WONDER MAN versus CHAMPION OF THE UNIVERSE

And They Shall Call Him... Champion! (Marvel)
Where: Marvel Two-In-One Annual #7 When: 1982
Why: Tom DeFalco How: Ron Wilson

The Story So Far...
The Fantastic Four's Thing has earned a reputation as one of the universe's greatest fighters, having battled some of the most powerful beings of multiple galaxies! Enter: Proja - Promoter Supreme!

Charged with signing worthy opponents to challenge The Champion of the Universe -- Proja sees big box office potential in a main event match between The Thing and his client!

Madison Square Garden is the only arena in the world that could stage the once in a lifetime title bout, but you can't have a main event without an undercard! The Champ welcomes the challenge of some of Earth's most powerful defenders, but his pugilistic code swiftly eliminates Thor and Hulk from defending their planet.

Sasquatch did his best to test The Champ's ring awareness with brains and brawn, while the steely determination of the X-Man Colossus prompted The Champ to unleash a brutal beating. Now it's time for celebrity powerhouse Wonder Man to leave the film set and step into the ring as one of Earth's Mightiest Heroes!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Champion 7 (Omnipotent)
Intelligence: Draw 2 (Average)
Speed: Draw 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Champion 7 (Unstoppable)
Agility: Draw 2 (Average)
Fighting: Champion 7 (Living Weapon)
Energy: Draw 1 (None)
Total: Champion of the Universe 29 (Metahuman)

So far Earth's challengers have been a mixed bag! Doc Samson failed to make it out of training - kayoed by a sparring robot, while the royal Sub-Mariner plain refused to even respond to the lowly challenge, let alone train for it.

After side-stepping a disqualified Thor and delisted Hulk -- The Champion of the Universe finally showed everyone he's as dangerous as they say by knocking out Sasquatch, and pummeling Colossus into a forced stoppage!

Next on the card of Earthborn challengers is Wonder Man: a then-recently retired Avenger-turned-actor with super-human strength, durability -- and serious doubts about his own suitability as a contender!

Simon Williams was recruited into the Masters of Evil when his family munitions business, Williams Innovations, faced crippling competition from Stark Industries. Guilty of embezzlement and involvement with organized crime; the desperate and inexperienced business heir accepted help from Baron Zemo in exchange for subjecting himself to experiments with ionic rays and radioactive chemicals.

Deployed to The Avengers as a double-agent; Wonder Man's conscience eventually led him to align with the heroes for real -- but a brush with death would plague his psyche and destroy his confidence. The anxious hero eventually decided to leave super-heroics behind, but the call always brings him back to the fight!

Wonder Man is a heavyhitter to be sure, demonstrating his strength in a weight-lifting challenge with USAgent, and taking on later battles against a super-charged Ronan, a renegade Hercules, and symbiote-possessed Avengers.

He's got the ionic might to stand his ground, but at the time of The Champion's challenge it's Wonder Man's mental game that might be his biggest downfall.

Simon Williams never set out to be a super-hero -- now he's one of Earth's last hopes against potential annihilation. We saw him struggle with his resurrected brother in a spotlight from a later issue. So how did the Avenger-slash-actor fare when the spotlight is turned on him? Let's find out...

The Tape: Champion of the Universe Ranking: Champion of the Universe (#74)

What Went Down...
The gravity of the situation dawns on Wonder Man as he watches attendants carry an unconscious Colossus on a stretcher through the training room. He and The Thing are the only heroes left. "What will happen to the Earth if we also fail?"

The Avenger disappears as Thing tells him to forget the stakes: "Ya got a fight ta win! Think about that -- and nothin' else!" Wonder Man vows to do his best.

Alas, the harsh realities of the boxing ring quickly take their toll!

Clearly warmed up by his previous battles, The Champion of the Universe works swiftly to take control of the match. We join the fight shortly after the opening bell to witness a right hook that launches Wonder Man over the top rope -- and into an invisible force-field surrounding the ring!

The Avenger drops to the mat, doubled over on his knees and contemplating his reluctance to even be there.

Wonder Man doesn't want to be a hero. Doesn't want to fight. He knows he can't take much more punishment -- but the chants of the crowd reach beyond his inner doubts. The spirit of the people wills him to get back up. Slowly but surely, with agony tearing through his body -- he does!

Back on his feet, Wonder Man makes a bold show of things!

Seemingly frustrated with the struggle and adrenalized by the crowd -- Wonder Man grabs at the ring mat and tears a piece of it up!

The Avenger is apparently tired of playing by the rules, but it's the rules that have seen him undone. For damaging the ring he is immediately disqualified. Another hero fallen before the match could even be decided.

The Hammer...

As anyone who's paid to watch a fight knows - there is always the risk that a bout will end in less than satisfying fashion. That means another inconclusive result for our record books, but what about the rules of the competition?

