What was the greatest fight you ever seen?

[warriorpoet]

All depends on how you view boxing I suppose.

I've seen countless one sided blow outs, that were thrilling while it lasted. But then again, wouldn't that fall more under the category of being "greatest kayo you ever seen" rather than fight?
Without question, the ultimate beat down in history had to of been Dempsey/Willard, but then again that was a blow out. It was hardly competitive. So what really constitutes a "fight" then?

Best Scientific Boxing Match Ever? Best Slugfest Ever? Hard to say, there's been so many.

I mean how can you not bring up Louis/Schmeling II or Dempsey/Firpo or Foreman/Lyle, etc when it comes to epic slugfests? How can you not bring up the masterful skills of which were on display when Billy Conn was dancing rings around Louis before getting kayoed? Jersey Joe Walcott boxing to a clear decision, before getting kayoed, against Marciano? Or something more modern, when Pernell Whitaker outright beat Julio Cesar Chavez with the slickest of moves?

Maybe, when it gets right down to it, one should ask "What was the best fight, per decade?"

Great points there,HomicideHenry!For me personally,it is a close,competitive back and forth slugfest!

[evrenb]

All depends on how you view boxing I suppose.

I've seen countless one sided blow outs, that were thrilling while it lasted. But then again, wouldn't that fall more under the category of being "greatest kayo you ever seen" rather than fight?
Without question, the ultimate beat down in history had to of been Dempsey/Willard, but then again that was a blow out. It was hardly competitive. So what really constitutes a "fight" then?

Best Scientific Boxing Match Ever? Best Slugfest Ever? Hard to say, there's been so many.

I mean how can you not bring up Louis/Schmeling II or Dempsey/Firpo or Foreman/Lyle, etc when it comes to epic slugfests? How can you not bring up the masterful skills of which were on display when Billy Conn was dancing rings around Louis before getting kayoed? Jersey Joe Walcott boxing to a clear decision, before getting kayoed, against Marciano? Or something more modern, when Pernell Whitaker outright beat Julio Cesar Chavez with the slickest of moves?

Maybe, when it gets right down to it, one should ask "What was the best fight, per decade?"

Great points there,HomicideHenry!For me personally,it is a close,competitive back and forth slugfest!

As the question asks 'what was the greatest fight you ever seen'? It must be your own favourite. Sometimes the atmosphere etc plays a massive part..Benn vs Watson was one of the most exciting events and nights...

[misterpunch]

almost as good as benn-mcclellan for excitement and brutality

[evrenb]

almost as good as benn-mcclellan for excitement and brutality

Yes..growing up the most exciting fights I remember were Benn vs Logan, Benn vs Watson, Tyson vs Bruno, Benn vs Mcllelan....golden era....

[AngryGoon38]

Duran-Leonard I
Barrera-McKinney
Hamed-Kelly
Kelly-Dorsey
HolyField-Bowe II
Patterson-Chuvalo
Hagler-Anterfermo I
Sanchez-Nelson
Gatti-Rodriguez
Hughes-Stephens
Briggs-Lykovich
Hamsho-Minter

[Broomhall]

For me as a young boy in my first years of amateur boxing staying up to watch the Finnegan-Frankham fights where incredibly exciting. By modern standards they are probably a bit slow now and I havent watched them again for fear of spoiling my memorys of them.

As people have mentioned anything with Bobby Chacon-I would love to know how he is now as he took so much punishment. I watched an interview with Alfonso Zamora the other day and he sounded ok-there was a real cadre of exciting fighters at or around bantam/feather then and they where all in great fights-danny lopez, art hafey, olivares, zarate.

Saad Muhammed aka Matt Frankiln always knew how to go to war , so did Alexis Argeullo.

I thought the Hagler/Mugabe fight was great, and I also really enjoyed Mcguigan/Pedroza

[warriorpoet]

For me as a young boy in my first years of amateur boxing staying up to watch the Finnegan-Frankham fights where incredibly exciting. By modern standards they are probably a bit slow now and I havent watched them again for fear of spoiling my memorys of them.

As people have mentioned anything with Bobby Chacon-I would love to know how he is now as he took so much punishment. I watched an interview with Alfonso Zamora the other day and he sounded ok-there was a real cadre of exciting fighters at or around bantam/feather then and they where all in great fights-danny lopez, art hafey, olivares, zarate.

Saad Muhammed aka Matt Frankiln always knew how to go to war , so did Alexis Argeullo.

I thought the Hagler/Mugabe fight was great, and I also really enjoyed Mcguigan/Pedroza

Unfortunately Chacon lost alot of his money and is being cared for by nurses.They say he has dementia pugilistica(boxer's syndrome).He was an exciting fighter,always gave 100%,seemed like a very nice guy too.I wish him only the best!

[misterpunch]

As people have mentioned anything with Bobby Chacon-I would love to know how he is now as he took so much punishment. I watched an interview with Alfonso Zamora the other day and he sounded ok-there was a real cadre of exciting fighters at or around bantam/feather then and they where all in great fights-danny lopez, art hafey, olivares, zarate.

Saad Muhammed aka Matt Frankiln always knew how to go to war , so did Alexis Argeullo.

