Fight with most skill level in the ring at once?

Ray Leonard vs Wilfred Benitez
Jimmy McLarnin vs Barney Ross Trilogy
Manny Pacquiao vs Marco Antonio Barrera

 

Leonard Benitez jumped to mind immediately. That fight was masterclass chess match

 

Some thoughts are offered here to jog further ideas and narrow down the field.


Locche versus a number of guys, Cervantes, Laguna, Lopopolo, Ortiz, Perkins...

If Duran-SRL is going to be mentioned, then Duran-Buchanan, Duran-DeJesus Duran-Mamby and Duran-Vilomar Fernandez might also merit. One of the reasons El Cholo's knockout percentage against top flight competition was diluted at 135 is because of the ridiculous skill level of so many of his opponents.

The Charles-Moore trilogy, the Charles-Walcott rivalry, and a number of other bouts Ezz participated in, like Harold Johnson.

Vilomar Fernandez boxed on even terms with the very best of his day at 135.

Joey Archer squared off with a number of highly skilled adversaries, SRR, Griffith 2X, Mims, Denny Moyer.

Gans faced Langford when Sam was at a weight where he could use his height and reach to stick and move on opponents like Barbados Joe Walcott. The Old Master faced a number of foes with outstanding skills, not just guys who clinched and mauled inside.

Mike Gibbons and Packey McFarland must have been a sight to behold.

Hearns-Benitez was at the peak weight for both. 154 was a division where El Radar displayed one punch power in winning that title from Hope, and Tommy had to exercise some caution in lifting that crown from Benitez. Neither participant began boxing as a power puncher, each had to develop and cultivate their power through their evolution of skill and development of physical maturity. [Hearns in particular started out "hitting like a girl." according to Manny Steward, a fact born out by his Loughran like amateur knockout percentage, and extant amateur footage.] For an instance where punching was a learned skill rather than an inherent trait from the beginning, Hearns-Benitez is an example to be considered.

Pep went on record as saying highly skill boxers like Sal Bartolo could give him a lot of trouble. When Willie consolidated the FW Title, he didn't leave it to the judges, he punched Sal out to conclude their epic trilogy, fracturing the rugged Bostonian's jaw in the 12th round for the definitive knockout win of Pep's career, the only time in 98 fights Bartolo was ever punched out.

Can't leave out Pastrano-Johnson, or Norton-Young.

 

I thought McCallum vs. Toney I was a beautiful fight.

 

Jofre vs Harada
Armstrong vs Robinson, even though Armstrong was past prime.
Jimmy Wilde vs Pancho Villa, even though Wilde was past prime.
Sam Langford vs Joe Gans, if you think the old guys were that great.
Benny Leonard vs Johnny Kilbane or Jack Britton.
Harry Greb vs Gene Tunney, Mickey Walker, or Tommy Loughran.
Charles vs Moore or Walcott.
Armstrong vs Barney Ross.
Canzoneri vs McLarnin.
Robinson vs Gavilan.
Griffith vs Benvenuti.
Monzon vs Napoles.
Griffith vs Napoles.
Monzon vs Benvenuti.
Duran vs Leonard.
Hagler vs Hearns.
Whitaker vs Chavez.
Roy Jones vs Toney.
Pacquiao vs Morales and Marquez.

 

Mayweather-Marquez

 

Loughran v Tunney
Driscoll v Welsh
Robinson v Gavilan
Charles v Burley
Charles v Moore
Attell v Driscoll
Williams v Burley

Just trying to be different.

 

Jung Koo Chang vs Hilario Zapata

 

Jones-Tarver

Tarver was a lot more skilled than he gets credit for.

 

Joe Gans-Young Griffo
Benny Leonard-Jack Britton
Benny Leonard-Johnny Dundee
Abe Attell-Johnny Kilbane

 

Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker vs James "Buddy" McGirt.

James Toney vs Mike McCallum was off the charts as far as skills level goes.

As already mentioned hard to top Moore vs Charles.

Ray Leonard vs Tommy Hearns.

In the heavyweight division

Joe Louis vs "Jersey Joe" Walcott.

 

Ezzard Charles vs Harold Johnson IMO. The Charles-Burley fights too. It's a shame we don't have them on film.

 

In recent times Leonard vs Benitez ...Ezz and JJW....Archie vs Harold Johnson and Ezz
Pastrano-Johnson...Pep vs Chalky Wright and Saddler

 

Got to be Leonard-Benitez.