Fights which involved the two best of a nation?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Dorrian_Grey, May 9, 2024.


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  1. Dorrian_Grey

    Dorrian_Grey It came to me in a dream Full Member

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    Any fights which involved the best fighters from two separate countries. A couple examples would be:
    Ken Buchanan (Scotland) vs Carlos Ortiz (PR)
    Eder Jofre (Brazil) vs Fighting Harada (Japan)
    Emile Griffith (U.S. Virgin Islands) vs Dick Tiger (Nigeria)
    Dick Tiger (Nigeria) vs Nino Benvenuti (Italy, debatable)
    Carlos Monzon (Argentina) vs Benvenuti/Griffith/Napoles (Cuba, debatable)
    Sugar Ray Robinson (U.S.) vs Kid Gavilan (Cuba)
    Salvador Sanchez (Mexico, debatable) vs Azumah Nelson (Ghana)
    Any more you can think of?
     
    Dorrian_Grey, May 9, 2024
    Dorrian_Grey, May 9, 2024
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  2. Fireman Fred

    Fireman Fred Active Member Full Member

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    Joe Louis-Max Schemling
    Jack Dempsey-George Carpentier
     
    Last edited: May 9, 2024
    Fireman Fred, May 9, 2024
    Fireman Fred, May 9, 2024
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  3. thistle

    thistle Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Len Harvey vs JHL were at that time the two absolute best L-HWs in their respective Nations and also among the best Champions & Contenders in the World. that fight held great expectations for both Britain & the USA.
     
    thistle, May 9, 2024
    thistle, May 9, 2024
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  4. Ney

    Ney Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Puerto Rico, Scotland & the Virgin Islands aren’t countries, though. Although I think Scotland should be.
     
    Ney, May 9, 2024
    Ney, May 9, 2024
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  5. USFBulls727

    USFBulls727 Active Member Full Member

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    Tua-Ibeabuchi
     
    USFBulls727, May 9, 2024
    USFBulls727, May 9, 2024
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  6. Dorrian_Grey

    Dorrian_Grey It came to me in a dream Full Member

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    It's kinda blurry with territories though isn't it? Like, is the Isle of Man a country? If it's got a recognisable flag, I'm just gonna assume it's a country generally. And Scotland for nearly its whole history was its own country with a distinct language, culture, and traditions which were all very different from English and Welsh cultures, which only joined England in the Treaty of Union in 1707 to officially create the UK really. Scotland competes in all international football, rugby, and cricket (pretty much every team sport) competitions as its own country, it has its own (semi) functioning government, its own parliament, what else does it need to be a country? Is every EU country not its own country just because it's a constituent part of a union? For the purpose of this experiment though, it's easier to use territories and semi-countries as actual countries just for more examples, like having different fighters for each part of the UK, rather than the best ever British fighter, which is a whole other convoluted discussion.
     
    Dorrian_Grey, May 9, 2024
    Dorrian_Grey, May 9, 2024
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  7. Ney

    Ney Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    A flag is meaningless. Australian Aboriginals have a flag. The people of Puerto Rico have a flag. Most territories have flags. These are very demonstrably not countries. Scottish is an identity, it is a culture, & so are the other above examples, but that’s not the same as a nation.

    But such a discussion is veering away from the threads intent, so I digress. There aren’t too many instances of two countries facing off with their best in a historical percentage sense. Too much American dominance of the sport, sadly.
     
    Ney, May 9, 2024
    Ney, May 9, 2024
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  8. clum

    clum Member Full Member

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    Betulio Gonzalez (Venezuela) vs. Martin Vargas (Chile)
    Fighting Harada (Japan) vs. Pone Kingpetch (Thailand)
    Alexis Arguello (Nicaragua) vs. Ruben Olivares (candidate for Mexico)
    Mike McCallum (Jamaica) vs. Ayub Kalule (Uganda)
    Ayub Kalule (Uganda) vs. Elisha Obed (Bahamas)
    Eder Jofre (Brazil) vs. Vicente Saldivar (candidate for Mexico)
     
    clum, May 9, 2024
    clum, May 9, 2024
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  9. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    Lennox Lewis vs Evander Holyfield
    Julio Cesar Chavez vs Pernell Whitaker
     
    mr. magoo, May 9, 2024
    mr. magoo, May 9, 2024
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  10. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    We talking ‘best’ in their division, at their time or of all time. Because each step narrows it down considerably.
     
    Saintpat, May 9, 2024
    Saintpat, May 9, 2024
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  11. Barrf

    Barrf Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Maybe it doesn't quite qualify on the Mexico end, but how about Mayweather vs. Canelo?

    Does Trinidad vs. BHop count? Yes, technically that's an all American battle, but there's certainly a Puerto Rican identity and pride.
     
    Barrf, May 9, 2024
    Barrf, May 9, 2024
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  12. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Azumah Nelson, who is considered as the best from Ghana, fought Jeff Fenech and Wilfredo Gomez, both who are seen as the best from Australia and Puerto Rico respectively.
     
    Flo_Raiden, May 9, 2024
    Flo_Raiden, May 9, 2024
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  13. Melankomas

    Melankomas Prime Jeffries would demolish a grizzly in 2 Full Member

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    Jack Slack vs. Monsieur Petit
     
    Melankomas, May 9, 2024
    Melankomas, May 9, 2024
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  14. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Barbados Joe Walcott was certainly the best boxer ever born in Guayana and he fought Sam Langford (arguably the best ever from Canada) and Joe Gans (in his day one could probably make an argument that he was the best from the U.S.) … both in the same month!

    It happened in September of 1904 and both fights were officially draws (Gans for the welterweight title over 20 rounds, Langford non-title for a mere 15).

    Sumbu Kalumbay was the best fighter ever from the Congo, I feel pretty certain, and Mike McCallum the best from Jamaica. They split a pair of fights.
     
    Last edited: May 9, 2024
    Saintpat, May 9, 2024
    Saintpat, May 9, 2024
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  15. Dorrian_Grey

    Dorrian_Grey It came to me in a dream Full Member

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    I was thinking best of all time, but best of a division might be easier.
     
    Dorrian_Grey, May 10, 2024
    Dorrian_Grey, May 10, 2024
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