Best Fights Per Decade? (1880-1980)

I feel Leonard v Duran was the fight of the 80`s, it had more skill than the Hagler v Hearns epic.

 

1890s La Vigne vs. Walcott
1900s Ketchel-Thomas
1910s Dempsey vs. Sudenburg
1920s DEMPSEY VS FIRPO
1930s Scmeling vs. Louis 1
1940s ZALE VS. GRAZIANO 1
1950S Marciano vs Walcott 1
1960s Frazier vs Quarry 1
1970s Duran vs DeJesus 2 1974
1980s Limon vs Chacon. 4
1990s Eubanks vs Benn 1
2000s Vasques vs Marquez 3
2010s Wilder vs. Fury /I hope\

 

1990s Morales vs Barrera 1. 2000s Ward vs Gatti

 

Wilder and Fury don`t have the punch volume that these other guys on your list have, Fury`s fight with Wlad was boring and Wilder got booed during his fight against Ortiz for being inactive.

 

An alternative to the usual 1890s pick (Lavigne-Walcott) - Jimmy Handler vs Dick O'Brien, April 21, 1899.

New York Morning Telegraph - "A more thrilling contest has never been seen in the ring."
New York Sun - "A fight that will linger a long while in the memory of over 2,500 sports"
New York World - "Best fight in many months"
Brooklyn Daily Eagle - "Not since the memorable Lavigne-Walcott fight at Maspeth has a harder and faster fought battle been witnessed hereabout"
New York Herald - "Sensational throughout"
New York Press - "The fight was the fastest that has been witnessed hereabouts in many a day. Neither man paid much attention to scientific rules of boxing, but stood close and slugged away like blacksmiths."
New York Times - "Not since the old days of bare-knuckle fights has such a fierce battle been fought in or around New York"
National Police Gazette - "Enthusiastic patrons of the boxing game in the East never tire of referring to the Kid Lavigne-Joe Walcott fight, some few years ago, at Maspeth, as the most terrific battle with gloves that was ever fought. This great event was paralleled at the Broadway Athletic Club on April 21, when, after twelve rounds of the fastest, fiercest fighting ever seen in this vicinity, Jimmy Handler, of Newark, a protege of Bob Fitzsimmons, demonstrated his superiority over Dick O'Brien, the hard-hitting Lewiston boxer."

 

1880s could be Ike Weir-Frank Murphy (March 31, 1889), while their hands were healthy (injuries being the usual problem for such prolonged bouts).

 

Morales v Barrera 1 took place in 2000.

 

My apologies ..I knew it was sometime during my college years

 

I'm only going to write about the one's I actually saw when the fight happened, (tv ,close circuit etc) starting in the 70's Ali vs Frazier, (Manila) Zarate vs Zamora, Zarate vs Gomez, Saad Muhammed vs M.Johnson, Saad Muhammed vs Y.Lopez, Foreman vs Lyle. Leonard vs Benitez. ( While not a war ,the skill level they showed was off the charts) Arguello vs Escalera, Duran vs Dejesus #3. Holmes vs Norton.

The 80's I'll start with Leonard vs Duran (Montreal) Leonard vs Hearns #1, Boza Edwards vs B.Chacon, #1 and #2 Boza Edwards vs Bazooka Limon, B.Chacon vs Bazooka Limon #1#2 Mancini vs Chacon Arguello vs Mancini, Arguello vs Pryor (fight of the decade?) Holyfield vs Braxton #1 Holmes vs Cooney ( a better fight than given credit) Mugabi vs Hard Rock Green, Mugabi vs Hagler, Gomez vs Pintor, Sanchez vs Nelson, M.Johnson vs L.Steward#1 (Johnson's last great win) A.Nelson vs Fenech, Chandler vs Sandoval, Chandler vs Canazales, Holyfield vs Dokes, Whitaker vs Ramirez #1#2 (both showcased Whitakers abilities over a very good fighter) Hagler vs Hearns (after the 1st rd, fights a little overrated in my opinion, all Hagler after the 1st rd, the only real drama was would the fight be stopped for the cut Hagler received) Leonard vs Kalule.

The 90's starts with Chavez vs Taylor, Benn vs Eubanks #1#2 , Benn vs Mccleanan, G.Foreman vs Holyfield, G.Foreman vs Moorer, Holyfield vs Bowe #1#2#3, Holyfield vs Tyson#1, Mosley vs Leija, Mosley vs Molina, Trinidad vs Carr, Trinidad vs Deloyhoya, Delayhoya vs Whitaker, Delahoya vs Quartey, Hearns vs Olijide, Hearns vs Hill, Hearns vs Barkley , Barkley vs Toney (best Toney ever looked?) Gatti vs Rodriguez, Gatti vs Rueles, Gatti vs Robinson #1#2 Kelly vs Hamed,

the 2000's Starts with Mosley vs Delahoya #1#2 The Gatti vs Ward Triology, Forrest vs Mosley #1#2 Mayweather jr vs D.Corrales, Corrales vs Castillo #1#2 Pac vs Berrera Pac vs Marquez #1#2 and 3, Barrera vs Hamed, Barrera vs Morales 1,2,3 / Gatti vs Ward #1#2#3 Those are the good fights I remember seeing between fighters who were both capable of winning the fight.

 

No worries, mate - It was a great fight and a contender as best fight of the 2000s as well!