BoxRec

Archie Moore v Yvon Durelle 1 followed closely by Hagler v Hearns.

I'm surprised no one ever mentions some local club fight when discussing greatest fights.
Surely some of the best fights in history were between some ham and eggers

klompton wrote:Fotc

I agree with you 100%. There was not a better fight in history.

davie wrote:I was kidding you know that, right?

I was kidding too. You know that right?

tiny_acres wrote:I'm surprised no one ever mentions some local club fight when discussing greatest fights.
Surely some of the best fights in history were between some ham and eggers

For sheer action, that may be true.
I saw the second fight between Mike "the Bounty" Hunter and Alexander Zolkin. It was very entertaining. Neither guy was a ham and egger, but they were certainly far from great. They put on a tremendous fight. Never saw their first one, but have heard it was entertaining as well.

Duran v Leonard I

Im going domestic and back to 1989 when I was more interested in boxing than I am now.

Nigel Benn v Michael Watson

Benn was knocking everything over and it didnt matter somewhat what the opposition was. Benn was 23-0 and had stopped 23 opponents. He was just an awesome figure in the ring and his style was what boxing fans loved. He too no prisoners and wasnt into trash talking as in many boxers of today. From his hair style to his army entrances Nigel Benn was keeping the eye off the more talented Michael Watson.

Michael Watson started boxing around 3 years earlier and was really kept away from media attention. I would imagine the casual boxing fan hadnt heard of Watson until the Benn fight, but Watson had fought 10 times before Benn made his debut. Benn was fighting more often than Watson but was knocking over 'Mexican road sweepers' but Watson was surely fighting the better boxer. 1988 Watson faced Don Lee in his 16th fight, who had beaten some decent lads himself, Tony Sibson to name one and drew with Doug Dewitt and lost in 9 rounds to a very good Michael Olijade. Watson stopped Lee in 5 rounds at Wembley on a star stooded card while Benn was stopping the 5 fight Byron Prince a few days later.

After another 8 fights or 13 rounds Benn was matched with Michael at Finsbury Park. Watson had fought another 7 times after the Lee fight and fought 30 rounds fighting boxers such as Ricky Stackhouse who himself had previously fought Roberto Duran, Frank Tate, Herol Graham and Curtis Parker. Benn had fought the likes of Anthony Logan and David Noel. but did take the Commonwealth title from a poor African boxer with a very up and down record and beating very poor opposition.

Both Benn and Watson were fighting boxers from the complete opposite sides of the spectrum. While Benn was making the headlines knocking over inept opposition Watson was certainly learning his trade quitely and under the radar. Both men where completely different in style, Benn very gung ho coming forweard wanting a war and slugging, while Watson was the more crafted boxer quitely learning from the more experienced boxers.

Benn was full of himself to the lead up to the fight, declaring he was going to knock out Michael. Not many doubted that.

The fight was all action mainly from Benn early on trying to dispatch Watson from the first round, but Michale was no mug, he didn't mix it up with Benn as that would have played into Benn's hands. Watson covered up and boxed very intelligently wearing Nigel down slowly. Benn ran out of idea's but was slugging to the end which was 1-34 of the 6th round. It seemed a jab to the face from Michael ended the fight, Benn bloodied to the face fell backwards to the canvas but just failed to make the count. John Coyle ended the fight Benn was counted out.

I don't think the Benn 'lovers' could believe what had happened but most of them didn't research Michale Watson's resume.

Those 6 rounds that night was for me one of the best fights domestically I had ever seen, I was one of those fans who hadnt paid any attention to Michael Watson's record and how silent he had been kept. Nigel was busy taking all the attention away from Michale which was proberly the best thing for Michael and his career. Pure genious to stay under the radar and take out the 'main man'

tiny_acres wrote:I'm surprised no one ever mentions some local club fight when discussing greatest fights.
Surely some of the best fights in history were between some ham and eggers

These guys weren't total ham and eggers, but I saw a fight live between Dynamite Billy Douglas and Pedro Soto at MSG's Felt Forum.
'
Billy was Buster's Dad and Soto was a small HW fighting at lightheavy at the time. This was before the cruiserweight division and we're talking about Buster's Dad, so this was a couple of drinks ago.

