Which individual fight gave you the most joy watching it? not just the actual fight, but the whole experience. For me as it was 9 years ago today, was Canelo GGG 1. Because at that was also the time of the 'UK boom' so most big PPV Sky fights we watched with a big group of us as all the casuals watched the SKY PPV's, and that was fun, but can also be a little irritating at times watching a fight with 'casuals' when you are a 'hardcore', and back then i was absolutely a 'hardcore', a lot more hardcore than i am these days, so Canelo GGG 1 felt like a fight just for us 'hardcores' as the 'casuals' who watched every AJ / Bellew fight weren't watching this at 4am on Boxnation, and after watching so many big fights with people, one of my best memories following boxing is just being in the lounge at 4am in silence, phone in my hand ready to score it and check Twitter between rounds, waiting for the 1st bell for Canelo GGG and the buzz when the bell rang and they came together, a fight 3-4 years in the making and the best in the sport at the time.
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. This content is protected
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...
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: This content is protected
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.
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.