The 32 fighters for the all-time Heavyweight elimination were today announced. The top eight were seeded according to the International Boxing Research Organisation All-time List with the other 12 also guaranteed a place. The final 12 were selected in part by past achievement as well as the odd popular vote. The complete draw for the tournament looks like this:
——————–
Joe Louis vs Sam McVey
Sam Langford vs James J. Corbett
—–
Sonny Liston vs Wladimir Klitschko
George Foreman vs Tom Sharkey
———-
Larry Holmes vs Vitali Klitschko
Lennox Lewis vs Riddick Bowe
—–
Mike Tyson vs John L. Sullivan
Jack Dempsey vs Harry Wills
—————
Jack Johnson vs Ken Norton
Evander Holyfield vs Jack Sharkey
—–
Joe Frazier vs Bob Fitzsimmons
Rocky Marciano vs Floyd Patterson
———-
James J. Jeffries vs Ezzard Charles
Gene Tunney vs Max Schmeling
—–
Jersey Joe Walcott vs Max Baer
Muhammad Ali vs Joe Jeanette
——————–
All fights will be fought over 15 rounds using the ten point must system for scoring. Some of the more interesting first round matchups sees much ducked negro fighter Sam Langford matchup with James J. Corbett who was one of the top white fighters of their time in a fight that couldn’t have taken place at the time due to the colour line. Another fight which didn’t take place for the same reason but will take place here is between Jack Dempsey and Harry Wills, with the winner of that fight meeting the winner of the bout between the last bare knuckle champion John L. Sullivan and 1980’s Heavyweight Champion Mike Tyson. Riddick Bowe and Lennox Lewis will do battle in the pro ranks after Bowe dropped his WBC belt into the trash in 1993 in order to pursue other fights and a fight that narrowly missed happening between Rocky Marciano and Floyd Patterson will also take place.
The fights will take place once the other divisions are announced. Please post any comments regarding the matchups and tell your buddies!
All-time Greats Boxing Tournaments 