23.05.05 – By Jim Amato: 1967…Cassius Clay / Muhammad Ali is stripped of his heavyweight title for refusing to be drafted into the U.S. Armed Forces. In the blink of an eye the WBA designated the top eight contenders to fight off to determine a “new” champion. Former titleholders Floyd Patterson and Ernie Terrell were joined by Thad Spencer, Karl Mildenberger, Oscar Bonavena, Jerry Quarry and Jimmy Ellis.. The last invitee, Joe Frazier turned down the invitation. His wily manager Yancey “Yank” Durham envisioned bigger things. Joe’s spot was taken by Leotis Martin.
The rest is history. Ellis a blown up middleweight trained by Ali’s trainer Angelo Dundee halted Martin in nine. Thad Spencer upset the apple cart when he out fought Ernie Terrell. Bonavena manhandled poor Mildenberger and Quarry barely got by Patterson. Floyd would be heard from again.
In the next round Ellis surprised Bonavena. Twice Jimmy had the rock jawed Oscar on the floor on his way to a points verdict. Jerry Quarry pulled a bigger upset as he counter punched the favored Spencer into submission in the final round.
In the final bout a cautious Ellis outscored an even more cautious Quarry to win the WBA’s recognition as champion. While the WBA tourney unfolded the New York State Athletic Commission sanctioned their own heavyweight title fight between Joe Frazier and the massive Buster Mathis. “Big Bus'” had mastered Joe in the amateurs but as a pro, Joe halted him in eleven. Even though most states deemed Ellis the champion, many felt Joe was the better guy. They would meet in February of 1970 with Joe jolting Ellis in five merciless rounds.
Joe was now the champ but was he ? The shadow of Ali was always there. Finally Ali and Joe met…March 8, 1971 a day “that will live in infamy”, Joe won a fifteen round decision and finally the world had an undisputed heavyweight champion.
Hey, how about an eight man elimination tourney now ? It is not so far fetched. How about matching a healed Vitali Klitschko against the winner of Rahman and Barrett ? There is one of the four bouts. Then match Chris Byrd with James Toney (provided Byrd gets by Liakhovich). Match John Ruiz with up and coming Calvin Brock and finally pit the new man of the hour, Lamon Brewster against Fres Oquendo.
Let the winners face off in a semi-final and then the survivors meet for the “Undisputed Heavyweight Championship” !!! Wouldn’t that be great ? Really, how long do you think there would be one champion ? Soon the WBA would say “fight my #1 contender” and the WBC, IBF and the WBO would follow in their footsteps and soon the title would be fragmented again.
I guess in the end the bottom line is why bother.