For the 2000's. Mine would be like this Heavyweight: Lennox Lewis TKO6 Vitali Klitschko. There have been very few Heavyweight fights that have been good this decade, so this was tough to pick, but for 6 rounds I believe it was a great fight. Cruiserweight: James Toney W12 Vassily Jirov. The Mormeck/Bell fights run this close, but the skill of these two fighters shown in this fight win it over for me. Light Heavyweight: Tomasz Adamek W12 Paul Briggs 2. Haven't seen the first fight, but these fighters fought as if they were lightweights. Great action fight. Super Middleweight: Joe Calzaghe W12 Mikkel Kessler. This division didn't really have the all out two way slugfests this decade, so I went with a great display of boxing skill here. Middleweight: Kelly Pavlik TKO7 Jermain Taylor. Taylor/Wright was an option for me before this fight, but I feel there was more action and drama in this one than any other. Light Middleweight: Felix Trinidad TKO12 Fernando Vargas. This fight had it all, drama, great two way action, and awesome atmosphere. Welterweight: Shane Mosley W12 Oscar De la Hoya. Superb fight with great mix of styles. Light Welterweight: Micky Ward W10 Arturo Gatti. Around the 140 range, so I put it here. I think everyone can agree with me here. Lightweight: Diego Corrales TKO10 Jose Luis Castillo. Nuff said. Super Featherweight: Erik Morales W12 Manny Pacquiao. Action in all 12 rounds. Featherweight: Manny Pacquiao D12 Juan Manuel Marquez. Marquez comes back from three knockdowns to battle to an exciting draw. Super Bantamweight: Erik Morales W12 Marco Antonio Barrera. Mexican fighting at its best.
Some very good choices here. I'd favor Hopkins vs. Trinidad at 160, simply because of the abilities and statures of the principals. And the atmosphere was electric. Taylor/Pavlik was a more two-sided affair, however, and also a good choice. As a Roy Jones fan, I'd probably opt for Jones/Tarver I at 175. That fight became more and more dramatic as it went on, although it lacked the torrid pace (as you mentioned) of Adamek/Briggs. My only real disagreement would be at HW. Lewis/Vitali became more significant after the fact because Lewis retired, but for action and drama -- and a satisfying conclusion -- I go with Brewster vs. The White Wolf.
I hate lists, im guarenteed to forget something major. I wont go for most exciting fight in general, I go by best 'world' title fight. Heavy - Lews-Tyson was the biggest heavyweight fight without doubt, everyone was talking about it so ill have to go for this. For excitment I think Klitschko - Sanders wasnt bad, yes Sanders was a fat semi pro golfer, but he had VK going at one point, I found this fight more entertaining than Lewis-VK. Cruiser - Mormeck-Bell was a *******, followed closly by Mormeck-Haye, these were both undisputed cruiserweight title fights - a rare thing, thats why i rank em higher than Jirov-Toney. Light heavy - Tricky, we have imo the best H2H fighter ever at the top of the 175 pile but because he schooled everybody so easily its hard to pick anyone fight. Pick an Jones Jr 175 title defence and put it here imo. Super Middle - Calzaghe - Kessler, First undisputed title fight ever in the division. Middleweight - Hopkins vs Tito, unified the division and the defining fight of the one of the best middlweights ever. Light middle - Hmmm De La hoya - Vargas I enjoyed. Had some bad blood to go with it. De La hoya-Mayweather was bigger but lacked something come fight night. Welter - Now I forgot was year DLH - Mosley 1 was in, was it 2000? if so place it here, that fight was pure class, boxing at its best. Light welter - For me Tszyu vs Hatton, proved the doubters wrong in a rough fight against one of the best. Lightweight - Chico - Castillo 1 Super Feather - Freitas - Barrios - BRUTAL! I hope this is the fight Freitas is remembered for, not the Diaz one. Feather - Tough, Barrera beat Naz has to be here, finished Naz off and launched Barrera upwards. Pac-Marquez was quality aswel though. Super bantam - Barrera Morales 1
Yeah, I'd go with Brewster/Lyakhovich for heavyweights. Great picks though bxrfan:good I like the division concept for a decade and not simply "the" best fight of an entire decade.
Yeah, I wanted to put Hopkins/Trinidad as the 160 FOTD, but it was too one sided for my tastes. Jones/Tarver had too many lulls for my taste, but otherwise that would have been it.
