If Frazier participated in the HW tourny for the vacated title, What happens?

Ellis was awarded the title..But im foggy as to else was in that tourney for the vacated title.And did Smoke ever give a reason why he chose not to participate!?.Or did he know he could woop them all and make a bigger purse fighting these top contenders one by one!.

 

Frazier's people turned down the tourney invitation (Yank Durham's idea). Frazier was clearly the best non-Ali heavyweight and a major box office draw. The WBA bumped his ranking down and had the tourney without him, and the New York State Athletic Commission sanctioned a fight between Frazier and Buster Mathis for their title. Frazier won, a month before the WBA tourney wrapped up, then he unified against Ellis.

Other WBA tourney participants: Quarry, Martin, Spencer, Mildenberger, Patterson, Bonavena, Terrell.

 

It was a smart move by Durham, letting all the others bump each other off then fighting the last man standing. Frazier would probably have come through anyway ,but his pilot chose the path that represented the least danger.The NYAC naming Frazier and Mathis for their version of the title was a joke.Mathis had beaten no one and was not rated.

 

The same thing Frazier and his handler knew already; he would come out on top.

 

I'm confident Frazier would've won it at the time that this tournament was going on Frazier was at his absolute best, not to many fighters in history would've been able to stop him.

 

I have a feeling it was Eddie Futch`s idea/advice to Durham.

 

I agree that tabbing Mathis to fight for the title was a joke, but there was politics involved. The WBA's dropping Frazier from the #1 spot so the tournament could include "the top 8," with, e.g. Leotis Martin but not Frazier, was also a joke.

 

I just think Joe wanted nothing to do with it!

 

Then why not participate!?

 

Joe was the #1 contender, he fought his way to the top and didnt feel like he should have to wait through a protracted tournament to claim the title. He chose to bypass the tournament and fight for the NYSAC commission version. As a result the WBA demoted Frazier (to make room for the other contenders) with those guys tied up in the tournament Mathis was the highest rated contender to fight for the NYSAC title (NY and the sanctioning bodies having been at odds since the 1920s). Frazier won his version, Ellis eventually won his nearly a year later, and then ducked and dodged Frazier as best he could before finally facing him and losing. The only thing different had Frazier entered the tournament would have been that he would have defeated Ellis earlier and won the title later. He would have emerged the victor of the tournament I dont doubt.

 

He didnt just beat Ellis..He destroyed him!

 

Joe would fight anyone, anywhere, anytime. I don`t think he cared one way or another. He knew he was the best and he was coming into his prime. His manager made the decision.

 

No doubt Joe would fight anyone anytime..but why did his manager make this decision!?

 

How much money was in the WBA tourney for match #1, match #2, and the finals?

I think Frazier should have entered, but his management opted out and simply fought the winner who happened to be tailor made for Frazier's style.

Speaking of the tournament, I find it interesting. Never saw a book on the topic. Can someone post all the results here?

 

The funny thing about the tournament is that just about every fight was considered an upset.

Quarters:
Ellis TKO 9 Martin
Spencer W 12 Terrell
Bonavena W 12 Mildenberger
Quarry W 12 Patterson (the closest fight)

Semis:
Ellis W 12 Bonavena
Quarry TKO 12 Spencer

Final:
Ellis W15 Quarry