Although overlooked outside Latin America, Miguel Canto/Betulio Gonzalez was the definitive flyweight rivary of the 1970s. Gonzalez won their first 15 rounder by MD, then Canto won the remaining two by SD. A closely contested exchange of great skills by two legendary veterans. By winning their rubber match, Canto gained acclaimation as an ATG, and eventual HOF enshrinement.
James Toney - Mike McCallum was skill at its highest level. The trilogy featured 2 of the best fighters with very little between them. The combined skill level was insane
Because a lot of us have seen more boxing and are not fooled by HBO hype. Gatti-Ward is overrated. The first fight was a classic but a great trilogy should at least be competitive and fairly close. The 2nd fight was alright, with one terrific round, but Gatti won 10-0 or 9-1. Ward won 2 rounds in the 3rd fight, when Gatti injured his hand, and when Ward scored a late KD after getting outboxed for the first 2:55 of the round. Barrera-Morales was a better trilogy among this decade. Pacquiao-Morales was probably better too, at least that had two very good and competitive bouts. I personally like Bowe-Holyfield better than Ali-Frazier. Ali-Frazier had greater impact due to the popularity and the times, but Bowe-Holyfield had 3 very good bouts. The FOTC and Manila were classics, but the 2nd fight was a stinky clinchfest.
for a stinky clinch fest please see Lewis Akinwande. It will reset your stinkometer and Ali Frazier II will suddenly become one of your favorite ever fights...
It stunk. I hated that fight. A fight doesn't have to be as bad as Lewis-Akinwande to not stink. It was a dull match sandwiched in between two classics.
I disagree. I had Toney winning the first one 8-4. He won the last three rounds, so unless you had Mike up 6-3 after nine, I don't see how Toney doesn't deserve the W. The 2nd fight was an alright fight after the brilliant first fight, I had Mike slightly ahead, but that was a nightmare to score.
Top 2 trilogies.... Ali Frazier & Morales Barrera If your talking hatred, passion, technique, boxing, fighting & sheer blood & guts grit, nothing compares to these 2 imo. :good