BoxRec

As a pure boxing fan, an Italian from Chicago, I've never been happier than the night Ricky Hatton fought Zstyu and the night Joe Calzaghe destroyed Jeff Lacy. Especially the Calzaghe fight, with all the shit talking coming from my side of the pond it was fornicating beautiful Joe took a world champion and beat the career out of him, ruined him. We got to watch Jeff Lacy's undoing at the hands of a master on a brilliant night.

What fights were the most memorable nights to you, as a fan.

Wlad-Haye

My favorite fighter dominates my least favorite fighter, ending the "Haye is the saviour" nonsense. The reaction to Haye's toe excuse made it even more enjoyable.

I also enjoyed Kovalev trouncing Hopkins when many were predicting that he'd get a boxing lesson.

Quite a few fights stand out to me. I'll go 2 ways with this question. The time Boxing devastated me most as a fan, and the time it made me happiest

The Most devastating moment for me as a fan came in 2005 with the first Corrales vs Castillo 1 fight. A glorious fight that is remembered fondly for the spectacular war that it is by fight fans everywhere, but for me it hurt quite a bit. See I was a huge JLC fan. Still only a teenager at the time, just about to turn 18...I had been saying for months that JLC was going to break down Corrales in a great fight, and stop him late, I had specifically predicted a 10th round knockout for Castillo...so naturally I was loving the fight. Hell how could you not, but when JLC dropped Corrales in the 10th. I lost my sh*t. I was so happy, here was my prediction coming true, and one of my favorite fighters delivering on the goods I knew he could. I was over the moon. Down goes Corrales...he gets up...Down goes Corrales again...Oh I knew it was over then. By this time I'm walking around the living room beaming from ear to ear. One of my favorites is about to end a great fight with the great finish that I predicted, but then out of the blue Corrales starts rallying back, hurts Castillo badly, and finishes him...never in my life had I had such a feeling of happiness and joy so quickly turn to depression and disbelief. I was speechless, and while everyone else was going crazy talking about how epic the fight was. I was just crushed that my guy had come so close, and then lost in such a way. When Castillo lost, I felt like I lost with him. It sucked, and still to this day I can't enjoy that fight the way other fans do.


As for stand out happy moments. I was over the moon both when Erik Morales beat Manny Pacquiao and when Marcos Maidana beat Adrien Broner. There's been a lot of times that Boxing has made me pretty happy, but not often as happy as those fights made me.

Benn v Mclellan for me, don't think ive ever been as engrossed by a fight as this one, Benn was one of my favourites at the time and Mclellan came over with a very Tyson-esque reputation, I was fully prepared for Benn to be outta there in a couple of rounds so to watch the fight unfold was utterly mesmerising, in fact I don't think any other fight has blown my mind like that one did and I doubt I will ever see another that has that effect on me

Burns beating Martinez to become a world champion is something that makes me realise why i love this sport,i'll always remember Ricky smiling,shaking his head in disbelief as he was announced the new champ,also agree with Hatton/Tszyu and Calzaghe/Lacy which were both incredible nights,especially the latter,history hasnt been too kind on Jeff since that night but i remember the rep he brought over with him

More recent ones were Barker/Geale,Hall/Malinga,Brook/Porter and Lee/Korobov

Froch vs Bute for me.

I expected froch to struggle with him, but we all saw how he demolished him

SFW wrote:As a pure boxing fan, an Italian from Chicago, I've never been happier than the night Ricky Hatton fought Zstyu and the night Joe Calzaghe destroyed Jeff Lacy. Especially the Calzaghe fight, with all the poo talking coming from my side of the pond it was effing beautiful Joe took a world champion and beat the career out of him, ruined him. We got to watch Jeff Lacy's undoing at the hands of a master on a brilliant night.

What fights were the most memorable nights to you, as a fan.

As a Brit those are two of my favourite fights of all time, had a great night watching the Hatton fight with a load of mates, we were willing him to win but didn't think he could, The Joe C fight was an absolute clinic, none of the so called "experts" gave him a chance pre fight. I also like MAB shutting up the little obnoxious bully Naz.

I was there the night Harrison beat Chacon for the world title and that was a special night. Also there when Burns beat Martinez and Mitchell. Calzaghe beating Kessler was excellent. Internationally Cotto battering Margacheato in the rematch was pretty satisfying.

There's probably literally hundreds. There's lots of fights I watch again and again.

Ps, Broner getting roughed up by Maidana was a joy to behold

Stuarty30 wrote:I was there the night Harrison beat Chacon for the world title and that was a special night. Also there when Burns beat Martinez and Mitchell. Calzaghe beating Kessler was excellent. Internationally Cotto battering Margacheato in the rematch was pretty satisfying.

There's probably literally hundreds. There's lots of fights I watch again and again.

