Trilogies Tournaments

[Thomas Hearns]

First Tournament: Muhammad and his rivals.

Across his career Muhammad Ali faced 50 fighters. I need 32 to make the tournament so I selected the best 18 and the other 32 went into a round robin tournament with the first 13 enetering on the main tournament.

Top Ali Rivals selected:

1 Joe Frazier
2 George Foreman
3 Ken Norton
4 Sonny Liston
5 Floyd Patterson
6 Jerry Quarry
7 Ron Lyle
8 Earnie Shavers
9 Ernie Terrell
10 Jimmy Ellis
11 Jimmy Young
12 Zora Folley
13 Doug Jones
14 George Chuvalo
15 Oscar Bonavena
16 Joe Bugner
17 Cleveland Williams
18 Larry Holmes

All this fighters plus Muhammad Ali advance to the second face of the tournamet.

[Thomas Hearns]

The remainder 32 Ali rivals will dispute a round robin style tournament with the first 13 andvancing to the main tournament.

Results

1 Al Lewis 28-3 (15)
2 Archie Moore 27-4 (15)
3 Henry Cooper 26-5 (17)
4 Trevor Berbick 26-5 (9)
5 Karl Mildenberger 25-6 (7)
6 Alejandro Lavorante 24-7 (15)
7 Bob Foster 24-7 (14)
8 Billy Daniels 24-7 (8)
9 Mac Foster 23-8 (19)
10 Buster Mathis 22-9 (5)
11 Alfredo Evangelista 19-12 (15)
12 Juergen Blin 17-14 (6)
13 Leon Spinks 16-15 (12)
14 Donnie Fleeman 16-15 (7)
15 Alex Miteff 16-15 (7)
16 Brian London 16-15 (6)
17 Jean Pierre Coopman 16-15 (3)
18 Chuck Wepner 15-16 (4)
19 Lamar Clark 13-18 (10)
20 Sonny Banks 12-19 (9)
21 Richard Dunn 12-19 (3)
22 Willy Bessmanoff 12-19 (3)
23 Alonso Johnson 12-19 (0)
24 Charlie Powell 10-21 (7)
25 Rudi Lubbers 10-21 (0)
26 George Logan 9-22 (5)
27 Don Warner 6-25 (2)
28 Herb Siler 5-26 (2)
29 Duke Sabedong 5-26 (2)
30 Jimmy Robinson 4-27 (0)
31 Tony Hunsaker 4-27 (0)
32 Tony Esperti 2-29 (2)

For me the only surprise was Blin and how bad Leon Spinks performed only making the second round by KO average.

[Thomas Hearns]

This round robin will determine the crosses on the last phase the elimination tournament.

Results

1 Muhammad Ali 30-1 (17)
2 Larry Holmes 28-3 (20)
3 Floyd Patterson 26-5 (11)
4 Sonny Liston 24-7 (19)
5 Earnie Shavers 23-8 (18)
6 Joe Frazier 23-8 (18)
7 George Foreman 22-9 (13)
8 Ken Norton 22-9 (13)
9 Archie Moore 19-12 (4)
10 Jerry Quarry 18-13 (10)
12 George Chuvalo 17-14 (9)
13 Joe Bugner 17-14 (7)
14 Jimmy Young 17-14 (4)
15 Ernie Terrell 17-14 (3)
16 Cleveland Williams 16-15 (10)
17 Ron Lyle 16-15 (9)
18 Doug Jones 14-17 (7)
19 Jimmy Ellis 14-17 (6)
20 Oscar Bonavena 13-18 (9)
21 Trevor Berbick 13-18 (4)
22 Henry Cooper 12-19 (10)
23 Mac Foster 12-19 (7)
24 Al Lewis 11-20 (2)
25 Billy Daniels 10-21 (2)
26 Bob Foster 9-22 (7)
27 Buster Mathis 9-22 (2)
28 Leon Spinks 6-25 (5)
29 Karl Mildenberger 6-25 (1)
30 Alfredo Evangelista 5-26 (5)
31 Alejandro Lavorante 5-26 (1)
32 Juergen Blin 4-27 (2)

Brillant Muhammad only lost to Frazier. Very competitive Holmes. Patterson did it surprisingly well and so did Shavers. Not so good for Frazier and bad for Foreman and Jimmy Ellis.

