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 12: Gods And Kings
Welcome to another edition of What If?, as fates are decided in the heavyweight tournament group stage. Read the intro and method here. Catch up with the 1930s and 1970s group stage in Episodes 4 and 8. Previously, on What If: What's in a name? Or, perhaps more germane, what's in a nickname? Muhammad Ali is known to history as the Greatest of All Time, but thanks to a … [Read more...]
What If’s Excellent Heavyweight Adventure Part 8: Styles Make Chaos
Welcome to another edition of What If?, as the first round of the heavyweight tournament group stage continues. Read the intro and method here. Then catch up on the first group-stage fights from the Thirties and Seventies at this link. In the words of the Grateful Dead: Sometimes the light's all shinin' on me, Other times I can barely see. Lately it occurs to me What a … [Read more...]
What If’s Excellent Heavyweight Adventure Part 4: Only Legends Need Apply
Welcome to another edition of What If?, as the first round of the heavyweight tournament group stage continues. Read the intro and method here. Life is like a box of chocolates. You may get some different flavors, but for the most part you know exactly what you're going to get: chocolate. Last week, we saw this principle in action. Floyd Patterson couldn't beat Sonny … [Read more...]
What If Special: Louis-Schmeling Part 3: Götterdammerung
Welcome to the third and final part of What If's look at how Max Schmeling and Joe Louis would have fared against the backdrop of a completely changed World War II. Parts 1 and 2 are here and here. As the summer of 1941 began, things finally came to a head between the Germans and the Soviets, as an invasion along a broad front signaled the beginning of active hostilities … [Read more...]