Top 10 Greatest Heavyweight Fights?

I’m by no means an expert on the heavyweights as I tend to watch fights from the lower weight divisions but here’s my top 10 for what it’s worth.

1. Rocky Marciano-Joe Walcott 1 (1952)
2. Larry Holmes-Mike Weaver (1979)
3. Larry Holmes-Ken Norton (1978)
4. Joe Frazier-Muhammad Ali 1 (1971)
5. Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier 3 (1975)
6. Riddick Bowe-Evander Holyfield 1 (1992)
7. Evander Holyfield-Riddick Bowe 2 (1992)
8. Larry Holmes-Gerry Cooney (1982)
9. Riddick Bowe-Andrew Golota 2 (1996)
10. George Foreman-Ron Lyle (1976)

Somebody also made a similar thread recently: https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/top-10-favourite-all-time-heavyweight-fights.646158/page-2

And here’s one I created a while back for a bit greater depth in terms of heavyweight lists:
https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/compiling-a-list-of-the-50-greatest-heavyweight-fights.663443/

 

I'm making a top 10 greatest heavyweight fights article soon. Hopefully it'll help you when I'm done doing it

 

for sure!

 

Start with Dempsey-Willard, then continue on to Louis-Schmeling II, Marciano-Walcott I,

liston-Patterson I, Ali-Frazier I, Holmes-Norton, Foreman-Lyle, Tyson-Douglas, Holyfield-Bowe I,
Lewis-Klitchko.

 

?

 

Ali/Frazier 3
Golota/Bowe 2
Liakhovich/Brewster
Ali/Frazier 1
Mercer/Cooper
Holyfield/Dokes
Lewis/Klitschko
Marciano/Walcott 1
Ibeabuchi/Tua
Jefferson/Harris

Honourable mentions:

Holmes/Norton
Bowe/Holyfield 1
Foreman/Lyle
Holmes/Witherspoon
Holyfield/Cooper
Golota/Bowe 1
Thomas/Weaver

 

#1 Ali vs Frazier 1 FOTC
#2 Bowe vs Holyfield #1
#3 Holmes vs Norton
#4 Manila
#5 Holyfield vs Bowe #2
#6 Ali vs Foreman
#7 Louis vs Conn #1
#8 Foreman vs Lyle
#9 Ali vs Liston #1
#10 Holyfield vs Cooper

 

Frankly a top 10 list is pretty damn hard for me to come up with. But I know my number one lol.

1.) Marciano vs Walcott 1

This might be my favorite fight ever. Walcott had been robbed by Louis, where Walcott was the 10-1 underdog, in their first title fight after a 15 round split decision in 47', and Walcott was KO'd in the rematch in round 11, 6 months later. Louis retired after these fights and vacated his title. Then almost exactly a year later in 49' he took on Ezzard Charles for the vacant title and lost again by 15 round unanimous decision. He works his way back up the ladder and by 1951 he rematches Ezzard for the title, and loses by way of Unanimous decision after 15 rounds. At this point, going to war with these two men, on two occasions, each, (granted Louis was fading fast at this point in his career) would be brutal on any fighter.

Walcott rematches Ezzard a 3rd time, Walcott was a 9-1 underdog, and when the bell for the 7th rings he leaves his corner and throws the first punch of the round, which may be one of the cleanest knock outs in history, effortlessly KOing Ezzard. Their fourth fight is considerably less competitive and was a UD for Walcott.

Then three months after his fourth fight with Ezzard Walcott is challenged by, the young and established and undefeated Rocky Marciano. It's Marciano's 43rd fight, Walcott's 68th. First round, Maricano is floored for the first time in his career. Walcott was even ahead on scorecards going into the 13th but as always Marciano pulled out the win. But to see an aging veteran like Walcott be opposition that is so fierce to Marciano, it's an incredible feat, and an incredible fight. In the span of 5 years, Walcott fought 3 ATG HW (competitively, as I not counting to Rocky rematch as it was a demo job) a total, of 7 times and cemented a legacy.

 

The Patterson Vs Johansson tribology is brilliant.

 

There have been some fantastic heavyweight bouts mentioned here. I will also add:

Michael Moorer v Bert Cooper
Floyd Patterson v George Chuvalo
Tommy Morrison v Carl 'The Truth' Williams
Ron Lyle v Earnie Shavers

 

List i did from @Jel top 50 Heavyweight fights thread, these ones wern't on the list or haven't been mentioned here yet i don't think.


Carl Williams vs Jesse Ferguson 1985
Renaldo Snipes vs Lionel Washington 1988
Razor Ruddock vs Bonecrusher Smith 1989
Mike Tyson vs Razor Ruddock 2 i thought 2nd fight was better than the 1st 1991
Tyrell Biggs vs David Bey 1987
Courage Tshabalala vs Darroll Wilson 1997
Darroll Wilson vs David Izon 1998
David Izon vs Derrick Jefferson 2000
Earnie Shavers vs Jeff Sims 1981
Artur Szpilka vs Mike Mollo 1 and 2 2013
Joe Mesi vs Vassiliy Jirov 2004
Amir Mansour vs Steve Cunningham 2014

 

Welcome to the forum brother. Stick around the lads here will look after you, I'll make a little list for you soon.

 

#10. Marciano vs Jersey Joe Walcott I
#09. Joe Louis vs Billy Conn I
#08. George Foreman vs Ron Lyle
#07. Michael Moorer vs Bert Cooper
#06. Floyd Patterson vs George Chuvalo
#05. Floyd Patterson vs Ingo III
#04. Joe Frazier vs Muhammad Ali I
#03. Riddick Bowe vs Evander Holyfield I
#02. Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier III
#01. Riddick Bowe vs Andrew Golota II