Which heavyweight fights of the 2000s will you remember as Classics ?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Unforgiven, Nov 17, 2009.


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  1. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. Full Member

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    Suzie,

    We can talk about Marciano cleaning up past their prime cruisers later, ok? I would agree, Rocky vs. Charles, and Moore, and Walcott were great fights with multiple knockdowns. I enjoy watching them.

    However if you match the same version of Charles, Walcott, and Moore vs. the K-Bros and you're going to see a systemic beat down.

    As I said in the previous post, you need two near even level skill guys to make a great fight.
     
    Mendoza, Nov 17, 2009
    Mendoza, Nov 17, 2009
    #31
  2. Rumsfeld

    Rumsfeld Moderator Staff Member

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    Good call.
     
    Rumsfeld, Nov 17, 2009
    Rumsfeld, Nov 17, 2009
    #32
  3. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    "Lewis-Klit"
    "Brewster-Liakhovich"
    "Maskaev-Rahman"

    In truth / word, them are the real classics.. And yes, they do happen to be title fights.....

    I cannot think of too many heavyweight classics from 2000 and up......

    "Toney-Holy" was a classic beatdown; not a fight... Same goes for "Lewis-Tyson" of 2002........ Another beatdown.........
    :deal:bbb

    MR.BILL
     
    MRBILL, Nov 17, 2009
    MRBILL, Nov 17, 2009
    #33
  4. Thread Stealer

    Thread Stealer Loyal Member Full Member

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    Liakhovich-Brewster was a great fight. Not as meaningful as Lewis-Klitschko (for the true HW crown), but better in terms of back and forth action, and not nearly as sloppy.

    No classic, but Barrett-Beck was a very good HW fight too.
     
    Thread Stealer, Nov 17, 2009
    Thread Stealer, Nov 17, 2009
    #34
  5. The Wanderer

    The Wanderer Boxing Addict Full Member

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    The 2000s have had some classic beatdowns (Lewis-Tyson) and schoolings, (Jones-Ruiz) but not too many classic fights.

    Lewis-Vitali is the obvious choice.
    Williams-Potter will be a cult classic because of its ending.
    I've heard occasional mentions of Brewster-Lyakhovich, but can't comment because I haven't seen it.

    And I really can't think of too many others. Although in all honesty I've been paying very, very little attention to Heavyweight boxing for awhile.
     
    The Wanderer, Nov 17, 2009
    The Wanderer, Nov 17, 2009
    #35
  6. Jaws

    Jaws Active Member Full Member

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    This thread speaks volumes about the state of the heavyweight division.

    The best fight (I can't call it classic) of the 2000's was easily Lewis/Klitschko, a fight Lennox did not take seriously at all, came in overweight and underprepared, and still won.
     
    Jaws, Nov 17, 2009
    Jaws, Nov 17, 2009
    #36
  7. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    I know it will never be a classic by any stretch of the imagination, but I kind of thought that Maskaev vs Peter was a cool little slugfest at times. And after all, it was a title bout. Again, it definitely wasn't a classic, but certainly an entertaining title bout between a respectable contender and an aging veteran.
     
    mr. magoo, Nov 17, 2009
    mr. magoo, Nov 17, 2009
    #37
  8. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    **** it........ My picks for classic 2000+ heavy action are the three title fights against:

    1.) Lewis-Klit
    2.) Liakhovich-Brewster
    3.) Maskaev-Rahman 2

    Of course I am a HUGE licker of V.K's balls, but I also know he generally just beats his opponents ass with little problem......

    BUT! His execution of Chris Arreola is a master performance against a steel-chinned vato who is tuff, but also limited in certain skills........ I don't care, I liked the fight..... L.A. is my hometown and the Gov. was there hanging with Sly Stallone.... A great night for me......

