The 5 best performances of .........

I've been scratching my head over that as well. I especially like how Hagler feinted with the jab in that fight-- he had Tony in knots. Truly a one-of-a-kind masterclass by the Marvelous One.

I also say that the first Frazier bout should be mentioned over the second for Ali, even though he lost that one quite clearly. The second meeting was more a case of a winning strategy prevailing over a past-it Frazier, and that made for a relatively unexciting fight. The Fight of the Century, however, was just as it was advertised: two great performances by two great champions. Overall, the first fight was the better performance for Muhammad and I think it shows plainly on film.

 

Hopkins.

1. Trinidad
2. Tarver
3. Pavlik
4. Johnson
5. Joppy

 

Good points.

 

I preferred Pavlik to Tarver purely in terms of performance. I liked Echols II more than Joppy.

 

It's funny that you mentioned Echols II. It was on my mind for a 5th placing.

I had to put Tarver over Pavlik based on it being his first fight at LHW, the odds against him, and he was up against a natural at the weight. IMO, Hopkins dismantled and dominated Tarver as well as he did Pavilk.

He was 2 years older for Pavlik, and he had three fights under his belt and some momentum by growing into the weight. While he was again the underdog, he never quite faced the same obstacle as he did with Tarver IMO.

Both great wins, nonetheless.

 

Williams TKO6 Montgomery.
Haven't seen this fight, don't think it was even filmed - but to destroy a man who once destroyed you, that takes something special. A great deal of improvement for one, and a fiercer mindset. Though nearing the end of his career, Montgomery was still strong before the fight, but Williams busted him up so bad that he never won another fight.

Williams UD15 Gavilan.
It wasn't a clear decision, but don't let anyone tell you Gavilan was robbed. He was beaten fair n' square, no matter what the Cubans outside the ring thought. Gavilan is most likely a top five all-time welterweight, and only a handful of the thousands of welterweights ever can claim to have had a chin equal to him. Williams knocked Gavilan down for the first of only two times in his career.

Williams TKO6 Jack.
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Williams TKO8 Bolanos.
Williams actually knocked out Bolanos quicker in their last fight, the fourth round, but that was a weaker version. This was their first fight. Bolanos was a one of the best contending non-champions of the era and also boasted one of the best records. He was almost like a Willie Ritchie of his era. Williams tore him apart.

Williams TKO8 Bratton.
Bratton was another welterweight to Williams' lightweight, and got mashed up against the ropes. Williams overpowered the bigger man, who was a solid contender in his own right, and bombarded him like Henry Armstrong, breaking his jaw.

Honourable mentions: TKO4 Bolanos, UD15 Bratton, KO1 Gatica (just because it's a stunning knockout).

(Upon searching the Beau Jack link, it appears that more Williams fights have appeared on Youtube. Check them out).