I have decided to do a 1970's Heavyweight tournament. I have included 32 of the better fighters who did not gain general recognition as Heavyweight Champion, so no Frazier, Foreman, Ali, Spinks and Holmes. For the sake of not clogging up the board, and making it a bit faster, I will be using multiple fights in a thread, with multiple options for people to vote. I will not vote, other than to break a tie. The draw was done at random, and with no one seeded. Just one final thing, it is a 70's tournament, thus try and analyse the fighters at their 70s peak, even if they peaked in their career before or after the decade. Part Two: http://www.boxingforum24.com/showthread.php?t=458960
I actually like the Leroy Jones chances against Bonavena here in a classic "trap fight" . Just outbox him, don't even consider a ko. Oscar blew hot and cold and he really did not get a lot of guys out of there. I think he under prepares for an overweight and less than imposing looking Jones and drops a decision to a guy he should have beaten. Jones was a pretty decent boxer and a big guy in there and Oscar would have a lot of ground to make up round after round. Bonavena, to me anyway, was a rise to the occasion guy like a lot of those 80's guys. The real big problems were other top 15 guys for chump change and those B efforts were against these type guys.