10 epic fights in boxing history

spurs1903 (29)in #sport • 6 years ago

Thanks to the diversity of styles and categories, boxing is one of the most unpredictable sports in the world because with one punch the fights can change the winner. There are some combats that, without doubt, went down in history for various reasons.

next I bring you 10 of them

# 10. Chris Eubank vs. Nigel Benn I. ( November 1, 1990)

These two British fighters reached the pinnacle of their careers at the same time. Naturally, boxing fans demanded a confrontation. The drama came up before a single hit was made: when Eubank walked to the ring to the sound of "Simply the Best" by Tina Turner, the song stopped suddenly. Benn's team was accused of sabotaging music (for his credit, Eubank did not flinch and was able to make his iconic jump into the ring). Benn, known as the "Dark Destroyer," looked furious.

As for the fight, it was a give and take with both fighters giving everything (commentator Kim McDonald shouted at some point: "Jesus, see that right hand!"). but it was Eubank who took the middleweight world championship when the bout was stopped in the ninth round after Benn was subdued by a storm of punches in the corner even though he had knocked Eubank down earlier in the same round. The two fought again in a package years later. Despite the expectation that second confrontation was not up to the first was, in fact, simply the best.

source

# 9. Julio Cesar Chavez vs. Meldrick Taylor. (March 17, 1990)

The endings can not be more dramatic than this. The expectations were high for this fight named "The thunder against the lightning", referring to the power of Chávez punching and the speed of Taylor. And although the fight fulfilled, enters the folklore of nature for the sudden, dramatic and controversial end that is still debated today. Taylor consistently amassed an advantage in the points thanks to easily evading his opponent and surpassing him in strokes by a margin of 5 to 1. But when Chavez managed to connect, his blows made a considerable year as a result of being the heaviest.

By the time round 12, Taylor was ahead on all three cards (and by a wide margin on two of them), but for some reason, Taylor's coach, Lou Duva, told his fighter he needed to win the last round. Bad decision: Taylor was so tired that he went to the canvas just for missing a left hand. The last minute was all for Chávez and he knocked down Taylor with a few seconds left on the clock. Taylor stood up and referee Richard Steele asked him if he could continue. When not answering (although some say that Taylor nodded slightly), Steele concluded that he could not continue and stopped the fight, decreeing a technical knockout in favor of Chávez with only two seconds left. It's no surprise that Taylor's 2009 autobiography is called "A Two Seconds From Glory."

source

# 8. Erik Morales vs. Marco Antonio Barrera I. (February 19, 2000)

The Mexicans are filled with pride when they remember the epic effort of their two compatriots just at the turn of the century. The appointment as the best fight of the 200 by the magazine The Ring, was fully justified when both fighters exceeded his small stature to deliver a performance of full weights that never gave (the fifth round has to be seen to believe it) and resulted in Morales winning by split decision. But, considering that Barrera achieved the only knockout of the night, many complained about the result that, without surprises, led to a rematch (won by Barrera through a unanimous decision). And a third (this time in super feather) where Barrera was declared the winner by majority decision.

source

#7. Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas Hearns. (April 15, 1985)

Possibly the best first round in the history of boxing, the wild rhythm imposed by the "Marvelous" Marvin and the "Hitman" at Caesars Palace continues to spice up the conversations to this day. At the time, the narrator Barry Tompkins, working for HBO, shouted: "And this is just the first round!" Obviously, they did not sustain that rhythm and it is well called "war" ended, in the words of The Ring magazine, with "The most electrifying eight minutes in history", when Hagler got a knockout in the third round. The indelible image of a blood-soaked Hagler carried on his shoulders across the ring, and with a Hearns being led to his corner in a state of semi-consciousness, serves as a reminder of how brutal this sport can be.

source

#6. Diego Corrales vs. Jose Luis Castillo. (May 7, 2005)

They may not be the most memorable names, but with the lightweight title of the WBC at stake, Diego Corrales and José Luis Castillo, made those names become unforgettable in every home that saw this classic on television. The fighting rhythm was simply ruthless with both fighters connecting and receiving repeated punches throughout nine tremendous rounds. The fight ended memorably in the tenth when Corrales, after being knocked down twice, hit a series of devastating impacts that left Castillo defenseless on the ropes. But this devastating ending would not be without controversy. After getting up for the second time, Corrales spat his mouth guard, benefiting from an unofficial 30-second pause, in which he regained consciousness. They both fought a rematch that Castillo easily won. But the final and decisive fight, inevitably called "The war to settle the accounts", was canceled because Castillo exceeded the weight.

source

#5. Joe Louis vs. Billy Conn. (June 18, 1941 )

The legendary heavyweight champion, Joe Louis, faced the "Pittsburgh Kid", Billy Conn at the Polo Grounds. Bowing at least 25 pounds, Conn was at a disadvantage but proceeded to box Louis. The boxing historian, Bert Sugar, wrote: "Conn could block the blows with his arms, elbows and gloves, and nullify the blows of his opponents, going with them." By the eighth round, dehydration had taken a toll on Louis and by 12 he was totally exhausted with Conn up on two of the cards (Louis later accepted in his autobiography that he rested at the end of his training period because "he did not want them to say in the newspapers that I beat a small boy "). Conn got his arm in round 13 and tried to finish Louis, but by going for the knockout he was exposed in his impressive defense, and was hit by his opponent. They counted him up to 10 with only two seconds in the round. That serves as a lesson to all who come out as non-favorites

source

#4. Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao (May 2, 2015)

The promoters and the press did not hesitate to call the fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao the new "Combat of the Century" since both were considered the best fighters of recent years. There is no doubt that this fight will go down in history, but it will do so because of the low quality of the fight and the fiasco that ended up being.

source

#3. George Foreman vs Muhammad Ali (October 30, 1974)

This event was known as "Rumble in the Jungle" and was also one of the first matches organized by the legendary promoter Don King. It took place in Zaire and faced George Foreman, undefeated heavyweight champion, against challenger Muhammad Ali who had won several titles in the same category. Ali ended up winning by KO in the eighth round and many experts consider it the biggest sporting event of the 20th Century.

source

#2. Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Tommy Hearns (September 16, 1981)

Known as "The Showdown", this match would unify the titles of the WBC and the WBA in the welterweight category and although it generated a lot of excitement among the fans, it is correct to say that it even exceeded expectations. Hearns dominated the first 12 rounds and seemed to be in control of the fight, but Sugar Ray had a triumphant return in the last three episodes and ended up winning the bout.

source

#1. Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier III (October 1, 1975)

Ali and Frazier shared victories in their first two matches, so the third fight between the two already had enough expectation before it started. It happened to be considered the best combat of all time and even Ali declared that "he had never felt so close to death". No fight in the history of boxing offered so much dedication and technical level.