Fights of recent times that changed a star to a superstar

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Sweet Pea Pacquiao, Jul 6, 2007.


  1. Sweet Pea Pacquiao

    Sweet Pea Pacquiao Boxing Addict Full Member

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    My criteria is that the particular fight made the fighter a household name among casual boxing fans whose knowledge usually only consists of Oscar De La Hoya, Muhammad Ali, and Mike Tyson. If the fight's highlights are shown on Sportscenter, then that would be a clincher since ESPN almost NEVER shows boxing highlights on SC, even of its very own Friday Night Fights. A couple that come to mind:

    Gatti-Mayweather...
    now I know you're thinking, what are you talking about? PBF had been Top 10 P4P years before that after dismantling Hernandez, Corrales, and Castillo. Yes, this is true. However, Mayweather never made the ESPN Hot Seat or got his highlights on Sportscenter before his demolishing of Gatti, which was PBF's first ever PPV event.

    Pacquiao-Barrera...
    Without Barrera giving him a chance to move up from junior feather, Pacquiao today would probably have spent the rest of his career at 122, cleaned house, and yet still be fighting on PPV UNDERCARDS as a relative unknown except to the hardcore fight fan. Much respect to Finito Lopez, but without a headliner on his resume, this was the fate of most of his career.

    Tarver-Jones I and II...
    Even though Tarver was an Olympian, his pro career was only received with lukewarm appeal, with appearances on ESPN boxing broadcasts highlighting his exposure. The hype he created in press conferences with Jones, paired with that stunning 2nd round KO in the rematch, made him a household name.

    Others of note (feel free to add):
    Mosley-DLH I (for Mosley)
    Whitaker-JLC (for Whitaker...he would grace the cover of Sports Illustrated for the first time after this fight)
    Wright-Mosley I (Wright)
    Hopkins-Trinidad (Hopkins)
    Trinidad-DLH (Trinidad)
    Barrera-Morales I (both)
    V. Klitschko-Lewis (Klitschko)
    Lewis-Tyson (Lewis)
    Taylor-Hopkins I (Taylor)
    RJJ-Toney (Jones...although most knew Jones from Seoul '88)


    Stars waiting for their chance to go mainstream:
    Calzaghe
    Juan Diaz
    Hatton
    W. Klitschko
    R. Marquez
    Kessler
    Cotto
     
    Sweet Pea Pacquiao, Jul 6, 2007
    Sweet Pea Pacquiao, Jul 6, 2007
    #1
  2. PacDbest

    PacDbest Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Calzaghe- Lacy fight
    Cotto - Judah fight
     
    PacDbest, Jul 6, 2007
    PacDbest, Jul 6, 2007
    #2
  3. deram

    deram Active Member Full Member

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    Hard to argue with that. :cool:
     
    deram, Jul 6, 2007
    deram, Jul 6, 2007
    #3
  4. pryorgatti

    pryorgatti Active Member Full Member

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    Gatti vs Ward (for Micky)
    Pacquiao vs Marquez (for JMM)
     
    pryorgatti, Jul 6, 2007
    pryorgatti, Jul 6, 2007
    #4
  5. thewoo

    thewoo Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Gatti and Ward each other. (but mostly Gatti)
     
    thewoo, Jul 6, 2007
    thewoo, Jul 6, 2007
    #5
  6. willis

    willis New Member Full Member

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    I think Hatton vs Tszyu deserves to be on the list. He didnt make the most of the momentum caused by the fight, but he made American Fans take notice.
     
    willis, Jul 6, 2007
    willis, Jul 6, 2007
    #6
  7. *BOX_FAN*

    *BOX_FAN* Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Golota vs Bowe I, II ( for Andrew of course :yep )
     
    *BOX_FAN*, Jul 6, 2007
    *BOX_FAN*, Jul 6, 2007
    #7
  8. Vantage_West

    Vantage_West ヒップホップ·プロデューサー Full Member

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    mayorga-forrest...tiwce
     
    Vantage_West, Jul 6, 2007
    Vantage_West, Jul 6, 2007
    #8
  9. Bigcat

    Bigcat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Kelly Pavlik had a kind of coming out party in his win over Edson Miranda..

    I remember the first war that Mickey Ward had in a fight with the unbeaten Shea Neary in England.. he then went on to fight Gatti etc....

    Andrew Golota was just another tough heavyweight until he showcased himself on a night of the young heavyweights card against Dannell Nicholson stopping him very competently in around 7.. It pushed him into some massive fights with Bowe, Tyson and Lewis.
     
    Bigcat, Jul 6, 2007
    Bigcat, Jul 6, 2007
    #9
  10. surreal deal

    surreal deal Liverpool via Krypton Full Member

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    Ali-leon spinks
    leonard- hearns?(hearns)
    good question this one.
     
    surreal deal, Jul 6, 2007
    surreal deal, Jul 6, 2007
    #10
  11. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Without putting too much of a downer things, but there is no such thing as a household star in boxing at the moment.

    If I use my criteria of does my mother know his name? The only active (non British) fighter she has heard of is Evander Holyfield. And (recent) non active: Bowe, Douglas, Foreman, Hagler, Hearns, Holmes, Leonard and Tyson

    So the last fights to accomplish what you want, on my criteria are

    Foreman/Moorer

    Bowe/HolyfieldI (both became superstars with this fight)

    Douglas/Tyson

    Tyson/Berbick

    Leonard/Hearns (Both)

    Holmes/Ali

    Hagler/Minter
     
    TBooze, Jul 6, 2007
    TBooze, Jul 6, 2007
    #11
  12. Cruiser1

    Cruiser1 Champion Emeritus Full Member

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    Actually true. Golota wrote his own ticket for years after those fights.
     
    Cruiser1, Jul 6, 2007
    Cruiser1, Jul 6, 2007
    #12
  13. Bigcat

    Bigcat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Tyson v Berbick..

    The whole World was first properly exposed to an awesome sight..

    It was one of the more memorable things i ever saw in boxing..

    I remember thinking , "This kid is just turned 20..." OMG !!!
     
    Bigcat, Jul 6, 2007
    Bigcat, Jul 6, 2007
    #13
  14. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I remember getting the old man to put a tenner on Berbick, over the overhyped upstart...:patsch
     
    TBooze, Jul 6, 2007
    TBooze, Jul 6, 2007
    #14
  15. surreal deal

    surreal deal Liverpool via Krypton Full Member

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    oops!
     
    surreal deal, Jul 6, 2007
    surreal deal, Jul 6, 2007
    #15