Companion fights

Another one I’ve just thought of and I can’t believe it never occurred to me before as these are two of my all-time favourite fights:

Matthew Saad Muhammad v Yaqui Lopez 2
Carmen Basilio v Tony DeMarco 2

Both fights were rematches and in both fights the challenger built up an early lead that built to a crescendo in the middle rounds and put the champion in serious danger of being stopped - Lopez battering Saad in round 8 and DeMarco battering Basilio in round 7 - before the champion began their comeback from the brink of defeat.

From that point on, the champions wrestled back control and ended the fight in the championship rounds with knockouts over their exhausted opponents.

 

Eder Jofre-Jose Medel 1 and Mickey Ward-Arturo Gatti 1

Both fights lasted 10 rounds (KO for Jofre, points win for Ward), both featured classic 9th rounds and the best other round of each fight was the 5th.

And here’s the thing, it’s arguable that neither was an out and out great fight, just very good fights with a couple of great rounds.

Controversial statement, I know, particularly regarding Gatti-Ward.