Heavyweight tournament to take place in the fall

this is what i know: "George Foreman was at the Soho Grand Hotel in Manhattan on Monday announcing a special one-night elimination tournament featuring eight world class heavyweights, who will battle each other in three fights of four rounds each in one exciting evening...for $5 million dollars! The event is expected to be held at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia in October or November. The pay-per-view event has signed heavyweights O'Neil Bell, Shannon Briggs, Chris Byrd, Steve Cunningham, Alexander Dimitrenko, Ty Fields and Samuel Peter. An eighth spot is open and top-rated heavyweights are invited to contact the promoter. A second show is planned in Manhattan in May, 2007, featuring eight world-rated middleweights. Foreman, who will be joining broadcast partner Colonel Bob Sheridan at ringside, said at the announcement, "Everybody says boxing needs something... (the tournament) is a chance to do something different." Foreman later joked, "I would have beat Muhammad (Ali) if it had been four rounds." The show will introduce a new scoring system, call time for instant replays and use eight high-definition cameras to capture the action for the pay-per-view audience. New scoring system? I wonder what this will be? I also like the instant replay thing" i also talked to my buddy steve cunningham and asked him for a comment on all this: YEAH ITS OFFICIAL IM SCHEDULED TO FIGHT IN THE TOURNAMENT IN OCT. BUT WERE STILL WORKING ON BECOMING IBF CHAMPION BEFORE THE END OF THE SUMMER SO CHECK OUT FIGHT BEAT FOR SOME INTERVEIWS OF US AT THE PRESS CONFRENCE.

Oh definitely, but I would rather see them in twelve round fights. I just dont think this is the way fighters in their prime should be spending their careers. Take O'Neill Bell for example. There are loads of good fights out there for him at cruiser - Cunningham, Haye, Jones, rematch with Mormeck, or go up and face Brewster, Toney, Brock, Peter. I just dont see what fighting in a four round elimination tournament does for anyone's career

....Here's the thing. People can bash it and say it's a bad idea all they want, but how many would still like to watch Byrd versus Peter or Peter versus Briggs? Regardless of the concept, I would be interested in seeing those matchups.

I gotta say I think its an awful idea. And what's O'Neill Bell, Steve Cunningham and Sam Peter doing in the tournament? They've got real careers that need pursuing - fuck, O'Neil Bell's the undisputed champ for Christ' Sakes!! I think this would have been better if they'd have done it in the legend's format that went around a while ago - Tyson, Holyfield, Bowe, Foreman etc fighting it out over four rounds, but I really dont see the point in this. Lot's of fighters take a while to get going. As it is though, I pick Peter to win. His power will be far too much for the cruisers and I think he has got what it takes to beat the heavies.

ah looks like these idiots running this thing didnt learn anything from kushners thunderbox crap this thing will suck and every fight will end in lackluster decision

I mean hopefully Briggs or Peter gets Byrd first round and knocks him out, but I think it's highly unlikely.

Byrd is the guy everyone hates to fight. Wasn't he one of those most avoided heavyweights of the 90's and much of 2000. And to think this guy should really be a lightheavy. :boxing: :boxing: " I'll never forget the Ibeabuchi fight though" lol

And if you notice in MOST Byrd fights, aside from the McCline fight, Byrd wins the early rounds fairly easily before his opponents start to catch up in rounds 5, 6, 7, and 8. Oquendo and Golota did better in those rounds against Byrd. Then again, Byrd looked terrible against Klitschko; however, none of these guys are as skilled AND as powerful as Klitschko.

It might, but Byrd can make those guys miss for four rounds and pitter pat them to decision wins. That's just my pick as of now though. I honestly don't think Peter or Briggs will be able to catch Byrd, although I'd like to see Briggs or Bell win the thing. I think I'll pull for Bell but bet on Byrd.

I'm picking Byrd to win it because he's the best natural boxer in the group and can come up with quick gameplans on short notice. Just you watch! i thought the format would suit a more aggressive fighter?

I'm picking Byrd to win it because he's the best natural boxer in the group and can come up with quick gameplans on short notice. Just you watch!

yeah this is for real they advertised it in the green mundine fight. roy jones jr was the advertiser.. and it sorta came across like he was in it? strange. im all for it. i watch boxing to be entertained..

steve cunningham and bell?? no toney, klit, or rahman. this certainly isn't the middleweight tourney that king put on w/ the best in the division at the time. were you refferring to the tournament that king got busted for cheating and completely rigging the whole thing? mid eighties, right?

Does participation in this affect boxer's rankings? I don't it should but you never know with them, do you? Mesi should enter it, it'll either kill him or help him shake off that ring rust. They say it doesnt but when Mo Harris won CKP's fist of of dollars tourny, the IBF would'nt get off his nuts for a year and he got a HBO fight against Derrick Jefferson.

Does participation in this affect boxer's rankings? I don't it should but you never know with them, do you? Mesi should enter it, it'll either kill him or help him shake off that ring rust.

Didn't someone do something like this a few years back? Yes, it was called fist full of dollars and it was won by shit bag Mo Harris.

if this gets a good response, it might change boxing, because tournaments like these for boxing are rare. detrimental to boxing? ask an average joe who any of the heavyweight champs are right now. boxing can not make any mistakes at this point. in essence, it is a sideshow, but it does seem like it will be exciting, i mean four rounds, most fighters are going to pour their hearts out into that first round. going to be a high volume of brawling. but, lets just wait until it happens and see how it turns out. what makes this different from toughman is that they aren't just taking any old fighters, these are fighters that have proven themselves to a certain degree. it's entertainment and has tons of potential, they might even change the format of the tournament if there is a high turn out. i might watch it if i have enough money. this might be some of the best fighting in one night that we have seen in years.

i was acutually hoping o'neill bell put on 10-15 lbs and fought at heavy but not in this manner at all

the winner will make a name for himself Maybe they'll get a shot a Butterbean. :rolleyes:

lmao. now out comes the pervert in you,,right on cue. youre a pathetic joke. this is my last response to you. go back to hibernation scumbag You're a cheerleader, know nothing about boxing, and illustrate your ignorance every time you post here. Crawl back under that rock and pipe down.