On the surface of it - it seems frustration got the better of Wonder Man, ending the match in a disqualification, but there is an intriguing possibility of reading into this result as an easy way out of a fight he didn't really want to have...

When Colossus was brought through the training area after losing his match, The Thing had a clear impression of how the young X-Man "did 'imself proud". So we could assume there's a live feed showing waiting challengers each match. Which means Wonder Man would've known Hulk was disqualified for a similar outburst.

Ultimately, I think we're to take it all at face value. Yes, Simon Williams had deep seeded doubts about his ability and desire to fight, but the support of the crowd spurred him to find his heroic spirit, and despite looking more spry than Sasquatch after taking The Champ's punches -- the weight of the situation, combined with the restrictions of the squared circle, just got him riled up.

Stepping away from the page; we of course know this result is in service of setting up a main event collision between the series headliner and The Champion of The Universe! A match we've been slowly building toward as we've continued to return to Marvel Two-In-One Annual #7 over the many years!

Since our last entry - a unique adaptation of Wonder Man has become a Marvel Disney+ streaming series, and even more appropriately, The Champion of the Universe has been revealed to finally be taking the obvious role of a video game final boss in the upcoming Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls.

The Champ did make it into the Contest of Champions mobile game a few years back, but as a noted fan of Capcom's Marvel fighting classics, it always made sense to me that he would fit perfectly into the classic fighting format, either as a powerhouse sub-boss, or as the engine for the entire game, as in Marvel Tokon.

Actually, Capcom's Marvel Super Heroes, with its Infinity Gem system loosely inspired by The Infinity Gauntlet, always seemed like a good place for The Champion to slot right in as a sub-boss. Particularly given his later association with the Infinity Stone of Power, seen as a pivotal plot point in his fight with She-Hulk and the all-important rematch.

The Champ also could've worked well in a new Marvel vs Capcom game, if Arc System Works didn't beat them to it for Tokon. It might've been nice to see Balrog (aka; M.Bison, aka; "Boxer") make some kind of appearance there. Heck. I don't particularly need to see Wonder Man in a fighting game roster, but the thought occurs that he was Johnny Cage before there was a Johnny Cage! Note that The Avenger slash actor is fighting with his sunglasses still on in our feature.

Next time we see The Champion of the Universe, it will no doubt be his classic main event blockbuster with The Thing -- but this won't be the end of our fun with Tryco Slatterus. There's a whole other card I'd like to explore in future entries!

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Winner: No Contest (Draw)
#71 (+3) Champion of the Universe [+1 draw]
#76 (+6) Wonder Man [+1 draw]

COLOSSUS versus CHAMPION OF THE UNIVERSE

And They Shall Call Him... Champion! (Marvel)
Where: Marvel Two-In-One Annual #7 When: 1982
Why: Tom DeFalco How: Ron Wilson

The Story So Far...
The Fantastic Four's Thing has earned a reputation as one of the universe's greatest fighters, having battled some of the most powerful beings of multiple galaxies! Enter: Proja - Promoter Supreme!

Charged with signing worthy opponents to challenge The Champion of the Universe; Proja sees big box office potential in a main event match between Thing and his client!

Madison Square Garden is the only arena in the world that could stage the once in a lifetime title bout, but you can't have a main event without an undercard! The Champ welcomes the challenge of some of Earth's most powerful defenders, but his pugilistic code swiftly eliminates Thor and Hulk from defending their planet.

Sasquatch did his best to test The Champ's ring awareness with brains and brawn, but with the Alpha Flight strongman knocked out it's now time for Colossus to test the mettle of the alien boxer!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Champion 7 (Omnipotent)
Intelligence: Draw 2 (Average)
Speed: Draw 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Champion 7 (Unstoppable)
Agility: Draw 2 (Average)
Fighting: Champion 7 (Living Weapon)
Energy: Draw 1 (None)
Total: Champion of the Universe 29 (Metahuman)

Champion of the Universe seemed evasive in the opening bouts, disqualifying Thor and dodging Hulk with a pair of technicalities, but finally established some much needed credibility when he knocked out Sasquatch!

This time The Champ welcomes the challenge of one of Sasquatch's old sparring partners -- Colossus: the mighty mutant with skin of organic steel!

Like other opponents Colossus poses a simple question of strength, stamina, and tenacity. The spirit is almost certainly willing, but despite his status as an X-Men powerhouse, he has a bit of a patchy record against other heavyweights.

Colossus famously came off second best in the barroom brawl with Juggernaut in Uncanny X-Men #183, got kayoed by a precision blast from Nimrod in Uncanny #194, and met a similar fate fighting a tech-assisted Apocalypse in #295.

