I wanted to compile a couple of matches between the contenders and former champions from that period of heavyweight history. The two eras are similar in that, both were considered fairly weak periods for the division. Even though I think they are underrated. I decided to take out the elites from both eras (80's - Holmes, Tyson, Holyfield, Spinks) and (2000's - Klitschkos, Lewis) to make it something more different. To be focused on other fighters. Here are the match ups: 1) Nikolai Valuev vs Mike Weaver. 2) Kirk Johnson vs Carl Williams. 3) John Ruiz vs Trevor Berbick. 4) Corrie Sanders vs Gerrie Coetzee. 5) Hasim Rahman vs Tony Tubbs. 6) Lamon Brewster vs Michael Dokes. 7) Samuel Peter vs James Smith. 8) Siarhei Liakhovich vs John Tate. 9) David Tua vs Gerry Cooney. 10) Sultan Ibragimov vs Greg Page. 11) Ruslan Chagaev vs Tim Witherspoon. 12) Chris Byrd vs Pinklon Thomas. Who do you guys think would win.
Weaver UD Williams UD Berbick UD Sanders KO Tubbs UD Brewster KO Tua KO Page KO Witherspoon UD Byrd TKO
1. Weaver 2. Williams 3. Draw 4. Sanders 5. “In Shape” Tubbs 6. Dokes 7. Peter 8. Tate 9. Tua 10. Ibragimov 11. Witherspoon 12. Thomas
1) Mike Weaver. 2) Carl Williams. 3) Trevor Berbick. 4) Corrie Sanders 5) Tony Tubbs. 6) Lamon Brewster 7) James Smith. 8) John Tate. 9) David Tua 10) Sultan Ibragimov 11) Tim Witherspoon. 12) Pinklon Thomas
Nikolai Valuev vs Mike Weaver: Weaver KO12, wears Sugar down after a slow start and comes on strong. Kirk Johnson vs Carl Williams: Truth via death by 1,000 jabs, UD. John Ruiz vs Trevor Berbick: Trevor is made for Ruiz, who makes it an ugly slog and takes an easy UD. Corrie Sanders vs Gerrie Coetzee: I’ll go with Gerrie here due to better chin, better stamina and a bionic right hand that crashes through in the seventh or eighth after Sanders has his way early. Hasim Rahman vs Tony Tubbs: This is interesting; Tony has a habit of not doing much and while Rahman is crude, he is persistent — gimme Hasim by decision in a dull affair. Lamon Brewster vs Michael Dokes: I think of both as kind of short-armed bandits, Dokes the combination boxer and Lamon the more imposing slugger; Michael early until his legs start to get heavy and Lamon batters him for a late stoppage. Samuel Peter vs James Smith: Bonecrusher by bone crushing against a big, strong guy he cannot miss — KO3. Siarhei Liakhovich vs John Tate: Say what you will about the white wolf or whatever they called him, but dude could take a beating — he does so here and loses widely. David Tua vs Gerry Cooney: Gerry’s hook to the body is the difference as he lands it early and Tua goes into his turtle shell and fights cautiously on the way to losing a decision with Cooney’s jab taking over after David backs down. Sultan Ibragimov vs Greg Page: Sultan’s a hard one to solve with his odd lefty style and I think it’s enough to keep Greg dazed and confused as he drops a decision in a fight where nothing much happens. Ruslan Chagaev vs Tim Witherspoon: Tim does terrible things to this guy, who I always thought was pretty average, KO5 after a battering. Chris Byrd vs Pinklon Thomas: I think Pink here by decision — even against a hard-to-find guy like Byrd, the jab finds a way. Final tally: 1980s 8, 2000s 4
1) Nikolai Valuev vs Mike Weaver. The very best Weaver gets a late stoppage. Nico never was stopped, but the only good puncher he faced was Haye, who didn't want to engage. Weaver was made of a bit sterner stuff. 2) Kirk Johnson vs Carl Williams. At best Johnson cracks the the chin with the hook, but I will say more likely he comes in untrained and inconsistent and Carl outboxes him. 3) John Ruiz vs Trevor Berbick. Berbick strong enough to turn the jab'n'grab against him. 4) Corrie Sanders vs Gerrie Coetzee. Either way. Corrie gasses out of Gerrie breaks his hand. 5) Hasim Rahman vs Tony Tubbs. Tubbs uses the rapier jab to comfortably outbox him. 6) Lamon Brewster vs Michael Dokes. Lamon with a last second miracle knockout 7) Samuel Peter vs James Smith. Smith UD in a phonebooth war 8) Siarhei Liakhovich vs John Tate. Oh dear lord, someone has to win this one? I guess Tate, since Liakhivich only had one good fight. 9) David Tua vs Gerry Cooney. Tua better power-to-chin ratio, and an underrated right in the war of hookers. 10) Sultan Ibragimov vs Greg Page. Sultan had his ups and downs, but he could box, he could punch, and he always showed up. Seven times of of ten its not even a good version of Page. I'll take Sultan. 11) Ruslan Chagaev vs Tim Witherspoon. Terrible Tim in one of the dullest matches in recorded history, similar to the heavyweight waltz he did with Tubbs. 12) Chris Byrd vs Pinklon Thomas. I'll take Byrd although Pinky at his best was a very good fighter. Chris just too much speed and ring intelligence.
Great picks. The only one I disagree with is Tua V Cooney. I think Tua gets him around rounds 6-8 . Cooney could definitely rattle him early doors but I think his chin , stamina and pressure are the main factors.
