The Most Important Heavyweight Fights of All Time

Wanted to list out the most important Heavyweight fights of all time. To keep it short, I will keep my list to 5 fights. All these fights captured the publics attention, and world leaders attention. All are still talked about today, and probably forever.

I will list these in order of importance, in my opinion. I would be curious as to how others may have them listed, and please add any other fights you may see as surpassing them, or other fights you feel deserve to be on an expanded list and deserving of recognition.

1) 1971 Ali vs Frazier I- It is generally referred to as the FOTC. 2 undefeated Heavyweight Champions, in the ring to face each other for the first time, in a 3 bout series. Frazier, the current champion vs Ali, the former champion returning from forced exhile. This was fight 1, in what turned into a blood feud, that left both fighters never the same. Viewed in the USA and Canada by 2.5 million viewers, and upwards of 300 million worldwide.

2) 1938 Louis vs Schmeling II- WWII was on the horizon. This fight was viewed by Hitler as a showcase to exhibit the superiority of the Aryan race/Nazi Germany. Joe Louis, though out for personal vengance, also realized he was his countries standard bearer. So much pressure for both fighters. Louis, fighting with a furious singular purpose destroyed Schmeling in 1 round. Schmeling exited the ring with broken vertabrae in his back. Joe Louis, left an American hero.

3) 1910 Johnson vs Jeffries- The original FOTC. An undefeated Jeffries answered the publics call, and returned from a 6 year retirement, to uphold the honor of the white race. Johnson toyed with Jeffries, stopping him in the 15th round. The outcome triggered race riots across the country, that left 20 people dead and hundreds injured. The US Congress instituted a ban on the interstate transport of fight films. A ban that stood until 1940. The search continued for 'The Great White Hope'.

4) 1927 Dempsey vs Tunney II- The Long Count. Debate continues if Gene Tunney, could have risen in time from the 7th round knockdown. Tunney put on a display of boxing, easily outpointing Dempsey. The live gate drew 2.7 million. A record that stood for decades.

5A) 1974 Ali vs Foreman- The Rumble in the Jungle. Foreman was seen as near unbeatable, and some feared that a too brave Ali could be killed. Ali using the rope a dope, let Foreman punch himself out while laying on the ropes. Ali ko'd George in the 8th round. The Ali legend was forever cemented. Ali, was the most famous man in the world after this fight.

5B) 1975 Ali vs Frazier III- The Thrilla in Manila. The fight took place in a ring with estimated temps upwards of 120 degrees.They entered the fight with one victory each. This was the last fight in a blood feud, and each fighter took turns beating each other up. This was for 'The Heavyweight Championship of Each Other'. In a fight, Ali said was 'the closet to death' Eddie Futch, stopped a blinded Joe Frazier, from coming out for the 15th round. Ali would never be great again.

I had a hard time with my number 5 pick and had to list both fights. As you see, I have no other fights listed after 1975. While I obviously acknowledge great fights since that time, I just don't see them surpassing the fights I have listed in importance.

Boxing though in decline in popularity, was still a big sport. These fights all captured the worlds attention, like no others in my opinion have since. Please feel free to add other fights, to an expanded list of fights that also deserve recognition.

 

On second thought I probably should have titled this The Most Important Fights of All Time I will stand by my list though, as I still see these fights as the most important fights of all time.

Please feel free, to add any fight regardless of weight division, to your list that you feel deserve to be in your top 5. As well please add any fight, deserving of recognition to an expanded list of all time important fights.

 

I have in the past thought Louis vs Schmeling as my number 1 fight. In time it probably will be again. I considered Johnson vs Burns. After seeing the documentary 'Unforgiveable Blackness' I started realizing that for many Burns was a paper champion, as Jeffries had retired voluntarily and undefeated. Hell, even the King of England called Burns a pretender. But I can understand it being rated as white champions, had always refused to fight blacks, and Johnson became the 1st black champion. Good call.

Johnson vs Jeffries, was page 1 news around the world. The 1st FOTC. The public truly believed that 'Big Jeff' was still the man, and 'would set that n****r straight'. I briefly considered Sullivan vs Ryan, but at the time boxing was still a back alley sport of sorts, to be hidden away. Only later did Sullivan achieve wide recognition.

Like I mentioned these are only my opinions, and I understand and agree with everything others have mentioned. Holmes vs Spinks, was a good one to bring up and FOF is correct, and brings up very good points that there were big implications whomever won. Holmes vs Cooney, was widely talked about as well, with alot of unsavory race baiting going on. I think Cooney was on the cover of Time magazine.

 

Great Points Lobowolf. Here was Joe Louis a black man, being rooted on by white america as there champion, in a time of segregation. What a huge fight this was. And only a generation before, we had white Americans rooting for the great white hopes. I go back and forth with my choices.