March Madness + Boxing =

[K-DOGG]

1. Muhammad Ali vs. 8. Archie Moore
4. Jersey Joe Walcott vs. 5. Max Schmeling
3. Jack Johnson vs. 6. Joe Jeanette
2. Jack Dempsey vs. 7. James Corbett

1. Rocky Marciano vs. 8. Cleveland Williams
4. Evander Holyfield vs. 5. Ken Norton
3. Joe Frazier vs. 6. Max Baer
2. Mike Tyson vs. 7. George Godfrey

1. Joe Louis vs. 8. Jimmy Young
4. Floyd Patterson vs. 5. Rid**** Bowe
3. Lennox Lewis vs. 6. Jerry Quarry
2. George Foreman vs. 7. Elmer Ray

1. Larry Holmes vs. 8. Harry Wills
4. Ezzard Charles vs. 5. Gene Tunney
3. Jim Jeffries vs. 6. Jack Sharkey
2. Sonny Liston vs. 7. Peter Jackson

WINNERS

1. Ali vs. 5. Schmeling
3. Johnson vs. 2. Dempsey

1. Marciano vs. 4. Holyfield
6. Baer vs. 2. Tyson

1. Louis vs. 5. Bowe
3. Lewis vs. 2. Foreman

1. Holmes vs. 4. Charles
3. Jeffries vs. 2. Liston

KEY NOTES
I had to make a similar upset prediction to K-DOGG's and go with Baer over Frazier. Smokin' Joe was a warrior, but if there was one weakness, it was a long reach, and bone crunching power. I picked Tyson over Godfrey, as I imagined this fight going similar to the Tyson vs. Biggs matchup. Godfrey was big, defensive, and had quick hand speed, but a prime Mike could score enough to impress the judges and steal a decision. I think that Holyfield could be a sleeper, as he is incredibly tough, has great counter-punching ability, as well as patience and heart.

Coming soon...more analysis and round 2 predictions.

Oh yeah, and

Damn, sorry it took so long to get back. Now I've got two seeds to go through.

Okay, picks on Round 2 (even though they've already been "decided" )

Ali vs Schmeling....This one I see as a tactical battle for 15 rounds. Schmeling was a well schooled technician; but would be at a huge disadvantage from a size and speed perspective, which would ultimately be the difference in the fight.....Ali by UD.

Johnson vs Dempsey....Great style match up; offense personified vs defensive personified. Surely no one was better at fending off punches and countering than Jack Johnson; but it's hard for me to imagine him fending off a blizzard like Dempsey would be throwing early on without getting tagged a few times at least. The way I see it, there are two determining factors in this bout. 1.)Dempsey was the first fighter that I know of that used the kind of head movement and ferocity that is still being used...he, essentially, was the first "modern" fighter. Jack Johnson, great as he was, to me knowledge, never faced a fighter as hard to hit as Dempsey and Johnson wasn't known for his activity anyway...so, he would have trouble connecting solidly on Dempsey and while he could punch, Dempsey could take a shot, so this fight's going the distance from Johnson's perspective. The second factor #2...is Dempsey's oft underrated boxing ability. He is remembered primarily as a slugger; but he was far more than that. He proved against the crafty Tommy Gibbons that he could box when the occasion called for it....and it surely would against Johnson..........Dempsey by SD.

Marciano vs Holyfield....Call it two crusierweights going to war...or hell, you pick. Tyson said Holyfield was the best counterpuncher he ever faced and it's reasonable to presume Evander would try to fight a similar fight against Rocky that he did against Tyson who is about the same height. This fight would look like an amalgom of Holyfield-Tyson, Holyfield-Qawi, and Marciano-Charles, IMO. There are several differences, of course; Marciano's deceptive defense where he leaned back and away from the right hand and Holy punching harder than Charles; but while I see a few potential knockdowns for Holy in this affair, I can't see him stopping Marciano unless it's on a cut. Conversely, Rocky gets no one puncher against Evander; but I can see his constant pressure wearing on Evander over the 15 round course.........Marciano by TKO in 13.

Baer vs Tyson....Damn! Don't leave your seat for any reason! Baer showed against Louis that he could be stopped by a hard puncher with fast hands and a good left hook. Granted, Tyson wasn't the technician that Louis was; but neither was Baer. This one would be a wild affair for as long as it went.....Tyson by KO in 4.

