If they did an all time heavyweight tournament whod win?

[MikeyMike100]

Lets say they had the top 32 Heavyweights of all time matched up against each other randomly, not adjusting for era, who would you put your money on?

[Willie Pep 229]

Who would I put my money on ?

Assuming everyone at their peak - Tyson. - Not really sure he can beat Foreman; Holyfield; Ali even a few others BUT I would feel like my money would have a chance in every fight, so that's the bets I would lay.

No real clue who would win the tournament - we need Bill's magic machine for that.

[DeeMoney]

I hate to be the pedant here who says matchups really matter.....but matchups really matter.

Now, if you just randomly seeded this, and had this tournament take place hundreds of times I would probably lean towards Ali winning more than anyone else. I think his athleticism allows him to match-up best across styles and fighters, but I bet over a number of runs of the tournament you'd get upwards of a dozen different fighters who won it at least once.

[QueensburyRules]

Lets say they had the top 32 Heavyweights of all time matched up against each other randomly, not adjusting for era, who would you put your money on?

- -Already had one in the 60s and Rocky ended up knocking out Ali, but I guess U daddy weren't even born by then...

[HOUDINI563]

Prime Ali wins. Tough as nails with punches that slice opponents to ribbons. No defense for that level of speed. Only the best swarmers have a chance but they lose more rounds than they win.

[Nash out]

I'd put everything on Tyson Fury. Absolutely everything! My sig is worthy of respect. Nash out.

[billeau2]

I'd put everything on Tyson Fury. Absolutely everything! My sig is worthy of respect. Nash out.

The Gypsy King is a throwback and has skills but you and Denium are nuts lol. Fury cannot punch, I love the guy... he has great instincts and skills, and knows how to win fights against fighters who were really more from a weak era like Klinchko. But you have to start to imagine: Prime Liston, who has all the same skills, matches Fury in reach ( more important than weight) and... is a murderous puncher who would walk through Fury and when Fury was hurt would finish him. What could Liston possibly do against a prime Liston? And I am just using Liston because it is so obvious... I mean could Fury get past Foreman? Maybe in a 12 rounder... being on his bike, but again Ali was so fast his punches hurt, how does Fury threaten Foreman? get Foreman's respect?

And... we know good punchers like Cunningham have put Fury on his duff... imagine Frazier? Mike Tyson?

[billeau2]

Such a monumental task. Love some of the approaches so far. Ali certainly had the benefit of fighting many tough opponents. He is a possibility. I would also throw Liston in the mix... prime Liston had so many qualities... perfect size, not too big, not too small, big where it counts... great reach, endurance, chin and that quality of being a great finisher. Liston could throw combos... had one punch power, I believe in either hand. Just on attributes: If we compare him to Lewis for example... Lewis' chin could be a problem, and he was slower. If we compare Liston with Tyson, Liston had a jab that could keep Tyson honest, and could look something like Buster Douglas. Same build.

Holmes is another possibility. I would like to hear some of those who love Holmes make a case for the Easton Assasin. On purely asset to asset I see Liston as stronger. But Larry had that jab which was so special.

Style to style I think Tunney beats Holmes, was better and would win on points, but does he manage Liston? hard call. Liston might have been to big and strong for Tunney. What about Ali? can he outbox one of the best boxers ever in Tunney? Hummmm?

A lot of guys just cancel out... No way I see Louis getting past Tunney, or the jab of Ali/Holmes... could he handle Liston? I could see Liston winning that one.

Finally in the Dark Horse category: I squarely put two guys Marciano and Holyfield. Both guys have a knack for winning. Holyfield could punch and box. When he fought smart, with all cylinders firing... I ask myself: could he get past Tyson? Yeah I know... Tyson was not prime, but its indicative that Holy could win and even logical to assume so. How about a big strong boxer puncher like Bowe errr I mean Liston? you get the point. When Holy listened to his corner and boxed he beat Bowe. Ali? Holy had the activity level of Frazier, and could punch, its possible. Holy matches up well because he could do everything in the ring.

marciano is a guy who some trainers swear by. You cannot count him out. he was unique. He knew how to fight out of a position so his size and reach worked to his advantage, he could hit heavy handed and often... could he make it past Tyson? Liston? Possibly.

Finally while Tyson is not on the list... great but eminantly beatable by many... He is a great yardstick. To be on my list you have to be able to beat Mike. Liston, Ali, and prime Holmes could IMO do so. Tunney, maybe too small. Yes he beat Jack, but jack was not prime. Holly and Marciano its possible.

So, for now... I will put Ali and Liston as probable, and Holy and Marciano as also, while a bit more of a stretch... probable as well.

[billeau2]

Prime Ali wins. Tough as nails with punches that slice opponents to ribbons. No defense for that level of speed. Only the best swarmers have a chance but they lose more rounds than they win.

Ali holds what I consider a very special advantage. The heavyweight division was seldom packed with talent to the gills, to the degree that the seventies was. Ali fought in an era where many other fighters could have been champions and considered for recognition...and Ali won. No not those gifts later... like Young and Spinks, who beat a shopworn Ali... But against fellow greats like Frazier, Foreman, etc.

So there are things we know about Ali, that we have to assume about other fighters. Could Liston have won in the seventies at his prime? or how about marciano? most epoches in the heavyweight division were weak on competition, just a fact.

[Nash out]

The Gypsy King is a throwback and has skills but you and Denium are nuts lol. Fury cannot punch, I love the guy... he has great instincts and skills, and knows how to win fights against fighters who were really more from a weak era like Klinchko. But you have to start to imagine: Prime Liston, who has all the same skills, matches Fury in reach ( more important than weight) and... is a murderous puncher who would walk through Fury and when Fury was hurt would finish him. What could Liston possibly do against a prime Liston? And I am just using Liston because it is so obvious... I mean could Fury get past Foreman? Maybe in a 12 rounder... being on his bike, but again Ali was so fast his punches hurt, how does Fury threaten Foreman? get Foreman's respect?

And... we know good punchers like Cunningham have put Fury on his duff... imagine Frazier? Mike Tyson?

Fury was domestic level when he faced Cunningham. Tyson doesn't have any tools that would trouble Fury IMO, and was knocked out after being outboxed by Douglas. Whilst Liston has the equal reach, Fury has the height and agility, plus he's much more awkward than Liston. I think Ali is tailor-made for Fury, always have done, always will do. I think style for style, Foreman is his toughest fight, but I think Fury beats him over 12.

Foreman made Frazier look like a child, and much lesser fighters took Foreman's punches better than Frazier, Frazier folded like a deck chair under the pressure of the bigger, stronger man, the later knockdowns he was just jumping to the floor as he couldn't handle the pressure and strength, Fury would crush Frazier like a hammer to a g****.

Also, Fury can punch, not a monster, but when he sits down on his shots, they are the type of shots you cannot walk through, and for me, he punches much harder than Ali, and I have seen tons of Ali fights to base this on.

Fury is also the biggest out of all the great HW's and has the hardest style to prepare for, along with his mental toughness, and his recovery speed from being hurt is remarkable, this is counting four knockdowns, and the 3 or so other times I HAVE SEEN him stung, his recovery speed is like nothing I have ever seen before on a consistent basis.

I can accept people think a few other guys could beat him, but if anyone thinks Fury is an easy night's work for any HW in history, they are very wrong.