He's still considered a relatively young man, finding his way in the world at the time of this battle, which takes place in the same year he was turned against his teammates to unsuccessfully fight Dracula in X-Men Annual #6, and dumped down the side of a butte by DC's Deathstroke during the Teen Titans crossover!

Despite all this, Colossus is not without his triumphs. In X-Men #113 he defied the magnetic influence of Magneto with hard hitting results, and years later will crush Breakworld warrior Ord in Astonishing X-Men #5.

This bout also takes place after his well known stand against Shi'ar Imperial Praetor Gladiator, who also outclassed him in strength and durability. Could that have been the perfect preparation to cause an intergalactic upset? Let's find out!

The Tape: Champion of the Universe Ranking: Champion of the Universe (#118)

What Went Down...

While opportunistic men attempt to capitalize on shrinking odds against the planet Earth -- one of its youngest bright sparks has already stepped into the ring!

The Champion welcomes the gleaming Colossus to the bright lights of Madison Square Garden with a haymaking left that sends him flying across the ring!

The metal mutant is only stopped when he slams into an adjacent turnbuckle!

Trapped in the corner, he has nowhere to go as The Champion closes in to deliver an unrelenting barrage of high-impact body blows!

Spittle escaping his mouth is the only sign of the agony radiating through his body as Colossus stoically absorbs every punch with stubborn determination!

Despite his valiant refusal to succumb to the pain, Colossus has no response for the merciless sequence of blows that rock his body!

The referee has little choice but to call for the bell.

Colossus drops silently to his knees as The Champions' punches cease. His slumped body unable to carry itself from the ring, he awaits a stretcher as the remaining challengers watch-on, impressed with his steely resolve.

The Hammer...

Any doubt about Champion of the Universe's legitimacy melts away as he annihilates Colossus in a single page of pulse pounding action!

It was a particularly brutal bout, leaving little opportunity for Colossus to strike. Was there something in particular about the young mutant that set The Champ off, or did his prior bout with Sasquatch simply remind him not to take Earth's mightiest mortals lightly?

If this were an X-Men Annual, perhaps it would be Colossus who made the final stand, but we're in the pages of Marvel Two-In-One, where The Thing will inevitably be the star to face the final challenge, and make the bravest challenge.

It's a suitable distinction between the two characters and their similar arcs, paid homage by Thing as Colossus is stretchered out after the match, and he remarks to the only other remaining competitor: "The kid did 'imself proud! Lasted almost a full round! Hope he ain't hurt too bad!"

We tend to think of Colossus as the unbreakable X-Man always there to face down the strongest obstacles, but in those early days he was still a young man, mildly unsure of himself, and coming in to his powers.

DeFalco's script makes a note of the "armored youth", emphasizing the distinction, and providing something of a companion piece to the similarly overwhelming odds of his ill fated showdown with the cosmic Gladiator during the Dark Phoenix saga. A legendary battle that's been on my To Do list for too long!

Colossus is an interesting study and I'm eager to look at more of his combat history, but we're also building up our casefile for The Champion, who now enters the Top 100 ranks with today's win!

It's a result that's beginning to reflect his status within the cosmic pugilistic ranks of the Marvel Universe -- but I wonder how far he will go. His next opponent is the suddenly topical Avenger standing with Thing [above] - Wonder Man. Then we'll move on to the main event that made this issue famous!

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Secret Wars on Infinite Earths has always been free and features more than 650 battles and has ranked over 1,000 characters! You can find them all by diving into the Secret Archive for a complete index of featured fights ordered by publisher, series, and issue number.

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Winner: Champion of the Universe
#72 (+46) Champion of the Universe
#437 (-2) Colossus

SASQUATCH versus CHAMPION OF THE UNIVERSE

And They Shall Call Him... Champion! (Marvel)
Where: Marvel Two-In-One Annual #7 When: October 1982 Why: Tom DeFalco How: Ron Wilson

The Story So Far...
The Fantastic Four's Thing has  earned a reputation as one of the universe's greatest fighters, having battled some of the most powerful beings in this universe - and beyond! Enter: Proja - Promoter Supreme!

Charged with signing worthy opponents to face The Champion of the Universe; Proja sees big box office potential in a match between Thing and his client! Madison Square Garden is the only arena in the world that could stage this once in a lifetime title bout, but you can't have a main event without an undercard!

Thor was disqualified when he brought his enchanted hammer into the ring, and Hulk was deemed too much of a brute to be allowed to compete. Now it's up to Alpha Flight heavyweight Sasquatch to bring brains and brawn to blows against the fresh fists of The Champion!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Champion 7 (Omnipotent)
Intelligence: Sasquatch 6 (Genius)
Speed: Draw 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Champion 7 (Unstoppable)
Agility: Draw 2 (Average)
Fighting: Champion 7 (Living Weapon)
Energy: Draw 1 (None)
Total: Champion of the Universe 29 (Metahuman)

Champion of the Universe came into this with a lot of fanfare and bluster, but at this point you'd be within your rights to wonder if it's all just hype. Let's take a closer look at the tournament so far to see exactly what's happened!