Louis vs Bowe....TIMBER!!! Louis, IMO, was too well schooled and hit too hard for the bigger Bowe. Rid**** showed against Holyfield, who is not a knock-out puncher, that he could be hurt. Now, that's not to say Bowe wouldn't get Louis on the canvas, for I can see that as well; but when it come time to dig deep, Joe's got the edge..........Louis by TKO in 9.

Lewis vs Foreman....Two things; Foreman showed he could battle back through adversity as he did against Lyle, while Lewis showed he could be stopped with one shot against mediocre competition with above average power. If one were to describe George's power, "above average" are not the words that come to mind. True, Lewis was a far superior boxer and had pop of his own; but his chin vs Forman's power is the difference here, IMO.......Foreman by KO in 3.

Holmes vs Charles....No doubt Charles speed and ability would give Holmes some trouble; but, once again, Holmes jab is no cupcake and he would use it to great effect to keep the smaller man where he wanted him. Talk about a chess match.....Holmes by UD.

Jeffries vs Liston......Liston was the better boxer and faster of hand while both men hit incredibly hard and both could take a tremendous shot. I think the issue here could be stamina. I can see Liston building up an early lead; but Jeff's punches to the ribs as well as Sonny's head wearing on him down the stretch. Liston's jab would undoubtedly bust Jeff's mug up by the time the fight reached the final stanzas; but by that point I can see Sonny fighting with his mouth open and either quitting on his stool or being stopped. There was no quit in Jeff, while we know Liston quit at least once. This fight comes down to mentality.........Jeffries comes from behind to win.......Jeffires by TKO in 11.

Least...that's how I see 'em.

[K-DOGG]

1. Ali vs. 5. Schmeling
3. Johnson vs. 2. Dempsey

1. Marciano vs. 4. Holyfield
6. Baer vs. 2. Tyson

1. Louis vs. 5. Bowe
3. Lewis vs. 2. Foreman

1. Holmes vs. 4. Charles
3. Jeffries vs. 2. Liston


WINNERS

1. Ali vs. 2. Dempsey
4. Holyfield vs. 2. Tyson
1. Louis vs. 2. Foreman
1. Holmes vs. 2. Liston

KEY NOTES

A lot of 1's vs. 2's. While that's the ideal way we would all like the tournament(s) to turn out, upsets are bound to happen. I actually think that Baer may have been favored over Tyson, simply given his size. Then again, Tyson had minimal respect for people, especially opponents who clowned around. Holyfield was able to fend off Marciano's attack and steal the points war. Most people will probably disagree with this decision, but to each his/her own. Louis vs. Bowe would be an interesting contest, but I believe that Joe's superior boxing skills and tactical mindset would give him the edge. Lewis vs. Foreman is a match I'm still not sold on yet. On various polls, 80% of the people on this website selected Foreman to KO Lewis, but Lewis was a larger man...much larger. He also posessed more boxing skills and decent defensive abilities. Even so, G. Foe was pretty frieking destructive. Holmes can outbox almost anyone, hence my decision over Charles. It would be a solid competition, but Larry would probably gain the advantage in the mid to late rounds. Jeffries and Liston were both fine physical specimens, but I believe that Sonny's reach and work behind the jab (during his prime) would give him the edge. As a side note, people really need to study Jeffries and stop basing his greatness, or lack thereof, on his fight with Johnson.

Elite 8, coming up!

Okay, here we go.

Ali vs Dempsey....Think of Ali-Frazier I and give Frazier more power and give Ali better legs. This fight would be as thrilling with as many ebs and flows as you can imagine; one man in charge, then another, neither willing to quit. I know it's getting repetitive; but Ali's hand and footspeed are the ultimate difference...but in this fight, he'll have to dig down as he did with Frazier and show his tremendous heart, for Dempsey would take him to that place. I can see Dempsey's hook hurting Ali on a couple of occasions as Jack would force him to the ropes and pound mercilessly at Muhammad's ribs; but, ultimately, I see Ali gutting it out and ripping Jack's face to shreds down the stretch and getting him in trouble on a couple of occasions as well. This one has "Fight of the Century" written all over it...........Ali by close UD.

Holyfield vs Tyson.....Man oh man, the fight we NEVER saw; prime Evander vs prime Tyson. I do think it would look similar to their first encounter, for sure; but with far more work and head movement by Mike. Look for Evander to be dropped early in this one, like in the 3rd, after he starts to get comfortable. This one would be hard fought back and forth action with both men scoring and landing solid. This may surprise some; but I see Mike stopping Holy around the 7th. Prime Mike was far more motivated than post-prison Mike and through better combinations and pressed harder and was harder to hit. Evander, on the other hand, has never been a defensive genius; and you can't keep getting hit by Mike.........Tyson by TKO in 7.

