Felix Trinidad vs. Fernando Vargas (Dec. 2, 2000): Among the greatest fights in junior middleweight history, this unification bout saw a pair of unbeatens trade knockdowns and relentless power shots before Trinidad was able to finish the 22-year-old Vargas in Round 12. But there's no doubt this millennium has provided fans with a great number of amazing battles and some of the best rivalries in the long history of the sport. The fight saw multiple knockdowns. Identical spirit and inner self-belief wereapparent in the epic trilogy: they were natural born fighters who produced one of the best fights and trilogies in boxing history. But the real winners were the fans who saw the fight of the Year and one of the best fights of the last 20 years. It still holds the record for the longest professional boxing match in recorded history, lasting 110 rounds. The contest commenced with both fighters throwing aggressive combinations. Legendary trainer Emmanuel Stewart (who was ringside reporting on the bout) labelled round 9 the round of the century the fight one of the best he ever witnessed. The hotly anticipated rematch between the top-two pound-for-pound fighters in the world, Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev, was one of several incredible bouts in 2017. It is Mayweather who has the final word. Crawford knocked Gamboa down in the fifth round, again in the eighth, and finally twice in the ninth to secure a TKO win in front of 10,943 screaming hometown fanatics and scores of incredibly lucky international supporters who had managed to secure one of the hottest tickets in boxing. The 11th and 12th rounds produced some of the most scintillating action you can witness, with both rounds swinging in favour of the, Vazquez would just not stop punching and came within seconds of stopping Marquez, sending him to the canvas with a bombardment of punches. Maidana only needed one big punch to turn the fight around, and his efforts came to fruition in the 10th round when he caught Khan moving backwards with a giant haymaker right on his chin. WebFind many great new & used options and get the best deals for original 1946 JOE LOUIS vs. BILLY CONN BOXING MATCH 7 1/2 X 9 1/2 PHOTO at the best online prices at eBay! Barrera walked away with the split decision win and two super bantamweight titles, but both men cemented themselves as big money fighters going forward -- including in two more fights with each other. They would fight two more times, both living up to expectations and never with a title belt getting in the way of simply doing what they did best. Antonio Margarito vs. Miguel Cotto 1 (July 26, 2008): There's no doubt the inclusion of this fight is controversial. While this fight has acquired near universal claim as the best of this century, the larger debate is where it actually fits in among the best in history. Ali was at his very best during the build-up to the fight, with his constant verbal onslaught on Foreman. There was back and forth toe-to-toe action right until the end. He floored Ali with a massive right hook that ended up stealing the fight. -- Campbell, 6. Rarely are boxing match-ups so closely competitive and all those who made the journey to Denmark were treated to one of the most exciting bouts in recent memory. Firpo landed his second knockout towards the end of the round, sending Dempsey out of the ring. It was only of a matter of time before Cotto would succumb to the pressure. Chaves sported a 68-0 record at the time, and he was the reigning WBC light-welterweight champion. Corrales, who lost the rematch by TKO after Castillo missed weight, never won another fight and died two years to the day of this classic bout after crashing his motorcycle. } Firpo made boxing history, becoming the first Latino American fighter to fight for a world heavyweight title. A bloodied Pacquiao never stopped battling, but Morales' best qualities allowed him to win the fight by unanimous decision. The pace for this fight was breath-taking as both lightweight warriors battled it out in a test of skill and will. Vazquez would just not stop punching and came within seconds of stopping Marquez, sending him to the canvas with a bombardment of punches. Walcott came to fight when the opening bell rang. padding-bottom: 30px; Erik Morales vs Marco Antonio Barrera 1 (Feb. 19, 2000): Known commodities but not superstars outside the Mexican boxing community coming into the fight, Morales and Barrera went big time with this affair. Taylor was ahead on the scorecards up until that point, and he would have most likely won a unanimous decision if he had been able to survive for two more seconds. 