Half A Dozen Heavyweight Boxing “What Ifs?”

20.12.06 – By James Slater: All sports, not least heavyweight boxing, are full of, “what ifs?” With a split second turning of the tide possible in any game, be it football, tennis, rugby, or the sport known as “The fight game,” a result can easily swing another way from the one in which it was headed earlier. In boxing though, there are other, “what ifs?” Certain fights never happened, for example, and as a result we fans ponder what would have happened had they done so. In the following list, by way of a year-end article for nothing more than fun, I give my half a dozen choices for the ultimate heavyweight boxing, “what ifs?”

1. Ali Vs. Foreman II – What if?

Having learnt that he was badly fooled by The Greatest in their first encounter, George paces himself far better in the rematch. As a result, Ali’s rope-a-dope doesn’t have the same effect it did in Zaire.

Also, as the fight is held in America this time around, with the factor of heat and humidity removed from the equation, Foreman’s stamina holds up better. These factors aside, Ali still prevails. In a fight that is a cross between Ali’s fight with Earnie Shavers and Foreman’s with Jimmy Young, The Greatest comes out on top via a fairly close, yet unanimous, decision. George considers his going the distance to be a moral victory.

2. Ali Vs. Liston II – What if Joe Walcott had not listened to Nat Fleischer?

In other words, what would have happened had the action been permitted to continue for longer than the minute or so that it did? Liston, as we all know, was up and had resumed fighting after the knockdown in round one. So what would have occurred had Nat not shoved his oar in?

Ali presses for the finish and a dazed Liston tries to either fire back or hold. Sonny’s chin holds up for the remainder of the round, a huge one for the champion, and the bell signals the end of the first three minutes. In round two, however, Liston – who seems determined to get out of there as quick as possible – goes down from a fast, but seemingly light flurry from Ali. This time, without Ali’s uncontrollable histrionics to befuddle him, Jersey Joe hits the count of ten and the fight is over. A relieved Liston exits the arena as quickly as he can, leaving an audience that is far from happy with his efforts.

3. Tunney Vs. Dempsey II – What if there had not been a long count?

Gene Tunney was badly hurt in the seventh round of his rematch with Jack Dempsey. He hit the canvas and remained there for well over ten seconds, courtesy of a long count administered by referee Dave Barry. Then Tunney, benefited by the vital extra seconds, rose and got on his bike to see out the round. The question is, would he have made it without the extra time?

Dempsey scores the knockdown and as new protocol demands heads to a neutral corner. A dazed Tunney scrapes himself off the floor at nine and then runs like hell. Jack catches the groggy champion in a corner, however, and sends him sliding to the mat for a second time. Gene, showing immense bravery, climbs up once more, again at the count of nine seconds. Instinctively he tries to hold, knowing only too well that his legs are not sufficiently capable of keeping him on the move instead. This allows the older man to catch up with him yet again, and this time Jack finishes him off with a huge left hook. Gene hits the canvas and this time remains prostrate there for the full ten seconds. Jack Dempsey becomes the first man in history to regain the heavyweight championship of the world!

4. Louis Vs. Conn – What if Conn hadn’t gone for the KO?

Light heavyweight Billy Conn was way ahead on points in his epic fight with the great Joe Louis. Going into the thirteenth round all Conn had to do was stay on his feet until the final bell. For reasons known only to himself, however, Billy came out looking for the knockout instead. The much bigger “Brown Bomber” caught him with his full artillery and stopped him instead. Joe’s crown, which had looked decidedly shaky on his head for over half a dozen rounds, was saved. But what if Conn had boxed smart?

Billy gets in and out with his fast punches and continues to get the better of it with the heavyweight king. Conn wins the thirteenth and fourteenth by a slim margin and now, in the final round, a desperate Louis really pours it on. He hurts Conn with a right-left combination to the head, but Billy manages to hold on. Running for his dear life, Billy back-pedals furiously. Joe lets his hands go with all their might and again catches his man on the jaw. Badly rattled, Conn staggers into the ropes just as the bell rings. Conn has made it, he has taken the great Joe Louis the distance. But has he done one better and actually beaten him? By a majority verdict, with two judges giving him the victory – the winner and new heavyweight champion of the world – Billy Conn!

5. Holyfield Vs. Tyson – What if they’d met when they were both undefeated?

Evander and Mike did meet, of course. In 1996 and again the following year. We all know what happened. But what if “The Real Deal” had faced the unbeaten, pre-Douglas version of “Iron” Mike? Would the result have been any different?

Both men are unbeaten and confident of victory. Tyson is coming off a one round win over Carl Williams, while Evander is fresh off his impressive two round crushing of Brazilian hero, Adilson Rodrigues. The date is December 8th, 1989, and a great fight is anticipated by all. Evander comes out right from the get-go and shows Tyson he has no fear of him whatsoever. Mike
responds by firing his power punches with the meanest of bad intentions. The former cruiserweight king takes Tyson’s best though, and the makings of a classic are formed.

Against all expectations, the fight goes the full twelve rounds – and without a single knockdown to boot. Holyfield employed very effective hit and hold tactics, which served to frustrate Tyson, while the undisputed heavyweight ruler loaded up on seemingly every punch he threw. Evander didn’t fight scared, however. Far from it. And at the end the points totals are very close on the judge’s cards. By way of a unanimous decision of scores of 116-114, 117-113 and 116-115, Mike Tyson is the winner and still champion of the world!

6. Lewis vs. Bowe – What if?

On paper one of the best fights of recent years, Bowe-Lewis disappointed us all by not taking place. The fight would have given us a contest between two undefeated heavyweights, as well as providing Bowe with a chance at redeeming himself for his loss to Lennox at the 1988 Olympic games. Both men claimed they wanted the fight, and that the other was afraid of them, but still the fight never happened. What would have happened had it though?

The year is 1993, and both Riddick and Lennox are coming off fine wins. Lewis arrived very firmly on the world stage by annihilating the big punching Donovan “Razor” Ruddock in two sensational rounds, while Bowe won a classic fight against Evander Holyfield over twelve rounds to take the undisputed title. Now, in Las Vegas, they meet each other. Bowe comes out
fast. Stung by Lewis’ calling him a chicken, “Big Daddy” wants to make the Englishman pay. Lewis, on the other hand, is cool as ice. This serves to pay huge dividends for him, as time and again he is able to catch the careless champion.

Going into the second half of the scheduled twelve rounds Lewis is ahead on points. He is tiring though. Bowe, having proved to all his great stamina in the fight with Holyfield, is the more comfortable of the two in there and it’s showing. Lennox tries to land a huge right hand in the tenth round, yet it is way off the mark and Bowe counters with a perfect right uppercut to his jaw. Lennox goes down heavily and is counted out. The winner and still Champion, Riddick “Big Daddy” Bowe!