Note From An All-Time Heavyweight Tournament

[Jersey-Jim]

Pavel Karding, Poland scores the bout 146 to 139

Arlen Bynum, United States scores the bout 146 to 139

Manuel Rodriguez, Colombia scores the bout 146 to 139

The winner by unanimous decision -


Jack Dempsey!

[Jersey-Jim]

Jack Dempsey moves into the Semi-Finals Round.

Here's how the semi-finals round is shaping up.


THE SEMI-FINALS

Joe Louis vs. Gene Tunney
Muhammad Ali vs. Jack Dempsey


More on how these fighters match up - coming shortly!

[Jersey-Jim]

Joe Louis vs. Gene Tunney

Pre-Fight Insight

At first glance, Joe Louis would seem to be a clear favorite to win this fight. Louis has the boxing ability, hand speed and power to defeat Tunney inside the distance or over an entire 15 round fight. Tunney, however, poses a unique threat to Joe Louis. Like Billy Conn and Jersey Joe Walcott, Tunney brings outstanding boxing skills and an above average defense to the ring in this match-up.

As an added plus, he also brings a world class chin and recuperative powers to the table. This combination may enable him to pull of an upset similar to his Quarter-finals victory over Jack Johnson. Either way you look at it, Tunney is a very live underdog in this semi-final Match-up!

[Jersey-Jim]

Welcome to Giant’s Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey where tonight – Joe Louis will meet Gene Tunney in the semi-finals match-up that has the boxing world talking. The winner of this fight meets the winner of Ali-Dempsey which takes place later this week.

The fighters are being introduced right now and before we go down to ringside, let’s take a look at the roads both fighters have taken in this tournament to arrive at this point.

First, Joe Louis.

KO 4 - Leon Spinks
KO 12 - Sultan Ibragimov
KO 3 - Max Schmeling
KO 13 – Sonny Liston


Louis couldn’t have looked much better during this tournament. His 13th round knockout over Charles “Sonny” Liston was one for the ages. Tonight he will be attempting to add Gene Tunney to the list!


Next, the fighting marine – Gene Tunney.

TKO 13 - Primo Carnera
W 15 - Pinklon Thomas
TKO 11 - Joe Frazier
W 15 – Jack Johnson

Gene Tunney’s victories against Thomas, Frazier and Johnson were all closely contested fights – but Tunney emerged victorious in each – climbing off the canvas to defeat Frazier and employing a late rounds surge against Johnson. Tonight, he may find himself needing to do both against the Brown Bomber, Joe Louis!

[Jersey-Jim]

Joe Louis vs. Gene Tunney

ROUND 1
Here we go as the bell sounds for round one! Both fighters are circling cautiously. Tunney with a few probing jabs that are falling just short. Louis – with an axing shot to the body! Tunney felt that one! Louis with a left and Tunney moves out of range. Tunney with good lateral movement… Tunney scores with a quick right hand. Tunney keeps moving while Joe Louis pursues. There’s the bell ending the opening round.

[Jersey-Jim]

ROUND 2
Louis closing the distance scores well with two hard shots to the body. Tunney – making Louis miss with the left. Tunney moving inside scores with a nice uppercut. Tunney with a hard combination to the head! And Louis ties him up. Tunney works the jab landing several from the outside. Tunney ducks under a Louis right hand and scores with a crisp combination. Nice right hand from Louis! Louis scores with a left to the head and another to the body! There’s the bell! Close round, not easy to score!

[Jersey-Jim]

ROUND 3
Both fighters trade punches as we begin the 3rd! Tunney scores with another combination to the head. Joe Louis blasts Tunney with two hard shots to the body! Tunney returns fire – digging hard to the body. Louis explodes a right off Tunney’s head! Oh! Blood is gushing out of a cut over Tunney’s right eye! Tunney blasts Louis with a hard right cross! Tunney – with another right cross! Louis and Tunney stand toe-to-toe trading big power shots! There’s the bell! Joe Louis has a mouse starting to form under his left eye.

[Jersey-Jim]

They’re working on the cut in Tunney’s corner. It’s going to be almost impossible for Tunney to last another 12 rounds unless something major happens to turn this fight around.

[Jersey-Jim]

ROUND 4
Here we, round number 4. Gene Tunney with a hard right hand. Tunney blasts Louis with a hard combination to the head! Gene Tunney snapping Louis’ head back with the jab. Gene Tunney with a right to Louis’ head! Joe Louis nails Tunney with a crushing right hand! Tunney’s hurt! Louis with another right as Tunney moves back out of range. Tunney’s bleeding again! Gene’s cut has been reopened as Louis connected with that last right hand! Arthur Mercante is stopping the fight and bringing Tunney over to see the doctor. He’s taking close look. And that’s it! They’re stopping this fight! It’s over!