Louis vs Foreman......Not a good match up for George. Louis was a far better technician and could punch as well. George might have Joe on ***** street early on; but Joe was dangerous when he was hurt...ask Tami Mauriello...........Louis by TKO in 6.

Holmes vs Liston.....One word; Hamburger....that's what Liston's face would look like after eating Larry's jab for 7 or 8 rounds. Sonny had a great jab too; but I feel Larry's was faster and don't forget, timing has everything to do with a jab as well. Sonny would land his too; but not as many and not as often. He might get Holmes hurt; but Larry always fought out of danger and his heart was as big as he was, the same cannot be said for Liston...............Holmes by TKO in 11.

[SonnyG8R]

1. Muhammad Ali vs. 8. Archie Moore
4. Jersey Joe Walcott vs. 5. Max Schmeling
3. Jack Johnson vs. 6. Joe Jeanette
2. Jack Dempsey vs. 7. James Corbett

1. Rocky Marciano vs. 8. Cleveland Williams
4. Evander Holyfield vs. 5. Ken Norton
3. Joe Frazier vs. 6. Max Baer
2. Mike Tyson vs. 7. George Godfrey

1. Joe Louis vs. 8. Jimmy Young
4. Floyd Patterson vs. 5. Rid**** Bowe
3. Lennox Lewis vs. 6. Jerry Quarry
2. George Foreman vs. 7. Elmer Ray

1. Larry Holmes vs. 8. Harry Wills
4. Ezzard Charles vs. 5. Gene Tunney
3. Jim Jeffries vs. 6. Jack Sharkey
2. Sonny Liston vs. 7. Peter Jackson

[supaduck]

This isn't meant to offend brassangel in any way, but if my parents had called me genesis, i'd have murdered them in their sleep.

[SonnyG8R]

1. Muhammad Ali vs. Jersey Joe Walcott
3. Jack Johnson vs. Jack Dempsey

1. Rocky Marciano vs. Ken Norton
3. Joe Frazier vs. Mike Tyson

1. Joe Louis vs. Rid**** Bowe
3. Lennox Lewis vs. George Foreman

1. Larry Holmes vs. Gene Tunney
3. Jim Jeffries vs Sonny Liston

[Brassangel]

@everybody: I didn't "decide" who won, they were just my predictions. Any personal picks, opinions, and so on are fair game.

@supaduck: This isn't meant to offend you in any way, but I hope that someone kills you in your sleep. No, actually, I hope that you are awake and making comments like this one. She was our first creation, precious and pure, so, like the Book, she was given the name Genesis. Besides, it's only her name proper; Genna is for short.

Now, back to the tournament.

Originall posted by K-DOGG
Okay, here we go.

Ali vs Dempsey....Think of Ali-Frazier I and give Frazier more power and give Ali better legs. This fight would be as thrilling with as many ebs and flows as you can imagine; one man in charge, then another, neither willing to quit. I know it's getting repetitive; but Ali's hand and footspeed are the ultimate difference...but in this fight, he'll have to dig down as he did with Frazier and show his tremendous heart, for Dempsey would take him to that place. I can see Dempsey's hook hurting Ali on a couple of occasions as Jack would force him to the ropes and pound mercilessly at Muhammad's ribs; but, ultimately, I see Ali gutting it out and ripping Jack's face to shreds down the stretch and getting him in trouble on a couple of occasions as well. This one has "Fight of the Century" written all over it...........Ali by close UD.

Holyfield vs Tyson.....Man oh man, the fight we NEVER saw; prime Evander vs prime Tyson. I do think it would look similar to their first encounter, for sure; but with far more work and head movement by Mike. Look for Evander to be dropped early in this one, like in the 3rd, after he starts to get comfortable. This one would be hard fought back and forth action with both men scoring and landing solid. This may surprise some; but I see Mike stopping Holy around the 7th. Prime Mike was far more motivated than post-prison Mike and through better combinations and pressed harder and was harder to hit. Evander, on the other hand, has never been a defensive genius; and you can't keep getting hit by Mike.........Tyson by TKO in 7.

