If Mike Weaver had not coldcocked John for the title, how far could he have gone as heavyweight champ?
Tate was a large heavyweight with a fair amount of boxing ability and OK punching power. I'm guessing that he could have been a competitive force during the early to mid 80's, but his problem was not his talent as a fighter, but rather his being soft in the head. John couldn't stay out of trouble, and what's more he seemed to have difficulty shaking off the memory of losses. Some argue that the Weaver defeat, rattled him to the extent where he never recovered. If this is indeed the case, then sooner or later the same thing would have likely happened against another foe, even if he had overcome Hercules.
Obviously no one knows for sure how far John could have gone is would have survived that last round against Weaver. I think maybe he would have been around for an extended period of time. Tate could box and move very well for being such a big guy. That and he had pretty good stamina, he set a horrific pace in the Weaver fight and it cost him in the end. One never knows what kind of cards one will be dealt over a period of time.
If fat fast and skillful heavies are your thing Leroy Jones was better in the time peroid IMO, but Holmes put him in his place. Even if he had beaten Weaver, Tate would of lost sooner rather than later IMO.
