The greatest fight

Afternoon gents,

Just got off the back of watching my favorite fight of all time, Gatti vs Ward 1 and I was wondering what your favorite fights of all time are?

I'm planning on making a list of 10 or so that I make my way through over the next week.

Leonard Duran 1
Barrera Morales 1
Vasquez Marquez (any of the three, if I recall correctly)

Hearns-Leonard I

Hagler hearns
Ali Frazier 3
In terms of making the earth stand still - Ali Foreman. Nothing beats that.

There was 4 Vazquez v Marquez fights but the first 3 were classics the 4th was a bit of a disappointment.

I'll go for Popramook v Yaegashi and the aforementioned Vazquez v Marquez 2 & 3. Corrales v Castillo 1 and Segura v Calderon 1 are some of my modern favourites.

I know I'll get slated but I never really enjoyed Micky Wards fights. He was nothing more than a bar room brawler. Gatti could at least box,.

Castillo v Corrales I

I ignored the 4th, SRR, I prefer to ignore it as they were both shot, particularly Vasquez. It should never have happened.

De La Hoya vs Mosley I

Probably the first YouTube classic Somsak Sithchatchawal v Mahyar Monshipour.

Fists of Fury wrote:I ignored the 4th, SRR, I prefer to ignore it as they were both shot, particularly Vasquez. It should never have happened.

They made a decent amount of cash out of it but it was sad to see.

I could literally be here for hours deliberating over this, JM - far too difficult, for me at least, to pinpoint a single fight! I've already covered my favourites from the Light-Heavyweight and Welterweight divisions in my two articles on the great fights of those divisions; Galindez-Kates I, Moore-Durelle I and Saad-Lopez II are the cream of the crop at 175 lb, with the best of 147 lb being Basilio-De Marco II, Leonard-Hearns I and Griffith-Paret III, despite the terrible ending.

Outside of that, I think that the fourth fight between Chacon and Limon may well be the single greatest fight I've seen - don't think I've ever seen such a frantic pace sustained in any other bout over twelve rounds, never mind fifteen! The first bout between Dave McAuley and Fidel Bassa is surely the most incredible world title fight to have taken place in a UK ring, as well.

James Toney against Charles Williams was a modern classic, it had a little bit of everything. The skill level on show, particularly from Toney, was scary.

Bramble-Mancini 2 is a personal fave....

Nelson-Fenech 1....is another..

Leonard-Duran 1..

Barrera Morales 1 is a fave of mine.

Speaking of Mancini, Truss, I think his scrap with Arguello would grace any 'Desert Island' collection. Mancini was seriously wet behind the ears at the time but gave Alexis all he could handle early doors. Arguello turned it round, of course, but Mancini showed absolutely immense bravery and resolve to get to the thirteenth round. I don't know how his head had even cleared enough to come out for it after he was staggered so badly by that trademark straight right of Alexis' right at the end of the twelfth.

Fantastic fight.

You know that loss was probably more important than most of his wins...

In cementing him in the hearts of the public and winning mass blue collar appeal...

Nice guy was old Raymond..

Mancini v Frias round 1. Only lasted one round but what a round.

Barrera Morales 1 is my all time favourite.

Others include Gatti Ward 1, Vasquez Marquez 1, Leonard Hearns 1, Leonard Duran 1, Hagler Hearns, Ali Fraser III, Bowe v Holyfield 1 and Holmes v Norton (an overlooked classic with a brilliant final round).

Good call on Holmes-Norton, Sugar Boy. Gets forgotten behind the higher-profile belters of the era involving Ali and Frazier but it's a fight which more than holds its own. That big push in the final thirty seconds may just have been the difference between Holmes being one of the Heavyweight greats rather than just another good Heavy in a competitive era.

Goes without saying that Barrera-Morales I was nothing short of incredible - just a shame that some of the gloss gets taken off thanks to the decision, because Marco should definitely have got it! Ggggrrrr.....

Holmes Norton was excellent....

Mcguigan-Cruz was a classic.......Enjoyed Chyz vs Williams......

