Pick 3 fights to introduce someone to boxing

Hagler vs Hearns
Chavez vs taylor 1
Tyson vs Ruddock

 

Tua vs Ibeabuchi
Hearns vs Hagler
Takam vs Povetkin

 

Hagler vs Hearns
Ward vs Gatti 1
Charlie Edwards vs Iain Butcher*





*They gotta learn that boxing is sometimes like watching paint dry

 

Hagler-Hearns, Ali-Frazier 3, Gatti-Ward 1

If they want more after that, I'd suggest Pryor-Arguello 1, Moore-Durrelle 1, Holyfield-Bowe 1, Ali-Frazier 1, Robinson-LaMotta 6, Charles-Walcott 3, Vazquez-Marquez 3, Foreman-Lyle, Bowe-Golota 2, Barrera-Morales 1, Moorer-Cooper, Leonard-Hearns 1, Zale-Graziano 3, Marciano-Walcott 1, Chacon-Limon 4, Pep-Saddler 4, Muhammad-Johnson 2, Benn-McClellan, and Banke-Zaragoza 2.

 

I guess we can't go wrong with any fight of the year type of fight lol..
1. Pac-Hatton, reason being newbies are probably only heard of Tyson or Ali and thought that only big men can score KO. Also the attention span is short, so I pick small guys that knock people out cold quick.
2. Calzaghe-Lacy, most who never watch boxing always look at physical stature to say so will beat so. I want to break that misconception, that muscle not only not meant a thing, it could sometimes be a hindrance. Skill is the utmost importance.
3. Duran-Barkley, my personal fav, but also want to illustrate there are weight classes in boxing and only the truly great can compete and be successful in multiple classes.

 

Barrera-Morales 1. From February to May 2000 during that university year of mine I popped a VHS of the fight in at three or four parties. A lot of casual and non-boxing fans were wild over it, and a few became closer boxing fans. So can confirm Barrera-Morales is a great gateway drug.

Leonard-Hearns 2. I think you should introduce someone to boxing history with an older fight too. Obviously there's so many great fights from the 1950s to 90s that would work. If I chose a Duran fight I think I'd choose Duran-Barkley over Duran-Leonard. There was a lot of mauling and holding for stretches between the skilled infighting in Duran-Leonard. Leonard and Hearns were prime in the first fight, but take away the significance and I think the second is more fun to watch. More contact, both showed drive on the attack and toughness to survive, but still elite tactics and skill.

Then Ward-Kovalev 1. As the most highly skilled, competitive recent bout.

I think it might be worthwhile showing a bout involving competent but less skilled boxers too. When you've never looked at boxing you'll be impressed by the best but the subtlety will be lost on you. I became interested in boxing in the late 90s as much with FNF and Tuesday Night Fights as I did with Jones, Whitaker, etc. But if only three the above is what I'll go with.

 

Good, well-thought out choices, even if they're not what I'd exactly go for. I agree with just three fights you need variety. Duran-Barkley had it all. If someone watches that and isn't into it they won't like boxing.

 

Holyfield - Ruiz I
Holyfield - Ruiz II
Holyfield - Ruiz III

 

leonard vs hearns I
ward vs gatti I
pryor vs aguello I

 

Ward-Kovalev is a good pick. I like to show people new to boxing fights that are more technical and tactical instead of just showing them popular wars.

Also, I like to show them new fights, as in the last 5 years. I don't want to be like those nostalgics who constantly bring up the old fights, it makes boxing looks as if it's truly dead. Instead, I like to introduce people to current boxing stars.

After Ward and Kovalev one of the Lomachenko fights would be a good pick to show something fun and flashy.

Then after that maybe something like Golovkin Jacobs.

 

Definitely agree, on both points. Most people know who Mayweather, Pacquiao, Tyson, Ali are, but not much more; and think boxing is just two guys punching each other. Just showing a great brawl isn't going to spark a curiosity about what boxing's about. And ignoring current fights perpetuates the stupid myth that boxing's been dying, and has been completely dead since Floyd-Pac.

 

I think Donaire Rigo is a good fight to show too.

 

Castillo/Corrales 1
Ward/Gatti 1
Marquez/Vazquez 2