How do you define a great fight?

Failure.

No fighter goes into the fight looking to get into a possibly career shortening war. A great fight is the product of both fighters failing to impose their game plan.

 

November 12 Pryor vs. Arguello
November 13 Mancini vs. Kim
December 3 Gomez vs. Pintor
December 11 RAFAEL BAZOOKA LIMON VS. BOBBY SCHOOLBOY CHACON 4
1 month ending with my best ever. 2nd last listed my 3rd best ever.
First 2 both in to ten ever.
3 more fights from 1982 also in personal top 10.

 

Absolutely. It's the gold standard for me.

 

Never been a short time period for great fights like it before or since.

 

That's pretty much how I'd define it as well. I don't think a fight has to satisfy all those criteria to be considered great but it's a good benchmark. The only other thing I'd add is importance/level of the fight, but that is not a prerequisite to a great fight.

I will say that even though there are great fights still happening, I think the very greatest ones I've seen were in the 15 round era and went deep into the championship rounds. There was an extra layer of drama that having those additional 3 rounds brought to the great fights of the early '80s that I'm not sure will ever be matched now. On the plus side, if it's a dull championship fight then it's 3 rounds fewer to watch!

 

While compiling a list of the greatest fights ever filmed, Sanchez v Gomez has been mentioned a few times as a great fight. I'm not convinced but what are other people's views on that?

 

A great fight for me is when a fighter displays a great amount of ability and needs one man actually getting beat up instead of losing on points
Or when both fighters are around the same level and it comes down to who wants it more.

For me personally some fighters are more exciting to watch than others, such as Tyson, Liston, Dempsey, marciano, Baer, Frazier, foreman, shavers, James Tony, Tommy Morrison and GGG are always put on a good show

 

What is your full top ten, out of interest?

 

Wow, didn't remember all those fights happened in 82 though I saw all of them. What a year!

 

Hmmm, I'm going to say no but then I'm not sure what to do about these two fights:
-Mancini-Frias
-Garza-Meza

 

A great fight for me must be: a) competitive and b) a demonstration of high-level boxing skills and talent. Many of the famous brawls and slugfests that make most "greatest fights" lists wouldn't make mine.

 

When a proud, stubborn reigning champion refuses to compliantly hand over the torch to the raging challenger he's fighting, who also refuses to be denied.