Duran vs sims was quality as well.........Haugen-Paz 1 was a guilty pleasure too!!

Paz was a real love him..hate him figure back in 87.......

We didn't much care for Rhode-islanders..

Czyz-Williams was a good'un wasn't it, Truss? (Not just saying that because I covered it in a recent article, either!).

Czyz was a really good fighter to watch when he was in full flow. Seems to get tagged as a convenient 'white hope' hype job in some quarters, which does him less than justice, for sure.

Never been a fan of Chyz!!!

Used to say stuff like.... he was black really because white guys can't fight......stupid stuff like that!!!

seem to have a real downer on white boxers...

coming from a guy who lost to Hamsho and Andries and only ever beat garbage like Kacar and Edwards.....and one-armed Donny!!!

Strange guy..he came home I think to find his Dad had blown his head off.......

and got done for apparently entering his girlfriends house with armed with a firearm..strange behaviour from a top student which he was!!

He was a overrated for sure..

So many great fights to choose from its impossible to say really!

Lewis beating Tyson was probably my favourite. A masterclass before, during and after the fight from Lewis on how to handle a bully like Tyson. Dont be intimidated and let your fists and skills do the talking! People thought Tyson would demolish Lewis, especially after all the aggression beforehand but were proved totally wrong! It reminded me of when a certain young Cassius Clay was given no chance of beating a similar bully like Sonny Liston but boxed the ears off him or when years later Ali was again proved the doubters wrong by knocking out the great George Foreman who nobody thought could be stopped!

Hatton against Tszyu is another classic. Hatton was a big underdog but showed the heart of a lion to win that one and make a great fighter like Tszyu quit. That fight really put him on the map alongside great fighters.

And I dont think any highlight reel would be complete without the Hearns v Hagler fight either. Short but breathtaking in its ferocity! A must see for any boxing fan!

Tyson was finished against Lewis!! I was saddened to watch such a huge figure lose so tamely!!

Wasn't a great fight...

Think Hatton-Kosta is a great addition though...What a tear up!!

Hamed-Kelly was a good un...........Holyfield-Dokes rocked as well.

Mancini - Kim...Korean was valiant till the end..rip.

Gordy wrote:So

Lewis beating Tyson was probably my favourite. A masterclass before, during and after the fight from Lewis on how to handle a bully like Tyson. Dont be intimidated and let your fists and skills do the talking! People thought Tyson would demolish Lewis,

Gordy I have to ask, when you say people thought Tyson would destroy Lewis, which people exactly, most people I know who know the first thing about boxing realised Tyson was around 15 years past his best and a mere shell of the once terrific fighter he was facing off against a top drawer heavyweight with a significant edge in both form and confidence, although I should acknowledge I don't get out all that much.

Lewis v McCall 1 was good.

rowley wrote:I should acknowledge I don't get out all that much.

Just as well, given that you live in Rotherham, Jeff.

88Chris05 wrote:

rowley wrote:I should acknowledge I don't get out all that much.

Just as well, given that you live in Rotherham, Jeff.

Spoken as a bloke who has clearly not seen the new home of Rotherham United, finally the town centre has something it does not need to be ashamed of.

Gordy: Lewis beating Tyson was probably my favourite. A masterclass before, during and after the fight from Lewis on how to handle a bully like Tyson.
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Mate no disrespect but if that's your all time favourite fight you need to get on YouTube and watch some of the real classics mentioned on this thread. I'm a huge Lennox fan, but that win over Tyson was a virtual formality, Iron Mike was a washed up post prison drug using bum by that stage of his career who knew he didn't have a prayer against Lewis but needed the $$$'s. I've always believed Lewis at his best beats any version of Tyson, but that version wasn't even a challenge.

