The 50 Best Boxing Masterclasses Seen (Complete) On Film

What, in your opinion are the 50 best boxing displays you have ever seen complete on film? I don't want replies like Pep-Saddler II, Ross-McLarnin III, Leonard-Tendler II, Conn-Louis I etc. You have to have seen the COMPLETE fight.

Here is a list, which is by no means totally well thought out, but should be used as a springboard for some discussion. Which fights would you take off my list? Which fights would you replace them with?

I feel a bit ashamed leaving out displays by the likes of Foster, Arguello, Spinks, Lewis, Curry, Monzon, Chavez, Lopez, Ortiz, Buchanan, Saldivar, Patterson, Griffith, Rodriguez etc., but some people had to be left out unfortunately.

Without further ado (and in no order):

Antonio Cervantes vs. Esteban DeJesus
Bernard Hopkins vs. Felix Trinidad
Bernard Hopkins vs. Antonio Tarver
Bernard Hopkins vs. Glen Johnson
Buddy McGirt vs. Simon Brown
Buster Douglas vs. Mike Tyson
Ernesto Marcel vs. Alexis Arguello
Esteban DeJesus vs. Roberto Duran I
Floyd Mayweather vs. Diego Corrales
Floyd Mayweather vs. Genaro Hernandez
Harold Johnson vs. Doug Jones
Hector Camacho vs. Jose Luis Ramirez
Ismael Laguna vs. Carlos Ortiz I
James Toney vs. Mike McCallum I
Joe Calzaghe vs. Jeff Lacy
Jose Napoles vs. Emile Griffith
Jose Napoles vs. Curtis Cokes I & II
Kid Gavilan vs. Billy Graham III
Kid Gavilan vs. Chuck Davey
Kostya Tszyu vs. Miguel Angel Gonzalez
Larry Holmes vs. Gerry Cooney
Lionel Rose vs. Fighting Harada
Marcel Cerdan vs. Tony Zale
Marco Antonio Barrera vs. Naseem Hamed
Marvin Hagler vs. Mustafa Hamsho I
Meldrick Taylor vs. Buddy McGirt
Marlon Starling vs. Lloyd Honeyghan
Michael Spinks vs. Larry Holmes I
Miguel Canto vs. Betulio Gonzalez II
Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston I
Muhammad Ali vs. Ernie Terrell
Nicolino Locche vs. Takeshi Fuji
Oscar de la Hoya vs. Miguel Angel Gonzalez
Shane Mosley vs. Oscar de la Hoya I
Pernell Whitaker vs. Azumah Nelson
Pernell Whitaker vs. Jose Luis Ramirez II
Pernell Whitaker vs. Greg Haugen
Pernell Whitaker vs. Julio Cesar Chavez
Rafael Herrera vs. Ruben Olivares I
Ray Leonard vs. Wilfred Benitez
Roberto Duran vs. Esteban DeJesus III
Roy Jones vs. James Toney
Roy Jones vs. Reggie Johnson
Roy Jones vs. John Ruiz
Salvador Sanchez vs. Danny Lopez I & II
Sumbu Kalambay vs. Mike McCallum I
Wilfred Benitez vs. Antonio Cervantes
Wilfred Benitez vs. Carlos Palomino

A few other master classes against dead opponents:
James Toney vs. Iran Barkley
Floyd Mayweather vs. Arturo Gatti
Terry Norris vs. Ray Leonard
Larry Holmes vs. Muhammad Ali
Winky Wright vs. Felix Trinidad


A few great losing boxing efforts:
Tommy Hearns vs. Ray Leonard I
Meldrick Taylor vs. Julio Cesar Chavez I
Michael Nunn vs. James Toney
Tyrone Everett vs. Alfredo Escalera (Bull**** decision)
Martin Vargas vs. Miguel Canto I (wrong decision imo, but arguable both ways)

 

That's right. It has to be an excellent boxing display, but it need not be one sided (though great boxing displays so often are).

 

Why thankyou... I think

 

Cheers mate. :good

Any fights you'd include that aren't on my list?

 

Okay, I'll allow a fight you've READ about, but come on, Hector ran three times around the citadel of Troy before he fought Achilles. That would be like including DLH-Tito .

Was a pretty neat fight in the film though (Hector-Achilles that is, NOT DLH-Tito ).

 

Some good calls. I've seen all these fights, but I haven't really savoured them. I will go back and take a closer look to get a better appreciation for them. Sometimes you have to take a second peek, or even a third at a classic fight to get to its true essence. :good

 

Excellent pick. A definite for sure, one of the very best.