[Thomas Hearns]

This is a single elimination tournament in which each bracket is a trilogy saga.

16-17 Cleveland Williams-Ron Lyle
15-18 Ernie Terrell- Doug Jones
14-19 Jimmy Young- Jimmy Ellis
13-20 Joe Bugner- Oscar Bonavena
12-21 George Chuvalo-Trevor Berbick
11-22 Zora Folley-Henry Cooper
10-23 Jerry Quarry-Mac Foster
9-24 Archie Moore-Al Lewis
8-25 Ken Norton-Billy Daniels
7-26 George Foreman-Bob Foster
6-27 Joe Frazier-Buster Mathis
4-29 Sonny Liston-Karl Mildenberger
3-30 Floyd Patterson-Alfredo Evangelista
2-31 Larry Holmes- Alejandro Lavorante
1-31 Muhammad Ali- Juergen Blin

On this round the fights are scheduled to 10 rounds.

[Thomas Hearns]

Ron Lyle TKO7 Cleveland Williams
Three knockdowns rule. At the stoppage 59-56 (x2) and 58-56 for Lyle.

Ernie Terrell Draw(m)10 Doug Jones
Fair result. Jones controlled the first half, Terrell rallied on the last four rounds.
Scorecards 95-95 (x2) and 96-94 for Jones

Jimmy Young MD10 Jimmy Ellis
Very close and tactical fight. A draw seemed to be the better result for this fight.
Scorecards 97-93 (x2) for Young and 95-95.

Oscar Bonavena KO8 Joe Bugner
Bonavena controlled most of the fight dropping Bugner on the sixth round and again and for good on the eight one. At the stoppage 69-63 (x2) and 69-64 for Bonavena.

George Chuvalo TKO6 Trevor Berbick.
Stopped on cuts. Chuvalo dropped Berbick two times. At the stoppage 49-45 (x3) Chuvalo.

Zora Folley UD10 Henry Cooper.
One sided affaire on Folley's favor.
Scorecards 99-91 (x3)

[Thomas Hearns]

Jerry Quarry KO8 Mac Foster
Quarry dominated most of the fight dropping Foster on round seven and again and for good on the eighth one. At the stoppage: 69-62 (x2) and 69-63 for Quarry.

Archie Moore SD10 Al Lewis
On a changing and competitive fight Moore did enough to win. Lewis down on round nine.
Scorecards 97-92 and 96-93 for Moore and 95-94 for Lewis.

Ken Norton TUD9 Billy Daniels.
Fight stopped due to a cut over Daniel's left eye after an accidental headbutt. Closer fight than expected but Norton deserved the win.
The scorecards were 77-75 (x3).

George Foreman KO1 Bob Foster
A big body shot dropped Foster for the ten count before the two minutes mark.

Joe Frazier KO9 Buster Mathis
Frazier's attack was too much for Mathis that attemped to box. Mathis down on round five and again and for good on the ninth one. At the stoppage the scorecards were 79-74 and 78-74 (x2) for Frazier

[Thomas Hearns]

Earnie Shavers TKO8 Leon Spinks
Competitive and back and forth brawl for the first four rounds.Then Shavers took the control and finally he gave Spinks a beating on the eighth round. At the stoppage 58-56 and 59-55 for Shavers with the other 57-57.

Sonny Liston KO9 Karl Mildenberger
Very close fight unitl Liston put Mildenberger to sleep with a sharp combination on the ninth round. At the stoppage 76-76 (x2) and 77-75 for Liston.