The cut was opened by a legitimate punch and although you hate to see a fight end this early from a cut, Tunney seemed to realize a stoppage was imminent and let it fly in 4th round. Louis was clearly the harder puncher of the two and now we’re going to take a look to see what the judges scorecards looked like:

Judge Rudolpho Maldonado had 30-27 Louis
Judge Daniel Talon had it 30-29 Louis
And finally, Judge Ramon Cerdan had it 30-28 for Joe Louis.

And so, Joe Louis moves to the finals of the 2008 All-Time Heavyweight Tournament. He’ll be facing the winner of the Muhammad Ali – Jack Dempsey showdown later this week.

[Mad Bomber]

Jim, it is always unfortunate when a fight ends like this. I really thought that Whitey Bimstein might have been able to control the bleeding, but I guess it was a nasty wound.


Greg

[Jersey-Jim]

Originally Posted by Mad Bomber

Jim, it is always unfortunate when a fight ends like this. I really thought that Whitey Bimstein might have been able to control the bleeding, but I guess it was a nasty wound.


Greg

You hit the nail on the head. Whitey can only take care of buisness inbetween rounds, though. But that's boxing and Gene Tunney still had a good tournament. I can picture the same thing happening with Dempsey when he faces Ali next... but hopefully not.

[Jersey-Jim]

Here’s what a few fans have said about an Ali-Dempsey match-up.

As we ALREADY know Ali had problems with Frazier and any type of pressure fighter that could keep backing him up for 15 rounds. (see why Norton should have been given 2 of the 3 fights.)

Dempsey was BETTER in every single way than Frazier and would hit Ali harder, he was also a two handed fighter unlike Frazier who could only use the left.

Dempsey could also keep pressuring for 15 rounds and like Ken Norton would have the perfect formula to beat Ali.

Ruddiger: Joe Frazier was a one handed fighter so how the HELL can you say he hits harder than Dempsey. Jack was a two handed puncher.

Jack would Damage Ali more over a 15 round fight than what Joe could.

Mike M.




Jack Dempsey, he'd take the jabs all day and night. He'd beat Ali no problem with his weaving and the momentum in his punches from both sides. He's great, especially with those left and right hooks and right uppercut.

Andy P.


Personally, i think Ali is overrated. but i pick him over Dempsey. Dempsey would eat jabs all evening.

Jon D.

[Jersey-Jim]

How they got here!

Muhammad Ali

W15 - Tommy Morrison
W15 - Marvelous Marvin Hart
D15 - Jersey Joe Walcott
KO5 - Jersey Joe Walcott
TKO12 - Mike Tyson


Ali faces a pressure fighter with two-handed power in Jack Dempsey. The key to Ali's victory is to weather Dempsey's early rounds assault while punishing him with counterpunches. Once they reach the 10th, the advantage should switch heavily in Ali's favor.

-Jersey Jim

[Jersey-Jim]

Jack Dempsey

TKO 5 - Mike Weaver
TKO 6 - Tony Tucker
TKO 14 - Evander Holyfield
W15 - Rocky Marciano


The key to a Jack Dempsey victory is two-fold; pressure and power! Joe Frazier was able use his left hook and pressure to push Ali to the brink. Dempsey does bring power in both hands which is an added plus! The second option, which is certainly not as viable, is to use the jab as Norton did in their encounters and "jab with the jabber." In other words, make Ali be the aggressor (which he is not comfortable or most effective doing). Jack Dempsey, however, is aggression personified... so basically, it's kill or be killed!

I wouldn't put a dime on this one that I couldn't afford losing!

[Jersey-Jim]

Tonight - Muhammad Ali vs. Jack Dempsey

[Jersey-Jim]

Welcome to Madison Square Garden in New York City! We’re here for the semi-finals fight between Muhammad Ali and Jack Dempsey. Tonight, two of the best fighters ever to hold the Heavyweight championship of the world will enter the ring. Only one will leave it victorious.

Jack Dempsey is making his way into the ring. He’s up the steps, ducks through the ropes and the crowd’s going crazy!

Jack Dempsey is coming off a stirring decision victory over Rocky Marciano and he’s never looked better.

