Greatest Ring Performance Of The Last 50 Years

[Seamus]

I'd think the ones that come to mind immediately are. George Foreman blowing out Joe Frazier in 2 rds. Ali disposing of the seemingly invincible Foreman. Salvador Sanchez stopping Wilfredo Gomez who had knocked out all but one of his opponents, including 15 straight in title bouts. Tommy Hearns oblitering iron jawed Roberto Duran in 2 rds. Sugar Ray Leonard coming up out of a nearly 5 year retirement and then moving up in weight and upsetting the world's number 1 PFP fighter.

So what is your choice.

[giacomino]

Ali-Liston I was one of the greatest in terms of upset and just fits within the 50 year period.

[elmersalsa]

To me, it got to be the great Salvador Sanchez when he outbombed, outslicked and licked the hell out of the great Wilfredo Gomez. A performance for the ages.

Others:
Pernell Whitaker vs Julio Cesar Chavez
Bernard Hopkins vs Felix "Tito" Trinidad
Carlos Zarate vs Alfonso Zamora
Roberto Duran vs Esteban De Jesus III
Thomas Hearns vs Roberto Duran
Joe Frazier vs Muhammad Ali I

[keithmoonhangover]

Sugar Ray Leonard's win over Hagler gets my vote.

Ring rust, eye damage, first fight at the weight against the #1 in the world.

Quite simply amazing.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Duran kicking Leonard's ass in the first fight. Greatest exhibition of in-fighting I've ever seen.

Great as Leonard's win over Hagler was, he certainly wasn't rusty, his eye was fine and he had fought at Middleweight before.

[keithmoonhangover]

Duran kicking Leonard's ass in the first fight. Greatest exhibition of in-fighting I've ever seen.

Great as Leonard's win over Hagler was, he certainly wasn't rusty, his eye was fine and he had fought at Middleweight before.

As usual your hatred of Leonard clouds your judgment. Pathetic.

[King Carlos]

Yep, Duran giving up every conceivable advantage to one of the very best Welterweights of all time and beating the hell out of him has to be it for me. The ultimate in-fighting display, and more than that, the ultimate display of how to nullify a superior physical specimen. Duran's work in the clinches was unsurpassed. I'm one of those guys that hates fights that involve a lot of clinching, but this fight was an exception. When Leonard clinched, Duran used it to his advantage, almost always freeing an arm and either banging to the body or smacking Leonard with constant uppercuts to the point that Leonard was forced to cover up, and that's where Duran put both hands to use.

That said, awesome fight, and Leonard really showed his mettle in it, especially by coming on the stronger of the two in the latter rounds. By then Duran had it sewn up, though.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Duran kicking Leonard's ass in the first fight. Greatest exhibition of in-fighting I've ever seen.

Great as Leonard's win over Hagler was, he certainly wasn't rusty, his eye was fine and he had fought at Middleweight before.

As usual your hatred of Leonard clouds your judgment. Pathetic.

My love or hatred of any fighter has no bearing on my rating of them. As usual, you're talking out of your ass and needed correcting. I picked Leonard to beat Hagler and bet on him. He had many actual bouts in the gym with guys like Quincy Taylor. His eye had long since healed and he fought Marcos Geraldo years before that. Anything else I can help you with?

[giacomino]

Sonny Liston vs Cassius Clay I

'THE 'SECOND' GREATEST RING 'FIX' OF THE LAST 50 YEARS'

Only surpassed by,,,,,,

Cassius Clay vs Sonny Liston II

Figured somebody would bring that up, but I don't know if #1 was fixed or not.

I would second Duran-Leonard, which was also one of my favorite results because I was huge Duran fan at the time. And Whitaker vs Chavez because, despite the scorecards, Whitaker shattered Chavez's aura of near invincibility. Same goes for W. Gomez vs Carlos Zarate.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

That's a good call.

[Seamus]

For my number 1 pick, I think I have to go with the fight where one guy was destroying everything put in front of him for some time (including some outstanding fighters) until he got in the ring with a guy named Salvador Sanchez, who beat him to a pulp and stopped him.