Louis vs Foreman......Not a good match up for George. Louis was a far better technician and could punch as well. George might have Joe on ***** street early on; but Joe was dangerous when he was hurt...ask Tami Mauriello...........Louis by TKO in 6.

Holmes vs Liston.....One word; Hamburger....that's what Liston's face would look like after eating Larry's jab for 7 or 8 rounds. Sonny had a great jab too; but I feel Larry's was faster and don't forget, timing has everything to do with a jab as well. Sonny would land his too; but not as many and not as often. He might get Holmes hurt; but Larry always fought out of danger and his heart was as big as he was, the same cannot be said for Liston...............Holmes by TKO in 11.

FINAL FOUR

I like your selections, and the reasoning behind each one. Because of this, I will continue on your play as though it's a "choose your own adventure" of sorts. The only choice that I find truly debatable is George Foreman vs. Joe Louis. The circumstances would determine a lot. For example, if both fighters were using 4 oz. gloves like they did back in the day, then Foreman could tear someone's head off. Louis did have a great mind for figuring out his opponents, and he fought well under the pressure of being hurt, but he never suffered the wrath of Big George. Getting off to a slow start might not be good against Foreman, but Louis was arguably the greatest heavyweight champ of all-time.

Muhammad Ali vs. Mike Tyson
-Who are we kidding? This is the fight everyone would want to watch! Two of the largest draws of this great sport going head-to-head in their respective primes. 8 out of 10 fans and critics (including myself) would select Ali for this matchup without much thought. That's where the change occurs for me, however. We can't simply say "Ali was too fast," or "Tyson was almost invincible" or my favorite, "Tyson would get frustrated," because that downplays the seriousness of this match. Guys throughout history who had a "bully" style like Frazier, Dempsey, a younger Liston, and even Marciano would always give Ali trouble. Their hope would consist of cutting off the ring and countering the jab. Well, Mike was quicker on his feet than either of the above-listed fighters, had power that was on par with them, and had a 19 1/2" neck to absorb the jab. The jab of Muhammad Ali tended to have trouble against fighters like this because their defense was awkward and constantly in motion. Tyson had better head movement than most guys Ali faced, and could cut off the ring faster than most people could dream of dancing around it. He could deliver serious punishment to the body, and a small opening could be exploited with either hand, which wasn't always the case with other fighters that had his level of power.

Muhammad Ali was a great ring general; perhaps the greatest (no pun intended). He usually spent the first few rounds figuring out his opponents before developing a good jab rhythm, and knowing when to flurry to win the rounds on the judges's cards. He was very fluid on his feet, and had incredible hand speed to catch his opponents off guard. His ability to keep his adversaries at distance might give him a tremendous advantage against Iron Mike as it has on so many other occassions.

One man wants to figure the other out, while slipping and skipping and finding weaknesses. The other man doesn't want to offer any chances to his opponent to figure him out while he spends the experimental rounds tearing him down, making it difficult to keep one's guard up later on. Both are trigger fast, both have stamina, and both have little respect for their opponent's abilities.

Joe Louis vs. Larry Holmes
-The quiet greats. While Larry Holmes was arrogant, he practically goes forgotten on many people's radars because his reign came at the end of one great and was followed by another. Both of which were very attractive draws who promised excitement. He was very skilled, however, almost as much so as his sparring partner, Ali. He had a little more sting to his punches, and tried not to be so clockwise, one-dimensional.

Joe Louis would be given a grand opportunity to figure out his opponent, as Holmes rarely went for the early KO. Even speedy dancers might have trouble disrupting whatever plan would formulate in the foot-slogging, but quick-handed Brown Bomber's head. This match is as difficult to guage as the other semifinal; and while it might not be as exciting, I'd pay a boat load to watch it!

VERDICT
I can't decide! Perhaps Yogi, K-DOGG, myself, and anyone else who wishes can put our heads together and decide who moves on to the championship match. Believe me, a series for each round would have made this much, much simpler. All that I ask is that we avoid short-sided, sweeping statements based on who our favorite boxers are; as these comments tend to lack true information or credible research. Also, no "Fighter A beat Fighter B, and Fighter B beat Fighter C, so Fighter A would beat Fighter C," garbage. After all, Frazier and Norton beat Ali, and Foreman beat Frazier and Norton (humiliatingly so), so Foreman was supposed to beat Ali, right?

[K-DOGG]

@everybody: I didn't "decide" who won, they were just my predictions. Any personal picks, opinions, and so on are fair game.