Two heavyhitters were taken out before the action even started: Doc Samson was knocked out cold by his training robot, and Sub-Mariner refused to fight on grounds of not lowering himself to "such folly".

When Thor finally stepped into the ring to begin proceedings, he was swiftly disqualified for bringing a hammer to a boxing match. It was a no contest with Hulk as well when he was deemed too much of a brute to compete!

So far it seems like all The Champion has done is talk trash, and duck & dodge his most powerful challengers with technicalities. So what's he gonna do next? Disqualify his opponent on grounds of fur constituting illegal body covering?!

We know from future reference that Tryco Slatterus actually is the real deal. All you've gotta do is check out the way he dominated She-Hulk in their first match to see that! Don't count his next opponent out, though. This time it's different!

Sasquatch answers the question of what would happen if the Hulk retained the brilliant mind of a scientist. He's a professor of physics whose experiments with gamma radiation gave him super-human strength with total control.

So far Sasquatch has an 0-1 record on Secret Wars on Infinite Earths, but that loss only came after he stood his ground against all four members of the mystically powered Wrecking Crew in Omega Flight #1!

Dr. Walter Langkowski is pretty impressive, and although he's regarded as a strongman and brawler, his background as a professional football player means he should understand the competitive conditions Champion demands. Can he put it together with the fate of the Earth on the line? Let's find out!

The Tape: Champion of the Universe Ranking: Champion of the Universe (#337)

What Went Down...

Sasquatch materializes in the ring an instant after Hulk has disappeared for disqualification. The Champion is beginning to lose faith in Earth's challengers, but his spirits rise when Sasquatch side-steps the first punch!

Sensing a need to keep The Champion off balance, Sasquatch slips around him with a go-behind into a high waist lock.

The wrestling-style tactic falls flat with The Champ, who'd expect the referee to break it up -- if he didn't solve his own problem with a shrug of the shoulder, and thrust of his forearm in Sasquatch's general direction!

Champion follows it up with a wild left that hits deep and launches Sasquatch backwards into the ropes. He callously urges Sasquatch to fight back. He does!

Having played possum to try to expose hidden motives for The Champion of the Universe's game, Sasquatch decides to stop holding back. He bounces off the ropes and leaps with momentum towards a finishing blow -- or so he thinks!

The wild trajectory of Sasquatch's jump takes him straight into the sweet spot of The Champion's devastating left hook! There's nothing he can do to stop the impact as Champ's glove smashes against his jaw!

The phenomenal power of the perfect strike leaves Sasquatch out on his feet -- keeling over for a ten count. The biggest challenger, the hardest to fall!

The Hammer...

A valiant effort from Sasquatch in the first real fight of the tournament, but Champion of the Universe is clearly still the undisputed champ! His pugilistic power was just too much for Sasquatch's catch-as-catch-can confusion.

Champion really needed a convincing win after two non-starters with Thor and Hulk. Boy did he get it! That last shot of Sasquatch doubling over, drool pouring from his mouth, is a pretty effective and haunting image.

Something about the bluntness of it really sells the utter devastation of The Champ's last blow. It's fairly unusual to see a character like Sasquatch look so physically pathetic. The heavy shadow enhances the drama, while Champion's idle posture conveys how utterly unconcerned he is with his defeated foe.

I presume there was some concern with the depiction of blood throughout the issue. I don't think its absence hurts any of the fights, though. That stream of saliva might be even more disturbing. Blood can happen from an incidental blow to the brow or lip, but to drool like that you need to be completely slack-jawed!

Top marks to artist Ron Wilson for creating such a distinct and dramatic image for the third bout. We've already seen him create a different style and character for each battle, with three more to go. That shouldn't be taken for granted!

Sasquatch might seem like a slightly unusual contender through today's prism, but in 1982 he was still a fresh and exciting addition to the Marvel Universe, having debuted early in the Claremont & Byrne run on X-Men, in 1979.

It was some clever booking to have Sasquatch step into the ring right after Hulk was eliminated for being too much of a brute. Sasquatch immediately addresses what might've happened had Hulk retained greater clarity and intellect. I would presume that might also be the reason Doc Samson was taken out before the fighting even began. They're both gamma irradiated powerhouses.

I don't quite buy the self-sacrificing stalling tactic to find out Champion's "real" motivation for threatening the Earth, but it at least gave Sasquatch fans an argument to save face for his ultimately brutal beating.