Dempsey- Firpo
Walcott-Marciano 1
Kaylor-Christie
Foreman-Lyle
Zale-Graziano

Anyway to answer the original thread

Moore v Durelle
Morales Barrera 1
and just to show some love for the domestic scene Macklin vs Moore

Must admit I haven't seen as much as most of you guys but my favourite would be Corrales v Castillo I as well. My mate showed me that fight years back and it was the one that got me into boxing a lot more. Before then it was mainly just the big fights. Now my mate lends me dvds of all the stuff he has got off box nation and I try and see as many cards as I can.

I do love reading on here though for tips of what to watch on youtube. Keep up the good work lads.

Hamed vs Kelley was indeed a superb watch, I was jumping out of my chair when that was on!

I'd picked Frazier - Ali 1. It wasn't quite as brutal their third fight, but was equally dramatic, and father time diminished their abilities to the extent he had in Manila , it was a better version of both fighters that fought in New York.
It was also a greater occassion, a more important fight with a huge amount riding on it, two undefeated superb heavyweights ,and was in the Mecca of boxing. What more could you ask for?

Barrera Vs Morales 1 - although the result saddened me

Holyfield Vs Qawai 1 - Absolute slugfest of the highest order

Duran Vs Barkley - love everything about this fight, the fact Duran was up against it, the fact it was close, the Knock down and the fact it was crucial and late and also the result.

Pryor - Arguello 1 - had everything including controversy

Haggler v Hearns
Bowe v Holyfield I & II

Pryor vs arguello- how the hawk stood up to that monster uppercut is beyond my mental capabilities, his head was almost ripped from his shoulders.

Duran vs Leonard- no brawl has ever had the same level of technical aptitude on show before or since

Castillo vs corrales- a real war and drama filled

Foster vs finnegan- heart and brute power in equal share, the gutsiest performance by a Brit in a title fight

Gordy didn't fail me!

Morales Barerra 1 was utter class, haven't seen Holmes vs Norton before - I'll give that a watch tonight, I did like ol' Larry, and Ken wasn't so bad.

Ali vs Frazier 3 is on my watch list for tonight too

Cheers guys, great shouts

"How the hawk stood up to that uppercut is beyond me!!"

errm I wonder!!!

Whatever was on his water isn't going to make his chin granite.

Hernan Marquez v Luis Concepcion 1 was a great fight.

Domestically Moore v Rhodes and Mitchell v Murray were good fights as well.

1 of the 4 Wonjongkam v Naito fights was a cracker think it was the second 1. I think it was the 3rd.

I was being facetious Ghosty!!

great fight certainly better than the second!!....

Will say though that If you do have a stimulant that gives you more energy....you will be in more condition to take a shot!!

Other than obvious I enjoyed Froch Vs Pascal.

I'll give a heads up to "Matthew saad Muhammad"

You want great fights check this guy out on youtube!!

You can't go wrong with a bit of Saad, Truss! The first fight with Johnson and second with Lopez should be made compulsory viewing.

I mentioned Chacon's epic with Limon (fourth fight) earlier, but his scrap with Boza-Edwards (second one) is a must see, too. Come to think of it, Boza's tussles with Limon and Navarette would be right up there, too.

Surely the best ever era for the Super-Feathers.

We had an exciting Bantamweight in the 80's called Albert Davila....

Every fight he was in was a bloody brawl....

Lost to Lora twice for the wbc....

But he was compulsive viewing..........

Marc Johnson had a couple of good fights with Rafael Marquez. Did Johnson get into the hall of fame?

ha ha...

Barrera vs Mckinney was a quality night!!

The first bout between Dave McAuley and Fidel Bassa is surely the most incredible world title fight to have taken place in a UK ring, as well.

Seconded.

The first bout between Carbajal and Humberto Gonzalez down at Light-Flyweight deserves a mention here, too. Showcased that incredibly exhilerating but also vulnerable style of Gonzalez which made him such a brilliant fighter to watch.

We can't forget the little guys, so I'd also chuck in Yuri Arbachakov against Kitikissem (his first name eludes me?) at Flyweight, too. Great fight with a touch of controversy. I've already mentioned McAuley-Bassa I, but Gomez-Pintor, is another fight from below Featherweight which deserves great consideration here.