The real FOTC

I kind of like to make my own judgments about history rather than to blindly accept the views of pundits. I take what they say into consideration, of course. For instance, Louis-Schmeling 2 certainly should into the category of one of the Greatest Fights of the Century in terms of drama and worldwide interest as well as execution. I don't see that fight on the list of fights on the above link.

 

When you started this thread, you listed three categories:

FOTC Fight of the century
FOTY fight of the year
ROTY round of the year

I see that you have now eliminated the last two of these categories. But when you listed all three together initially, it was logical to conclude that you were asking contributors to make their own judgments, including evaluations based on hindsight. This is so because, obviously, no fight could ever be billed in advance to include hype that it would contain the "fight of the year" or "the round of the year," at least in the same sense that the Ring Magazine used when issuing its awards at the end of the year, which in my experience is where those terms came into popular usage. Those judgments could only come after the fight was over, i. e., based on hindsight. So my contributions to this thread have been based on your original premise before you eliminated the FOTY and ROTY categories.

I note that your answer above came just prior to my edit (which I made 8 minutes after my original entry) when I changed my entry to reference your thread rather than attribute the list to you. I was not trying to confuse things by making the edit, only to clarify, much like you were doing when you eliminated the FOTY and ROTY categories above!

 

If we're talking about which fight was ACTUALLY the Fight of the Century all things considered. It's clearly Ali vs. Frazier.

If we're talking about which fight had the most historical significance to be called the fight of the century. It's clearly Johnson vs. Jeffries.

Neither categories has a close runner up imo, but Gans vs. Nelson (Ali vs. Frazier) is relatively close I suppose.

 

Sorry philly, you da man but Floyd-Pac doesn't even belong on the list. Had some friends wanting to go together and fund the telecast. I said no way and told them what the result would be and I was spot on!

 

The one that makes the most sense to me is the one we can all see every minute, every round, of the actual fight PLUS have the ability to see the two fighters before their Fight of the Century. See their strength and weaknesses, have a good feel for the opposition they faced prior to their "Fight of the Century ". The only one that get a check mark in all the boxes in my opinion is Ali vs Frazier #1..
Every fight before can be manipulated by the writers personal prejudices, personal preference. Lack of film, and going on strictly a boxing writers point of view is a very dangerous way to judge a fighter or a fight. And Pac vs Mayweather is a complete shame as far as I'm concerned. Nothing close to being considered a fight of the Century or fight of the year, or fight of the week happened in that fight, other than some simpleton named it fight of the Century .

 

Tyson v Spinks?

 

Imagine how racist this place would be if the internet existed back then.

 

It was promoted as such, though, so whilst the protracted delay before it eventually happened meant it lost some of its lustre, and the fight itself was actually a let down, it was still the most anticipated bout (so far) of the 21st century.