Sasquatch was also a competitor in the Contest of Champions just a month or two prior to Marvel Two-In-One Annual #7. Which happens to be one of the reasons we've finally come back to revisit the boxing tournament! He's currently appearing in our unofficial sequel! You can check out The Contest: Swamp Thing vs Sasquatch for all the details on how that works, and what went down!

When next we reconvene to Madison Square Garden we'll be seeing if the steely mutant mettle of Colossus can bring an end to the reign of Tryco Slatterus as Champion of the Universe! I hope you'll be here to join me when it happens!

At the time of this writing, the majority of sporting leagues have been put on indefinite hold while the world faces the deadly spread of COVID-19. I'll be doing my best to keep the fight alive with the usual superhero smackdown.

If you need a sporting distraction: you can find well over 600 featured fights on Secret Wars on Infinite Earths! They're indexed in the Secret Archive in order of publisher, series, and issue number. You can also discover more by following links throughout this post, or getting daily updates via Twitter and Facebook!

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Winner: Champion of the Universe
#109 (+228) Champion of the Universe
#920 (-231) Sasquatch

HULK versus CHAMPION OF THE UNIVERSE

And They Shall Call Him... Champion! (Marvel)
Where: Marvel Two-In-One Annual #7 When: October 1982 Why: Tom DeFalco How: Ron Wilson

The Story So Far...
The Thing has battled some of the most powerful beings in this universe and beyond, earning a fighting reputation that spans galaxies! Enter: Proja - Promoter Supreme!

Charged with signing worthy opponents to face The Champion of the Universe - Proja sees big box office potential in a match between Thing and his client! Madison Square Garden is the only arena that could stage this once in a lifetime title bout, but you can't have a main event without an undercard!

The Mighty Thor was disqualified when he brought his enchanted hammer into the boxing ring. His exit paves the way for a potential show stealer as Champion welcomes a challenger who may be the strongest one there is: The Incredible Hulk!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Champion 7 (Omnipotent)
Intelligence: Champion 2 (Average)
Speed: Hulk 4 (Olympian)
Stamina: Champion 7 (Unstoppable)
Agility: Draw 2 (Average)
Fighting: Champion 7 (Living Weapon)
Energy: Draw 1 (None)
Total: Champion of the Universe 29 (Metahuman)

If you subscribe to the theory that Hulk is typically stronger than his cousin: there's a compelling case for Champion of the Universe being in real trouble in today's bout! After all, we've seen She-Hulk beat him cold in She-Hulk #8!

Of course, She-Hulk's win only came after an earlier, ugly beating. Her second effort was facilitated by experience gained from the prior contest, three months of additional intensive physical training, The Champion under estimating her, and an argument to strip him of the Power Gem he was guarding, at that time.

Indeed, Champion of the Universe may be a merciless combatant, but as we saw in an earlier no contest against Thor: he plays by a strict set of ring rules!

Those rules helped She-Hulk turn her fortunes around, but they may not bode well for her rampaging cousin! This is a time when Bruce Banner wields some control over a more articulate Hulk, but the more he gives into his rage, the more he loses control. That rage is the source of his upper limits of strength, but it also means he's unlikely to be concerned with threats of disqualification!

Hulk is one of the preeminent powerhouses of the Marvel Universe and could very well have the strength to challenge The Champion! We've seen him lay vicious beatings on Juggernaut [Marvel Adventures #14], Silver Surfer [Incredible Hulk #95], The Sentry [World War Hulk #5], Thor [Avengers #5], The Avengers [Avengers #4], and The Thunderbolts [Incredible Hulk #449]!

We've also seen Hulk vex cosmic powers the likes of: Thing & The FF [Fantastic Four #12], Superman [Marvel versus DC #3], Green Lantern [Unlimited Access #1], Hercules [Tales to Astonish #79], and Thanos [Infinity Gauntlet #4]. Yet it must also be noted that each of these examples has ultimately concluded in a stalemate, or even the Hulk's defeat.

Given this is purely a contest of pugilistic power and brute physical strength - Hulk is in with a shot! Though an Elder of the Universe, we've seen proof Tryco Slatterus (as The Champ is otherwise known) can be defeated. Hulk is clearly among Earth's top tier of super-human fighters, but lacks finesse. His fists are fuelled with pure fury and everything depends on focusing them on the task of proving he really is the strongest one there is! Let's see how he did...

The Tape: Champion of the Universe Ranking: Hulk (#6)

What Went Down...
No sooner than Thor has been teleported from the Madison Square Garden spotlight does The Hulk suddenly appear! He warns The Champion that anger only makes him stronger -- and he's plenty mad with the alien's actions!In a demonstration of his awesome brawn the Hulk bangs his gloved fists together - reducing the boxing gear to strips of meaningless leather!

