As a child, I always watched the Wednesday Night Fights with my family, later the Friday Night and Saturday Night fights. I don't remember exactly the first, but do remember watching the likes of Gene Fullmer, Benny "Kid" Paret, Emile Griffith, Yama Bahama, etc. Regarding heavyweight championship fights, the first I remember watching was Floyd Patterson vs Brian London in 1959. My great-grandfather had told me of the Corbett - Sullivan fight and how Corbett won with his hit and don't get hit strategy. I was fascinated as I listened to his vivid description, envisioning the bout in my mind's eye. He was but a lad of 12 when that fight took place and of course did not personally witness it, but he was a great storyteller. He then told me that Floyd Patterson was the current heavyweight champion, and when he defended on TV, I made it a point to see it. Patterson was always a favorite of mine from that time onward. I also studied boxing as a form of self-defense. Of course, all those early bouts were broadcast live in black and white.
I remember two fights being shown on Wide World of Sports in the winter of 1978...Arguello-Escalera I, and then Zarate-Davila. Those were the first two fights I remember watching from start to finish, though I have vague memories of watching highlights of Ali and SRL on TV before then. But I think those two fights were what turned me into a serious boxing fan, 'cause I rarely, if ever, missed a fight on Wide World of Sports or Sportsworld from that point forward.
Tyson-Spinks first fight I saw back in 88 the rest is history. two years later i would lace up my first pair of gloves
David , fighting Goliath. David was just a featherweight, but still slew the massive Goliath...No betting was allowed ! My first bout I watched !
I remember Griffith-Paret and the newspapers the next day, also remember Dick Tiger and Irish Joey Archer...Sonny Liston made an impression on me also as a kid and listening to the adults about him coming out of prison like that made him meaner
Ali against Bob Foster on Wide World of Sports while my family was eating at a Shakey's Pizza Parlor. I was fascinated because of all the hubbub over Ali-Frazier the year before and my parents being so invested in Frazier winning.