Here comes Ali! Ali’s making his way with his entourage down the isle towards the ring. Bundini Brown’s leading the vocal parade all the way to ring center.

Both fighters are in the ring and we’ll be ready for the opening bell in about five minutes.

We’ll be back!

[Jersey-Jim]

We're back and moments away from the opening bell as the seconds are leaving the ring. Dempsey looks like a caged animal and Ali is already talking to him from across the ring.
There’s the bell and round 1 is underway.

ROUND 1
Ail and Dempsey exchange punches at ring center! Ali seemed to have landed the cleaner more accurate shots. Ali clinches and ties up Dempsey. Dempsey’s trying to break free. Dempsey hits Ali on the break and gets a warning from referee – Arthur Mercante!

Dempsey charges Ali and blasts away at the midsection. Ali takes another heavy hook downstairs. Dempsey misses as Ali dances out of range. Ali’s talking to Dempsey.

Ali with a sizzling combination to Dempsey’s head! Ali with a quick uppercut on the inside! They tie up again in ring center. They’re separated by Arthur Mercante.

Jack Dempsey forces Ali into a corner. Dempsey with a hard right cross!

Ali with a hard right hook that snaps Dempsey's head back! That punch hurt Dempsey! Dempsey’s hurt! The crowd’s roaring! Dempsey blasts Ali with a three punch combination! He’s staggered Ali! A hard right cross from Dempsey! Ali’s hurt! Ali flurries and finishes with a big right hand. Now Dempsey’s hurt! Jack Dempsey’s hurt! And there’s the bell! It looks like Ali’s right eye is starting to swell slightly. What an opening round that was!

[Jersey-Jim]

ROUND 2
Muhammad Ali starting fast scores with a combination to the head of the onrushing Dempsey. Dempsey applying pressure – trying to bob and weave his was past Ali’s jab. Ali with a snapping jab! Ali misses with the right hand!

Dempsey clinches. Mercante’s having trouble separating the fighters.
Dempsey’s hitting Ali on the back of the head again. Mercante’s warning Dempsey again.

Dempsey lands a nice cross but Ali turned with it, absorbing most of its power.
Dempsey misses with several punches as Ali dances out of range again!

Ali lands a blazing combination that rocks Dempsey! Those punches stung Dempsey but Dempsey keeps moving forward applying continuous, relentless pressure.

Dempsey blasts Ali upstairs with a hard combination! Ali ties Dempsey up. The referee separates them. Ali with a right to Dempsey’s chin. Dempsey unloads butAli dances out of range. Jack Dempsey keeps moving forward and Ali ties him up. That’s the end of round 2!

[Jersey-Jim]

ROUND 3
Dempsey’s out fast for round three and he goes directly to the body. Ali was already moving out of the way. Ali catches Dempsey with a nice uppercut to the chin!
Dempsey with a hard hook to the head of Ali! Dempsey fires and misses.
Ali stings Dempsey with a sharp combination to the head! Those punches froze Dempsey momentarily. Jack Dempsey scores with a jolting uppercut to Ali’s chin.

Dempsey rakes Ali with terrifying shots to the body! Ali grimaced under the impact of those power punches from Dempsey. Dempsey scores with a heavy left to the head! The swelling under the right eye of Ali is more pronounced than it was in the 2nd. Dempsey lands a straight left. Dempsey fires a volley of shots that catch nothing but air!

Jack Dempsey in pursuit as Ali is up on his toes flicking the jab. Dempsey digs hard to the body!

Ali counters with a right to the chin! Ali with an uppercut! Dempsey staggers! Jack Dempsey plants his feet and rips Ali with a vicious uppercut of his own!

Ali’s hurt! Ali covers and ties Dempsey up! There’s the bell!

[Jersey-Jim]

ROUND 4
We’re in the 4th and Dempsey’s firing both guns to Ali’s body. Ali covers well. Ali blasts a hard right hand off Dempsey’s chin! Dempsey falls into a clinch. Mercante steps in and warns Ali for leaning on Dempsey's neck.

Ali’s probing with his jab. Ali scores with a hard hook! Dempsey was stunned by that blow! Ali flurries and ducks and weaves beneath the punches. Ali fires another blazing combination! Those punches caught Dempsey flush! Those punches stunned Dempsey momentarily. Ali’s letting his hands go and Dempsey’s blocking those shots with his arms! Jack Dempsey scores with a hard uppercut to Ali’s jaw. Ali dances away. Dempsey pressuring but Ali slides way out of danger.

They clinch as the round winds down. The bell sounds ending the 4th.