Companion fights

This is a thread to nominate fights that played out in the same way, down to the shifts in momentum and the way the bout ended and in the way it was perceived or how it was scored (if it went the distance, that is).

Here’s an example of what I mean:

Vicente Saldivar v Howard Winstone 2 and Matthew Saad Muhammad v John Conteh 1

In both bouts, the British challenger built up a sizeable first half lead before the champion rallied in the championship rounds. In both fights, the decisive moment was in the 14th round when the champion knocked the challenger down twice. This was enough to give the champion a narrow win on the official scorecards.

Can you think of some others?

 

Here’s another one:
Arturo Gatti v Wilson Rodriguez was the modern equivalent of the first two Zale-Graziano fights (which were also companion fights of each other).

Like those fights, the eventual winner was knocked down early in the fight (Gatti was down in the second round as was Zale in fight 1; Graziano was down in round 3 in fight 2), Gatti’s right eye was swollen shut like Graziano’s in fight 2 and he took a pasting through the first 4 rounds or so, as did Zale in fight 1 and Graziano in fight 2. The end came with a left hook (Zale-Graziano 1) and it was in the sixth round (both Zale-Graziano fights).

 

Yeah fights 1 and 2 with Lopez both had great 8th rounds as well.

 

Spot on on both counts!

Sometimes fights between the same two fighters play out the exact same way and Jones-Laing and Golota-Bowe are perfect examples.

You could add Jones v Milton McCrory to that as well. McCrory built a big lead and Jones had a strong second half to take things to two very close decisions (draw, then split decision win for McCrory).

 

Great stuff, Scar!

The first one reminds me of Arguello-Escalera 1 and 2 but Escalera was behind on points in both fights but seemingly the momentum was with him as he came back before the fights were stopped in the 13th in Arguello’s favour.

And speaking of foul outs, the infamous Norris-Santana fights where Norris managed to foul out twice with Santana laying comatose (or possibly pretending to, anyway) to win. Not sure anyone has ever won and then defended his title in this way.

 

Any more?