First major fight you watched entirely while being aware of it being a big fight?

Larry Holmes Vs. Michael Spinks 1
I was 11 years old and the media was buzzing about how Holmes could tie the record (some record), so I was watching TV. At the time, I didn't even know who Rocky Marciano was, or what kind of record it was, but the media was buzzing about it.

 

Well being the son of a boxing mad father, i must have watched every big fight from the mid sixties but which one I recall as the first I cannot recall, but i will put forward the second bout between Ali and Henry Cooper in 1966 as have very clear memory of that (and of my fathers expletive laden opinions during the bout, let us just say my father expressed himself in a forthright manner when it came to boxing)

 

Earliest I remember is Ali-Zora Folley

 

Hagler vs Leonard. I've been hooked ever since.

 

Tyson vs Lewis

actually dont think there has been bigger fight since certainly not at HW

 

bruno tyson 2

 

Larry Holmes VS. Ossie Ocasio. While not a classic, it is the first boxing match I ever saw, was the year I turned 9.
Still remember the commentators “Ocasio is not smiling now…”

 

It was a bit like that at my work place.
Some of the blokes were adamant that Bruno would beat him (look at the size of Bruno to Tyson!), that sort of crap.
If you tried making a case for Tyson you were talking out of your ass.
Crazy place.

 

I'm sure it was the Ali V Holmes fight. A big thing about the returning hero, coming back from his retirement.
Sad fight.

 

Foreman vs Moore and Jones vs Toney. I was like 3 so I don’t really remember much but I remember that I watched them with my dad and it was awesome Foreman won. My mother loved Roy Jones and hated James Toney which we still think is hilarious.

 

Good question. I think two fights which happened with a day of each other and both had an exciting lead-up that was much talked about, which i remember a group of us in the boxing club chatting about. I had just turned nine, a few days before and everyone was discussing Minter vs Sibson and Leonard vs Hearns (which was the day after). I remember listening to the former live on the radio with my elder brother who want Alan to win- I went with it but was secretly glad for Sibbo. The BBC decided not to show it due to advertising issues on Minter's shorts, so the radio it was, which was every bit as exciting as the atmosphere was electric.

We both wanted Leonard to win too, but by the time of the rematch changed over to Tommy (like most people I know)

 

First major fight I watched was Mayweather vs Oscar. My dad's friend invited a bunch of people. I had seen clips on YouTube but never sat through an entire boxing match attempting to score from start to finish. I was amazed at the high level skill and in particular, Mayweather's defense.

 

The Muhammad Ali-Ron Lyle fight on ABC. I was 10.