NSB'S ALL TIME Heavyweight Tourney.#1 Muhammad Ali vs #16 Tony Tucker

Which Tucker fights are representative of his purported "greatness?" I have listed 16 fighters that I personally consider great H2H fighters. This have nothing to do with resume, just opinion. Tucker is the only entry that could be questioned and I am very well aware of that. I am also aware that a lot of people would probably choose another fighter to represent this last spot and I'm fine with it. That's the whole point of this project, to see if my opinions of the results in this tournament is all agreed upon. I watched his fights against Jaco,Young,Douglas, Tyson and Lewis. The fights I judge him the most from are the Douglas and Tyson/Lewis fights. He fought a very dedicated and very focused version of Douglas and showed wonderful movement and pretty impressive combinations in that fight.This is just opinion, but I think the Douglas who fought and lost to Tucker was almost as good as the Douglas who stopped Prime Tyson. Against Tyson he showed great left hook endings to his combinations for a few rounds before just going into survival and frustration mode. What I did see despite him losing to Tyson was a 6'5 awkward mover who have good power and good movement along with good handspeed. The ability to frustrate an animal like Prime Tyson and the ability to absorb punches from one of the hardest hitters in HW Histroy. He showed it again years later against a Young Lewis. Lewis might not have been prime yet against Tucker, but he threw a lot of big punches and Tucker still managed to survive. Tucker surviving against both Tyson and Lewis is a different situation from Haye surviving against Wlad. Haye survived because Wlad was not trying to knock him out. Both Tyson and Lewis actually WANTED to knock out Tucker and went for it but still can't do it. It speaks volumes. Anyways once again this is just my opinion. I think a 6'5 Tony Tucker with that movement,chin,length,and boxing intelligence would have given the smaller guys of the past fits. He wouldn't beat a Frazier or a Marciano mainly due to his lackluster offensive output and his refusal to engage ,but neither Marciano or Frazier is going to knock out a Prime Tucker. AND I believe that they would both drop a decent amount of rounds against him as well. In conclusion, Tony Tucker is not a 'great' fighter..........far from it. But he is a good enough H2H fighter in that I can't pick 16 other guys above him throughout HW History. I CAN pick 15 other guys though and I did.

Which Tucker fights are representative of his purported "greatness?"

Yes. My criteria is my personal opinion of H2H Heavyweights. I made a list of my personal top 16 H2H Heavys and wanted to see who would win out in NSB Polls. I know that the likes of Patterson,Tunney,and a long list of others all have better legacies and resumes than Tucker. But I feel like Tucker would beat them H2H. I think that a 6'5 Tucker with that jab of his and his incredibly frustrating clinches and movement will beat out a lot of smaller Heavys from the past. I believe also that if he's able to survive Prime Tyson and a young raw but still powerful Lennox Lewis, he'll survive anybody. I see a lot of split decisions in a fantasy H2H between Tucker and a lot of fighters with better resumes. He's the only one who's questionable anyways, the other 15 fighters are all pretty much well known ATG Level fighters. Good that you explained that. Elroy gets very excited when you discuss large heavyweights.

You don't usually see Tony Tucker listed among the top 16 heavyweights. But maybe you have a different criteria? Yes. My criteria is my personal opinion of H2H Heavyweights. I made a list of my personal top 16 H2H Heavys and wanted to see who would win out in NSB Polls. I know that the likes of Patterson,Tunney,and a long list of others all have better legacies and resumes than Tucker. But I feel like Tucker would beat them H2H. I think that a 6'5 Tucker with that jab of his and his incredibly frustrating clinches and movement will beat out a lot of smaller Heavys from the past. I believe also that if he's able to survive Prime Tyson and a young raw but still powerful Lennox Lewis, he'll survive anybody. I see a lot of split decisions in a fantasy H2H between Tucker and a lot of fighters with better resumes. He's the only one who's questionable anyways, the other 15 fighters are all pretty much well known ATG Level fighters.

Ali by whatever he wants.

Freak I voted wrong. I thought it would just be who would win. Nonetheless Ali by decision.

Anyone that thinks Tony Tucker would win over Ali doesn't know wtf he's talking about. Ernie Terrell comes to mind. The only similarity between Ernie Terrell and Tony Tucker is they were both tall. Other than that, Earnie Terrell was 212 lbs at bout with Ali, the skinniest former CW on record without balance, and among the most featherfisted boxers of all time. On the contrary, it's a very relevant topic, especially since Tucker fought in a much touger era than either.

Tucker wins and fans storm the ring

Damn the matchup how is Toney Tucker in this tournament to begin with? Solid fighter and no disrespect by any means but not top 16 all time.

Anyone that thinks Tony Tucker would win over Ali doesn't know wtf he's talking about. Ernie Terrell comes to mind.

You don't usually see Tony Tucker listed among the top 16 heavyweights. But maybe you have a different criteria?

Ali by decision.Tucker would be outboxed but I could see him taking Ali to the ropes and pound away based on his reach.

Muhammad has the chin not be KOed by Tony Tucker who isn't a real hard puncher. Tucker would win a decision.