Change one event in boxing history.

[Spicoli]

What if Johnson never got up off a Ketchel right hand. No great white hope, does he even keep a fluke heavyweight championship.

Did Ketcehll die shortly afterwards or did he carry on fighting? If he won he would have kept the title and tried to make as much money as he could. He would never give Johnson a return.

The following year I believe. Ketchel was shot from behind by a jealous worker with his own rifle, a gift from his brother, as he ate breakfast. Ketchel was apparently fond of the female cook. I wonder if they would have kept Johnson 'frozen out' of another shot.

[Bill Paxtom]

'The Brown Bomber'

Retiring in dignity, and not being forced to come back.

The United States should have hired Joe Louis as an Ambassador for Boxing, or
Good Sportsmanship Ambassador.

A World Tour of all the United States Military Bases, where he felt most comfortable,

[Master]

What if Johnson never got up off a Ketchel right hand. No great white hope, does he even keep a fluke heavyweight championship.

Did Ketcehll die shortly afterwards or did he carry on fighting? If he won he would have kept the title and tried to make as much money as he could. He would never give Johnson a return.

The following year I believe. Ketchel was shot from behind by a jealous worker with his own rifle, a gift from his brother, as he ate breakfast. Ketchel was apparently fond of the female cook. I wonder if they would have kept Johnson 'frozen out' of another shot.

You bet they would have frozen him out.

[tysonesque]

I think Tyson would have gone on a bit longer but he would have eventually got beat.

I think Holyfield would have taken a lot out of him, as Evander did with Bowe, and if Tyson did win the first fight if he had beaten Douglas, the fight would have been such an epic that they would have demanded a 2nd and 3rd fight which I could see Holyfield eventually winning.

Then there would be the new generation of Bowe and Lennox who at their best were top fighters. An older and aging Tyson would have eventually lost to them i think.

Tyson was showing decline in the Bruno fight.

I would agree with that.

Tyson's mental state and nature is not that of a dedicated athlete who would have enjoyed a long reign. His style of fighting was a young man's game as well. To fight with that amount of intensity, movement and speed takes one hell of a lot of energy and conditioning. That's one of the reasons his defence fell apart in his later career - he just didn't have it in him to be constantly moving the head and rolling the upper body all over the place. His hand speed diminished considerably as well. He achieved so much at a young age because of his youth, not in spite of it.

You're certainly right about the Bruno fight. Bearing in mind that his last fight previous to that had been against Spinks, I barely recognised Tyson when he fought Frank. His timing was a mile off and he just looked terrible. I think he was out of the ring for something like 8 months, which was quite a long time for him back then, and he'd also ditched Rooney which is probably the most stupid thing he ever did. He was already going completely off the rails by the time he fought Bruno. He got away with it against Williams because he caught him in the first, but against Douglas his obvious lack of training and interest meant he came unstuck big time. Douglas fought the fight of his life on a night when Tyson thought he only had to turn up in order to win. After that he just didn't give a shit and his performances (or lack of) are evidence of that.

The last time Tyson looked good was against Spinks. All his post-Douglas and post- prison fights were pretty lame. Ironically, the only exception to that is his performance against Bruno second time around, but that's purely because someone like Bruno is perfectly suited to Tyson. Enormous, slow guy who is easy to hit and has a questionable chin and dodgy stamina - perfect.

As I said in another post, it's all ifs, buts and maybes with Tyson. He had the potential to retire unbeaten with a fortune in the bank well before the age of 30, but he blew it. And when I say he blew it, I mean HE blew it. It's no one's fault but his own.

[bozo6]

Ali gets counted out vs Henry Cooper. As it should have been..

[powerpuncher]

Ali gets counted out vs Henry Cooper. As it should have been..

You can't start being controversial until at least 10 posts

[Bill Paxtom]

Ali gets counted out vs Henry Cooper. As it should have been..

Correction,

A man by the name of Muhammad Ali did not exist then.

It was Cassius Clay.

[ruthless rocco]

[Sleepwalker]

'The Brown Bomber'

Retiring in dignity, and not being forced to come back.

The United States should have hired Joe Louis as an Ambassador for Boxing, or
Good Sportsmanship Ambassador.

A World Tour of all the United States Military Bases, where he felt most comfortable,

Completely chewed up and spit out. Perhaps the most despicable treatment of a sports figure ever. I can't think of any who comes close.

[SlimTrae]

I disagree with you about Tyson avoiding a certain style or height because he went in with big, tall fighters like Biggs and Tucker and beat them with ease.

The sparring with Lennox was Tyson winning the first day and Lennox handling Tyson the second time but Lennox was slightly older and maturer.

It might take a minute but I'll search for it- This was Cus D'Amato's perspective.

[C.J.Rock]

One thing I would definitely change....


Antonio Margarito would have pulled out of the fight with Steroid Shane Mosely like he should have done. Tony had been having back problems & had been unable to train properly he was over weight & had to sweat it off weakening him further. Then he was faced by blatant lies from Richardson " PLASTER BLOCKS" bullcrap then to crown it all a juiced to the gills Mosely was in the ring. he never had a chance
Warrior that he is Tony wouldn't let hem pull him out but in essence that fight & the injustice Done to him tarnished his career & his good name
Oh BTW I watched Margarito's hands wrapped for Cotto 1 there was NOTHING illegalin them.. Margarito kicked Cotto'a ass LEGITIMATELY & made him take a knee & QUIT!!!!

[ruthless rocco]

One thing I would definitely change....
Antonio Margarito would have pulled out of the fight with Steroid Shane Mosely like he should have done. Tony had been having back problems & had been unable to train properly he was over weight & had to sweat it off weakening him further. Then he was faced by blatant lies from Richardson " PLASTER BLOCKS" bullcrap then to crown it all a juiced to the gills Mosely was in the ring. he never had a chance
Warrior that he is Tony wouldn't let hem pull him out but in essence that fight & the injustice Done to him tarnished his career & his good name
Oh BTW I watched Margarito's hands wrapped for Cotto 1 there was NOTHING illegalin them.. Margarito kicked Cotto'a ass LEGITIMATELY & made him take a knee & QUIT!!!!

[C.J.Rock]

One thing I would definitely change....
Antonio Margarito would have pulled out of the fight with Steroid Shane Mosely like he should have done. Tony had been having back problems & had been unable to train properly he was over weight & had to sweat it off weakening him further. Then he was faced by blatant lies from Richardson " PLASTER BLOCKS" bullcrap then to crown it all a juiced to the gills Mosely was in the ring. he never had a chance
Warrior that he is Tony wouldn't let hem pull him out but in essence that fight & the injustice Done to him tarnished his career & his good name
Oh BTW I watched Margarito's hands wrapped for Cotto 1 there was NOTHING illegalin them.. Margarito kicked Cotto'a ass LEGITIMATELY & made him take a knee & QUIT!!!!

Typical reply when someone has no logical answer to give LOL Poor old Rocco