@supaduck: This isn't meant to offend you in any way, but I hope that someone kills you in your sleep. No, actually, I hope that you are awake and making comments like this one. She was our first creation, precious and pure, so, like the Book, she was given the name Genesis. Besides, it's only her name proper; Genna is for short.

Now, back to the tournament.



FINAL FOUR

I like your selections, and the reasoning behind each one. Because of this, I will continue on your play as though it's a "choose your own adventure" of sorts. The only choice that I find truly debatable is George Foreman vs. Joe Louis. The circumstances would determine a lot. For example, if both fighters were using 4 oz. gloves like they did back in the day, then Foreman could tear someone's head off. Louis did have a great mind for figuring out his opponents, and he fought well under the pressure of being hurt, but he never suffered the wrath of Big George. Getting off to a slow start might not be good against Foreman, but Louis was arguably the greatest heavyweight champ of all-time.

Muhammad Ali vs. Mike Tyson
-Who are we kidding? This is the fight everyone would want to watch! Two of the largest draws of this great sport going head-to-head in their respective primes. 8 out of 10 fans and critics (including myself) would select Ali for this matchup without much thought. That's where the change occurs for me, however. We can't simply say "Ali was too fast," or "Tyson was almost invincible" or my favorite, "Tyson would get frustrated," because that downplays the seriousness of this match. Guys throughout history who had a "bully" style like Frazier, Dempsey, a younger Liston, and even Marciano would always give Ali trouble. Their hope would consist of cutting off the ring and countering the jab. Well, Mike was quicker on his feet than either of the above-listed fighters, had power that was on par with them, and had a 19 1/2" neck to absorb the jab. The jab of Muhammad Ali tended to have trouble against fighters like this because their defense was awkward and constantly in motion. Tyson had better head movement than most guys Ali faced, and could cut off the ring faster than most people could dream of dancing around it. He could deliver serious punishment to the body, and a small opening could be exploited with either hand, which wasn't always the case with other fighters that had his level of power.

Muhammad Ali was a great ring general; perhaps the greatest (no pun intended). He usually spent the first few rounds figuring out his opponents before developing a good jab rhythm, and knowing when to flurry to win the rounds on the judges's cards. He was very fluid on his feet, and had incredible hand speed to catch his opponents off guard. His ability to keep his adversaries at distance might give him a tremendous advantage against Iron Mike as it has on so many other occassions.

One man wants to figure the other out, while slipping and skipping and finding weaknesses. The other man doesn't want to offer any chances to his opponent to figure him out while he spends the experimental rounds tearing him down, making it difficult to keep one's guard up later on. Both are trigger fast, both have stamina, and both have little respect for their opponent's abilities.

Joe Louis vs. Larry Holmes
-The quiet greats. While Larry Holmes was arrogant, he practically goes forgotten on many people's radars because his reign came at the end of one great and was followed by another. Both of which were very attractive draws who promised excitement. He was very skilled, however, almost as much so as his sparring partner, Ali. He had a little more sting to his punches, and tried not to be so clockwise, one-dimensional.

Joe Louis would be given a grand opportunity to figure out his opponent, as Holmes rarely went for the early KO. Even speedy dancers might have trouble disrupting whatever plan would formulate in the foot-slogging, but quick-handed Brown Bomber's head. This match is as difficult to guage as the other semifinal; and while it might not be as exciting, I'd pay a boat load to watch it!

VERDICT
I can't decide! Perhaps Yogi, K-DOGG, myself, and anyone else who wishes can put our heads together and decide who moves on to the championship match. Believe me, a series for each round would have made this much, much simpler. All that I ask is that we avoid short-sided, sweeping statements based on who our favorite boxers are; as these comments tend to lack true information or credible research. Also, no "Fighter A beat Fighter B, and Fighter B beat Fighter C, so Fighter A would beat Fighter C," garbage. After all, Frazier and Norton beat Ali, and Foreman beat Frazier and Norton (humiliatingly so), so Foreman was supposed to beat Ali, right?

Completely understand the questioning of the Louis-Foreman decision. The reason I decided to go that way...forgot to list it....was primarily the Louis-Baer fight. Baer was very similar to George in style and "finese", so to speak....so, I used that as my model for what Joe was capable of against big ****ers of George's make-up.

Back later with my picks on Ali-Tyson and Holmes-Louis. Damn, what a couple of fights.

