Where does Klitschko vs. Joshua rate among great heavyweight fights?

I watched it twice. I still wonder what if the Ref didn't give Joshua 15+ seconds after spitting out his mouthpiece ( without getting it knocked out ) to recover and rest if Wlad would have finished him. Maybe, many not!

But it was a great fight. Good enough to rate top 15 of all time? I lean toward yes, so let's have a great heavyweight fights threads to measure and conjure up older memories.

Some great ones!

Jeffries vs Sharkey II
Louis vs Schmeling 1
Marciano vs Charles 1
Marciano vs Walcott 1
Ali vs Frazier 1 and 3
Holmes vs Norton
Tyson vs Douglas
Vitali vs Lewis

 

The Joshua vWlad fight benefits from the fact we have seen so few good heavyweight fights over the last decade,especially championship ones ,this is down to Wlads' cautious, take no risks style. That has emphasized and enhanced the drama and action that their fight produced. I don't think it was any better than the Bowe v Holyfield fights.

 

Liakovich-Brewster was better.

 

Nah, not really.

Much better skill displayed during waldo and Joshua.

 

Does not rate top 15 quite obviously. Many many many greater hwt fights have occurred the last 120 years.

 

I think it was made interesting because it involves a British heavy defending his title against a long term former champ. And because of wlad s previous style and his last fight especially, it came as a shock that he had the fight he had against Josh. The kd s and comeback s were what made the fight interesting, as we've not had that in a title fight for so long. Compared to the heavyweight fights of the 70 s and 90 s it wasn't spectacular but it because of the kds and the people involved in the fight, it made for better viewing than a lot of title fights for a lot of years. So imo, not the most exciting fight in heavyweight history but certainly not the worst.

 

on par with hide vs tucker

 

Yer but that was a classic H! Could sit through those one and a bit round s all day long...

 

Wlad-Joshua was a good heavyweight but not a classic. As for the list, Tyson-Douglas was not a great fight but a great upset. Holyfield-Bowe I, Foreman-Lyles were a classic. LL-Vitali is borderline iny opinion.

 

It doesn't...next question...

 

I am a bit surprised in some of the comments here as this fight had it all. It was clearly a great heavyweight title fight. I'd struggle to find 15 better than were filmed.

Two men in great shape, landing bombs.
Each floored, each got up showing heart.
A turning of the tides when you thought Wlad or Joshua would win.
Old lion vs. Young Lion
Scorecards near even prior to the 11th round
Classy interviews.
A night of action that raised the stock of both men, and boxing in general.
A backdrop of 90,000 fans.

 

Obviously, you sound like the old men in the Muppet Show, always complaining about what's new, or 20 years ago in the sport.

But since it obviously doesn't rate in your mind can you show me 15 better that were filmed?

 

Excellent description. There have certainly been heavyweight title fights with more sustained action and more rounds that were competitive. But this bout stood out in its own right. The entire scene, their backstories, what was on the line ... everything contributed. It was a great heavyweight title fight. Not the best of all time in terms of sustained action. However, any lulls were balanced by the explosiveness of the rounds where both men were hurt.

It had plenty to qualify as great. No question. And everyone seemed to leave it totally satisfied. Wonderful fight.

 

A satisfying,and wonderful heavyweight fight,especially considering the result.But not in the top 15 and the criteria of it being a title fight was not in the original post.

Is it anymore exciting than this?

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Name 15 of them.