Anyway, the fight was like Frazier-Ali 1 but with More Action! Billy won a split decision with most of the crowd behind him. Ring Magazine had this as Fight of the Year or runner up, can't remember which.

mimmy123 wrote: After another 8 fights or 13 rounds Benn was matched with Michael at Finsbury Park. Watson had fought another 7 times after the Lee fight and fought 30 rounds fighting boxers such as Ricky Stackhouse who himself had previously fought Roberto Duran, Frank Tate, Herol Graham and Curtis Parker. Benn had fought the likes of Anthony Logan and David Noel. but did take the Commonwealth title from a poor African boxer with a very up and down record and beating very poor opposition.

My word, what a list of names this fella has on his resume.

Good wee story there Mimmy.
One of the few match ups I haven't watch between the good British middleweights of that golden age

Yeah the ending always hurts Castillo vs Corrales for me as well

Why is that? Is there some question as to if Castillo was out on his feet?

keithmoonhangover wrote:Naz-Kelley was a superb fight that doesn't get a lot of press these days.

Spot on.

Those two made a pact to hang their chins out to dry & see which one could take the most punishment before falling & staying fallen.

Absolutely crazy from both of them, but it made for a great see-saw battle that like you have said, doesn'tget mentioned enough these days.

I don't think 2 guys who are making horrendous mistakes and getting decked left and right necessarily make for the greatest fights... I don't enjoy guys who are very skilled.. I enjoy hard fought 12-round fights where there's very little give or take because both guys are really good... I guess that's just me.

Rather that's " I don't enjoy guys who AREN'T very skilled.."

Larry Holmes vs ken Norton was a great fight
my favourite fight is Diego Corrales vs Castillo
the ali Frazier series were probably best fights to happen

sugarramos wrote:Larry Holmes vs ken Norton was a great fight
my favourite fight is Diego Corrales vs Castillo
the ali Frazier series were probably best fights to happen

I was watching a DVD last night, about the 10 greatest heavyweights of all time.
It was Bert Sugars list and they had him and Holmes discussing it at the start. (Sugar put Holmes at no 10, Holmes didn't like that one bit)

They were discussing that Norton fight and that Holmes didn't get the credit for beating a very good fighter in a great fight

As for the Corrales Castillo fight, that's very close to the top of my list. The 10th round is probably my favourite round ever

davie wrote:

mimmy123 wrote: After another 8 fights or 13 rounds Benn was matched with Michael at Finsbury Park. Watson had fought another 7 times after the Lee fight and fought 30 rounds fighting boxers such as Ricky Stackhouse who himself had previously fought Roberto Duran, Frank Tate, Herol Graham and Curtis Parker. Benn had fought the likes of Anthony Logan and David Noel. but did take the Commonwealth title from a poor African boxer with a very up and down record and beating very poor opposition.

My word, what a list of names this fella has on his resume.

Good wee story there Mimmy.
One of the few match ups I haven't watch between the good British middleweights of that golden age

get it watched mate, this fight got me hooked on boxing !

littlepug wrote:

davie wrote:

mimmy123 wrote: After another 8 fights or 13 rounds Benn was matched with Michael at Finsbury Park. Watson had fought another 7 times after the Lee fight and fought 30 rounds fighting boxers such as Ricky Stackhouse who himself had previously fought Roberto Duran, Frank Tate, Herol Graham and Curtis Parker. Benn had fought the likes of Anthony Logan and David Noel. but did take the Commonwealth title from a poor African boxer with a very up and down record and beating very poor opposition.

My word, what a list of names this fella has on his resume.

Good wee story there Mimmy.
One of the few match ups I haven't watch between the good British middleweights of that golden age

get it watched mate, this fight got me hooked on boxing !

Which fight are we talking about? There's a lot of names on there and I can't quite remember the discussion now

davie wrote:

littlepug wrote:

davie wrote:
My word, what a list of names this fella has on his resume.

Good wee story there Mimmy.
One of the few match ups I haven't watch between the good British middleweights of that golden age

get it watched mate, this fight got me hooked on boxing !

