Welcome to another episode of What If's Excellent Heavyweight Adventure, where the time has finally arrived---every fight from here on out is win or it's into the time machine with you for a trip back to your own era. From here out, I'm assuming you're familiar with the series; if not, punch “What If” into the Tribune's search function---the archive's all there. Previously, on … [Read more...]
What If’s Excellent Heavyweight Adventure Part 11: Breaking Rocks at the Quarry
Welcome to another edition of What If?, as the first round of the heavyweight tournament group stage continues. Read the intro and method here. Catch up with the 1920s and 1960s group stage in Episodes 3 and 7. Previously, on What If: Well, the 1920s are a fine mess, aren't they? When last we saw our competitors, Luis Firpo was the beneficiary of the San Dimas Screwjob, … [Read more...]
What If’s Excellent Heavyweight Adventure Part 7: The San Dimas Screwjob
Welcome to another edition of What If?, as the first round of the heavyweight tournament group stage continues. Read the intro and method here. Catch up with the 1920s and 1960s group stage in Episode 3. Previously, on What If: When last we left our fist-throwing heroes from the 1920s and '60s, Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney seemed headed for a meaningful showdown and … [Read more...]
What If’s Excellent Heavyweight Adventure: Part 3
Welcome to another edition of What If?, as the first round of the heavyweight tournament group stage continues. Read the intro and method here. Previously, on What If: Last week, we saw a fight between Rocky Marciano and Ezzard Charles that would be the Fight of the Year in 1954, in 1988, or just about any other year in boxing history. Everyone in attendance knew they'd … [Read more...]
Heavyweight Boxing – All Nobility Gone
Nobility is an oft-misused word, generally confined to tales of ancient Greek or Roman origin, to refer to deeds done in subjugation of the individual ego in favour of the greater good. Hercules performs 12 tasks to save a nation; Jason battles for the Fleece to preserve the future for his people. I used to use the word in the seventies to refer to heavyweight boxers. It … [Read more...]