10 Greatest Heavyweight Title Fights of the Last Fifty Years (1941-1991)

[APerno]

This is from an old fight magazine called Boxing Scene, Sept. 1991; the ‘fifty’ years would have constituted 1941-1991

1. Walcott v. Marciano I (1952)
2. Ali v. Frazier III (1975)
3. Ali v. Frazier I (1971)
4. Holmes v. Norton (1978)
5. Marciano v. Charles I (1954)
6. Paterson v. Johansson III (1961)
7. Marciano v. Moore (1955)
8. Ali v. Shavers (1977)
9. Ali v. Spinks I (1978)
10. Holmes v. Shavers II (1979)

I would have found room for Foreman v. Lyle and maybe Louis v. Conn I; I would have taken off Ali v. Spinks I (big upset yes, lots of fun yes, but not a great fight); not sure what else . . .?

Since 1991 I would have added

Douglas v. Tyson
Tyson v. Holyfield I
Bowe v. Holyfield I
And maybe Foreman v. Holyfield

And absolutely nothing since the mid ‘90s

[lazboy]

This is from an old fight magazine called Boxing Scene, Sept. 1991; the ‘fifty’ years would have constituted 1941-1991

1. Walcott v. Marciano I (1952)
2. Ali v. Frazier III (1975)
3. Ali v. Frazier I (1971)
4. Holmes v. Norton (1978)
5. Marciano v. Charles I (1954)
6. Paterson v. Johansson III (1961)
7. Marciano v. Moore (1955)
8. Ali v. Shavers (1977)
9. Ali v. Spinks I (1978)
10. Holmes v. Shavers II (1979)

I would have found room for Foreman v. Lyle and maybe Louis v. Conn I; I would have taken off Ali v. Spinks I (big upset yes, lots of fun yes, but not a great fight); not sure what else . . .?

Since 1991 I would have added

Douglas v. Tyson
Tyson v. Holyfield I
Bowe v. Holyfield I
And maybe Foreman v. Holyfield

And absolutely nothing since the mid ‘90s

I like your pre 1991 list. Havnt seen a couple of them though, shame,shame, shame. I'd put Ali foreman because of the drama.

Douglas Tyson. I find it so frustrating. Even more so is Tyson Holyfield 1. They never get going, so much clinching. I'd put Lewis klitschko in there.

[Tomasino]

Foreman Lyle wasn't for the title. Great brawl though

I personally love Marciano v Walcott 1, the rocks toughness and determination are things to behold. There isn't anyone like that in the heavy divisions now.

[Tony1244]

Holmes vs Shavers 2.


If its already up there I apologize. I'm multi-tasking.

[Rexob]

This is from an old fight magazine called Boxing Scene, Sept. 1991; the ‘fifty’ years would have constituted 1941-1991

1. Walcott v. Marciano I (1952)
2. Ali v. Frazier III (1975)
3. Ali v. Frazier I (1971)
4. Holmes v. Norton (1978)
5. Marciano v. Charles I (1954)
6. Paterson v. Johansson III (1961)
7. Marciano v. Moore (1955)
8. Ali v. Shavers (1977)
9. Ali v. Spinks I (1978)
10. Holmes v. Shavers II (1979)

I would have found room for Foreman v. Lyle and maybe Louis v. Conn I; I would have taken off Ali v. Spinks I (big upset yes, lots of fun yes, but not a great fight); not sure what else . . .?

Since 1991 I would have added

Douglas v. Tyson
Tyson v. Holyfield I
Bowe v. Holyfield I
And maybe Foreman v. Holyfield

And absolutely nothing since the mid ‘90s

Tyson vs Douglas was on February 11, 1990

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Holmes/Witherspoon was better than many of these listed.

Ali/Spinks was absolutely a great fight, it had sadness to it but that was a 15 round action packed fight. Holmes/Shavers 2 had an incredibly thrilling moment, other than that it was entirely one sided.

[Tomasino]

Holmes/Witherspoon was better than many of these listed.

Ali/Spinks was absolutely a great fight, it had sadness to it but that was a 15 round action packed fight. Holmes/Shavers 2 had an incredibly thrilling moment, other than that it was entirely one sided.

Just watched Holmes Witherspoon again last night. Great performance by Tim.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Holmes/Witherspoon was better than many of these listed.

Ali/Spinks was absolutely a great fight, it had sadness to it but that was a 15 round action packed fight. Holmes/Shavers 2 had an incredibly thrilling moment, other than that it was entirely one sided.

Just watched Holmes Witherspoon again last night. Great performance by Tim.

Indeed, and you can make a case for Holyfield/Bowe 1 atop the list. Unless 91 is the cutoff.

[Tomasino]

Holmes/Witherspoon was better than many of these listed.

Ali/Spinks was absolutely a great fight, it had sadness to it but that was a 15 round action packed fight. Holmes/Shavers 2 had an incredibly thrilling moment, other than that it was entirely one sided.

Just watched Holmes Witherspoon again last night. Great performance by Tim.

Indeed, and you can make a case for Holyfield/Bowe 1 atop the list. Unless 91 is the cutoff.

Defintely one of the greatest battles of all time. I really enjoyed Holy vs Big George too. Foreman took some great combos in that one. He really was a beast of a man. Evander said he was the hardest man and biggest puncher he fought.

[APerno]

This is from an old fight magazine called Boxing Scene, Sept. 1991; the ‘fifty’ years would have constituted 1941-1991

1. Walcott v. Marciano I (1952)
2. Ali v. Frazier III (1975)
3. Ali v. Frazier I (1971)
4. Holmes v. Norton (1978)
5. Marciano v. Charles I (1954)
6. Paterson v. Johansson III (1961)
7. Marciano v. Moore (1955)
8. Ali v. Shavers (1977)
9. Ali v. Spinks I (1978)
10. Holmes v. Shavers II (1979)

I would have found room for Foreman v. Lyle and maybe Louis v. Conn I; I would have taken off Ali v. Spinks I (big upset yes, lots of fun yes, but not a great fight); not sure what else . . .?

