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 '40s and '80s groups in Episodes 5 and 9. Previously, on What If: The 1980s group is decided in terms of who the participants will be in the perhaps to-be-aptly-named knockout stages of the tournament to come; … [Read more...]
What If’s Excellent Heavyweight Adventure Part 9: Blood on the Sand
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 '40s and '80s groups in Episode 5. Previously, on What If: Boxing's major one-man-and-a-crate-of-puppets eras are often mocked for lacking excitement because the champion is so dominant that nobody can rise … [Read more...]
What If’s Excellent Heavyweight Adventure Part 5: Joey Maxim’s Punch-Out!
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: “But Fox, WHERE IS MIKE TYSON?” Oh, you thought I left him out? You seriously thought I left him out? Story-wise, Tyson isn't in San Dimas on June 27, because he's off fighting Michael Spinks and … [Read more...]
Ring Muggings: Part Four
Bonecrusher mugs and upsets Witherspoon. "I couldn't get into the fight. I didn't care about it." - Tim Witherspoon "I knew his mind couldn't be on the fight. He wasn't thinking about me. My plan was to be all over him. He embarrassed me the last time and I wanted to pay him back. I did." - James "Bonecrusher" Smith "James "Bonecrusher Smith showed a dramatic display … [Read more...]
‘Two Gunz’ Goes Out with a Bang
by Dafydd Thomas “I put my best foot forward and did the best I could. I fought to my last breath." – Monte Barrett In the bookmakers’ eyes, 39 year-old Monte Barrett was a no hoper. At a 14-to-1 underdog, the one-time title challenger was there to collect his final paycheck against David Tua at Atlantic City, and was expected to wilt after the first left hook Tua landed … [Read more...]