In truth, the hours of training and waiting have been a constant struggle for the man within the beast - Dr. Bruce Banner! As his resolve has weakened, his rage has stewed to the boil - blurring into madness as he finally takes the ring and begins a berserker charge toward his adversary!

It would surely be a main event worthy of the biggest marquees across the known galaxy -- but The Champion of the Universe is no mere barroom brawler! He deems this mindless Hulk unworthy of the contest he offers.

With but a raising of his gloved hand, Champion once again expels an opponent from the ring. The match is over before it started. Another No Contest!

The Hammer...
Oh, what might've been! If this were any other series, perhaps Hulk v Champion would've been one the biggest fights in Marvel Comics history! Alas, the green goliath was not the star of Marvel Two-In-One - and fated for an early exit.

Unlike the previous Thor fight; there were no actual blows exchanged during this battle, but a statement of intent was clearly made by the Hulk, and Champion initiated his method of avoidance. All of that is to say: this fight will go on the record as an inconclusive no contest (equal to a draw).

That means, to this point, The Champion has eliminated: Sub-Mariner by disinterested forfeit, Doc Samson by training injury, and Thor & Hulk by variations on disqualification and no contest. That sounds like an inauspicious start to the tournament, but it's all in favour of building to the main event!

When we next return to Madison Square Garden and Marvel Two-In-One Annual #7 - we'll get our first taste of pure pugilistic power when Sasquatch steps into the ring for a bona fide battle! We've also got Colossus, Wonder Man, and Thing waiting in the wings to take the challenge of the Champion of the Universe!

Sasquatch may not be your usual headliner from the Marvel Universe, but in the eighties, he and Alpha Flight were a cult force to be reckoned with! Canada's fuzzy, transforming answer to the Hulk has also been mixing it up lately in Marvel's current genre-bending super-hero/horror series: Immortal Hulk. Rest assured, it'll be a lot of fun to come back to his battle with The Champion!

It feels like next year is going to get a little cosmic, so providing all goes well, we might start getting some valuable data on the Elder known as Tryco Slatterus. To this point, his impact on the rankings hasn't been particularly impressive. He's exactly the kind of character Secret Wars on Infinite Earths was made to investigate - and that means big things lie ahead!

Technically Season 2019 begins here! Be sure to check out The Champion's recent entry into Hero of the Week, and vote for your favourite battles in the 2018 Feature Fight Recap! You can also keep your eyes on the Secret Archive for future updates and explore links throughout this post to discover an exciting multiverse of classic combat and superhero smackdown!

Show some love and make more discoveries by follow Secret Wars on Infinite Earths on Twitter and Facebook! That's where you'll find daily links to fights inspired by the topics of the day. A like, share, and retweet is a great way to help spread the battlecry! Happy holidays, true believers!

Winner: No Contest (Draw)
#6 (--) Hulk [+1 draw]
#319 (+2) Champion of the Universe [+1 draw]

HERO OF THE WEEK: THE CHAMPION (Marvel)
Real Name: Tryco Slatterus
First Appearance: Marvel Two-In-One Annual #7 (October, 1982)
Fight Club Ranking: #320

Featured Fights:
- vs THOR: Marvel Two-In-One Annual #7 (1982)
- vs SHE-HULK: She-Hulk #8 (Dec 2004)
- vs SHE-HULK: She-Hulk #8 (Dec 2004)

Well, it must be November, because combat's in the air, and Champion of the Universe is back in the spotlight! It still seems like yesterday, but it was this time two years ago we were celebrating the return of Tryco Slatterus in comics! Now it seems he's making a run to rule mobile video games!

Newsarama highlighted the exciting new addition, which takes Champion into the arena of Marvel: Contest of Champions - an aptly titled, free-to-play card collecting fighter for iOS and Android. Its been around since the end of [2014], so it's taken a while for the true champ to enter the fight, but now that he's arriving he's bringing the power primordial to deliver some big time power-ups.

Champion of the Universe is never far from mind on Secret Wars on Infinite Earths. Though famous for fighting Thing on debut in Marvel Two-In-One Annual #7, The Champ has fought many powerful figures from the Marvel Universe! We've scratched the surface with Thor, who was actually the first Earth hero to battle Champion in his first appearance [see; Thor vs Champion of the Universe].

One of the things that makes a Champion fight interesting are the rules of conduct. As Thor learned, one does not simply swing wildly when challenging the champ! Ring rules played a major role when She-Hulk scored an upset victory in her now-classic rematch bout, as well. The Champion traditionally favours the art of boxing, but it looks like Contest is going more of a pro-wrestling route, with Newsarama reporting special moves like a dropkick, and press backbreaker.

