By David Martinez / Boxing Historian / dmboxing.com
I have seen many mythical bouts where people predict “who would beat who” if they were to fight at the height, peak, prime, pinnacle of their careers regardless of the era.
So, I have chosen to go back in time with a select group of heavyweight champions from Muhammad Ali to John L. Sullivan; based solely on my personal opinion, I have put together a series of super fights.
Many of us boxing purests have a wide difference of opinions, and I truly respect that, and trust that my opinion might be respected, as well.
I have spoken to many of the top boxing historians throughout my fifty-nine years of involvement in the sport, and here are their lists of the best:
Nat Fleischer, founder and editor of Ring magazine ranks Jack Johnson, Jim Jeffries, Bob Fitzsimmons, Jack Dempsey, and Jim Corbett as his top five heavyweights.
Bert Sugar ranks Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Sam Langford, Muhammad Ali, and Jack Johnson as his top five heavyweights.
Al Nelson ranks Bob Fitzsimmons, Jim Jeffries, Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey, and Gene Tunney as his top five heavyweights.
Hank Kaplan ranks Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, Larry Holmes, Rocky Marciano, and George Foreman as his top five heavyweights.
BoxRec ranks Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Sam Langford, Muhammad Ali, and Jack Johnson as their top five heavyweights.
I sincerely respect these boxing historians, and BoxRec; certainly we have a diverse series of opinions.
Here’s my mythical tournament of sixteen heavyweight boxers that fought within a 100 year time frame – 1880 to 1980. They are in no particular order of match up’s, all scheduled 15 rounds, and the result of each bout listed:
*** (Opening-Round) ***
Jack Dempsey vs. Jim Corbett / Dempsey by KO in 6th
John L. Sullivan vs. Jim Braddock / Sullivan by decision
Joe Louis vs. Sonny Liston / Louis by decision
Bob Fitzsimmons vs. Jack Sharkey / Fitzsimmons by decision
Max Baer vs. Jack Johnson / Johnson by decision
Rocky Marciano vs. Gene Tunney / Marciano by decision
Jim Jeffries vs. Jersey Joe Walcott / Jeffries by KO in 11th
Muhammad Ali vs. Max Schmeling / Ali by decision
*** (Quarter-Final) ***
Dempsey vs. Sullivan / Dempsey by KO in 8th
Louis vs. Fitzsimmons / Louis by KO in 10th
Johnson vs. Marciano / Johnson by decision
Jeffries vs. Ali / Ali by decision
*** (Semi-Final) ***
Dempsey vs. Louis / Louis by decision
Johnson vs. Ali / Ali by decision
*** (Final) ***
Louis vs. Ali / Ali by decision