Which fight have you enjoyed watching the most?

Garcia v Benn.

You’re right about 4am fights. I’ve always found them weirdly therapeutic. Being the only person on the street up whilst the world is silent outside, just watching boxing in silence at silly o’clock because you don’t want to miss anything special.

 

Lennox Lewes Vs Mike Tyson

I was 16 and my excitement for this fight was through the roof! I was with a group of 5 friends, loads of food, snacks, weed and alcopops. Duvets and bedding on the living room floor. Talking all night how we think the fight was going to go.
My best friend passed away 5 weeks ago and it was his house we watched it in. I really miss him. That whole memory will stay with me forever.

 

I think I enjoyed Pernell Whitaker v Jose Luis Ramirez 2 the most, one of the best boxing displays I've ever seen, more so after getting robbed in the first fight on the back foot. This fight, Whitaker stood right in front of him and boxed his head off, and set his stool out in the opening round. Say what you want about fighters like Shakur, but even he is currently a level or two below Sweet Pea.

Beyond that, Meldrick Taylor outboxing Chávez for the best part of 12 rounds, before Richard Steele controversially stopped it with just 2 seconds left.

From a British perspective, though, it has to be Naz v Kelley or Benn v McClellan, arguably the best atmosphere in a British ring in recent memory, starting from Nigel's entrance. Good book too about that whole fight called War Baby.

Edit: Although I'd guess round 9 of Gatti v Ward is what I've watched more than anything else boxing related.

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Hatton v Mayweather.

If you're old enough like me to have been around at the time and a sport / boxing fan, there was magic in the air.

The build up was autumn time / early December, days were short nights were cold.

I think there were 6 at my house that night staying up for it, all in firm belief he was going to do it...

 

zaggers v lacy
hatton v kosta
jmm v baby bull just loved marquez style in that fight
gatti v ward

 

Hagler v Hearns just amazing to watch at the time great build up and both promised a shootout, they didn't let anyone down, 1985 and I remember it like yesterday!

Great night but secondary watching Barry McGuigan beating Pedroza veteran champ with a long unbeaten run on TV live from QPR Loftus Road also 1985 coincidentally!

 

Ironically, that was one of the first fights I was ever taken to, I was just a kid. Only went because my father fell out with my grandfather over some bull**** about money, and he ended up taking me and my mother to the fight instead, supposedly to get back at him.

Atmosphere was loud, but no screens up by the ring back then, so in the stands it was like watching matchstick men fighting – you needed binoculars to see anything. The Irish all had plenty, but the fake type, which they all used to smuggle in poitín instead.

Still have the programme somewhere. Barry was my first sporting idol, shame he turned out to be a **** with Frampton, more so after what Eastwood allegedly did to him. Still, what do they say, never meet your heroes, or something like that.

Edit: A young Dave McAuley was on the undercard, in a typical up-and-downer that defined his career.

 

McCauley´s fight with McDermott really was a classic. Dave was a British version of Danny Lopez. After the 2 fights with Fidel Bassa I really though Dave wouldn´t be champion but his victory over Duke McKenzie was a real favourite of mine:

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Yup, I never expected Dave to beat Duke, but he won quite comfortably if memory serves me correct, maybe McKenzie was weak at the weight but that takes nothing away from McAuley, who even beat a young Matlala in a later defence, and was one of the few that retired at the top but never came back.

Funny thing is, the McGuigan v Pedroza programme mentions Herol Graham as chief support, but I don't recall seeing him fight that night?

 

Weirdly recent, but the first Usyk v Fury fight brought back a feeling of excitement I’d not felt watching televised boxing in years.

 

Good shout!
I was super excited for this fight too

 

Mayweather vs. De La Hoya

The rising star Mayweather up against a seasoned pro in De La Hoya. A crossroads fight which was hard to call at the time. USA vs. Mexico. Great buildup and trash talk. I remember staying up in UK to watch it live. Really entertaining spectacle.

 

In recent times, Wardley v Clarke on an Easter Sunday evening just worked

 

Hi Fred.
For one of my favourites we have to go back to 1975, the venue was The Royal Albert Hall, my all time best place for boxing, the tiered seating means everyone has a good view of the ring, saw the best of British there, Stracey, Minter, Magri, Conteh, Bruno, Green, and many more, but the Finnegan / Frankham LHW title fight, beats them all, what an atmosphere, you had the huge Gypsy following of Frankham, up against the rough, ready, raucous mob of south Londoners, to whom the Finnegans were gods, there were at least a dozen small men, don't want to use the disparaging name of the time, but you get what I mean, they were clothed in bright green, all had a banjo or a trumpet, which they wasn't afraid to play, up against the Finnegan supporters who had drums and symbols, it made for a very lively evening, thing was, it was all very friendly, no violence, no name calling, just good humoured banter, as to the fight, Frankam boxed like a dream, his finest hour, when in top condition and focused, he was one of the finest natural boxers this country has produced, alas true to his heritage he liked to party, so very rarely was he in tip top shape, but what a character, he would lose the return, then fade into obscurity, but when his flame burned, it burned bright.
stay safe buddy.
Mike.