Since 1991 I would have added

Douglas v. Tyson
Tyson v. Holyfield I
Bowe v. Holyfield I
And maybe Foreman v. Holyfield

And absolutely nothing since the mid ‘90s

Tyson vs Douglas was on February 11, 1990

You are correct - it hard to believe they would leave that off the list and put on Ali- Spinks.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Ali/spinks was a better fight. Tyson/Douglas was a dramatic ass whipping. If you're listing events it is right up at the top. Fights? no

[Counter-puncher]

Holmes/Witherspoon was better than many of these listed.
.

My favourite heavyweight fight

[Tomasino]

Holmes/Witherspoon was better than many of these listed.
.

My favourite heavyweight fight

Who do you have winning it CP?

[Counter-puncher]

I only half-tried to score it the first time I watched it, and I think then my card would give Larry a draw, since then I don't think I have tried.

I don't often score fights properly, most of the time I will have a memory such as '10 clear rounds and 2 swing rounds, I could live with scores 115-113 either way. I always try and distinguish between clear rounds and rounds where I could at least see a case either way. Leads to a lot of fence-sitting

From memory I had Holmes and spoon 5 clear(ish) rounds each.

[Ambling Alp II]

1. Ali-Frazier III
2. Ali-Foreman
3. Holmes-Norton
4. Marciano-Walcott I
5. Frazier-Ali I
6. Marciano-Charles I
7. Douglas-Tyson
8. Patterson-Johannson III
9. Marciano-Moore
10. Holmes-Shavers

Honorable Mention - Louis-Walcott II, Ellis-Quarry, Ellis-Patterson, Marciano-Charles II, Ali-Shavers, Thomas-Witherspoon, Holmes-Cooney, Spinks-Holmes II, Holyfield-Foreman
If you like "Chess Matches" - The Walcott-Charles fights, Ali-Norton III, Holmes-Witherspoon.

[Tuan_Jim]

1. Ali-Frazier III
2. Ali-Foreman
3. Holmes-Norton
4. Marciano-Walcott I
5. Frazier-Ali I
6. Marciano-Charles I
7. Douglas-Tyson
8. Patterson-Johannson III
9. Marciano-Moore
10. Holmes-Shavers

Honorable Mention - Louis-Walcott II, Ellis-Quarry, Ellis-Patterson, Marciano-Charles II, Ali-Shavers, Thomas-Witherspoon, Holmes-Cooney, Spinks-Holmes II
If you like "Chess Matches" - The Walcott-Charles fights, Ali-Norton III, Holmes-Witherspoon.

I'd have Frazier/Ali top them all - which amazingly would give Ali the heavyweight hat trick(!), though no fights possessed higher drama and greater significance than him & Frazier I, Foreman and Frazier III.

Has anyone mentioned Holmes/Mike Weaver yet!?

Pinklon Thomas/Weaver was a good rumble too, as was Weaver/Coetzee.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Weaver/Coetzee was a brawl. I wouldn't have Ali/Foreman on my personal list. Another fight where I feel the event & performance outweighs the fight.

[Tuan_Jim]

It does divide opinion. But Ali looks on fire and the whole stadium seems to be fighting with him. Love Ali in big fight mood. Thrills me every time.

[elmersalsa]

1. Ali vs Frazier I
2. Louis vs Conn I
3. Marciano vs Walcott I
4. Ali vs Frazier III
5. Tyson vs Douglas
6. Ali vs Foreman
7. Holmes vs Norton
8. Ali vs Norton III
9. Marciano vs Charles I
10. Holyfield vs Foreman

Look how many fights The Greatest was involved as the best fights of the 1941-51 era!

[Tomasino]

1. Ali vs Frazier I
2. Louis vs Conn I
3. Marciano vs Walcott I
4. Ali vs Frazier III
5. Tyson vs Douglas
6. Ali vs Foreman
7. Holmes vs Norton
8. Ali vs Norton III
9. Marciano vs Charles I
10. Holyfield vs Foreman

Look how many fights The Greatest was involved as the best fights of the 1941-51 era!

I can only see one, Louis vs Conn

[SaadOffTheDeck]

It does divide opinion. But Ali looks on fire and the whole stadium seems to be fighting with him. Love Ali in big fight mood. Thrills me every time.

I don't think I could ever watch it again. ESPN showed it as the only classic fight for a decade. Definitely not a bad fight, but more Holyfield/Tyson than it was FOTY for me.

[lazboy]

Holmes/Witherspoon was better than many of these listed.
.

My favourite heavyweight fight

I watched this today for the first time. The bombing in round 9, my god.

[evrenb]

Frazier vs quarry 1 was a dandy.

[Kalan]

The LAST FIFTY (50) YEARS for me was 1966 - 2016... Some people may not have been conscious for the last 25 of those years.

Some of the better Heavyweight Fights I remember -- I'm probably forgetting a few: 1. Ibeabuchi-Tua... 2. Holmes-Witherspoon... 3. Liakhovich-Brewster... 4. Lewis-Mercer... 5. Holmes vs Weaver... 6. Ortiz-Jennings... 7. Douglas-Tyson... 8. Joshua-Whyte... 9. Klitschko-Lewis... 10. Povetkin-Takam

[Counter-puncher]

Holmes/Witherspoon was better than many of these listed.
.

My favourite heavyweight fight

I watched this today for the first time. The bombing in round 9, my god.

Indeed, some of the best back and forth ever between heavyweights