Greatest Fights for Vacant Titles from the 30s to the 90s

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by William Walker, Jun 25, 2020.


  1. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    What does everybody think? What were the greatest fights for vacant titles to ever take place. I know of many, but have not watched a lot of them. I really can't think of too many good ones.
     
    William Walker, Jun 25, 2020
    William Walker, Jun 25, 2020
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  2. Richard M Murrieta

    Richard M Murrieta Now Deceased 2/4/25 Full Member

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    The second Rodrigo Valdes vs Bennie Briscoe, May 25 1974, Monte Carlo, Monaco, for the vacant WBC World Middleweight Title, stripped from Carlos Monzon. That fight was very competitive until Valdes fired that right hand to the jaw of Briscoe, which sent him down to the canvas for the full count, and gave Rodrigo the title. The WBA World Heavyweight Title fight between Ernie Terrell and Eddie Machen, on March 5 1965 for that title stripped from Muhammad Ali for giving Sonny Liston a rematch. Very monotonous bout until round 15, when Eddie had Terrell hurt. The crowd booed loudly after the decision was announced, many thought Machen had won.
     
    Richard M Murrieta, Jun 25, 2020
    Richard M Murrieta, Jun 25, 2020
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  3. cleming

    cleming Active Member Full Member

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    Simon Brown vs Tyrone Trice I
    Ray Leonard vs Donny Lalonde
    Buddy McGirt vs Frank Warren II
    Thomas Hearns vs Juan Roldan
    Thomas Hearns vs Jame Kinchen
    Julio Cesar Chavez vs Mario Martinez
    Edwin Rosario vs Jose Luis Ramirez I
    Claude Noel vs Rodolfo Gonzalez
    Colin McCrory vs Colin Jones I & II

    I will try to find more.
     
    cleming, Jun 26, 2020
    cleming, Jun 26, 2020
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  4. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    Rafael Herrera v Rodolfo Martinez, WBC Bantamweight title, 1973.
     
    Jel, Jun 26, 2020
    Jel, Jun 26, 2020
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  5. cleming

    cleming Active Member Full Member

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    Went through boxrec and among those I've watched these are great fights :
    Ricard Lopez vs Rosendo Alvarez II (vacant because Alvarez missed weight)
    Katsuya Onizuka vs Thanomsak Sithbaobay I
    Marvin Johnson vs Leslie Stewart I
    Mike McCallum vs Herol Graham
    Reggie Johnson vs Steve Collins
    Marco Villasana vs Paul Hodkinson I
    Jose Luis Ramirez vs Terrence Alli
    Julian Jackson vs Herol Graham
    Gaby Canizales vs Miguel Lora
    Mauricio Martinez vs Lester Fuentes (it's 2000 but it's such a fun closet classic)
    Kamel Bou-Ali vs Antonio Rivera
    Julien Lorcy vs Arnulfo Castillo I
    Giovanni Parisi vs Javier Altamirano
    Chris Eubank vs Michael Watson II
    Michael Moorer vs Bert Cooper
    Freddie Pendleton vs Tracy Span II
    Bernard Hopkins vs Segundo Mercado I
     
    cleming, Jun 27, 2020
    cleming, Jun 27, 2020
    #5
  6. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Oh yes, the Valdez-Briscoe fight is a favorite of mine. Forgot about it!
     
    William Walker, Jun 27, 2020
    William Walker, Jun 27, 2020
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  7. Richard M Murrieta

    Richard M Murrieta Now Deceased 2/4/25 Full Member

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    Mine too, when I watched it live on ABC's Wide World Of Sports, the announcer kept saying Carlos Monzon had retired, giving up that belt, but it was because he did not give Rodrigo a mandatory title fight, I thought that Briscoe was going to win it hands down, but I sure was surprised.
     
    Richard M Murrieta, Jun 27, 2020
    Richard M Murrieta, Jun 27, 2020
    #7
  8. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Ya, I just can't think of too many great fights for vacant titles (final eliminators), in the heavyweight division anyway. Patterson-Moore was a great tactical fight and knockout, but not especially exciting. Ellis-Quarry was not exciting either, but I appreciate it as a good performance from Ellis. Tate-Coetzee was an awful fight. I've noticed a lot of the smaller divisions had final eliminators in the early 70s (featherweight, for instance)
     
    William Walker, Jun 27, 2020
    William Walker, Jun 27, 2020
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  9. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I know it needs a *, but I would put forward Holmes/Norton, arguably the best quality Heavyweight war of the last 50 years not involving an Ali, Frazier, Holyfield or Bowe
     
    TBooze, Jun 28, 2020
    TBooze, Jun 28, 2020
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  10. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Except Norton had already been awarded the title and it therefore was not a fight for a vacant title, and I definitely agree it was one of the best of the last 50 years, not just for heavies, but period.
     
    William Walker, Jun 28, 2020
    William Walker, Jun 28, 2020
    #10
  11. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Hence the *

    I do not think even Norton really thought himself a title holder...
     
    TBooze, Jun 28, 2020
    TBooze, Jun 28, 2020
    #11
  12. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Ya, it wouldn't be all that impressive to be GIVEN the title, even if you were the best heavyweight in the world when you got it.
     
    William Walker, Jun 28, 2020
    William Walker, Jun 28, 2020
    #12
  13. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I just remembered two great battles for the vacant middleweight title: 1) Carl Olson vs. Randy Turpin 1953, and 2) Gene Fullmer vs. Carmen Basilio I 1959
     
    William Walker, Jun 28, 2020
    William Walker, Jun 28, 2020
    #13