1980s The ever changing titles.

The 1960s and 70s was dominated by names like Ali, Frazier, Foreman and Norton.. The mid 1990's was ruled by Lewis, Holyfield, Bowe and Tyson.. But going into the 1980s we had a whole bunch of very decent hungry fighters who climbed over each other to get a shot of even just a ranking. Don King was the organ grinder during the post Ali years and most all of the top twenty active heavyweights were contracted to him in one way or another..  King was unavoidable said Larry Holmes, he was like taxes, you had to go through him if you wanted you cut. Larry was the first champion of note in this decade, he earned it the hard way boxing on Ali undercards in the 70s until he got a chance to box the new court appointed champion Kenny Norton in 1978. Holmes dismissed good challengers often getting up off the floor in dramatic defenses, but regardless of bravado Larry put away a lot of contenders, who would later become champion in their own right, Trevor Berbick, Tim Witherspoon and Mike Weaver. Even the fringe contenders were tough cookies... Philadelphia's David Bey, beat future champion Buster Douglas, ex champion Greg Page and gave a tough challenge to Larry in 1985, although past his best in 1987 almost hijacked Tyrell Biggs coming out party on the Tyson v Smith undercard in Las Vegas. The title would change hands frequently.. John Tate would beat Coetzee for the WBA , Weaver would upset Tate, Mike Dokes would dethrone Weaver, Michael Dokes would lose to Coetzee, who would lose to Greg Page.. To Tubbs.. To Witherspoon.. To Bonecrusher Smith..   While the WBC saw Tim Witherspoon pass on to Pinklon Thomas who looked capable, until Trevor Berbick mugged him in Las Vegas as part of the unification series..  Which would soon see Mike a Tyson sweep the board.. Last piece was the IBF.. Michael Spinks relieved Larry Holmes in a controversial fight..  Only to later be stripped for failure to comply to Unification series rules and face number 1 contender Tony Tucker.. Tucker Would box James Buster Douglas for the vacant crown, winning by TKO on the Tyson v Thomas undercard..  The last chapter of the 1980s heavyweight scene saw Mike unify by beating a game Tucker and defend against 1984 Olympic champion and WBA #1 Tyrell Biggs.  Looking back at the 1980s the level of competition was so great no single  champion could relax and rest on his laurels because there was a Renaldo Snipes or a Mitch Green looking for your spot. Since the late 90s it's all been about size.. But you couldn't measure the desire of those warriors before them..
We always have the memories..