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The finish still holds the record for the fastest knockout ever in a world title boxing match. Israel Vazquez vs Rafael Marquez III. The classic trilogy between Morales and Barrera remains one of the most entertaining trilogies in boxing history. The beating continued during the 14th round, forcing the referee to stop the contest. Many boxing experts view this showdown as the most entertaining middleweight fight in boxing history. It was a very close fight but Kessler was given the benefit of the doubt and prevailed, while Froch lost his world title but was still able to remain in the tournament to fight his next opponent. -- Campbell, 4. Ward landed a crushing left hook to the body, sending a wincing Gatti to the canvas. He was indestructible. Wilde would fight 28 times in 1911, finishing the year with a record of 27-0-1, by the end of 1914 he had recorded the longest unbeaten record in boxing history of 93-0-1 a record which still stands to this day. Online sports betting from Pinnacle bookmakers your premier international sportsbook 20042023Pinnacle. Fighting for the unified welterweight championship at the MGM Grand in the home of high profile boxing Las Vegas, sporting events dont get much bigger than this. Bradley showed incredible toughness as he offset rounds in which he outboxed and battered Provodnikov's face with stanzas that saw him floored and hanging on for life. The Mexican warriors had it all in boxing terms, and their styles gelled to make unmissable broadcasting for fans. Landing the Fundamental 1-2 Boxing Combination, 3 Ways Danny Jacobs Beats Gennady Golovkin, 7 Injury Prevention Tips When Punching The Heavy Bag, Gennady Golovkin Shows Neck Strengthening Exercises, Top 10 Tips On How to Become a Boxing Superstar. That would have been enough to end the fight these days, but boxing was a different sport in the early 20th century. Boxing fans all over the world clamoured for tickets as both fighters were known for featuring in action-packed shootouts and they did not disappoint. Barrera entered as the underdog but was relentless in pushing Morales, who gave as good as he got. The Best Boxing Matches of All TimeCastillo vs Corrales, 2005. This fight was a prime example of an in-ring meeting between two men that threw absolutely everything at each other.Ward vs Gatti, 2002. Reagan vs Dempsey, 1887. Braddock vs Baer, 1935. Leonard vs Hearns, 1981. Chacon vs Limn, 1982. Gorman vs Webb, 1980. 25. Both Gosset and Yu Quing were not world-class fighters far from it. The loss also led to one of the greatest rivalries in boxing history as Ali made it his life mission to avenge it. However, Chavez showcased the incredible heart he was famous for, scoring an, Firpo made boxing history, becoming the first Latino, That made Dempsey mad, and he went on to knockdown Firpo seven times during the same round. .mb-0 { That would have been enough to end the fight these days, but boxing was a different sport in the early 20, Leonard scored a second knockdown during the 13. round, forcing the referee to stop the contest. Taking place in front of a sell-out crowd at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the worlds two best middleweights fought tooth and nail to claim a victory. Before the scheduled fight, it was the same old story of whether Cotto could defeat the undefeated Mayweather. } He floored Ali with a massive right hook that ended up stealing the fight. It appeared that Khan was just too fast and skilled, and perhaps too strong when he dropped Maidana in the 1st round with a brutal body shot. Dempsey was the reigning NYSAC heavyweight champion, and he was the favorite heading into the fight. overflow: hidden; Simply put: Vazquez and Marquez were perfect for each other and both were just flawed enough defensively to create the perfect formula for fireworks. Miraculously, Fury managed to get back up and finish up the fight. Referee Kenny Bayless would say after the fight, "It's the best fight I've ever done. } Cotto would get his revenge in their 2011 rematch and it was the last fight of Margaritos career due to a badly damaged eye. The result was a dramatic fight that concluded two things Khans chin isnt as bad as some think, and Maidana is a nightmare for anyone to fight. Irish Micky Ward and Arturo Thunder Gatti took place in Connecticut in 2002, the ninth round of their bout is widely considered one of the finest rounds in living memory. -- Campbell, 2. The Barrera vs. Morales trilogy is one of boxing's most renowned fight trilogies, involving two of Mexico's most decorated fighters. The Big Debate: Will MMA Be In The Olympics? width: 100%; Corrales won via a tenth round TKO after himself being heavily dropped twice