Floyd Patterson TKO8 Alfredo Evangelista.
After seven rounds Evangelista had a little edge but on the eighth round Patterson punished him until the stoppage. At the stoppage 67-66 (x2) and 69-64 for Evangelista.

Larry Holmes TKO6 Alejandro Lavorante
One sided for Holmes until the referee decided to stop the fight on the sixth round. At the stoppage 50-45 (x3) for Holmes.

Muhammad Ali TKO1 Juergen Blin
Ali dropped Blin with a body shot. And the referee stopped it after the followed up barrage by Ali. Blin didn't connect a punch on this fight.

[Thomas Hearns]

Cleveland Williams TKO9 Ron Lyle
Williams dropped Lyle three times until the referee stopped the fight. At the stoppage 78-72 (x2) and 77-74 for Williams.
Serie is 1-1.

Jimmy Ellis SD10 Jimmy Young
On another very close fight this time Jimmy Ellis earned the victory doing just enough to win the fight. The scorecards were 97-94, 96-95 for Ellis and 97-94 for Young.
Serie is 1-1

Earnie Terrell TUD4 Doug Jones.
Fight stopped due to a a cut high on Jones's forehead after an accidental headbutt. The scorecards were 29-28 (x3) for Terrell.
Serie is 1.5-0.5 for Terrell.

Joe Bugner UD10 Oscar Bonavena
Bonavena had a good led after eight rounds, but Bugner scored one knockdown on the ninth round and another on the last round to turn the fight on his favor. Scorecards 95-93 (x2) and 96-92.
The serie is 1-1

George Chuvalo TKO10 Trevor Berbick
Chubalo scored three knockdowns on the last round for the automatic TKO. He also dropped Berbick on the eighth round and dominated most of the fight. At the stoppage 89-81 and 88-82 for Chuvalo
Chuvalo won the serie: 2-0.

Zora Folley KO4 Henry Cooper
Folley dropped Cooper two times on the fourth round the last for good with a body shot. At the stoppage 29-28 (x3) Folley.
Folley won the serie: 2-0

[Thomas Hearns]

Jerry Quarry TKO9 Mac Foster
Back and forth and entertaining fight until Quarry dropped Foster on the ninth round and the referee didn't allow him to continue fighting. At the stoppage: 77-75 (x2) for Quarry and 76-76
Quarry won the serie 2-0

Archie Moore UD10 Al Lewis
On a boring fight Archie secured his vicotry winning the last four rounds. The scorecards were 96-94, 97-93 and 99-91.
Moore won the serie 2-0

Ken Norton KO1 Billy Daniels
Norton dropped Daniels early with an uppercut and seconds later dropped him again and for good with a hard hook.
Norton won the serie 2-0

George Foreman KO3 Bob Foster
Again Foreman power was too much for Foster. Foreman dropped Foster two times on the third round the last for good. At the stoppage 19-19 (x3)
Foreman won the fight 2-0

Joe Frazier TKO10 Buster Mathis
Frazier controlled most of the fight against a game Mathis that was down two times on the ninth round. On the last round Frazier connected punch after punch and the referee stopped the fight. At the stoppage 87-81, 88-81 and 88-80 for Frazier.
Frazier won the serie 2-0

[Thomas Hearns]

Earnie Shavers TKO4 Leon Spinks
Again Spinks attemped to brawl with Shavers with the same result. Spinks down on round four. At the stoppage 30-28 (x2) and 29-28 for Shavers.
Shavers won the serie 2-0

Sonny Liston TKO5 Karl Mildenberger
The german Mildenberger proved to be a good oponent but Liston is too strong for him. A wild attack by Liston on the fiffth round ended with the German out on his feet. At the stoppage 38-38 (x2) and 39-37 for Liston.
Liston won the serie 2-0

Alfredo Evangelista TKO8 Floyd Patterson
On a huge upset, Alfredo Evangelista scored a TKO -on cuts- win against Floyd Patterson. Evangelista dropped Paterson on the first round. At the stoppage 67-65 for Evangelista, 67-65 for Patterson and 66-66.
The serie is 1-1

