I'll refrain from getting carried away here with too many match-ups, but here are some contenders from arguably the two deepest HW eras (I have the 70s as #1, and the 90s #3 all-time, BTW). Quarry vs. Mercer Lyle vs. Ruddock Young vs. Ibeabuchi Norton vs. Morrison
I think Quarry can do enough vs Mercer, I really do think Ibeabuchi eventually hunts down Young, only good thing about that fight is the ending, Lyle vs Ruddock is a win for Lyle. Against all conventional wisdom Norton vs Morrisson is a pick em fight, Norton is in control early, Tommy is all gassed and hanging on then bang! Not indifferent to the LeDoux fight. People introduce the Ali fights all the time like they were absolute determinants of every Norton fight, but they aren't. The bottom line is that Norton could be relied on to get caught and frozen by big punchers. Of far more significance than beating Ali are the years Ken spent sparring with Joe Frazier-another left hook merchant. Tommy also had great, early hand-speed. Norton used that cross-guard and Tommy did have a great left hook downstairs. I can see Norton winning easily but I can also see Ken getting a bit weary and then retreating to the ropes and getting nailed. He's not Mercer in the chin department.
Lyle-Ruddock may've been the most entertaining. If Quarry is at his very best, I honestly don't give Mercer much of a chance. Maybe an outsider's shot, but Quarry is going to out-work him, beat him to the punch, & is in little, if any, danger from Mercer's power, with his fine chin. Quarry would likely decision Mercer. Lyle-Ruddock is a grand encounter, with both guys hitting the deck. I could see this going either way, but it's probably fair to favour Lyle --- he did carry his hands low, which is a worry here, but he had a tonne of heart, surprisingly competent boxing ability from the outside, a fairly sturdy chin & a monster punch of his own. I say he gets off the deck to whack Ruddock in eight exciting rounds. Ibeabuchi better than the '77 Foreman? I don't think so either. Young survives a scare or two but wins a clear 8-4 decision. Young is no worse than the third best contender in a golden age of such men (debatably behind Norton & Quarry, but no one else, to me) & that speaks volumes. He was absolutely robbed of championship status in his fight with Ali. I just don't rate Ibeabuchi the way so many others do. Young was in there with a host of quality guys &, for the most part, acquitted himself beautifully. We never saw that with Ibeabuchi. Morrison was an awful fighter, but he had more than enough power, & more importantly the stupidity to go all-out for the knockout punch, to beat Norton. However, I don't think he would. Norton was his superior in essentially every facet sans the aforemention power category, & I think this tells in the form of a 9th-round TKO. Morrison would be live, though. At least for a while.
I like the 70s in all four as well... Ruddock has a chance to turn things with a wild "smash", Morrison's PUNCH makes him dangerous but his CHIN makes Norton dangerous LOL... Young could have some trouble with the size of Ibeabuchi, but I do think he can fool him and frustrate him enough to win... Oddly enough, Quarry/Mercer is the one I feel most certain about, I think Jerry outworks him 99 out of 100 times
