Greatest Heavyweight Slugfests

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by William Walker, Jul 2, 2020.


Page 1 of 2
  1. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

    7,901
    9,151
    Apr 9, 2020
    Imagine that boxing was stuck in a single century, that being the twentieth, the greatest. Imagine that in the heavyweight realm, there is no Dempsey-Firpo, no Louis-Conn I, no Marciano-Walcott I, Marciano-Charles I, Patterson-Johansson III, Frazier-Quarry I, Frazier-Ali I, Frazier-Ali III, Foreman-Lyle, Norton-Holmes, Holyfield-Dokes, Tyson-Douglas, Bowe-Holyfield I, Moorer-Cooper, or Holyfield-Tyson I. The heavyweight division is now reduced to dull snoozers like Tyson vs. James Smith. But wait! Can the classics of heavyweight boxing really rely on just these few fights? I mean there are the great tactical fights, like Foreman-Ali and Liston-Machen which experience bursts of action. And then there's boxing's classics beat downs, like Foreman-Frazier I and Tyson-Berbick. But where are the obscure, or at least, more underrated slugfests? Let's see what we can come up with. Here's my favorites:

    1931
    Sharkey vs. Carnera I
    1935
    Louis vs. Baer
    1939
    Louis vs. Galento
    1947
    Louis vs. Walcott I
    1951
    Charles vs. Walcott II
    Layne vs. Satterfield
    1952
    Henry vs. Satterfield
    1955
    Marciano vs. Moore
    Satterfield vs. Valdes
    1956
    Patterson vs. Jackson I
    1960
    Liston vs. Williams I
    1962
    Jones vs. Foster
    Jones vs. Folley II
    1963
    Ali vs. Jones
    1965
    Patterson vs. Chuvalo
    1966
    Bonavena vs. Chuvalo
    1967
    Patterson vs. Quarry I
    Spencer vs. Terrell
    Frazier vs. Chuvalo
    Patterson vs. Quarry II
    1968
    Frazier vs. Ramos
    Frazier vs. Bonavena II
    1970
    Bugner vs. Wepner
    1971
    Bugner vs. Cooper
    Bodell vs. Bugner
    1973
    Quarry vs. Lyle
    Shavers vs. Ellis
    Norton vs. Ali II
    1974
    Quarry vs. Alexander
    1975
    Norton vs. Quarry
    Lyle vs. Shavers
    1976
    Shavers vs. Williams
    1977
    Ali vs. Shavers
    1978
    Spinks vs. Ali I
    1979
    Holmes vs. Weaver I
    Holmes vs. Shavers II
    1980
    Weaver vs. Coetzee
    Shavers vs. Mercado
    Spinks vs. Lopez
    Norton vs. Cobb
    1981
    Holmes vs. Berbick
    Shavers vs. Sims
    1982
    Holmes vs. Cooney
    Snipes vs. Berbick
    1983
    Bruno vs. Cummings
    1985
    Thomas vs. Weaver
    Williams vs. Ferguson
    1986
    Tyson vs. Gross
    Biggs vs. Snipes
    Berbick vs. Thomas
    Weaver vs. Williams
    Page vs. Wills I
    1989
    Holyfield vs. Stewart I
    1990
    Mercer vs. Cooper
    1991
    Holyfield vs. Foreman
    Moorer vs. Stewart I
    Holyfield vs. Cooper
    1993
    Holyfield vs. Bowe II
    1995
    Bowe vs. Holyfield III
    1996
    Mercer vs. Lewis
    Bowe vs. Golota I
    Mercer vs. Witherspoon
    Bowe vs. Golota II
    1998
    Lewis vs. Briggs
    Stewart vs. Sellers

    I realize this is a skimpy list. Would appreciate some beefing it up. Doing every year would be cool!
     
    Last edited: Jul 2, 2020
    William Walker, Jul 2, 2020
    William Walker, Jul 2, 2020
    #1
    George Crowcroft likes this.
  2. The Real Lance

    The Real Lance Boxing Junkie Full Member

    9,069
    10,441
    Oct 29, 2012
    Lawrence Clay-Bey vs. Cliff Ettienne was on the undercard of a L Lewis fight (Can't recall opponent), but for two mid-carders, this was a hell of a HW bout!
     
    The Real Lance, Jul 2, 2020
    The Real Lance, Jul 2, 2020
    #2
    LongJohn and George Crowcroft like this.
  3. kirk

    kirk l l l Staff Member

    71,029
    27,657
    Jul 26, 2004
    This content is protected
     
    kirk, Jul 2, 2020
    kirk, Jul 2, 2020
    #3
    LongJohn and George Crowcroft like this.
  4. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

    7,901
    9,151
    Apr 9, 2020
    Just skimmed through it briefly and it looks very good. Will watch it later. Thnx for the mention.
     