[Nile4000]

Curry-McCrory
Ali-Williams
Page-Monroe
Leonard-Finch
Spinks-M. Johnson
Sanchez-Nelson
Pryor-Arguello I.

[Ezzard]

Yep, Duran giving up every conceivable advantage to one of the very best Welterweights of all time and beating the hell out of him has to be it for me. The ultimate in-fighting display, and more than that, the ultimate display of how to nullify a superior physical specimen. Duran's work in the clinches was unsurpassed. I'm one of those guys that hates fights that involve a lot of clinching, but this fight was an exception. When Leonard clinched, Duran used it to his advantage, almost always freeing an arm and either banging to the body or smacking Leonard with constant uppercuts to the point that Leonard was forced to cover up, and that's where Duran put both hands to use.

That said, awesome fight, and Leonard really showed his mettle in it, especially by coming on the stronger of the two in the latter rounds. By then Duran had it sewn up, though.

This is it.

[Rover]

In South America,,,,,

They still rate Antonio Cervantes vs. Nicolinio Locche II........... as the 'Greatest Ring Performance'

Who does?

[misterpunch]

its true! ive just phoned everyone in south america

[Rover]

its true! ive just phoned everyone in south america

[loaded_gloves]

Sonny Liston vs Cassius Clay I

'THE 'SECOND' GREATEST RING 'FIX' OF THE LAST 50 YEARS'

Only surpassed by,,,,,,

Cassius Clay vs Sonny Liston II

You have absolutely no proof and are clearly, hugely under researched.

You are a troll.

[loaded_gloves]

For the record, mine might be Duran against Leonard 80 of Frazier against Ali 71. But that's straight off the top of my head.

[Ezzard]

Yep, Duran giving up every conceivable advantage to one of the very best Welterweights of all time and beating the hell out of him has to be it for me. The ultimate in-fighting display, and more than that, the ultimate display of how to nullify a superior physical specimen. Duran's work in the clinches was unsurpassed. I'm one of those guys that hates fights that involve a lot of clinching, but this fight was an exception. When Leonard clinched, Duran used it to his advantage, almost always freeing an arm and either banging to the body or smacking Leonard with constant uppercuts to the point that Leonard was forced to cover up, and that's where Duran put both hands to use.

That said, awesome fight, and Leonard really showed his mettle in it, especially by coming on the stronger of the two in the latter rounds. By then Duran had it sewn up, though.

The bits in bold clinch it for me.

A guy beating up someone who started in a lower weight class does not touch these heights...Hearns-Duran was about the drama of the KO...not the result. Chavez was never a welterweight and Gomez was moving up a division.

As great as those performances were Duran's is far more impressive. Leonard over Hagler is closer for me... Spinks v Holmes deserves a mention as does Fenech v Nelson I.

[The 1bangkid]

Buster vs Tyson

[MEISINGER]

Duran kicking Leonard's ass in the first fight. Greatest exhibition of in-fighting I've ever seen.

Great as Leonard's win over Hagler was, he certainly wasn't rusty, his eye was fine and he had fought at Middleweight before.

i have to agree once again with saad
duran's performance was unreal

[Jaywheel]

In South America,,,,,

They still rate Antonio Cervantes vs. Nicolinio Locche II........... as the 'Greatest Ring Performance'

Who does?

People in south america apparently. It's written in his post.

[Rover]

Duran/Leonard I.

[King Carlos]

I'd figure the first Locche/Cervantes shut-out would've gotten more acclaim than the cuts stoppage rematch against a Locche on his last legs.

Wish the footage of the first fight was in full. I'm partial to the Fuji fight for Locche performances. Pitch perfect. Fuji was actually favored in that one, too.

[Rover]

I'd figure the first Locche/Cervantes shut-out would've gotten more acclaim than the cuts stoppage rematch against a Locche on his last legs.

Wish the footage of the first fight was in full. I'm partial to the Fuji fight for Locche performances. Pitch perfect. Fuji was actually favored in that one, too.

I'd have also figured it was #1.