    MR.BILL
     
    MRBILL, Nov 17, 2009
    MRBILL, Nov 17, 2009
    #38
  9. Thread Stealer

    Thread Stealer Loyal Member Full Member

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    I came back from the bathroom and heard everyone booing. I ask who they're booing and I'm told it was Schwarzenegger. Then later on, they show him, and he gets booed again. :lol:

    I remember feeling kind of bad for Arreola once he came out from the dressing room, with the music playing and the whole crowd going nuts for him, knowing that he'd get his ass kicked in front of all his fans.
     
    Thread Stealer, Nov 17, 2009
    Thread Stealer, Nov 17, 2009
    #39
  10. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member

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    That goes for Vitali too.
    Ruddock v Lewis didnt float your boat then?
    Or, Grant v Lewis ,or Golota v Lewis. Or Mercer v Lewis ?
     
    mcvey, Nov 17, 2009
    mcvey, Nov 17, 2009
    #40
  11. MRBILL

    MRBILL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Lennox Lewis gets the shaft way too much on ESB....... The dude was great..... Most of his big fights were either smoke jobs or rough and tough action fights...... So Lewis had a few borefests during his long haul, he still kicked ass.........

    In my book, Lewis' only real suck-ass fights were against "McCall, Zelijko Mavrovic and Holy in 1997, 1998 & '99....

    How can Lewis be faulted for kickin' the **** outta "Ruddock, Golota and Grant" early and easily???

    So what if Lennox Lewis was parked by McCall and Rahman in 1994 and 2001, he came back and scored wins over them dudes to settle the score.......

    MR.BILL
     
    MRBILL, Nov 17, 2009
    MRBILL, Nov 17, 2009
    #41
  12. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    Lennox Lewis gets overrated on ESB, if anything. I mean, top 3 or top 5 ATG heavyweight is what most people here say about him.

    You can add the Henry Akinwande, and the Lionel Butler fights to "suck-ass" list, I reckon.
    The Tua fight left something to be desired too, but still a good performance from Lewis and I blame Tua more than Lewis for that one.

    I agree with you, there's no way we can fault Lewis for the destruction of those men who were highly-rated heavyweights like Grant, Golota and Ruddock.
     
    Unforgiven, Nov 18, 2009
    Unforgiven, Nov 18, 2009
    #42
  13. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล

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    Lewis-Klitschko is a quality fight. Bad though that the best Heavy fight of this decade featured an out-of-shape Legend, but oh, well.
     
    Flea Man, Nov 18, 2009
    Flea Man, Nov 18, 2009
    #43
  14. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    I think Lewis-Klitschko was a war, but it was a bit messy, lots of clinching and wrestling. I guess that's due to their size and styles. If it was in grainy black and white film from the 1920s, some people here would be quick to dismiss them as primitive and unskilled clumsy giants.

    It was an entertaining battle but not necessarily a bone fide classic.

    The "controversy" (which really starts with Vitali Klitschko acting like a complete jerk when the fight is stopped, truth be told, followed by the crowd and Larry Merchant winding Lewis up and all that crap .....) keeps that fight alive to this day.

    I was never bowled over by Lennox Lewis or thought him as great as some do, but I respected him as a fighter and respected him as overall a decent balanced man, despite his occassional faults. A decent man. And I respect him more from walking away from the millions offered for a rematch, even if he did "promise" a rematch. He retired, as he should have, and all that goading from Vitali and Vitali's supporters he ignored.

    Vitali's apparently an intelligent, mature and decent guy too but I thought his acting up on the stoppage and storming around the ring as if he'd won was a bit childish really. Maybe he was just trying to show that he was willing to go on, but it was divisive and immature and an unnecessary slight against Lewis. You win some, you lose some, and it would have been nicer to see the two fighters embrace and for Vitali to call it how it is. Yes, he wanted to fight on BUT the wounds on his face were just awful. No one wants to see a man's eye fall out.
     
    Unforgiven, Nov 18, 2009
    Unforgiven, Nov 18, 2009
    #44
  15. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล

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    Walker-Arreola was a good scrap whilst it lasted to be fair. No 'great' but entertaining.
     
    Flea Man, Nov 18, 2009
    Flea Man, Nov 18, 2009
    #45
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