The Best Boxing Matches of All Time
0
Boxing is a renowned sport that’s been around for a very long time. Although boxing lost some of it’s popularity in the past, it’s coming back with a vengeance to take it’s rightful place as one of the most popular and most watched sports of all time.
Make no mistake, boxing today is still great and betting on this sport is becoming more and more common but it can and it will become much better. Fans and bettors alike prefer to place a sports wager on some of the most popular online sportsbooks and try to predict the outcome of the match.
There were some great and memorable fight worthy of praise these days, but they are still overshadowed by matches that resulted in long-lasting rivalries that happened a couple of decades ago. Some of the best boxers in the world are now retired or have passed away but their legacy remains strong and will likely continue to do so far into the future.
The stories of the greatest fighters who ever lived are still being told today, and their memory lives on even among the younger generations. The continue to inspire and guide young boxing athletes on their own way to glory and fame. So without any further ado, let’s have a look at some of the best and most memorable boxing matches of all time that have carved their mark on the history and the future of this unique sport beloved by many today.
- Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier 1971
You have to understand that boxing back in the day was a mix of technique and pure brawl. Fighters would pummel each other for 15 round, provided they last that long, which many of them actually did. This required a monumental amount of straight, stamina and endurance, so boxers were a different breed way back when. This brings us to one of the, if not the very best boxing matches ever that took place on March 8th, 1971, at Madison Square Garden, between the legends Muhammad Ali and “Smoking” Joe Frazier.
Dubbed the “Fight of the Century,” and for a good reason, this was one of the most anticipated boxing matches in history. Joe Frazier became the heavyweight champion a year before after knocking out Jimmy Ellis after just five round, and Ali was fresh from his three-year exile. Long story short, the two icons battled it out for 15 rounds, after which Joe emerged victorious with a unanimous decision by the judges after he managed to knock out Ali with a right hook in the very last round.
This boxing match was so epic that the rumours began to circulate that both fighters have died during the match. The hype and the drama, especially the fight, made this boxing match worthy of its name, and it did go down in history as the very best boxing match of all times.
- Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier 1974, 1975
Three years later, after their iconic match, Ali was looking for revenge against Frazier. Even though Frazier lost his title to George Foreman a year before after a humiliating second-round knockout, the fight went out for the sake of rivalry alone. Both boxers weren’t champions, but they wanted to have at each other one more time. So on January 28th in New York, Ali manages to defeat Frazier after twelve rounds.
But the bout didn’t end there as these two icons will meet again a year later for the heavyweight championship title in Manila, Philippines, and they will meet for the third and final time. Dubbed “Thrilla in Manila” this match was almost as exciting as Ali’s and Frazier’s first match.
The feud and the rivalry boiled to a single point, and both fighters engaged as what can only be described as a war for 14 straight rounds. Ali was about to quit, but Frazier’s eyes closed up, so the match was over by a technical knockout in favor of Ali. Frazier retired after that, and Ali described the fight as being close to death.
- Muhhamad Ali vs. George Foreman 1974
The “Rumble in the Jungle” was a historic boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman that took place on October 30, 1974, in Kinshasa, Zaire, today is known as the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was one of the most famous fights in history and is often cited as one of the greatest sporting events of all time.
Gorge Foreman was a powerhouse of a man who defeated Frazier in just two rounds for the title a year before. Ali was eyeing the title, but he knew that Foreman was bigger, stronger and much more powerful than Ali.
Being the master strategist that he was, Ali played it safe and kept to the rope as Foreman threw one bone-breaking punch after another. This went on for 8 rounds as Foreman finally wore himself out. Ali saw an opportunity and came to life, knocking Foreman out for the win and the championship belt.
- Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield 1997
Mike Tyson is considered to be one of the greatest boxers in history. Like Foreman, Tyson was a powerhouse of heavy punches with surprising speed and agility for his size. It wasn’t too difficult for Tyson to pummel his way through his opponents and win the heavyweight championship for himself.
However, Evander Holyfield was a force to be reckoned with as well and he managed to defeat Tyson for the championship in 1996. That’s why the Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield 1997 fight was one of the most iconic boxing matches in history. On November 9, 1997, Tyson and Holyfield faced off in Las Vegas for the WBA Heavyweight Championship title rematch.
After a year-long feud, both fighters gave it all and wanted to really hurt one another. Eventually, Tyson started to slip, and Holyfield was getting the upper hand. Tyson went to do something stupid, and he bit both of Holyfield’s ears resulting in a disqualification and a win for Evander. This was the beginning of the end for Tyson’s boxing career.
- Sugar Ray Leonard vs Thomas Hearns 1981
Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns are another two icons of boxing. Their legendary match that took place on September 16, 1981, at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, NV was meant to unify the world welterweight championship. Both Leonard and Hearns were champions, and they gave it all in a 15 round match called “ The Showdown”.
Leonard was, in fact, the better fighter but Hearns show heart and kept at it even though he was knocked down in 6th and 13th rounds. In the 14th round, the referee stopped the match resulting in a TKO win for Leonard. This match was a show of fighting skill, sportsmanship and courage that left the audience in awe and respect for both fighters who gave it their all and their best.
The best boxing matches of all time have been determined by a combination of judges’ decisions, audience reactions and overall historical significance. These fights will be remembered for generations to come as iconic bouts that shaped the sport of boxing.