The greatest filmed trilogy of all time? Or does history have something to compare?

When only taking into account what went on in the ring, I agree with you McGrain, Vasquez-Marquez is the best trilogy that there is footage of.

The Ali-Frazier "event" is just massive, I watched all 3 Vasquez-Marquez fights live and have seen film of all 3 Ali-Frazier fights and even watching them on film the fights have a bigger feel and meaning then I ever felt with Vasquez-Marquez. Those fights were huge.

But for action, it doesn't get better than the Vasquez-Marquez trilogy.

 

In terms of the fights - 2 great trilogies - no question about that!

The thing that sets the Ali v Frazier series apart from any other, before or since, is the build-up and the expectation.

I was a teenager when the series began and everybody, but everybody, was talking about it! Even people who had no prior interest in boxing whatsoever wanted to talk about it and had an opinion on the outcome etc.

To say the first fight stopped the world is not overstating things!

It was similar to when Armstrong walked on the moon!

 

I know Homiicide Hank did great things and captured the imagination of all of us, but he was no astronaught!!!!

 

For sheer entertainment value, with no dull stretches at all, the 3 Patterson-Johansson fights are one of my favorite trilogies. Contrasting personalities, multiple knockdowns, after the suspense and lead-in in the first 2 rounds characterized the 1st fight in '59. The drama of the "ferocious new Floyd" in the 2nd bout, with that spectacular big ko, and the historical feat of regaining the title in '60, and finally the sloppy, subpar but extremely exiting shootout with each visiting the deck before Floyd's behind the ear pair of rights put Ingo down for a quick 10 count in the 6th in '61.