in the round that is now widely regarded as one of the greatest rounds and fights of all time. Carson, California was once again the host of an unbelievable display of boxing prowess as WBC Super Featherweight champion Francisco Vargas defended his title against fellow Mexican Orlando Salido at the StubHub Center. Mayweather dominated most of the fight, earning an unanimous victory against his arch-rival. The two put on an impressive display the first time they shared a boxing ring. height: calc(100% + 1px); With the WBO Welterweight Championship on the line Timothy Bradley and Ruslan Provodnikov engaged in a gruelling 12-round battle of wills. Breaking Down Demetrious Johnsons Style Of Fighting, Learn How To Smesh The Guard Like Khabib. The 11th and 12th rounds produced some of the most scintillating action you can witness, with both rounds swinging in favour of the ever-aggressive Vazquez. There have been some incredible highlights over the years, so weve assembled a list of our top 10 fights of the past decade to whet your appetite for the fantastic boxing events that we have coming up in the future. The first round of this historic matchup was one of the most action-packed rounds in boxing history, with both fighters landing their fair share of punches. Billed as The Fight of the Century in the build-up many critics were disappointed by the bout, citing Mayweathers defensive strategy, which almost completely nullified Pacquiaos attack, as the main reason. In a fight that catapulted Anthony Joshua into boxing super-stardom, Wembley Stadium, 29 April 2017 is a date that will forever be remembered among fight fans. He is also referred to as the oldest man ever to win the heavyweight title. All Rights Reserved. Not only did this have savage, two-way action in all 10 rounds, it had legitimate stakes as a lightweight unification. width: 100%; That may lead some to exclude Margarito from any acclaim as it will never be known how many of his best performances were aided by the act. The Craziest Ring Entrances In Boxing History. The fifth round of the epic encounter stands as one of the great rounds in championship boxing history and serves as a micro view of the fight as a whole. height: auto; HBO commentator Max Kellerman said it best What we just saw, was a really good young fighter, knocked out by a great old fighter. Miraculously, Vasquez and Marquez shared a ring four times, and they were all quite entertaining. Here's a look at the top 12 bouts Insider is looking forward to in boxing and mixed martial arts. They were throwing bombs and they never stopped." His comeback match after 10 years shocked the entire boxing fraternity. Antonio Margarito vs. Miguel Cotto 1 (July 26, 2008): There's no doubt the inclusion of this fight is controversial. What typically ensues is a fast-paced chess match where attributes like toughness, determination, and the will to win often determine the victors. In a fight that went on to become one of boxings greatest trilogies, Juan Marquez put his WBA and IBF featherweight titles on the line against Manny Pacquaio -- and only just got out of the first round. That trend persisted in the second bout when a nasty headbutt opened one of the worst cuts a fighter can obtain over the left eye. On June 4, 2005, Ricky Hitman Hatton propelled himself towards global stardom becoming the WBA light-welterweight champion of the world defeating the ever-formidable Kostya Tszyu, then the world's No 2-ranked pound-for-pound boxer. British boxing found itself in the spotlight when arch-rivals David Haye and Dereck Chisora faced off in front of a home crowd of 30,000 at Londons Boleyn Ground. After two epic battles in 2007, Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez continued their rivalry in 2008 with another extraordinary clash over twelve pulsating rounds at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. 2012 was an incredible year for British sports, having played host to a magnificent Olympic games. He impressively captured a world title just under a year after his defeat. Both men brawled it out for 12 rounds, with Vasquez suffering deep cuts around his eyes. Argentinas Marcos Maidana. Hearns and Leonard were two of the biggest names in boxing heading into this classic fight. BJJ is one of the fastest-growing combat sports today, alongside its cousin, mixed martial arts. That trend persisted in the second bout when a nasty headbutt opened one of the worst cuts a fighter can obtain over the left eye. This is a fight that likely only real hardcore boxing fans have seen, and it was a battle not for the faint-hearted. Khan was only 22 years old, but there were still concerns about his suspect chin. The