BoxRec

overhand_right wrote: ↑25 Sep 2026, 08:09 Lewis Bruno barely drew flies and was broadcast on expensive Sky which not many UK households had in 1993.

Had Lewis been better managed and kept on terrestrial television, and the fight staged at Wembley, it could've been bigger, but even then you'd have the issue of Lewis's lack of charisma and funny accent.

Bruno/Bugner was big.

Bruno Witherspoon was massive

paultom wrote: ↑25 Sep 2026, 08:14

overhand_right wrote: ↑25 Sep 2026, 08:09 Lewis Bruno barely drew flies and was broadcast on expensive Sky which not many UK households had in 1993.

Had Lewis been better managed and kept on terrestrial television, and the fight staged at Wembley, it could've been bigger, but even then you'd have the issue of Lewis's lack of charisma and funny accent.

Bruno/Bugner was big.

Bruno Witherspoon was massive

Yeah about 40k I think?

He still drew millions of viewers on BBC in the 90s but I doubt he could've brought 40K to Wembley by 1993. The fight crowd had cooled on him. McCall in the same venue in 95 was very sparsely attended.

That said, there's more appreciation now for that time and these fighters and it we could somehow restore Bruno to his prime he'd bring 90-100K out.

JC wrote: ↑24 Sep 2026, 17:54 Wouldn’t ‘fight of the century’ only include fights from 2000 onward?

Yes. Everyone but you seems to be overlooking that we're not in the 20th Century anymore

Back in the last century, in the 1930's, there used to be a load of fights with 50,000+ in attendance & full on media coverage.

Jack Petersen, Len Harvey and others would regularly draw massive crowds.

Harvey, from a little town in Cornwall, drew over 90,000 on 2 or 3 occasions.

It is about the metric. I just by 'importance'. But I also know Jake Paul vs Fury would sell more tickets than any real fight.

But two has-been heavyweights pretending it is 2021 will not rock my world and I won't be alone..

I will watch, then forget.

Taansend wrote: ↑25 Sep 2026, 11:56

JC wrote: ↑24 Sep 2026, 17:54 Wouldn’t ‘fight of the century’ only include fights from 2000 onward?

Yes. Everyone but you seems to be overlooking that we're not in the 20th Century anymore

Not necessarily.
I don’t want to sound like Mister Logic but…. A century means a period of 100 years. So from 1927-2026 in this case. However if one uses the Gregorian calendar, and one is deliberately specifying a 100 year period delineated from Christ’s birth, one can separate these set periods of 100 years - IE 20th Century (1900-1999), 21st century (2000-2099) and so on. The question didn’t specify which definition is to be applied, and from the wording, one cannot assume which is the intended time frame.

Over to you Master G - 21st century or 100 years from posting date of said post.

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑25 Sep 2026, 12:40

Taansend wrote: ↑25 Sep 2026, 11:56

JC wrote: ↑24 Sep 2026, 17:54 Wouldn’t ‘fight of the century’ only include fights from 2000 onward?

Yes. Everyone but you seems to be overlooking that we're not in the 20th Century anymore

Not necessarily.
I don’t want to sound like Mister Logic but…. A century means a period of 100 years. So from 1927-2026 in this case. However if one uses the Gregorian calendar, and one is deliberately specifying a 100 year period delineated from Christ’s birth, one can separate these set periods of 100 years - IE 20th Century (1900-1999), 21st century (2000-2099) and so on. The question didn’t specify which definition is to be applied, and from the wording, one cannot assume which is the intended time frame.

Over to you Master G - 21st century or 100 years from posting date of said post.

But the header says THE Century implying the century that we're currently in, not just a span of 100 years.

For your scenario it should say "Fight of A Century" but it specifically says The Century means the 21st Century we are currently existing in.

Taansend wrote: ↑25 Sep 2026, 13:39

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑25 Sep 2026, 12:40

Taansend wrote: ↑25 Sep 2026, 11:56

Yes. Everyone but you seems to be overlooking that we're not in the 20th Century anymore

Not necessarily.
I don’t want to sound like Mister Logic but…. A century means a period of 100 years. So from 1927-2026 in this case. However if one uses the Gregorian calendar, and one is deliberately specifying a 100 year period delineated from Christ’s birth, one can separate these set periods of 100 years - IE 20th Century (1900-1999), 21st century (2000-2099) and so on. The question didn’t specify which definition is to be applied, and from the wording, one cannot assume which is the intended time frame.

Over to you Master G - 21st century or 100 years from posting date of said post.

But the header says THE Century implying the century that we're currently in, not just a span of 100 years.

For your scenario it should say "Fight of A Century" but it specifically says The Century means the 21st Century we are currently existing in.

Ok so who do you have?

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑25 Sep 2026, 14:57 Ok so who do you have?

