What was the biggest fight in the history of boxing?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by smallsteps, Mar 23, 2023.

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What was the biggest fight in the history of boxing?

  1. The Rumble in the Jungle, George Foreman vs. Muhammad Ali, October 30, 1974

    30 vote(s)
    28.8%

  2. Fight of the Century, Joe Frazier vs. Muhammad Ali, March 8, 1971

    44 vote(s)
    42.3%

  3. Thrilla in Manila, Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier lll, 1 October 1975

    3 vote(s)
    2.9%

  4. The Burns-Johnson Fight, Tommy Burns vs. Jack Johnson, 26 Dec 1908

    1 vote(s)
    1.0%

  5. The Long Count Fight, Gene Tunney vs. Jack Dempsey ll, September 22, 1927

    1 vote(s)
    1.0%

  6. The Fight of the Century, Jack Johnson vs. James J. Jeffries, 4 July 1910

    1 vote(s)
    1.0%

  7. The Second fight, Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling, June 22, 1938

    7 vote(s)
    6.7%

  8. The Super Fight, Marvin Hagler vs. Sugar Ray Leonard, 6 April 1987

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  9. Once and For All, Mike Tyson vs. Michael Spinks, June 27, 1988

    3 vote(s)
    2.9%

  10. The Battle for Greatness, Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao, May 2, 2015

    14 vote(s)
    13.5%
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  1. smallsteps

    smallsteps Member Full Member

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    Ali vs Frazier 1?
     
    smallsteps, Mar 23, 2023
    #1
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  2. Jacques81

    Jacques81 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Was supposed to be Pac vs May, Manny was chasing a faster runner
     
    Jacques81, Mar 23, 2023
    #2
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  3. UniversalPart

    UniversalPart Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Financially or historically?
     
    UniversalPart, Mar 23, 2023
    #3
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  4. Wig

    Wig Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Define "biggest"
     
    Wig, Mar 23, 2023
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  5. smallsteps

    smallsteps Member Full Member

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    All time, the money is different in every era.
     
    smallsteps, Mar 23, 2023
    #5
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  6. Guerra

    Guerra Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Biggest to me is defining a time and history and/or people watching. So it has to be Louis vs Schmelling or Ali vs Frazier 1
     
    Guerra, Mar 23, 2023
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  7. 007 373 5963

    007 373 5963 Active Member Full Member

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    Manute Bol vs. William "The Refrigerator" Perry. May 22, 2002.
     
    007 373 5963, Mar 23, 2023
    #7
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  8. BenUndertheradar

    BenUndertheradar New Member Full Member

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    The biggest fight in history of boxing is trying to get the Fury vs Usyk fight to happen.
     
    BenUndertheradar, Mar 23, 2023
    #8
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  9. bjl12

    bjl12 Boxing Addict banned Full Member

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    Ali Foreman for sure
     
    bjl12, Mar 23, 2023
    #9
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  10. James Page

    James Page Active Member banned Full Member

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    Very interesting thread. Some on here were bashing me recently for favoring Ray Leonard over Ray Robinson.

    I noticed no Ray Robinson fights even made your cut. That's not a knock on Robinsons skill, just that it gives you pause that the consensus greatest fighter ever didn't even make a list of greatest fights ever, on a boxing forum that unanimously rates him so highly.

    I thought your list was pretty decent, I'd probably get rid of Thrills in Manila and replace it with something else. May be Leonard vs Hearns, which I'd certainly list before Leonard vs Hagler. Same goes for Leonard vs Duran.

    I might also make room for De la Hoya vs Trinidad, ot Tyson v Holyfield 1, probably over Gene Tunney or Tommy Burns
     
    James Page, Mar 23, 2023
    #10
  11. TFP

    TFP Active Member Full Member

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    For all-round fame and legendary status, has to be the Rumble, no other comes close.

    Honourable mentions for Fight of the Century; Louis-Schmeling II; and Tyson-Holyfield II [though only 'big' for the wrong reasons].

    I sort of feel that something by the Fabulous Four ought to be on the list, but in truth their legendary clashes were spread over multiple fights, with no one single epoch defining encounter.
     
    TFP, Mar 23, 2023
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  12. KernowWarrior

    KernowWarrior Bob Fitzsimmons much bigger brother. Full Member

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    On a historical perspective i voted for Burns vs Johnson, first coloured fighter to be the heavyweight champion, that was a massive barrier broken, ok 'lil arthur' did upset the white folks enough to prevent another coloured champ for 22 years.
     
    KernowWarrior, Mar 23, 2023
    #12
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  13. DoubleG95Fanatic

    DoubleG95Fanatic Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Ali Foreman.
     
    DoubleG95Fanatic, Mar 23, 2023
    #13
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  14. Guerra

    Guerra Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I think ali vs foreman grew into it cause of the upset. Had foreman made him look like Norton then it would just be forgoten as Ali being past it post comeback innthe 70's.

    For example, had Tyson ko'd lewis then it would have grown into this foreman vs Ali legacy where as now it is forgotten.

    It didnt have the same pre fight importance as fotc and louis vs Schmelling 2 I think.
     
    Guerra, Mar 23, 2023
    #14
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  15. The Professor

    The Professor Socialist Ring Leader Staff Member

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    Some great choices, certainly, but for me, it's Ali-Frazier I
     
    The Professor, Mar 23, 2023
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