Heavyweight Rivalries

[Ambling Alp]

What have been the best heavweight rivalries between 2 heavyweights?
The main criteria being the quality of their fights, importance of their fights, and how competitive their fights were. (They also have to have fought each other at least twice).

I thought of the following (in no particular order)
Ali-Frazier
Ali-Norton
Walcott-Charles
Louis Schmeling
Marciano-Charles
McVey-Jeanette
McVey-Langford
McVey-Wills
Langford-Jeanette
Langford-Wills
Jeanette-Wills
Jack Sharkey-Schmeling
Jeffries-Tom Sharkey
Holyfield-Bowe
Patterson-Johansson

What do you guys think was the best?

[theone]

Not only is Ali/Fraizer the best rivalry in boxing, but all of sports history. Only Yankees/Red Sox come close.

[Syntax Error]

Ali -v- Frazier stands out the most in HW boxing.

Bowe - Lewis was probably the best rivalry, without a fight ever actually occurring!

Lots of trash talk & insults, but no fights!

[Expug]

Louis - Conn probably not the biggest rivalry but at the time there was a lot of intrest. Shame that when they fought the second time Conn really had nothing left .

[Syntax Error]

Ali -v- Frazier stands out the most in HW boxing.

Bowe - Lewis was probably the best rivalry, without a fight ever actually occurring!

Lots of trash talk & insults, but no fights!

Um, they did fight, in 1988.

I didn't realise that amateur fights counted in this.

[KOJOE90]

In the UK

Henry Cooper - Joe Erskine.
Billy Walker - Johnny Prescott.

[Ambling Alp]

Louis - Conn probably not the biggest rivalry but at the time there was a lot of intrest. Shame that when they fought the second time Conn really had nothing left .

Yeah, I thought about Louis-Conn, but I just don't think it ranked as high as the other rivalries because the 2nd fight was disappointing.

I didn't think of Dempsey-Tunney before, it may be better than a couple that have been mentioned.

[DrDuke]

My top 3 favorite rivalries are Ingemar Johansson vs Floyd Patterson, Evander Holyfield vs Riddick Bowe and Joe Frazier vs Muhammad Ali, no particular order. Well, everything is clear with Holy-Bowe and Frazier-Ali, everybody knows and loves those, but many of people forget about Ingo-Floyd. That was also a great rivalry. 2 classy fighters, a lot of action and competition, KOs in every damn bout.

[oogiebe]

Ali -v- Frazier stands out the most in HW boxing.

Bowe - Lewis was probably the best rivalry, without a fight ever actually occurring!

Lots of trash talk & insults, but no fights!

Yup! Good one!

[oogiebe]

Most impactful: Ali-Frazier
Most exciting through all three fights: Bowe-Holyfield

[Matt W]

Holyfield-Tyson was a great rivalry - very different characters, a fight that was always destined to happen yet was considered past its sell-by date when made, great first fight with one of the biggest upsets in boxing history at the time, and an unprecedented controversy in the rematch.

[oogiebe]

Holyfield-Tyson was a great rivalry - very different characters, a fight that was always destined to happen yet was considered past its sell-by date when made, great first fight with one of the biggest upsets in boxing history at the time, and an unprecedented controversy in the rematch.

AND...it came with a buffet.

[Kalan]

Not only is Ali/Fraizer the best rivalry in boxing, but all of sports history. Only Yankees/Red Sox come close.

Only the first fight was a rivalry... It featured both fighters at their best... Frazier deteriorated rapidly.

Joshua vs Klitschko was the best Heavyweight Fight... But so conclusive Wlad wanted no more.

Patterson-Johansson made a massive splash globally.... Johansson captured the world's imagination.

Dempsey-Tunney brought in the highest gates and attendance in constant dollars.. It was stupendous.

Sullivan vs Corbett ushered in the Queensberry Age... It was the shot heard round the world when Sullivan hit the floor.

[APerno]

John L. Sullivan - Charlie Mitchell

[Scypion]

Charles - Burley
Charles - Bivins
Charles - Marshall
Charles - Moore
Charles - Ray
Charles - Maxim

[Scypion]

Charles - Burley
Charles - Bivins
Charles - Marshall
Charles - Moore
Charles - Ray
Charles - Maxim

Oops, those were light heavyweight rivalries and a middleweight rivalry (Burley).

[writehooks]

George Chuvalo vs. Robert Cleroux.

