Every time i type in "list greatest fights of all time" its always slug matches, and as entertaining as they are, I much prefer a highly skilled technical fight a la Toney/McCallum. Are there any suggestions of fights of this variety that I need to see?
Ward-Kovalev I Roy Jones vs Jhon Ruiz Klitschko vs Haye Lewis vs Klitschko ( it also was a slugfest) Brook vs Spence Maywheather vs Canelo Joe Louis vs Max Schmeling I
I was reminded of Salvador Sanchez in another thread, and several of his bouts were great chess matches. Laporte, Patrick Ford, Pat Cowdell. They were opponents who were trickier for Sanchez, but he adjusted tactically and outsmarted and outboxed smart boxers. Those are bouts that aren't often brought up when we bring up chess matches. Obvious mentions that I love as much as great wars are Barrera-Marquez, Whitaker-McGirt, and Leonard-Benitez. There have to be a lot more that aren't brought up with the more renowned great chess matches.
Haye Klitscko was terrific imo, close contest during first 4-6 rounds but Wladimir controlling the pace and had all the pressure suprisingly broke Haye down systematicly.
Sugar Ray Leonard vs Wilfried Benitez is always the first one that pops to my head. The highest level of boxing chess. This content is protected
Here ya' go. This content is protected If that's too fast and physical for you, I could find some vids of boxers staring and posing.
All but Ward-Kovalev 1 can't really be called chess matches. They miss at least what's understood to be a 'great' chess match: being a bout in which a highly skilled, smart boxer uses tactics to best another highly skilled, smart boxer who otherwise may have beaten him. The point is they're so evenly matched physically and in skill that the upper hand is only gained with one guy outplotting and outthinking his still smart foe. It has to be competitive most of the way, with the winner usually only finding a decisive advantage late. Spence-Brook, I don't think that should qualify. Brook was impressive early and was winning with speed and timing, but Spence was the only guy in the ring boxing tactically. Brook didn't have the ring smarts to hang with Spence deep into the bout.