uppercut that snapped back Klitschkos neck and his ability to soak up the punch was just another chapter that defined the heroic battle. Gatti beat the 10-count before absorbing a barrage of shots from Ward and suddenly turning the tables, rocking Ward with a blistering assault. This gruelling 12-round slugfest was brutal, with both men landing multiple damaging shots and an absolutely huge 2,123 punches being thrown in total. It was a classic fight, as Mayweather put out a lot more offense than usual. With the hardship that comes from training,, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is one of the most rewarding martial arts you can learn and its one of the newest. Lets have a look at the top 10 iconic games. A two-time Golden Gloves winner, Kelley was a former WBC Featherweight champion and widely recognised as the toughest test of Hameds career. In a grappling-heavy sport like BJJ, leveraging angles is one of the most important things. Cotto was winning the many of the beginning rounds but Margaritos relentless pursuit began to wear Cotto down. Evolve Daily guarantees 100% privacy. Maidana won the fight, but Morales won the event and the hearts of all. Gatti began standing his ground, ready for the brawl and abandoning his more technical approach to the early rounds. WebBig upcoming fights (next 30 days) Figueroa Magsayo 23-1-1 Records 24-1-0 Saturday, Mar 04 2023 Est. The match-up featured the classic rivalry between Puerto Rico vs Mexico. Burke broke both of his hands during the fight, and both men walked out of the ring about ten pounds lighter than they were when they stepped inside it. This fight earned its spot on our list due to its historic relevance. } At 25 years old, Pacquiao was still raw, but like a hurricane in his style, owning a brutal left hand. Vazquez was eventually victorious via split decision, a result fiercely disputed by Marquez. Fury masterfully avoided the worst of Wilders power until the final round when Wilder threw a right-left combination that dropped Fury hard onto the canvass. It took almost a decade for both men to finally come to terms despite the high fan demand for the fight. The first fight, on February 19, 2000, at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, in Las Vegas saw El Terrible Morales edge The baby-faced assassin Barrera by split decision, with scores of 115-112, 114-113 and 113-114 and was later voted Ring Magazine's Fight of the Year for 2000. left: 0; No one gives them much of a chance to emerge victorious, but they find a way to do so based on, Boxing is often called a gentlemans sport, but not all boxers are gentlemen. The pair went on to have two more fights after this with Barrera gaining his revenge and edging the trilogy being victorious in both encounters. Wild swinging, unparalleled drama, and as dramatic a finish as you can witness inside a boxing ring. In a bout that shocked a lot of boxing fans, Vicious Victor Ortiz certainly lived up to his nickname against Andre Berto, upsetting the defending WBC Welterweight Champion, who was beforehand undefeated via 12-round decision. The action was back and forth throughout the fight as the two competitors stood toe-to-toe, and despite being knocked down in the second and twelfth rounds Bradley was awarded the victory on the judges scorecards and a classic fight entered into the history books. } 1:25 pm ET, Paul faces crossroads choice on where he goes next, Jack earns world title in third division with TKO, Jake Paul vs. Tommy Fury fight preview, prediction, Paul faces tough choice on where he goes next, Davis, Garcia set for April showdown on Showtime PPV, Lara earns featherweight title with TKO of Wood, Joshua set for return in April; Jones to face Pettis, Taylor vs. Serrano 2 set for May in Dublin, Seven burning questions for the NFL combine. The make-up of the 20 fights with the most reported views has changed considerably in the last decade. Marquez landed counters, but Pacquiao soon became the boss, as halfway through the opening round Pacquiao connected with a straight left hand down the pipe, sending Marquez to the canvas. He wanted the torment and pain to end, even with only three minutes to go and, in Ricky Hatton, a new superstar had emerged. