Greatest Fights Ever Fought on the Inside

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by William Walker, Sep 9, 2020.

  1. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2020
    Messages:
    7,901
    Likes Received:
    9,171
    A thread a few weeks back analyzed Armstrong-Ambers II from an inside perspective, no pun intended. Then I got to thinking, what are the greatest fights of all time ever fought on the inside? It seems hard cuz so many people don't understand how technical inside fights, and let's face it, an inside fight is often very unappealing. What are some ATG wars though, that were mostly fought in the inside. A few fights/ fighters that came to mind were the following:
    Gene Fullmer vs. Benny Paret
    several of Joe Frazier's fights w/ Bonavena and Quarry, also the Machen fight
    several of Frank Fletcher's fights
    Michael Moorer vs. Bert Cooper
    Riddick Bowe's fights with Holyfield, particularly the first; I wouldn't describe those as "inside fights", although there was a lot of fighting going on inside
    some of James' Toney's fights? Iran Barkley would be one, there's one other in particular I had in mind, but I can't remember who it was
    Charles Williams vs. Merqui Sosa I

    Can you guys think of any others?
     
  2. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2019
    Messages:
    27,677
    Likes Received:
    46,500
    Duran vs Leonard, Barkley and Moore.
     
    Flash24, vast, TipNom and 3 others like this.
  3. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2020
    Messages:
    7,901
    Likes Received:
    9,171
    I knew Duran was a great inside fighter, but I couldn't think of any. Just thought of his fight w/ Palomino though. A helluva inside fight if I ever did see one. Duran did everything right that night.
     
    vast, TipNom, Clinton and 2 others like this.
  4. Bujia

    Bujia Well-Known Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2020
    Messages:
    1,564
    Likes Received:
    2,397
    Basilio/Saxton II, if a bit one sided.
     
  5. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2009
    Messages:
    24,466
    Likes Received:
    28,993
    There’s a difference, of course, between inside and in-the-pocket. James Toney had a lot of fights (after he matured) that were practically all fought in the pocket, for instance. But I can’t think of any off the top of my head that were more pure inside, body-to-body.

    Good topic. I need to think on it.
     
  6. AwardedSteak863

    AwardedSteak863 Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2018
    Messages:
    6,440
    Likes Received:
    12,145
    Barrera vs Morales. Brilliant and brutal inside fighting at its finest.
     
  7. clum

    clum Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2017
    Messages:
    444
    Likes Received:
    813
    Curry vs. Starling II, although neither guy ever found himself in enough danger for it to rank as a war.
     
  8. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2020
    Messages:
    7,901
    Likes Received:
    9,171
    I was just thinking it would be a good original topic to explore. I mean it's one of toughest things in boxing, inside fighting, and few can do it and put on a helluva fight at the same time.
     
    Saintpat likes this.
  9. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2019
    Messages:
    27,677
    Likes Received:
    46,500
    Troy Dorsey vs Kelley, Rhodes and Paez were primarily fought toe-to-toe on the inside IIRC.
     
    William Walker likes this.
  10. The Morlocks

    The Morlocks Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2009
    Messages:
    8,715
    Likes Received:
    8,951
    You must of all forgot
    Castillo-Corralles
     
    Flash24, sasto, Clinton and 1 other person like this.
  11. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2020
    Messages:
    7,901
    Likes Received:
    9,171
    Never seen it, and proud of it.
     
  12. The Morlocks

    The Morlocks Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2009
    Messages:
    8,715
    Likes Received:
    8,951
    explain
     
    William Walker likes this.
  13. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2019
    Messages:
    27,677
    Likes Received:
    46,500
    Watch it. It's awesome.
     
    Clinton likes this.
  14. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2005
    Messages:
    55,041
    Likes Received:
    49,090
    Dwight Braxton - James Scott
     
  15. robert ungurean

    robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 9, 2007
    Messages:
    17,125
    Likes Received:
    16,865
    Mancini v Kim
     
    The Morlocks and Clinton like this.