Be sure to check out the featured fight links at the top of the page to get more familiar with the Champion of the Universe! Then stay ttuned to the main page, Twitter, Facebook, and the Secret Archive for future updates. We're overdue for another main event title contest!

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THOR versus CHAMPION OF THE UNIVERSE

And They Shall Call Him... Champion! (Marvel)
Where: Marvel Two-In-One Annual #7 When: October 1982 Why: Tom DeFalco How: Ron Wilson

The Story So Far...
When the clock strikes Clobberin' Time there ain't nobody better than the ever lovin' blue-eyed Thing! As a charter member of the Fantastic Four he's had the duty of bruising with some of the meanest, toughest fighters in the galaxy - and it's earned him quite a reputation!

Enter: Proja - The Promoter Supreme!

Charged with signing worthy opponents to face The Champion of the Universe - he sees big box office potential in match between Thing and his client! Madison Square Garden is the only arena that could stage this once in a lifetime brawl, but you can't have a main event without an undercard!

Stepping into the ring to challenge The Champion first is a God of Thunder! Will he upstage the Elder of the Universe, or find himself humbled by a being even greater than a god? Let's get ready to rumble!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Champion 7 (Omnipotent)
Intelligence: Thor 4 (Tactician)
Speed: Champion 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Champion 7 (Unstoppable)
Agility: Draw 2 (Average)
Fighting: Champion 7 (Living Weapon)
Energy: Thor 5 (Lasers)


This week the gloves are on! We've got ourselves the first battle in a bona fide boxing tournament! The prize on the line is the Undisputed Championship of the Galaxy! It's a honor just to be selected to fight for the title. Let's take a closer look at our powerful pugilists!

In the blue corner is the challenger! Hailing from the realm of Asgard, he is a member of The Avengers and the Norse God of Thunder! With a Comic Book Fight Club record of 6-7-1, I give you: Thor!

We know Thor loves a fight, so he's gonna take this challenge head-on. He's one of the toughest guys in the universe. We've seen him fighting the likes of Juggernaut, Hulk, Destroyer, Super-Skrull, Superman, Captain Marvel - no problem! Strength and toughness aren't going to be a issue - but there are some gaps in his game that could really cause him some problems.

For one, this is a competition setting. There are rules. If this were a guy like Hercules, I'd have more confidence in adapting to the format. Usually Thor's in touch with the elements, he's got the sky at his back, and a battlefield to use. Here, he's gotta stay grounded. He's gotta work within the intimacy of the squared circle. Most problematic of all: he's gotta put the hammer down!

We saw separation from Mjolnir cause Thor to come unglued against Beta Ray Bill [Thor #337], and even Ghost Rider was able to use a thrown hammer to his advantage [Avengers #214]. A spell cast by Odin means if Thor's separated from the hammer for more than sixty seconds - he will revert to the human form of Dr. Donald Blake! A major factor in the loss to Bill!

Technique and form could be a real problem for Thor. He's a brawler, a warrior. Against an army of trolls, he can rely on barreling through them. Against today's opponent, he's going to face finesse and a scientific approach to boxing. He may be able to take a few blows, but he'll have to rely on haymakers to finish the fight quickly. A risky strategy that could leave him open to a clinical dissection!

Fighting in the red shorts is the champion! An Elder of the Universe, he possesses the might of the power primordial! To this point, he has beaten the very best the cosmos has to offer! With an unblemished record, he is recognized in all known systems as Tryco Slatterus: Champion of the Universe!

The Champ has had eons to perfect his fighting technique, and possesses the strength and power to carry it off. His reputation speaks for itself, but it doesn't include a lot of known experience with Earth fighters. That could lead him to under estimate the competition, although it isn't his usual modus operandi.

Many years after this tournament we know he'll be in possession of the Infinity Gem of Power, and its removal will be key to allowing She-Hulk to get the better of the Champion in a rematch fight [She-Hulk #8]. No such dependency or technicality is present here. The Champion is still very close to his prime!

Ordinarily, diversity of offense would be Thor's tape advantage. Under the circumstances of this special prize bout, The Champion has to be the overwhelming favourite. The hammer separation factor is a huge disadvantage!

The Tape: Thor Ranking: Thor (#23)

What Went Down...
At the champion's prerogative Thor waits alone in the ring for the impending match. A dazzling burst of energy signals the arrival of his opponent - a towering vision draped in a hooded gown, title belt around his waist!

Thor instantly recognizes the fighting pedigree of the Elder - a warrior born, in his words. Champion hears his thoughts. As they meet in the centre to receive the referee's instructions, The Champion dismisses Thor's inner musings and his claims of godhood. Enough to compel Thor to embrace "unnecessary" combat!

The bell rings, prompting both fighters to move in from their corners. They square off, Thor making the first move with a wild left! He finds only air as The Champion effortlessly side steps the blow!