[K-DOGG]

Alright, here we go:

Ali vs Tyson....The crowd would be in an uproar so much that they'd have to ring the bell twice to start the fight. Ali and Tyson both rush towards each other with Ali side stepping at the last second to avoid a murderous Tyson hook. Most of the first round would be Tyson rushing in with Ali mouthing off while slipping out of the way. Tyson might get a few body shots in as he bulls Muhammad into the ropes; but Ali's fresh so he doesn't stay too close to Mike for too long.

Here's the thing with this fight. Mike, unlike Frazier, was an extremely fast starter; but after the first 4 or 5 rounds, had a tendency to fight in spurts. Ali, knowing this, would not engage directly with Mike early on. Another factor is how Mike regularly allowed himself to be tied up; meaning that he didn't work on the inside as much as he'd just lay there until the referee would separate him and his opponent....this would undoubtedly work to Ali's advantage as he could dictate the pace of the fight. Also, Mike's head movement would decrease as the fight wore on which means that while he would be hard as hell for Ali to hit in the first few rounds, Muhammad's jab would start finding it's mark with more regularity in the middle rounds. Also remember, Mike needed to get set to unleash his punches and Ali's movement wouldn't allow him to do this very often. I wouldn't be surprised if Mike's hook put Ali on ***** street or on his ass at least once; but Ali's resolve is unequaled and he knew how to survive until he found his way out of the "dream room". Ali, I think, could potentially stun Mike a few times by the later rounds; but I don't know if he'd stop him....if he did, Mike would more than likely still be on his feet and it would be a TKO with Mike not firing back. By the later half of the fight, Ali's rapid combinations would be landing with more regularity; but Mike had a really good chin. Ultimately, I've got to go with Ali because Mike wasn't as strong in the later rounds and I can't see him stopping Ali early or dictating the pace..........Ali by TKO in 13.


Holmes and Louis to come.

[SABBATH]

..........Ali by TKO in 13.

Good call K-Dogg.

Tyson didn't carry his power late in a fight with only 1 KO win past the 7th round while Ali's 'cumulative effect damage' punches accounted for most of his KO's coming in the latter half of championship fights, so if Ali gets past 5 rounds (pretty likely) I see Ali becoming more effective and winning rounds while Tyson winds down and gets frustrated and as he so often did, looks for one big shot at a time.

Personally, I don't see Tyson beating many top 10 ATG heavyweights in a fight that lasts past 5 rounds due to his diminished work rate in longer fights. Due to Tyson's quick starts however, he's got an inside 5 rounds KO chance against most. Assuming Ali goes into the fight respecting Tyson's punching power (as he did against Liston) I see a mobile/clinching Ali getting past 5 rounds of a pretty even fight before Ali pulls away and either wins a decision or late stoppage.

Ali also has a decided edge in mental toughness. Tyson throughout his career showed an inabilty to handle adversity by being unable to come back from knockdowns, cuts or just plain coming back to win a fight he was trailing something that Ali was known for, so in a fight that goes into the later rounds, Ali definitely has the decided edge.

Ali wins.

[K-DOGG]

Thank you Sabbath...and good post in your own right.

Now, the other semi-final pick:


Holmes-Louis.....This one gives me a migrane just thinking about it. Several bouts come to mind when pondering this odd style match up; Holmes-Norton (Kenny was a plodder, like Louis; but wasn't nearly the technician.....and Larry's jab arm was hurt in that bout), Schmeling-Louis I, Louis-Conn I, & Louis-Walcott I (even though this was an old Louis), and Holmes-Witherspoon (even though that was an older Holmes)....and Maybe Louis-Farr. Both men were well skilled, had good jabs, lots of heart, good stamina, with a power advantage going to Louis.

I can't see this as anything but a tactical match-up with both men exchanging jabs while Louis would be trying to work his way into punching range to catch Larry with his right uppercut, left hook combo; but Joe could hurt you with any punch he threw and I think he would hurt Larry on at least one occasion. Now, here's the difference; Louis showed on several occassions that he could be outboxed, while Larry fought boxers and punchers alike and always found a way to win up until the first Spinks fight....and I can't see Louis fighting in that way. Not to mention, that was an old Holmes. I can see Louis dropping Holmes with a straight right hand because Larry was always vulnerable to that punch amd Joe's right hand was something else. Ultimately though, I see this as a very close bout with both men having their moments and while I may be crucified for this prediction, I just can't see Louis winning against a younger, faster, taller, well-schooled Larry Holmes.........Holmes by close UD.


Let the bullets fly.