would not have been able to do anything with Valuev. Gene Tunney would have outpointed Evander Holyfield in a clean, hard-fought bout. Jack Dempsey would have knocked out Tommy Morrison in much the same Fashion as Ray Mercer did, breaking him down and taking him apart in the later rounds. James Jeffries, in his prime, would have outpointed Archie Moore. Mike Tyson, in his prime, would have knocked out Joseph Parker in the later rounds of a good competitive scrap. Muhammad Ali would have stopped the bull rushing John L. Sullivan in 13 rounds. Ali’s footwork, like Gentleman Jim Corbett did with Sullivan, would have caused Sullivan to tire out, making him an easy target. Anthony Joshua would have stopped Floyd Patterson easily and early.
Jack Johnson, Tyson Fury and George Foreman would have won their respective bouts by 15 round decision, but without taking any unnecessary risks against dangerous world class opponents. Foreman’s decision losses to Tommy Morrison and Shannon Briggs at the end of his career show his limitations against superior boxers as the virtual tournament progresses. Foreman went the distance to win against Lou Savarese, Alex Stewart and Crawford Grimsley, fighters who were all knocked out in the first round by other fighters. In fact, in was Mike Tyson who knocked out Stewart and Savarese in the first round. However, some still say Foreman would have knocked Mike Tyson out. The young version of Foreman versus the young version of Tyson would have been quite a contest.
Round Three
Rocky Marciano TKO 8, TKO 9 or TKO 10 Charles (Sonny) Liston
Joe Frazier TKO 13 Max Schmeling
Deontay Wilder Win 12 Nicolai Valuev
Gene Tunney Win 15 Evander Holyfield
James Jeffries Win 15 Archie Moore
Anthony Joshua TKO 5 Floyd Patterson
Jack Dempsey KO 11 Tommy Morrison
Muhammad Ali KO 13 John L. Sullivan
Jack Johnson Win 15 Alexander Povetkin
Mike Tyson KO 10 Joseph Parker
Tyson Fury Win 15 Sam Langford
George Foreman Win 12 Manuel Charr
Joe Louis Win 15 Iran Barkley
(Barkley was entered and Louis reentered into the tournament as wild cards. Barkley won the minor WBB version of the world heavyweight title when he stopped Gerrie Coetzee.)
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