Best Heavyweight Fights Of All Time

It has been nearly a month since that historic night at Wembley Stadium, and a fight that I’m sure will go down in boxing history. With that in mind I thought it would be a good idea to look back at some of the biggest heavyweight fights in the history of the sport, so here is my top 10.

10. Ike Ibeabuchi V David Tua

After 16 straight wins Ike Ibeabuchi was off to a great start in June 1997 he made the risky move to take on undefeated hot prospect David Tua. With a record of 27-0 many people within boxing believed him to be the next Mike Tyson.

There is only one word to describe this fight and that is war! Throughout the hole fight nether men took a step back, and this is proven when you look at the punch stats the pair throw an unbelievable 1,730 punches in the fight. This amazing fight went all the way to the judges with Ike Ibeabuchi winning a unanimous decision, this catapulted Ike Ibeabuchi into the world title picture.

9. Larry Holmes V Ken Norton

This fight was Ken Norton’s first defence of his world title, he took on the then number one contender Larry Holmes in a brutal fight. They traded punches for 15 hard fought rounds. Larry Holmes won a very close split decision, However many people at ringside including the AP scored the fight for Norton,I have to be honest I’ve watch this fight a number of times and I score it differently every time I watch it.

In March 2001 The Ring Magazine ranked the final round the 7th most exciting round in boxing history.

8. Floyd Patterson V Ingemar Johansson 3

This was the 3rd fight in their epic trilogy and their first two would make it on to most people’s lists, and the 3rd fight didn’t disappoint. Both men where send to the canvas in the opening round. Patterson went to the body for most of the fight that wore Johansson down, before knocking him out in the 6th round when Johansson had nothing left to win the rubber match.

7 Joe Jeannette V Sam McVea

This was the 3rd fight between the pair with Jeannette winning the 1st fight with a 10th round decision and McVea won the 2nd with a 12th round decision. The 3rd fight was something else it was a fight to the finish and the pair swapped punches for 49 rounds yes you did read that wright it lasted for 49 rounds, with multiple knock downs. Before Jeannette finally scored the knockout.

6. George Forman V Ron Lyle

Forman was the 5 to 1 favourite with the bookies for this one despite the fact that he was coming off his first lost as a professional to Muhammad Ali. It was obvious from the start that this fight wasn’t going to the judges, as Forman was rocked in the opening round. Forman came back well in the 2nd rocking Lyle. In the 4th round Forman hit the canvas, but beat the count and knock down Lyle at the end of the round. Lyle was rocked again at the start of the 5th but came back well before Forman sent him to the canvas again ending the fight.

The fight was named fight of the year in 1976, and in 2001 the Ring Magazine name the 4th round the 6th most exciting round in the sports history,

 

5. Evander Holyfield V Riddick Bowe

This fight was the first in a trilogy that will no doubt go down in boxing history. This fight had everything you could want as a boxing fan. They went to war for 12 hard fought rounds with nether men backing down. The fight went all the way with Bowe winning by unanimous decision.

The fight was voted fight of the year by The Ring and the 10th was named round of the year.

4. Jack Johnson V James Jeffries

Both fighter swopped punches for 15 amazing rounds before Johnson scored the knockout in the 15th round. The promotor of the fight dud the fight the fight of the century, however this wasn’t the first time he’d used this label.

3. Jack Dempsey V Luis Angle Firpo

This is one of my favourite fights of all time. Dempsey knocked down Firpo in the opening seconds and went on to knock him down an incredible 7 times in a minute and a half, you have to remember there was no three knock down rule back them. Dempsey was also allow to stand over his opponent because there was no rule about going to the neutral corner. What makes this fight more unbelievable is that towards the end of the round Firpo Knock Dempsey completely out of the ring and the fight still continued.

2. Rocky Marciano V Joe Walcott

No list like this would be complete without mentioning these two but it’s their first fight that makes my list. Marciano was sent to the canvas in the first round, it was the first time in 43 professional fights that he had been knocked down. The fight continues for 13 rounds going into the 13th round all three judges had Walcott ahead, however in the 13th Marciano put the result in no doubt by knocking out Walcott.

1. Muhammad Ali V Joe Frazier

There was only one fight that was going to be number one on my list and that is The Thrila in Manila. This was the third meeting between these two legends and it didn’t disappoint both men went toe to toe. Ali spent most of the fight on the ropes and let Frazier punch himself out before coming off the ropes to knockout Frazier in the 14th In a move he would later call the rope a dope This fight won fight of the year for 1976.

Comments below and let me know who would make your list.