The Champ takes full advantage of Thor's attempts at slugging, moving in fast to clobber the thunderer with a glove to the face! Speed and finesse are clearly in Champion's favour!

Thor, still in possession of his enchanted hammer Mjolnir, uses a two-fisted grip to thrust the mallet into Champion's mid-section. The mighty blow sends the aggressor stumbling backward -- vulnerable to a follow-up strike!

Pressing the advantage, Thor announces the pure power he faces in Mjolnir! With an all mighty toss, the hammer hurtles toward the unarmed boxing champ -- who makes no attempt to avoid it!

Instead, Champion stoically admires the formidability of the weapon flying directly at him. it then disappears -- mere inches from impact! Deemed unbefitting of the ring, the hammer is exiled by Champion to the unnamed expanse of a far-off nether dimension!

Thanks to Odin's enchantments - the hammer reappears within the gloved grasp of a stunned Thor! The Champion chooses to respect the inherent link. The referee disqualifies Thor for his use of an illegal weapon. In an instant, he is returned to Chicago with hammer and garb restored.

The Hammer...
By the rules of the contest: Champion of the Universe is winner via disqualification! You cannot throw a hammer in a fist fight. Lesson learned!

We don't necessarily adhere to the same strict standards of unarmed combat on The Comic Book Fight Club, so this is a battle that requires further deliberation.

On the one hand, Champion is the controlling influence that ends the fight. He halts Thor's hammer, banishes it to another universe, then sends hammer and opponent back to Earth. A reasonable argument for Champion's victory, but one that ultimately rests on avoiding the fight.

For that reason, our record must show that the meeting between Thor and Champion ended in a no contest - or a draw! They both struck offensive blows, but there was no outcome. A battle to be revisited one day in the future, with any luck!

If you read The Tape section of this entry [above], you know Champion of the Universe did eventually entertain another tournament of opponents! That one ended in a back-to-back rematch with She-Hulk. It was one of the highlights of Dan Slott's first and most exciting year with the heroine. One of many loving references in the series to the Marvel Universe and its storied history.

It's easy to see why Slott would go back to The Champion and his original premise. Across the many stories about aliens looking for a fight, Marvel Two-In-One Annual #7 ranks top among them! Remarkable, then, that it hasn't been revisited more often!

There was at least one fantastic follow-up issue that shows Thing recovering in the hospital. A fun story about other heroes keeping villains at bay, only for the Sandman to sneak in and... share beer and cigars with his wounded foe!

What's always been missing, in my mind, was title lineage. To the best of my knowledge, there was never a rematch between Thing and The Champ. Nor any notable title defenses by Thing. Champion's status as an Elder of the Universe would instead lead him into grand cosmic plots involving the Power Gem, or a scheme to destroy Galactus. The story of his championship comeback - a missed opportunity, in my mind!

Of course, if you know nothing else about this famous issue, it's that main event between The Thing and The Champion that's kept readers talking for decades.  It was  a legendary highlight that demonstrated the heart and determination fundamental to the character of Benjamin J. Grimm! An instant classic! One that overshadows the rest of the issue!

Only the studied fan will know that Champion challenged Thor, as well as a short list of other powerful Earth heroes. I hope in the coming months we'll be able to follow the tournament to its conclusion.

No matter how brief, each bout tells the reader something interesting about the fighter. Prince Namor never even gets in the ring, royally refusing to indulge "such folly". Doc Samson comes up short in the training stages - a fine brawler, but a man of the mind - not the fist. Hulk, Sasquatch, Colossus, Wonder Man and Thing make up the rest of the card. Written and arrangement very much in the booking mindset of any good pro wrestling event, complete with consideration for what each result means to the character on exit.

In the case of Thor - I love the attention to detail given to his need to remain in possession of his hammer. If he hadn't brought Mjolnir into the ring, he would've had sixty seconds before reverting to Dr. Donald Blake - no match for The Champ! An easy way of avoiding any difficult questions. Thor is swiftly taken out of the running without ever actually losing. Convenient, smart!

Future readers can find out if those subsequent battles have made it onto The Comic Book Fight Club by following character links, or diving into the archive of the Issue Index! Arranged by publisher and series, it's as easy as scrolling down to Marvel, Marvel Two-In-One, and selecting the appropriate issue numbers!

This entry concludes our big November of fisticuffs inspired by the release of Doctor Strange! In theatres now, the movie caps things off with a cameo by Chris Hemsworth's Mighty Thor. Read all about that in our recent Hero of the Week spotlight and stay tuned for more as we crawl toward the end of a massive 10th Anniversary Year of Secret Wars on Infinite Earths!

Winner: No Contest (Draw)
#23 (--) Thor [+1 draw]
#309 (+5) Champion of the Universe [+1 draw]