They werent elite but they were both world level with massive momentum when Matthysse and Garcia collided. One of the few fights that happened exactly when fans wanted it to, no marination, no events that weakened the anticipation, ect.
Margarito vs Cotto 1 is close... though some feel Marg was already slightly fading at that time. Still, pretty close.
The problem with this thread is some people confuse peak and prime. Many fighters can maintain their prime (like 95 percent of their peak form) for 5+ years. But a fighters peak typically only lasts about 1 year, maybe 2 years. Which in modern boxing means about 2-3 fights. So we see all the time fans calling somebody over the hill because they have lost a very little amount of what they once had. I see people saying all the time that Barrera was over the hill when he lost to Pac. When he was squarely in his prime and would defeat Morales yet again after that loss. The problem they have is that Barrera wasnt at his absolute peak. Hed lost a VERY small amount of ability since he peaked around the Salud, Hamed and Sanchez fights. So Pac ended up beating a Barrera that wasnt as good as he ever was, but basically damn near as good as ever. And as far as Pac nobody can decide what was his absolute apex. The ferocious 126 pounder or the more controlled Hatton, DLH, Cotto version. Either way they're both prime versions of Pac.
Wilder looked immense at the Fury 2 weigh in Fury didn't take his shirt off because people judge his midsection flab so harshly AJ Fury build up will be immense also with two prime fighters, but I expect the fight to look like an amatuer vs a seasoned Pro.
Holy-Bowe I was a good shout. realistically I think one or both of Fury and Joshua are going to be a shade past their very best by the time they finally get it on.