Which fight are we talking about? There's a lot of names on there and I can't quite remember the discussion now

ha ha sorry mate its Benn v Watson

littlepug wrote:

davie wrote:

littlepug wrote: get it watched mate, this fight got me hooked on boxing !

Which fight are we talking about? There's a lot of names on there and I can't quite remember the discussion now

ha ha sorry mate its Benn v Watson

No need to apologise dude, it's my memory that's the problem. I only had this discussion recently

To my shame I've still to get finger out and watch this one (although I have this niggling suspicion I may have viewed it a couple years back and forgot it.....I really need to see a doctor about this memory )

Probably the first James Toney vs Mike McCallum fight... The draw... Those were some chins.

davie wrote:

mimmy123 wrote: After another 8 fights or 13 rounds Benn was matched with Michael at Finsbury Park. Watson had fought another 7 times after the Lee fight and fought 30 rounds fighting boxers such as Ricky Stackhouse who himself had previously fought Roberto Duran, Frank Tate, Herol Graham and Curtis Parker. Benn had fought the likes of Anthony Logan and David Noel. but did take the Commonwealth title from a poor African boxer with a very up and down record and beating very poor opposition.

My word, what a list of names this fella has on his resume.

Good wee story there Mimmy.
One of the few match ups I haven't watch between the good British middleweights of that golden age

Have you watched it yet Davie? Great fight, unmissable

Tomasino wrote:

davie wrote:

mimmy123 wrote: After another 8 fights or 13 rounds Benn was matched with Michael at Finsbury Park. Watson had fought another 7 times after the Lee fight and fought 30 rounds fighting boxers such as Ricky Stackhouse who himself had previously fought Roberto Duran, Frank Tate, Herol Graham and Curtis Parker. Benn had fought the likes of Anthony Logan and David Noel. but did take the Commonwealth title from a poor African boxer with a very up and down record and beating very poor opposition.

My word, what a list of names this fella has on his resume.

Good wee story there Mimmy.
One of the few match ups I haven't watch between the good British middleweights of that golden age

Have you watched it yet Davie? Great fight, unmissable

I'll get to it

davie wrote:

sugarramos wrote:Larry Holmes vs ken Norton was a great fight
my favourite fight is Diego Corrales vs Castillo
the ali Frazier series were probably best fights to happen

I was watching a DVD last night, about the 10 greatest heavyweights of all time.
It was Bert Sugars list and they had him and Holmes discussing it at the start. (Sugar put Holmes at no 10, Holmes didn't like that one bit)

They were discussing that Norton fight and that Holmes didn't get the credit for beating a very good fighter in a great fight

As for the Corrales Castillo fight, that's very close to the top of my list. The 10th round is probably my favourite round ever

I have that dvd as well I respect burt sugar
I think larry saw the list in the context of who could beat who (like when he starting talking about ali louis) not achievement and other things
what do you think about burt putting him at 10 agree or disagree

sugarramos wrote:

davie wrote:

sugarramos wrote:Larry Holmes vs ken Norton was a great fight
my favourite fight is Diego Corrales vs Castillo
the ali Frazier series were probably best fights to happen

I was watching a DVD last night, about the 10 greatest heavyweights of all time.
It was Bert Sugars list and they had him and Holmes discussing it at the start. (Sugar put Holmes at no 10, Holmes didn't like that one bit)

They were discussing that Norton fight and that Holmes didn't get the credit for beating a very good fighter in a great fight

As for the Corrales Castillo fight, that's very close to the top of my list. The 10th round is probably my favourite round ever

I have that dvd as well I respect burt sugar
I think larry saw the list in the context of who could beat who (like when he starting talking about ali louis) not achievement and other things
what do you think about burt putting him at 10 agree or disagree

I have him top 5 to be honest, I thought it was harsh.

I haven't watched past Holmes, Frazier and Foreman who were 10/9/8 respectively but I think it would be ranking behind those guys from his era that would bother Holmes rather than guys like Dempsey, Johnston, Louis or Marciano I reckon

FightWriter wrote:

Yeah the ending always hurts Castillo vs Corrales for me as well

Why is that? Is there some question as to if Castillo was out on his feet?

No. More as to the bullshitt Corrales and his corner put out and the time wasted on the mouthpiece getting "cleaned".