If there were only ever 12 rounders...

I've got the idea from this thread from another one that is being discussed right now, but whenever people get onto the "should the 15 round ruling come back" (which I think it should) discussion, it always gets me thinking about historic fights that would have played out differently had they been 12 rounders as opposed to 15s.

The main two that always spring to mind first are Ray Robinson Vs Joey Maxim, Sugar was ahead on all cards when he quit on his stool at the end of the 13th round due to heat exhaustion and therefore failing to become Light heavyweight champ.

The other that I think of is Ray Leonard Vs Tommy Hearns. Hearns like Robinson was ahead on all cards when Leonard turned the fight round in the 13th and then finished Tommy off in the 14th.

What other fights can you think of that would have gone down differently had there only ever been 12 round world title fights?

Rocky Marciano would never have been champion, he was way behind against Jersey Joe Walcott.

Joe Louis would have lost to Billy Conn.

Never would of had the 'St.Valentine day massacre' with Robinson vs Lamotta.

Would Qawi have retained title against young upstart Holyfield in the first fight??

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

Never would of had the 'St.Valentine day massacre' with Robinson vs Lamotta.

Would Qawi have retained title against young upstart Holyfield in the first fight??

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Yeah maybe. One of the greatest fights I have ever seen, it was very close though, you could see each man taking it in turns to have their second, third and fourth winds throughout the fight.

I'm pretty sure someone would bring up Duran-Hagler and say Duran would have won based on a 12 rounder instead of the 15 it was at the time.

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Originally Posted by generalbulldog

I'm pretty sure someone would bring up Duran-Hagler and say Duran would have won based on a 12 rounder instead of the 15 it was at the time.

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Another one I'd forgot about to be honest. I'd have to watch that fight again, can't really remember!

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Originally Posted by rjj tszyu

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Originally Posted by generalbulldog

I'm pretty sure someone would bring up Duran-Hagler and say Duran would have won based on a 12 rounder instead of the 15 it was at the time.

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Another one I'd forgot about to be honest. I'd have to watch that fight again, can't really remember!

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Do not know what Hagler paid Duran so much respect, if it was 12 Hagler would have stepped it up.

Azumah Nelson would have beaten Salvador Sanchez

Ali would have outpointed Frazier in Manilla

Conn would have beaten Louis

Robinson would have been Light-Heavyweight champ

Chris Finnegan might have beaten Foster on the cards

I personally feel that Leonard in the Hearns fight & Hagler vs Duran would have both stepped it up when they needed to whether it was 12 or 15 rounds

Its always amazed me how they chose 12 instead of 13 it was inviting draws considering its not scored amature fashion on hits and is round by round :why not choose an uneven number so that there really is a championship round on closer fights?

Im undecided though , the damage in the end rounds was one of the reasons to bring them back, Ali may be fitter today without the longer fights.

I think if a fight is so close at 12 that it could go either way, maybe both corners could agree there and then and take it one more round to 13 or further onto to 15. Knowing this is always an option would make fighters train harder and fight differently which would change the whole fight structure.You have place their safety first which is the whole idea as many would fight for 20 give them the chance.