Fury, quite comfortably. I want AJ though.

Funnily enough I used your argument against a friend a few years back when Bowie & Prince died he asked "Has there ever been two such musical talents die in the same year as these two?"

So I said "Lennon & Marley". He said that was different years but it was within the Earth going around the Sun one time so within a year.

Taansend wrote: ↑25 Sep 2026, 15:26

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑25 Sep 2026, 14:57 Ok so who do you have?

Fury, quite comfortably. I want AJ though.

Funnily enough I used your argument against a friend a few years back when Bowie & Prince died he asked "Has there ever been two such musical talents die in the same year as these two?"

So I said "Lennon & Marley". He said that was different years but it was within the Earth going around the Sun one time so within a year.

Nice

I would say this might be the biggest.

Closest to compare was Bruno vs Lewis, but not many gave Bruno a chance. Bruno vs Bugner was big, but again not a 50:50 fight with most.

Froch vs Groves 2 though might have been the pinnacle. Hyoe, hard to call and geniuses world class operators at the peak of their powers

What would be the biggest fights involving a British fighter and an away fighter on British soil this century?

Probably Joshua vs Klitschko and Hatton vs Tszyu right? I can't think of anything bigger than those 2. Those were honestly bigger fights with more at stake than anything that has gone on in an all British showdown on British soil.

At one time Fury vs Joshua could've been for the Undisputed Heavyweight Title which really would've put it over the top, but alas it was not to be. Better late than never. If the fight is still competitive, and exciting, it'll still have been worth doing, and i hope for the sake of the fighters and the fans it is.

It's really not a fight that interests me at all. They've both been comprehensively beaten. I don't think it's going to do the super numbers they are all expecting. A lot of bluster is gone from the fight. They will organise some fake altercations in the build up which will probably help.

I don't know Fury's pretty goddamn good at hyping up a bout you gotta give him that, and I think with Joshua having just done the thing with Jake Paul last year he's still got cache with casuals.

Ricky wrote: ↑24 Sep 2026, 13:51 Who cares, they're both rubbish, it's just hype. The fights meaningless.

Oh wow! I never thought we'd agree on anything, i couldn't give two fcuks about this fight either. Their last fights made it even less meaningful, 10 years ago it would have been epic, now, who cares?

Nightmare Roy wrote: ↑26 Sep 2026, 01:04
Oh wow! I never thought we'd agree on anything, i couldn't give two fcuks about this fight either. Their last fights made it even less meaningful, 10 years ago it would have been epic, now, who cares?

When Ali & Frazier fought their 3rd bout people said they were both past it.

Ali had been 'knocked down' by Chuck Wepner earlier that year while Frazier had struggled against Jimmy Ellis in his previous bout - who had only won one of six previous bouts.

It ended up being an all time classic.

Now I ain't saying these two are close to Ali & Frazier or that it will be as good as that bout but I am saying You Never Know.

And I know that Nightmare Roy will be watching

One could hope but i dont think the fight will see the 4th round either way.

After the fight is over, and everyone comes to the conclusion they really are both shot, and the undercard was rubbish, it won't even register as fight of the year.

Taansend wrote: ↑26 Sep 2026, 02:37

Nightmare Roy wrote: ↑26 Sep 2026, 01:04
Oh wow! I never thought we'd agree on anything, i couldn't give two fcuks about this fight either. Their last fights made it even less meaningful, 10 years ago it would have been epic, now, who cares?

When Ali & Frazier fought their 3rd bout people said they were both past it.

Ali had been 'knocked down' by Chuck Wepner earlier that year while Frazier had struggled against Jimmy Ellis in his previous bout - who had only won one of six previous bouts.

It ended up being an all time classic.

Now I ain't saying these two are close to Ali & Frazier or that it will be as good as that bout but I am saying You Never Know.

And I know that Nightmare Roy will be watching

I'll watch sure because it's on Netflix and i subscribe any way, would i pay for ppv? No chance. Isn't the fight off again anyways? It was on for a day and now there are more issues, this lot couldn't arrange a piss up in a pub by the sounds of it. I'm sure it will.be back on again soon and I'll have to endure Eddeh telling us it's the biggest sporting event in British history yadda yadda yadda, it really isn't though it could have been if it happened at the right time.

My thoughts about the biggest UK fights between two British boxers (i.e. within the last 100 years, not since the year 2000):

• Free-TV UK reach: Benn–Eubank II and Bruno–Bugner
• Historic live attendance: Harvey–McAvoy IV
• Modern all-British attendance: Fury–Whyte
• Modern domestic-event breakthrough: Froch–Groves II
• Established heavyweight championship significance: Lewis–Bruno
• Global/commercial scale: Fury–Joshua

Nightmare Roy wrote: ↑26 Sep 2026, 04:40 I'll watch sure because it's on Netflix and i subscribe any way, would i pay for ppv? No chance. Isn't the fight off again anyways? It was on for a day and now there are more issues, this lot couldn't arrange a piss up in a pub by the sounds of it. I'm sure it will.be back on again soon and I'll have to endure Eddeh telling us it's the biggest sporting event in British history yadda yadda yadda, it really isn't though it could have been if it happened at the right time.