I thought the Hagler/Mugabe fight was great, and I also really enjoyed Mcguigan/Pedroza[/quote]

the Finnegan - frankham fights were great - I watched one a few weeks ago and I would disagree about the speed of them, they were truly great wars and I feel a bit sorry for johnny who fought brilliantly and could have got the nod.

I saw a recent film of bobby chacon and he looked sort of ok - his speech was slurred yes but what he said made a great deal of sense - I don't feel sorry for him, he was one of the greatest warriors ever seen in our sport and knew how he wanted to fight. the tragedy of his wife, I believe gave him more reason to fight like he did. the great bobby chacon

[palooka]

I enjoyed McGuigan v Stevie Cruz - could Cruz box or what? What a fantastic, composed and organised boxer he was.

[misterpunch]

I enjoyed McGuigan v Stevie Cruz - could Cruz box or what? What a fantastic, composed and organised boxer he was.

certainly was in that one - but could he keep it up? post barry he could only get wins over pretty poor opponents few of whom had any power. but he sure looked great against bazza

[Broomhall]

I enjoyed McGuigan v Stevie Cruz - could Cruz box or what? What a fantastic, composed and organised boxer he was.

I also enjoyed that one Palooka as I enjoyed most of Mcguigans and McAuleys fights. I liked Cruz, but I also liked Vargas who came over and beat Hodkinson-neither of them reigned for very long. Which probably says a lot for my judgement-or rather lack of it

Do you remember Hodkinson v Peter Harris-that was one when I first thought he could go onto world championship honours.

[palooka]

I can remember watching Harris v hoko, did they box twice? Harris was a tidy, neat boxer. Hoko could be devastating and was ruthless; Vargas looked brilliant, I thought he'd reign for a long time.

[Broomhall]

. Harris was one of those guys who lost a few fights early then developed into a genuine contender for british/european titles. They did fight twice, the first was the better I think where Hoko had a bit of a struggle to win in the 12th. Hodkinson, like Mcguigan could make any fight exciting. Another good British fight was Carl Crook v Billy Schwer-he was also never in a bad fight, and also Terry Marsh v Clinton Mckenzie ( who again was seldom in a bad fight ).

You got me thinking now which isnt easy through a fog of dementia and alcohol.

I gotta upset Mexicoo again that will make me feel better.

[palooka]

. Harris was one of those guys who lost a few fights early then developed into a genuine contender for british/european titles. They did fight twice, the first was the better I think where Hoko had a bit of a struggle to win in the 12th. Hodkinson, like Mcguigan could make any fight exciting. Another good British fight was Carl Crook v Billy Schwer-he was also never in a bad fight, and also Terry Marsh v Clinton Mckenzie ( who again was seldom in a bad fight ).

You got me thinking now which isnt easy through a fog of dementia and alcohol.

I gotta upset Mexicoo again that will make me feel better.

No matter how much you upset him I don't think he'll insult you as much as he did me.

[handsofstone]

I read John Davison's book on holiday a few years back having never heard of him but its surprising that someone with as little experience as him was able to beat Hodkinson up

Good book,very funny but quite misleading from what iv'e heard since,it had me believing that he should have been an unbeaten world champ

[palooka]

Davidson beat Hoko as an amateur and he was about 7 years older than him. I think Paul won the rematch.

[handsofstone]

Davidson beat Hoko as an amateur and he was about 8 years older than him. I think Paul won the rematch.

I cant remember too much about the book but i do remember John bigging Paul up,and was proud of that win

[Broomhall]

Davidson beat Hoko as an amateur and he was about 8 years older than him. I think Paul won the rematch.

I cant remember too much about the book but i do remember John bigging Paul up,and was proud of that win

I think Davison beat Hodkinson on route to ABA final in 1985, which was remarkable at the time because Davison had only been boxing for a couple of years having started in his mid 20's whereas Hodkinson had been a multi titled junior boxer and was expected to go far in the competition that year. Davison lost to the excellent Floyd Havard in the final. At the same stage the following year I think Hodkinson reversed the loss on route to winning the title. Both represented England many times.

Davison turned pro at 30 and still had a succesful career boxing for British and European titles before losing to Steve Robinson for the vacant WBO featherweight title which was the start of Robinsons amazing turnaround having lost 9 of his 24 fights then he was seen as a good, but average pro and was drafted in at late notice to fight Davison.

A mate of mine boxed Davison in the amateurs and said it was like punching a wall.

[handsofstone]

Thanks for the refresher Broomhall,appreciated

[Chuck1052]

Bobby Chacon showed some very good boxing skills in bouts, notably in his terrific win in his bout with Danny "Little Red" Lopez early in his career, but seemed to abandoned them later to become more of a brawler.

- Chuck Johnston

[AngryGoon38]

"David "Boy" Greene-Andy Price" was actually a Great Fight. Extremely competitive. A proverbial example of Perfect matchmaking. They both went on to fight Sugar Ray Leonard. "Price", just before Leonard became champ and Greene, just after Leonard became champ. Greene fared a bit better overall vs Leonard obviously but Price seemed more past it by the time he fought Leonard.

[Syntax Error]

I'm adding the recent Travis Dickinson -v- Matty Clarkson fight to this list.

Anyone who hasn't seen this must watch it ASAP.

[misterpunch]

i'll give it a go