History's most prime matchup to take place?

The point is still the same tho, he was 2 years from his peak performance (vs Ali)

 

I think the fact that Clay was only 22 evens it out for me.

 

Morales - Barrera 1
Israel Vazquez - Rafael Marquez 1

 

Great fight.... but at the time that fight was made, everyone was expecting Morales to walk through Barrera. It was actually a huge surprise that the fight was as great as it was. Barrera was thought to be past his best... as crazy as that sounds now... was beat twice by Junior Jones and had just been involved in a very shady fight before his fight with Morales that was changed to a No Contest after it was found that his opponent was part of his team and had a losing record. Barrera really came into his own AFTER his fight with Morales and before his loss to Pac. The build up to Morales vs Barrera 1 wasn't anything special and wasn't thought to be a head to head matchup of two greats in their prime.

 

get ur facts right lol.. lacy only had one belt and that was IBF belt and calzaghe had one it was WBO.. were did u get 3 from? and in the build up to the fight people was saying calzaghe is old coz he was 34

 

thats not the point.. ur taking away from the question.. the question is prime vs prime thats it.. not wt evens out this or that.. ali was green and liston was old

 

Zarate-Zamora was huge at the time. Both Mexican power punching champions, with an insane combined record of 67-0 (66).

Zamora's career nosedive afterwards diminishes the fight somewhat, but there have been few more hotly anticipated must see fights in boxing history.

 

bobby chacon-rafael limon?
Amazing fight. Easily ine of the best fights you will ever watch. Doesnt even needed editing every round is a highlight.

 

Some arguable examples from my lifetime:

Mosley vs Oscar I. Also Oscar vs Trinidad and Quartey
Leonard vs Hearns I. Possibly also Leonard-Duran I. Leonard was not green, no matter what anyone tells you, and Duran had been having a hard time staying at lightweight for the few years before that. He often had non-title fights at 140, or even in welterweight territory.
Chavez vs Taylor
Bowe-Holyfield I
Barrera-Morales I. I remember a lot of people thought Barrera was not up for fighting at that level anymore, but they turned out to be wrong.
Cotto-Margarito I

 

Hearns-Leonard if you consider all factors.


Build-up of the fight
2 undefeated fighters (Hearns was 31-0 with 31 KO's)
Both were evenly matched.


I don't think any other prime for prime fight can come close.

 

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:good

 

Freaking seriously? atsch:rofl

Joe Cal nuthuggers make Klittards look like Einsteins.

 

All great answers. Spinks vs. Qawi is an overlooked fight due to the great rumbles of the fab 4 of the 80s.