Top 5 greatest fights of all time?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Addie, Jul 29, 2008.


  1. Addie

    Addie Myung Woo Yuh! Full Member

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    Hello everyone.

    Some of you will be aware that over the past few weeks, I've been putting together some boxing videos on youtube.

    Currently I've completed a Barrera highlight reel aswell as a Margarito highlight reel.

    My next project will be to do a countdown of the 5 greatest fights in the history of boxing. I'm not the most knowledgable poster on ESB, so if I could get a short list from some members of their favourite fights, or ones that are generally considered to be among the greatest.

    Would appreciate it. And now we've brought it up, obviously your open to discuss the fights.
     
  2. Loewe

    Loewe internet hero Full Member

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    Well, the fotc has to be up there. Perhaps Leonard-Duran I also.
     
  3. DINAMITA

    DINAMITA Guest

    Brilliant idea selfkill, I really look forward to the reel. You should def post this in the Classic too as those guys have a wealth of knowledge about mid-20th century boxing that I, as a relative youngster, do not have except from reading and researching.

    One thing to consider for you: does the quality level of the fight matter, or is it purely the excitement of the spectacle? ie, Gatti-Ward were thrillers, but does that make it a better than say, a higher quality but less blood and guts excitement fight (as it had no knockdowns or blood or anyone teetering on the brink of a stoppage), like Barrera v Morales III? Hamed v Kelley was another that was supremely exciting, but was more notable for the defensive deficiencies of Hamed than for the quality of the action on show. This precludes it from being a 'great' fight. Great fights are fights between great fighters, epic clashes where a physical battle and a mental battle of wills are both fought at the same time. IMO, Barrera-Morales is the greater fight than Gatti-Ward because it is boxing at its best, two greats fighting at a high level of skill and not giving an inch. That's a decision you should make for yourself before choosing your own top 5.

    Here's five for you to consider (not in order):

    1.Leonard v Hearns I
    2.Morales v Barrera I
    3.Arguello v Pryor I (my personal favourite, obviously)
    4.Ali v Frazier I
    5.SR Robinson v Basilio 1958

    Though for pure excitement, check out The Ring Fight Of The Year for 2006,
    This content is protected
    KO10
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    . It's sheer brutality!!

    Hope this is of some value to you.
     
  4. Jetset78

    Jetset78 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Hagler v Hearns has to be in there somewhere
     
  5. Addie

    Addie Myung Woo Yuh! Full Member

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    I appreciate the response.

    I like the Arguello vs Pryor pick, you can tell I'm a big Arguello fan with him being in my avatar. I think that fight was sheer brutality, and had he been in with any other 140lb fighter at the time, he'd have priobably got the stoppage. Unbelievable action throughout, and some real beats of right hands landed on Pryor with hardly any reaction. Then you add the drama of the mysterious black bottle, and you have yourself an all time great fight.

    Almost unbelievably I've yet to see Duran vs Leonard I in its entirety, butI'm just about to watch and score it for myself right now. I've heard it's a fantastic fight.

    So far, I'm considering...

    Hearns VS leonard 1
    Hagler VS Hearns
    Alexis Arguello VS Pryor
    Corrales VS Castillo
    Trinidad VS Vargas
    Barrera VS morales 1
    Vasquez VS Marquez 3
    Bowe VS Holyfield 2
    Ali vs Frazier 1 and 2
    Foreman VS Lyle
    Dempsey vs Firpo
     
  6. icemax

    icemax Indian Red Full Member

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    Apr 24, 2008
    If you are going to be doing a fights through the ages sort of thing then maybe Zale - Cerdan or any one of the Zale - Graziano trilogy?
     
  7. Addie

    Addie Myung Woo Yuh! Full Member

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    Well I would like to have some variety in what eras the fights occured. Not all from the 70s and 80s, although there will defiently be at least one fight from those two decades in there somewhere.

    So far, I think there has to be Hearns Leonard 1 and maybe Frazier vs Ali 1. Feel free to disagree.
     
  8. Loewe

    Loewe internet hero Full Member

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    I like Duran-Leonard I over Leonard-Herns I but i agree with the fotc.
     
  9. EpsilonAxis

    EpsilonAxis HNIC Full Member

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    Gatti vs. Ward

    The best fight I ever saw (at the time) was Elio Ortiz vs. Teddy Reid awhile back.

    And any of the Vasquez Marquez fights.
     
  10. elgrancampeon

    elgrancampeon Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I can't believe no one has mentioned Zelenoof-Hartley.
     
  11. faisal

    faisal Hoolios daddy Full Member

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    cotto-margerito ought to be up there
     
  12. Addie

    Addie Myung Woo Yuh! Full Member

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    I can't have three fights in the last 10 years in a top 5 of all time list though.

    So far it's going to be in no order

    Muhammad Ali vs Frazier 1
    Roberto Duran vs Sugar Ray Leonard 1
    Corrales vs Castillo 1

    But I need two more. However, if you want to argue your case I am all ears.
     
  13. Totomabs

    Totomabs Sauna Belt Holder Full Member

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    top 5 fights from the 70's, 80', and up..

    corrales - castillo 1
    leonard - hearns 1
    ali - frazier 1
    arguello - pryor 1
    vasquez - marquez 3
     
  14. Loewe

    Loewe internet hero Full Member

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    Schmeling - Louis I
    Robinson - LaMotta VI
    Patterson - Johansson II
    Greb - Walker - well there“s no film of this one but you asked :D
    Armstrong - Ross - i heard there exists a film of this fight
     
  15. smoochp

    smoochp Da flyest1 Full Member

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    Vargas vs Hoya was a great one
    Taylor vs Pavlik I
    Mosley vs Hoya
    Bowe vs Holyfield (all of them)
    Sanchez vs Nelson
    Plus all the ones people mention