BoxRec

BoxBuzz wrote:

Borinken25 wrote:Sugar Ray Robinson vs Carmen Basilio
Roberto Duran vs Sugar Ray Leonard
Marvin Hagler vs Thomas Hearns
Marvin Hagler vs Sugar Ray Leonard
Wilfredo Gomez vs Salvador Sanchez

I like this list as well. Gomez Sanchez was huge.

I agree with borinken too.

These are the 10 most anticipated fights in history in my view.

1. Ali vs Frazier I: there would never be a night like that one. Until this day, the anticipation and the thought of 2 great champions with different personalities made the fight even bigger...It did not need more hype.

2. Johnson vs Jeffries: America stopped in that hot and sunny day of July 4th, 1910 to see this anticipated match.

3. Ali vs Foreman: the whole world stopped to see Ali tangle a man
considered invincible at the time.

4. Dempsey vs Tunney II: the history of "The Long Count" that had every body talking until this day. Can Tunney do it again??? He did, but with a little controversy.

5. Duran vs Leonard I: there would never be a night like this one, outside the heavyweight division. It was the fight that every body wanted to see, regardless. The greatest lightweight and best fighter of the 70s vs a future all time great and best fighter of the 80s


6. Clay vs Liston: the fight that changed the world of sports...An invincible champ fights a young and brash future "Greatest"


7. Leonard vs Hearns I: Never seen 2 all time greats in their prime, and almost equally match in almost everything, go at it. The anticipation was not greater like Duran vs Leonard I in Montreal, but was mighty close.


8. Tyson vs Holyfield II: after Holy whupped Tyson, people wanted to see if he could do it again. A record of 30 million dollars for both fighters and is the biggest fight in pay per view. The outcome of the fight did not passed the anticipations. Tyson bites and the sport is never the same since.

9. Tito vs DeLaHoya: another dissapointing fight, but is the biggest grossing fight in PPV history outside the heavyweight class.


10. Sanchez vs Gomez: the Battle of the Little Giants was as radiant and unforgettable. Never a fight in Latin America meant so much as this one. This fight fit the bill. Both giants in their own right. I would never forget it.

Other anticipated fights that should have happened then, but happened later:

1. Leonard vs Hagler in 1982...It should have been that year, not 5 years later.


2. Tyson vs Holyfield in 1991...This would have been #1 or #2 in anticipation, but Tyson cracked his ribs in training and got jailed for rape.

Elmer, this is a pretty good list. All of these fights were much anticipated before they took place.
Schmeling-Louis II would be the only one that I can think of that was bigger than some of your fights in your top 10.

Some other fights that deserve consideration:
Tyson-Spinks
Lewis-Tyson (A lot of people thought Tyson would blow Lewis away)
Ali-Quarry I (Ali's first fight back after his exile)
Holmes-Cooney
Dempsey-Carpentier

Maybe the first superfight - Gans-Nelson I

One way to tell if a fight is a "superfight" is talk to people who aren't fight fans (or better yet, not even sports fans) and ask if they had heard about the upcoming fight.

In my case, I ask my mother. If she knows about a fight in advance, it's a superfight.

Ambling Alp wrote:Elmer, this is a pretty good list. All of these fights were much anticipated before they took place.
Schmeling-Louis II would be the only one that I can think of that was bigger than some of your fights in your top 10.

Some other fights that deserve consideration:
Tyson-Spinks
Lewis-Tyson (A lot of people thought Tyson would blow Lewis away)
Ali-Quarry I (Ali's first fight back after his exile)
Holmes-Cooney
Dempsey-Carpentier

Maybe the first superfight - Gans-Nelson I

One way to tell if a fight is a "superfight" is talk to people who aren't fight fans (or better yet, not even sports fans) and ask if they had heard about the upcoming fight.

In my case, I ask my mother. If she knows about a fight in advance, it's a superfight.

You are exactly right Alp. How could I forgot the Louis vs Schmeling II bout??? It was one of the most anticipated showdowns in boxing history bar none and definately should be in the top 10 in terms of anticipation...The whole world, and specially America was listening to the radio. Louis becomes the American Hero and Germany surrenders by punches of the Brown Bomber.

So I have to modify my list like this:

1. Ali vs Frazier I
2. Louis vs Schmeling II
3. Johnson vs Jeffries
4. Ali vs Foreman
5. Dempsey vs Tunney II
6. Duran vs Leonard I
7. Clay vs Liston I
8. Leonard vs Hearns I
9. Tyson vs Holyfield II
10. Tito vs DeLaHoya

Honorary Mention:
Sanchez vs Gomez
Hagler vs Leonard
Louis vs Conn II

The fights that should have been right then:
Hagler vs Leonard in 1982 or 83
Tyson vs Holyfield in 1991 or 92
Leonard vs Pryor in 1983

Now, these are the most anticipated fights in my view. Thanks, Alp.

At the time, I remember a lot of build-up and anticipation (at least in boxing circles) for RJJ and Toney at 168. Everyone knew these two were the best middles / super middles around. Although I admit it was probably not so well known to the general public.

Also, i think Barrera-Morales I should get an honorary mention, at least for Mexican fans.

Well, Rocky Marciano VERSUS Muhammad Ali was a pretty big fight! (Although it never really happened)

Actually, the fight was sooo big, that they labelled it "The Superfight of The Century"....

What about them apples.....