Top 10 heavyweight championship fights in the 12 round era (that went the distance)

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by dmt, Apr 27, 2026.


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  1. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

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    What are the Top 10 heavyweight championship fights in the 12 round era (that went the distance)? Overall quality of fight, competitiveness, excitement, overall skill level displayed etc.

    I'll start:

    Bowe-Holyfield 1 - great slugging, infighting, lots of exciting back and forth combos

    Lewis-Holyfield 2- great skill from both guys, the amazing jab from Lewis, his powerful uppercuts, Holyfields's infighting and landing hard left hooks.

    Bowe-Holyfield 2

    Usyk-Fury 1

    Holmes-Witherspoon - so much great action from Tim and quality skills from an aging but still great Holmes.

    What else?
     
    dmt, Apr 27, 2026
    dmt, Apr 27, 2026
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  2. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    @dmt

    Can i just clarify what you mean ? because you said 12 round era i'm assuming you mean when 15 round fights no longer existed ?

    But you mentioned Holmes/Witherspoon and that was in 1983 when 15 round fights were still happening remember 2 years later Holmes had a 15 round fight vs Williams.

    So i'm a little bit confused sorry.
     
    Dynamicpuncher, Apr 27, 2026
    Dynamicpuncher, Apr 27, 2026
    #2
  3. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

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    sure. It means heavyweight championship fights when the 12 round era began, which is around 1982. I understand there was a transition era and sometimes we went back and forth between 12-15 rounds, but basically we are talking 1982 onwards. We can ignore the few 15 round fights that happened late in Holmes's reign.

    We can include the Witherspoon one since it was one of the first 12 round ones.
     
    dmt, Apr 27, 2026
    dmt, Apr 27, 2026
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  4. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Ahh ok got you thanks for telling me the date aswell makes my job easier i'll have a list for you in like 30 minutes.
     
    Dynamicpuncher, Apr 27, 2026
    Dynamicpuncher, Apr 27, 2026
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  5. Thread Stealer

    Thread Stealer Loyal Member Full Member

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    Liakhovich-Brewster is the best HW fight of the 21st century
     
    Thread Stealer, Apr 27, 2026
    Thread Stealer, Apr 27, 2026
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  6. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    @dmt Quite a tough one honestly there was a fight i did want to include that i thought was underrated and that was Thomas vs Witherspoon but Holyfield vs Foreman was probably more high profile so i included that instead.

    Riddick Bowe vs Evander Holyfield 1
    Riddick Bowe vs Evander Holyfield 2
    Larry Holmes vs Tim Witherspoon
    Evander Holyfield vs George Foreman
    Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury 1
    Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder 1
    Chris Byrd vs Andrew Golota
    Lamon Brewster vs Sergei Liakhovich
    Wladimir Klitschko vs Samuel Peter 1
    Lennox Lewis vs Evander Holyfield 2
     
    Dynamicpuncher, Apr 27, 2026
    Dynamicpuncher, Apr 27, 2026
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  7. HistoryZero26

    HistoryZero26 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I think you'd have to put the Foreman title defenses except Grimsley into the running.
     
    HistoryZero26, Apr 27, 2026
    HistoryZero26, Apr 27, 2026
    #7
  8. dmt

    dmt Hardest hitting hw ever Full Member

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    Top notch as usual. I need to rewatch Brewster Liakhovich.
     
    dmt, Apr 27, 2026
    dmt, Apr 27, 2026
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  9. Jakub79

    Jakub79 Active Member Full Member

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    I don't think the Wlad-Peter fight was for any belt. I'm a bit surprised that Golota-Byrd was included. It wasn't a very good fight... honestly, I'd prefer Vitali-Chisora or Moorer-Holyfield 1, considering it went the distance.
     
    Jakub79, Apr 27, 2026
    Jakub79, Apr 27, 2026
    #9
  10. MaccaveliMacc

    MaccaveliMacc Boxing Addict Full Member

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    This wasn't for the belt. Crackin fight tho.
     
    MaccaveliMacc, Apr 28, 2026
    MaccaveliMacc, Apr 28, 2026
    #10
  11. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Oh was it not ? Well there's a few other candidates.

    Usyk vs Joshua 2 ?
    Thomas vs Witherspoon ?

    I did enjoy these fights.
     
    Dynamicpuncher, Apr 28, 2026
    Dynamicpuncher, Apr 28, 2026
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  12. Dynamicpuncher

    Dynamicpuncher Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Alot of people enjoy Byrd vs Golota and consider it an underrated fight so you're in the minority who don't think it's a good fight.

    Vitali vs Chisora was a solid fight but Chisora is a fringe contender with 14 losses so I don't think he's a big enough name to warrant being in the top 10.

    Moorer vs Holyfield 1 was a lackluster fight for me outside of the exciting 2nd round.
     
    Dynamicpuncher, Apr 28, 2026
    Dynamicpuncher, Apr 28, 2026
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  13. MaccaveliMacc

    MaccaveliMacc Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Low key classic.
     
    MaccaveliMacc, Apr 28, 2026
    MaccaveliMacc, Apr 28, 2026
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  14. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    01 - James Douglas TKO10 Mike Tyson
    02 - Riddick Bowe UD12 Evander Holyfield
    03 - Lennox Lewis TKO6 Vitali Klitschko
    04 - Lennox Lewis KO4 Hasim Rahman
    05 - Hasim Rahman KO5 Lennox Lewis
    06 - Tyson Fury TKO11 Deontay Wilder
    07 - Oleksander Usyk UD12 Anthony Joshua
    08 - Tyson Fury TKO7 Deontay Wilder
    09 - Wladimir Klitschko KO5 Kubrat Pulev
    10 - Oleksander Usyk UD12 Tyson Fury
     
    McGrain, Apr 28, 2026
    McGrain, Apr 28, 2026
    #14
  15. OddR

    OddR Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I think it's only fights that went the distance.
     
    OddR, Apr 28, 2026
    OddR, Apr 28, 2026
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