Larry Holmes UD10 Alejandro Lavorante
Larry Holmes scored a one-sided win against the willing but overmatched Lavorante also dropping him on the fifth round. The scorecards were 98-91 (x2) and 97-92.
Holmes won the serie: 2-0

Muhammad Ali KO2 Juergen Blin
A lighing left-right combination put Blin to sleep on the second round. At the stoppage 10-9 (x3) for Ali.
Ali won the serie: 2-0

[Thomas Hearns]

Ron Lyle TKO1 Cleveland Williams
From the start Lyle punished Williams until the referee stopped the fight.
Lyle won the serie: 2-1

Earnie Terrell UD10 Doug Jones
Very close fight but Terrell ended better winning the last three rounds to secure his victory. Scorecards: 97-95 (x3).
Terrell won the serie 2.5-0.5

Oscar Bonavena UD10 Joe Bugner
The fight was even and changing for seven rounds but Bonavena took the total control on the last three rounds. Scorecards: 96-94 and 97-93(x2).
Bonavena won the serie: 2-1

Alfredo Evangelista KO3 Floyd Patterson
On a huge upset Evangelista stopped Patterson with a body shot on the third stanza after two close first rounds. At the stoppage: 20-19 for Evangelista and 20-20 (x2)
Evangelista won the serie: 2-1

Jimmy Young SD10 Jimmy Ellis
On another close fight Jimmy Young climbed off the canvas on the third to finally outbox Jimmy Ellis. The socrecards were 96-93 and 95-94 for Young and 98-92 for Ellis.
Young won the serie: 2-1

[Thomas Hearns]

Second Round (not Quarterfinals)

#1 Muhammad Ali vs #17 Ron Lyle
#2 Larry Holmes vs #15 Ernie Terrell
#30 Alfredo Evangelista vs #14 Jimmy Young
#4 Sonny LIston vs #20 Oscar Bonavena
#5 Earnie Shavers vs #12 Geroge Chuvalo
#6 Joe Frazier vs #11 Zora Folley
#7 George Foreman vs #10 Jerry QUarry
#8 Ken Norton vs #9 Archie Moore

[Thomas Hearns]

Muhammad Ali KO4 Ron Lyle
Ali dominated the first three rounds and then he dropped Lyle two times on the fourth round the last for good. At the stoppage 30-27 (x2) for Ali and 29-28 for Lyle.

Sonny Liston TKO6 Oscar Bonavena
One sided fight with Liston in control against a brave and game Bonavena. The referee stopped the fight with Bonavena out on his feet on the sixth round. At the stoppage 50-45 (x3) for Liston.

Earnie Shavers D10 Goerge Chuvalo.
The best fight of the tournament. Chuvalo dropped Shavers on rounds one and two. But Shavers came back winning four out of five on rounds from third to seven. On the eight round Chuvalo dropped Shavesr for the third time. But when he went for the kill, Shavers caught him with a big counterpunch and sent the Canadian to the canvas. The ninth round was an even one. And on the last round Shavers behind on the scorecards went for all an dropped Chuvalo that got up and survived the round. The scorecards were 94-94 (x3).

Archie Moore KO3 Ken Norton
On a sort of upset Archie Moore scored an impresive third round stoppage with a wild overhand right to Norton's head. At the stoppage 20-19 for Moore and 19-19 (x2)

[Thomas Hearns]

Larry Holmes D(m)10 Ernie Terrell
Fair result, five rounds for each boxer. Holmes has his moment on the fourth round whe he almost finished Terrell but then got tired and Terrell dominated rounds six and seven clearly. The rest of the fight was close and changing. The scorecards were 95-95 (x2) and 96-94 for Holmes.

Jimmy Young UD10 Alfredo Evangelista
Young easily outboxed Evangelista from the outside. Evangelista only moment was in the last round when he caught Young with some power punches. The scorecards were 98-93 (x2) and 97-95.