Yeah I just woke up to a load of Youtube videos saying the fight is off. All a bit pathetic.

Eolaithe wrote: ↑26 Sep 2026, 07:27 My thoughts about the biggest UK fights between two British boxers (i.e. within the last 100 years, not since the year 2000):

• Free-TV UK reach: Benn–Eubank II and Bruno–Bugner
• Historic live attendance: Harvey–McAvoy IV
• Modern all-British attendance: Fury–Whyte
• Modern domestic-event breakthrough: Froch–Groves II
• Established heavyweight championship significance: Lewis–Bruno
• Global/commercial scale: Fury–Joshua

I think this is best way to measure Froch-Groves II.

It had some cut through, but was nowhere near as big amongst the general public as some of the other fights mentioned here.

It was big amongst boxing and casual sport fans, but stopped there.

Everyone, from your kid sister to your granny, was invested in Benn Eubank and Bruno Witherspoon.

I wonder if some on here are too young to remember the level of interest for those earlier fights. It was equivalent to England at a World Cup.

I think Tyson-Joshua might surprise with the level of interest it generates in the last couple of weeks of build up.

It will certainly eclipse Froch-Groves amongst the general public.

Already has. Lots of non boxing fans mentioning it to me already who would look at you blankly if you started discussing Froch Groves.

Eolaithe wrote: ↑26 Sep 2026, 07:27 My thoughts about the biggest UK fights between two British boxers (i.e. within the last 100 years, not since the year 2000):

• Free-TV UK reach: Benn–Eubank II and Bruno–Bugner
• Historic live attendance: Harvey–McAvoy IV
• Modern all-British attendance: Fury–Whyte
• Modern domestic-event breakthrough: Froch–Groves II
• Established heavyweight championship significance: Lewis–Bruno
• Global/commercial scale: Fury–Joshua

Was Eubank- Benn 2 bigger than the first fight? It seemed to me Eubank - Benn 1 was bigger in viewers and hype at the time. They were on talk shows etc everywhere in the tabloid press… and I remember everyone was talking about the fight - even people that didn’t care about boxing. EDIT - I think both had similar viewers

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑26 Sep 2026, 13:56

Eolaithe wrote: ↑26 Sep 2026, 07:27 My thoughts about the biggest UK fights between two British boxers (i.e. within the last 100 years, not since the year 2000):

• Free-TV UK reach: Benn–Eubank II and Bruno–Bugner
• Historic live attendance: Harvey–McAvoy IV
• Modern all-British attendance: Fury–Whyte
• Modern domestic-event breakthrough: Froch–Groves II
• Established heavyweight championship significance: Lewis–Bruno
• Global/commercial scale: Fury–Joshua

Was Eubank- Benn 2 bigger than the first fight? It seemed to me Eubank - Benn 1 was bigger in viewers and hype at the time. They were on talk shows etc everywhere in the tabloid press… and I remember everyone was talking about the fight - even people that didn’t care about boxing. EDIT - I think both had similar viewers

Eubank was a crossover star by the rematch, in the first fight he wasn't. I remember that day well, I went to visit my ex at her hairdressers in the morning and three old dears were all taking about watching the fight that night. It felt like everyone was watching the rematch.

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑26 Sep 2026, 14:59

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑26 Sep 2026, 13:56

Eolaithe wrote: ↑26 Sep 2026, 07:27 My thoughts about the biggest UK fights between two British boxers (i.e. within the last 100 years, not since the year 2000):

• Free-TV UK reach: Benn–Eubank II and Bruno–Bugner
• Historic live attendance: Harvey–McAvoy IV
• Modern all-British attendance: Fury–Whyte
• Modern domestic-event breakthrough: Froch–Groves II
• Established heavyweight championship significance: Lewis–Bruno
• Global/commercial scale: Fury–Joshua

Was Eubank- Benn 2 bigger than the first fight? It seemed to me Eubank - Benn 1 was bigger in viewers and hype at the time. They were on talk shows etc everywhere in the tabloid press… and I remember everyone was talking about the fight - even people that didn’t care about boxing. EDIT - I think both had similar viewers

Eubank was a crossover star by the rematch, in the first fight he wasn't. I remember that day well, I went to visit my ex at her hairdressers in the morning and three old dears were all taking about watching the fight that night. It felt like everyone was watching the rematch.

even the Eubank-Collins fights were household news. the hypnosis. was great times