    William Walker, Jul 2, 2020
    William Walker, Jul 2, 2020
    #4
    George Crowcroft and The Real Lance like this.
  5. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

    7,901
    9,151
    Apr 9, 2020
    Well, they are pretty new, and I don't care for new fights. But the mentions are appreciated, someone else might find them helpful. I just started this thread to find out everyone's mentions. I'm not going to be picky.
     
    William Walker, Jul 2, 2020
    William Walker, Jul 2, 2020
    #5
    kirk likes this.
  6. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

    7,901
    9,151
    Apr 9, 2020
    How 'bout yours Crowcroft?
     
    William Walker, Jul 2, 2020
    William Walker, Jul 2, 2020
    #6
    Thor Odinson likes this.
  7. The Real Lance

    The Real Lance Boxing Junkie Full Member

    9,069
    10,441
    Oct 29, 2012
    I can't recall how many punches thrown combined, but was a LOT! Might have been Lewis v Tua undercard.
     
    The Real Lance, Jul 2, 2020
    The Real Lance, Jul 2, 2020
    #7
    George Crowcroft likes this.
  8. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

    7,901
    9,151
    Apr 9, 2020
    just looked, you are correct
     
    William Walker, Jul 2, 2020
    William Walker, Jul 2, 2020
    #8
    The Real Lance likes this.
  9. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

    27,131
    44,901
    Mar 3, 2019
    It's brilliant, so is Ettiene vs Brewster.
     
    George Crowcroft, Jul 2, 2020
    George Crowcroft, Jul 2, 2020
    #9
    Thor Odinson likes this.
  10. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

    27,131
    44,901
    Mar 3, 2019
    I don't think I get the concept. Is it underrated fights, or just great fights?
     
    George Crowcroft, Jul 2, 2020
    George Crowcroft, Jul 2, 2020
    #10
  11. RB1702

    RB1702 Well-Known Member Full Member

    1,851
    2,094
    May 7, 2020
    Tua Beabuchi and AJ Klitschko come to mind.
     
    RB1702, Jul 2, 2020
    RB1702, Jul 2, 2020
    #11
  12. Boxing2019

    Boxing2019 If you want peace, prepare war. banned Full Member

    7,175
    5,448
    Jul 22, 2019
    Foreman v Holyfield
    Foreman v Lyle
    Hagler v Hearns
    Ali v Frazier 3
    Lewis v Vitali

    Blows all around

    to be mentioned
    Holmes v Cooney
    Holmes v Shavers I & II
     
    Last edited: Jul 2, 2020
    Boxing2019, Jul 2, 2020
    Boxing2019, Jul 2, 2020
    #12
  13. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

    7,901
    9,151
    Apr 9, 2020
    could be both
     
    William Walker, Jul 2, 2020
    William Walker, Jul 2, 2020
    #13
    The Real Lance and George Crowcroft like this.
  14. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

    27,131
    44,901
    Mar 3, 2019
    My all-time list:
    • #10. Holmes vs Norton
    • #9. Bowe vs Holyfield I
    • #8. Foreman vs Lyle
    • #7. Holyfield vs Cooper
    • #6. Fight of the Century
    • #5. Patterson vs Ingo III
    • #4. Holyfield vs Dokes
    • #3. Moorer vs Cooper
    • #2. Thrilla in Manilla
    • #1. Bowe vs Golota II
    HM: Marciano vs Moore

    As for underrated fights:

    Marciano vs Layne
    Whyte vs Chisora I
    Ettienne vs Brewster
    Ettienne vs Clay Bey
    Moorer vs Stewart
    Holmes vs Weaver I
    Mercer vs Witherspoon
    Snipes vs Berbick
    Cooper vs Mercer
    Stewart vs Sellers
    Frazier vs Quarry I
    Patterson vs Chuvalo
    Patterson vs Quarry I

    And many more, but I can't be bothered typing anymore!
     
    George Crowcroft, Jul 2, 2020
    George Crowcroft, Jul 2, 2020
    #14
    Skins and The Real Lance like this.
  15. Brixton Bomber

    Brixton Bomber Obsessed with Boxing banned Full Member

    21,934
    6,105
    Sep 21, 2013
    It’s modern and not as brutal as some mentioned, but I love (and watch every now & then) is Arreola/Stiverne.
     
    Brixton Bomber, Jul 2, 2020
    Brixton Bomber, Jul 2, 2020
    #15
    George Crowcroft likes this.
Page 1 of 2