Joe Frazier TKO5 Zora Folley
Frazier power was too much for Folley that was punished on rounds form second to five endnig the fight stumbling across the ring until the referee stopped the fight. At the stoppage 39-37 (x2) and 40-36 for Frazier.

George Foreman KO2 Jerry Quarry
Two rounds of war and full of action, Foreman dropped Quarry with a big hook on the second and then finished him with a wild overhand right. At the stoppage 10-9 Foreman.

[Thomas Hearns]

Muhammad Ali UD10 Ron Lyle
Ali dropped Lyle three times across the fight to win by a wide unanimous decision. Scorecards: 98-89 (x3).
Ali won the serie: 2-0.

Sonny Liston TKO5 Oscar Bonavena
Liston dominated every round, dropped Bonavena on the fourth one and then punished him on the fifth until the referee stopped the fight. At the stoppage 40-35 (x3) for Liston
LIston won the serie 2-0

Earnie Shavers TUD10 George Chuvalo
The fight was stopped on the last round due to a cut on Shavers forehead produced by an accidental headbutt. For the first four rounds the fight was even but then Shavers took the control. The scorecards were 88-83, 87-84 and 86-85.
Shavers leads the serie 1.5-0.5.

Ken Norton KO8 Archie Moore
Norton scored a comming from behind saviour KO. Moore dropped Norton on the seventh and the refree deducted a point from Norton on the fourth. On the eighth round Norton dropped Moore two times the last for good. At the stoppage the scorecards were 67-65 (x2) and 68-64 for Moore.
The serie is 1-1.

[Thomas Hearns]

Larry Holmes TKO9 Ernie Terrell
Holmes won every round of this fight. He dropped Terrell on rounds eight and nine and then punished him until the referee stopped the fight. At the stoppage the scorecards were 80-71 (x3) for Holmes.
Holmes leads the serie by 1.5-0.5

Jimmy Young UD10 Alfredo Evangelista
Evangelista dropped Young on the first round with a hard uppercut but then Young managed to outbox him for most of the fight. The scorecards were 97-92 (x2) and 97-93.
Young won the serie: 2-0

Joe Frazier TKO5 Zora Folley
Again Frazier dominated and punished Folley until the referee stopped the fight with Folley out on his feet. At the stoppage 40-36 (x2) and 39-37 for Frazier.
Frazier won the serie: 2-0

Geroge Formean MD10 Jerry Quarry
Foreman dropped Quarry on the first round and controlled most of the first half of the fight, Quarry rallied on the second part against a tiring Foreman but it wasn't enough. The scorecards were 96-94 and 97-94 for Foreman with the other 95-95.
Foreman won the serie: 2-0

[Thomas Hearns]

Larry Holmes UD10 Ernie Terrell
Close fight for the first four rounds then Holmes took the total control of the actions. The scorecards were 98-92 (x3).
Holmes won the serie 2.5-0.5.

George Chuvalo TKO7 Earnie Shavers
One sided win for Chuvalo that dropped Shavers on the third round and again on the sixth one. At the stoppage 60-54 (x2) and 59-53 for Chuvalo.
The serie is 1.5-1.5 and goes to the tie-break fight.

Ken Norton KO5 Archie Moore.
Moore dropped Norton on the first round, but Ken came back winning rounds two and three on big form. The fourth round was back and forth and on the fifth round Norton dropped Moore two times the last for good. At the stoppage 38-37 and 39-37 for Norton with the other 38-37 for Moore
Norton won the serie 2-1

TIE BREAK FIGHT

Earnie Shavers UD10 George Chuvalo
On a back and forth fight Shavers controlled most of the fight clearly outlanding Chuvalo. The scorecards were 98-93 (x2) and 97-94.

[Thomas Hearns]

1-8 Muhammad Ali-Ken Norton
2-7 Larry Holmes-George Foreman
14-6 Jimmy Young-Joe Frazier
4-5 Sonny Liston-Earnie Shavers