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. That led to the highly anticipated rematch between the two at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas. As soon as the bell rung, Maidana was his usual self, throwing hard power punches and hunting Morales down. The third fight between these two was highly anticipated, given how close and entertaining the first two fights were. After Marquez broke Vazquez's nose to force a stoppage in their first fight, Vazquez redeemed himself with a sixth-round TKO in their rematch. The heavyweights have always been among boxing's biggest stars and Rocky Marciano was huge in the 1950s. Without further ado, here are the top 25 greatest boxing matches of all time! } What was the longest fight in history? THE LONGEST BOXING match ever recorded took place in 1855 near Ballarat. In classic boxing style, it was a grudge match between an Irishman, James Kelly, and an Englishman, Jonathan Smith. It lasted for exactly six hours and fifteen minutes. Both fighters, who each entered at the peak of their fighting primes, were never the same in the aftermath. He took control from the start and outclassed Duran, forcing him to verbally quit during the eighth round. The fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. became the highest-grossing fight in the history of boxing. It has authentic World Champions in Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Mixed Martial Arts, Boxing, Wrestling, and No-Gi Grappling. -- Brookhouse, 5. Both men were pretty busted up by that point. Come fight night, Cotto put on a tremendous performance in which he managed to hit Mayweather more times than he has ever been hit in his whole career. top: -10px; Referee Pat Russell was seconds away from calling the bout off, but Marquez wanted more, and by the time the two fighters locked horns again, the bell sounded with the, Vazquez was eventually victorious via split decision, a result fiercely disputed by Marquez. Floyd Mayweather v Manny Pacquiao Date: May 2, 2015 Venue: MGM Grand Garden It was one of the most insane moments in boxing history, and it got Tyson disqualified, marking his second loss to Holyfield. A veritable "Rocky" movie come to life, this welterweight war was only made possible by the chip on Bradley's shoulder after scoring a controversial split-decision win over Manny Pacquiao in their title bout. Mayweather tops the bill. The Mexican warriors battled to a draw in what was unanimously voted as the 2016 Fight of the Year by the boxing press. Exhaustion set in for both fighters at the end, and Williams was awarded a controversial Majority Decision. padding-bottom: 56.25%; DeMarco willed himself back to his feet, but Basilio never gave him a chance to recover, sending him back down to the canvas moments later to end the fight. Sugar Ray Robinson vs. Jake La Motta. Vasquez went on to win the fight via split decision. Catering to all experience levels our aim is simply to empower bettors to become more knowledgeable. Despite headlining fewer of our top 20 than McGregor, his 2015 fight against Manny Pacquiao Haye took the attacking initiative first and frustrated Chisoras efforts, provoking Chisora to land a vicious left hook after the bell had already rang for the end of the third round. The result? Duran defeated Leonard via unanimous decision the first time they shared a ring, but Leonard turned things around during the rematch. That no titles were on the line did not matter as the two went to war. Between 1890 and 2011, its estimated that 1,604 boxers died as a direct result of injuries sustained in the ring, according to a survey carried out Manuel With so much money on the line, even governments like Fidel Castros administration have, Theres a tiny part of us that always roots for the underdog in boxing. The Prince, aged just 23 was already a world champion after dismantling Steve Robinson two years prior in Cardiff to lift the WBO crown. WebWatch video highlights and full fight replays from all historic PBC fights, including sensational boxing by the likes of Errol Spence Jr., Deontay Wilder and more. Boxing has produced some of the most best fights in a display of ebb and flow where both fighters wont quit. At MightyFighter.com, we provide help and guidance to those who are trying to reach their goals and become better individuals. Diego Corrales vs Jose Luis Castillo 1 (May 7, 2005): The granddaddy of them all from the standpoint of action, drama and an unforgettable swerve finish. Both Morales and Barrera took so much punishment, that it was almost impossible to split the pair at the final bell despite Barrera claiming a 12th round knockdown on Morales. With both Gosset and Quing trading blows at a frantic pace in some of the most vicious action you can witness in a boxing ring boxing fanatics were not disappointed. This historic matchup had the entire boxing world divided leading up to it. Demarco vowed to reclaim his titles during the rematch, and he got off to a good start winning the opening round. Acosta opted to box and move and done very well in the beginning rounds, even hurting the iron chinned Rios on several occasions.