United States Heavyweight Boxing

I was reading about a series of events that Don King put on back in 1976 for the bicentennial. He chose venues with a patriotic theme and put on fights. Seems like a cool idea.

I think we need to have a US Heavyweight Tourney with the following guys to produce a USBA/NABF/NABA champ to challenge for, and unify the North American titles by fighting Adamek for the NABO (unless he vacates the title for a world title shot).

Thoughts on the idea? Thoughts on the fights?

Rating/Fighter/Record/Title if any

1 Tony Thompson 35(23 )-2(1)-0

2 Eddie Chambers 35(13 )-2(1)-0 - IBF World Title Elminator 2/11

3 Chris Arreola 29(25)-2(1)-0 - WBC FECOMBOX heavyweight title

4 Ray Austin 28(13 )-5(2)-4

5 Evander Holyfield 43(23 )-10(2)-2 - World Boxing Federation heavyweight title

6 Antonio Tarver 28(19)-6(0)-0

7 Kevin Johnson 23(10)-1(0)-1

9 Maurice Harris 24(10)-14(10)-2 - current USBA champ

12 Johnathon Banks 25(17)-1(1)-1 - current NABF champ

24 Cedric Boswell 32(25)-1(1)-0 - current NABA Heavyweight Title

 

Looking at it, it looks like there would be some mismatches, but I like the idea of a unified North American champ.

With 10 guys, it would take a while to get the whole thing done if it went like the S6, where everyone fights everyone.

What do you think would be the best way to do it to get it done inside two years?

 

Americans who want a unified Heavyweight champ?

Fighters who want to prove legitimacy?

Fight fans who will watch anything in front of them?

 

I dunno, with the decisions I've seen, you don't want to have it "one and out". 1 KO, then you are out, if you lose on points you move into a double elimination bracket.

That means that there could be a minimum of 10 fights (if all end in a KO), max of 19 (if all end in decision).

Based on the ranking above, there would be title fights right away, and a unification also. Looking at the bracket,

Fight 1: Ray Austin vs. Evander Holyfield - I'm guessing Holyfield takes this one.

Fight 2: Maurice Harris vs. Johnathan Banks - USBA/NABF unification - Looks like a boxer versus a puncher. Could be a good one?

Fight 3: Kevin Johnson vs. Cedric Boswell - NABA title fight - Another boxer vs. a puncher match up.

Fight 4: Chris Arreola vs. Antonio Tarver - This fight, I actually would like to see.

Fight 5: Tony Thompson vs. Harris/Banks winner.

Fight 6: Eddie Chambers vs. Johnson/Boswell winner.


From there it depends on the types of losses.

 

Anyone have thoughts on who would win those initial match ups? Remember, I'm thinking this tourney would take about 2 years to complete, but could be shorter or longer, depending on KO losses causing immediate elimination.

I have it like this:

Tourney Round 1:

Fight 1: Ray Austin vs. Evander Holyfield - Holyfield takes this one UD.

Fight 2: Maurice Harris vs. Johnathan Banks - USBA/NABF unification - Banks wins this one by KO.

Fight 3: Kevin Johnson vs. Cedric Boswell - NABA title fight - Boswell by KO.

Fight 4: Chris Arreola vs. Antonio Tarver - Arreola roughs a flabby Tarver up, edges SD



Tourney Round 2:

Winners Bracket:

Fight 5: Tony Thompson vs. Harris/Banks winner. - Thompson beats Banks, wins this one.

Fight 6: Eddie Chambers vs. Johnson/Boswell winner. - Chambers wins this one UD.


Losers Bracket:

Fight 7: Eliminated due to KO loss of Kevin Johnson
Fight 8: Eliminated due to KO loss of Maurice Harris

Fight 9: Johnathan Banks vs. Ray Austin - Austin wins by SD

Fight 10: Antonio Tarver vs. Cedric Boswell - Tarver by UD

Fight 11: Evander Holyfield vs. Tony Thompson - Holyfield by SD

Fight 12: Chris Arreola vs. Eddie Chambers - Chambers by SD


Tourney Round 3:

Losers Bracket:

Fight 13: Chris Arreola vs. Ray Austin - Arreola by KO

Fight 14: Antonio Tarver vs. Tony Thompson - Thompson by UD


Tourney Round 4:

Winners Bracket:

Fight 15: Evander Holyfield vs. Eddie Chambers - Chambers by SD

Losers Bracket:

Fight 16: Chris Arreola vs. Tony Thompson - close one..hard to call...going to say Arreola by TKO


Tourney Round 5:

Losers Bracket:

Fight 17: Chris Arreola vs. Evander Holyfield - This is going to be a serious scrap! Does Arreola have power like Bowe or Toney? - Lets say Arreola by SD.


Tourney Round 6:

Fight 18: Arreola vs. Chambers for the US and unified North American Championship


Having gone through all of those fights, I think it would be a great learning experience for everyone involved and would likely bring about the retirements of Antonio Tarver, Evander Holyfield and possibly Tony Thompson (who would be 40 or so by the conclusion).

 

I appreciate fighters despite where they are from, it would be great to have a HW champion again. Wondering who was out there languishing in the wasteland of non-popular boxing, I started looking into Regional and National titles. I learned a lot about them and how a lot of fighters have made it...or didn't make it.

Very informative, and I suggest everyone do the same.

Now I'm wondering why we can't establish a US/North American champion who can make some noise?

It gave me the idea for this tourney, and has me checking out fighters I would have otherwise never paid attention to.

 

The WBC Mexican National Title.

From the WBC site:

World Boxing Council News

CANCUN – November 4, 2010 –


Thursday was the final working day at the World Boxing Council’s 48th annual convention, led by WBC President Dr. José Sulaimán.

During the morning general assembly meeting, President Sulaiman said, “I would like to put up my dear country, Mexico, that has started a new era of progress, as an example to the world.


“FECOMBOX [Mexico’s national boxing commission] has gathered all of the local boxing commissions into one national organization. They issue the boxer’s national license.


“I am very, very proud of FECOMBOX. All are lovers of boxing who receive no compensation, and who work just to be of service to boxing."