[Kalan]

Holyfield-Tyson was a great rivalry - very different characters, a fight that was always destined to happen yet was considered past its sell-by date when made, great first fight with one of the biggest upsets in boxing history at the time, and an unprecedented controversy in the rematch.

AND...it came with a buffet.

I saw boxes of chocolates for sale in a novelty shop... They were shaped like ears with bites taken out of them.

They were called Earvanders.

[oogiebe]

Holyfield-Tyson was a great rivalry - very different characters, a fight that was always destined to happen yet was considered past its sell-by date when made, great first fight with one of the biggest upsets in boxing history at the time, and an unprecedented controversy in the rematch.

AND...it came with a buffet.

I saw boxes of chocolates for sale in a novelty shop... They were shaped like ears with bites taken out of them.

They were called Earvanders.

Ok...that was funny!

[handsofstone]

Ruiz/Holyfield

[Tony1244]

Patterson-Johansson isn't talked about as much as some off the others.

Certainly doesn't have the significance or talent of an Ali-Frazier or Louis-Schmeling but the action was Fantastic !

[Kalan]

Patterson-Johansson isn't talked about as much as some off the others.

Certainly doesn't have the significance or talent of an Ali-Frazier or Louis-Schmeling but the action was Fantastic !

It amazing how much the Patterson-Johansson trilogy was talked about when it was happening... Everybody loved the new undefeated Heavyweight Champion who could barely speak English... He was all over TV making commercials for razor blades, dress shirts, cars, ties, and appeared on variety and talk shows... Floyd wasn't happy.

When Ingo was exposed in the rematch many people still had hopes for him... "He was hit with a lucky punch." .... After the 3rd fight people said he was a punk with a cheese chin... Yesterday's news... You have to keep winning.

[gilgamesh]

Patterson-Johansson isn't talked about as much as some off the others.

Certainly doesn't have the significance or talent of an Ali-Frazier or Louis-Schmeling but the action was Fantastic !

It amazing how much the Patterson-Johansson trilogy was talked about when it was happening... Everybody loved the new undefeated Heavyweight Champion who could barely speak English... He was all over TV making commercials for razor blades, dress shirts, cars, ties, and appeared on variety and talk shows... Floyd wasn't happy.

When Ingo was exposed in the rematch many people still had hopes for him... "He was hit with a lucky punch." .... After the 3rd fight people said he was a punk with a cheese chin... Yesterday's news... You have to keep winning.

Supposedly Marciano briefly entertained the idea of coming back and facing Johansson. That would've been interesting, and probably would've been a big money fight too.

[oogiebe]

Patterson-Johansson isn't talked about as much as some off the others.

Certainly doesn't have the significance or talent of an Ali-Frazier or Louis-Schmeling but the action was Fantastic !

It amazing how much the Patterson-Johansson trilogy was talked about when it was happening... Everybody loved the new undefeated Heavyweight Champion who could barely speak English... He was all over TV making commercials for razor blades, dress shirts, cars, ties, and appeared on variety and talk shows... Floyd wasn't happy.

When Ingo was exposed in the rematch many people still had hopes for him... "He was hit with a lucky punch." .... After the 3rd fight people said he was a punk with a cheese chin... Yesterday's news... You have to keep winning.

Supposedly Marciano briefly entertained the idea of coming back and facing Johansson. That would've been interesting, and probably would've been a big money fight too.

I never heard that, but would be interested to know more if there's anything on it. Rocky was a cheap; miserly; MF'er..If quick cash and confident (he was still relatively young) he may have wanted to. Someone must've talked sense to him. Maybe mentioning Sonny Liston would be in the mix...YIKES!

[APerno]

Patterson-Johansson isn't talked about as much as some off the others.

Certainly doesn't have the significance or talent of an Ali-Frazier or Louis-Schmeling but the action was Fantastic !

It amazing how much the Patterson-Johansson trilogy was talked about when it was happening... Everybody loved the new undefeated Heavyweight Champion who could barely speak English... He was all over TV making commercials for razor blades, dress shirts, cars, ties, and appeared on variety and talk shows... Floyd wasn't happy.

When Ingo was exposed in the rematch many people still had hopes for him... "He was hit with a lucky punch." .... After the 3rd fight people said he was a punk with a cheese chin... Yesterday's news... You have to keep winning.

Supposedly Marciano briefly entertained the idea of coming back and facing Johansson. That would've been interesting, and probably would've been a big money fight too.

What if . . .. Patterson would never have gotten to redeem himself, Marciano would have exposed Johansson (as Patterson did the next two times out), winning by KO and convincing subsequent generations that he was in fact the GOAT.