Ps, Broner getting roughed up by Maidana was a joy to behold

Maidana/Broner always makes me smile,especially Marcos dry humping him back after Adrien done it earlier

barrera schooling hamed made me feel like order had been restored to the world, and hamed getting slammed into the ring post had me grinning like a cheshire cat

Wayne Alexander knocking out Takaloo

littlepug wrote:barrera schooling hamed made me feel like order had been restored to the world, and hamed getting slammed into the ring post had me grinning like a cheshire cat

Yeah that was great. "I've out-boxed you, out-fought you and now I'm gonna ram your head into the corner post just because you're a jerk."

THEBUTCH wrote:Wayne Alexander knocking out Takaloo

One of the most brutal knockouts I ever saw.

One of the worst nights in boxing for me was when Herol Graham lost his unbeaten record to Kalambay,i thought Graham was unbeatable at the time and i was devastated for a week or more,the best day for me was Lennox winning his title back from Rahman,he should never have lost to him in the first place and that performance showed why,both memorable times for different reasons.On the world scene it would have to be Leonard getting the decision over Hagler.

Benn-Mclellan and Gomez-Arthur,just the mention of either fight takes me straight back to where I was at the time and always gives me goosebumps,even after all of these years.

THEBUTCH wrote:Wayne Alexander knocking out Takaloo

I was there for that one. Wayne was just a freakish puncher.

Benn-Mclellan was a great fight. I don't care about the long term result. McClellan enjoyed torturing animals and dogfights and was an evil b-stard and got what he deserved. Like that Spanish bullfighter. Well done Benn.

Sorry if that sounds cold, not nearly as cold as McClellan was taping up dog's mouths and letting his pitbull destroy them.

rpms wrote:Benn-Mclellan and Gomez-Arthur,just the mention of either fight takes me straight back to where I was at the time and always gives me goosebumps,even after all of these years.

I was gutted after Gomez v Arthur That pain took a while to go away. Looking back Arthur got what he deserved though but Gomez always got on my tits.

littlepug wrote:Benn v Mclellan for me, don't think ive ever been as engrossed by a fight as this one, Benn was one of my favourites at the time and Mclellan came over with a very Tyson-esque reputation, I was fully prepared for Benn to be outta there in a couple of rounds so to watch the fight unfold was utterly mesmerising, in fact I don't think any other fight has blown my mind like that one did and I doubt I will ever see another that has that effect on me

this for me too , have it on video and watched it till the tape nearly wore out . Gary Newbon's ramblings at the end of the fight summed up the chaos that ensued . Was brutal , but I suppose that's why we love boxing so much.

rd350lc wrote:

littlepug wrote:Benn v Mclellan for me, don't think ive ever been as engrossed by a fight as this one, Benn was one of my favourites at the time and Mclellan came over with a very Tyson-esque reputation, I was fully prepared for Benn to be outta there in a couple of rounds so to watch the fight unfold was utterly mesmerising, in fact I don't think any other fight has blown my mind like that one did and I doubt I will ever see another that has that effect on me

this for me too , have it on video and watched it till the tape nearly wore out . Gary Newbon's ramblings at the end of the fight summed up the chaos that ensued . Was brutal , but I suppose that's why we love boxing so much.

Have you ever watched it with American commentary ? its quite a different experience with non Brits calling it

littlepug wrote:

rd350lc wrote:

littlepug wrote:Benn v Mclellan for me, don't think ive ever been as engrossed by a fight as this one, Benn was one of my favourites at the time and Mclellan came over with a very Tyson-esque reputation, I was fully prepared for Benn to be outta there in a couple of rounds so to watch the fight unfold was utterly mesmerising, in fact I don't think any other fight has blown my mind like that one did and I doubt I will ever see another that has that effect on me

this for me too , have it on video and watched it till the tape nearly wore out . Gary Newbon's ramblings at the end of the fight summed up the chaos that ensued . Was brutal , but I suppose that's why we love boxing so much.

Have you ever watched it with American commentary ? its quite a different experience with non Brits calling it

Interesting. I never have. How were they calling it?

reggaereggae wrote:

littlepug wrote:

rd350lc wrote:
this for me too , have it on video and watched it till the tape nearly wore out . Gary Newbon's ramblings at the end of the fight summed up the chaos that ensued . Was brutal , but I suppose that's why we love boxing so much.

Have you ever watched it with American commentary ? its quite a different experience with non Brits calling it

Interesting. I never have. How were they calling it?

Don't give Benn as much credit as our lot did, but their overall reaction to the event in general makes it worth a watch, I've seen a U.S version on YOUTUBE give it a look

The first fight I saw on tv that comes to mind was Witherspoon v Tubbs. I cant remember seeing a fight before that one, but im sure I must have but nothing springs to memory.

The fight that I think I got most excited about was Benn v Watson.

littlepug wrote:Benn v Mclellan for me, don't think ive ever been as engrossed by a fight as this one, Benn was one of my favourites at the time and Mclellan came over with a very Tyson-esque reputation, I was fully prepared for Benn to be outta there in a couple of rounds so to watch the fight unfold was utterly mesmerising, in fact I don't think any other fight has blown my mind like that one did and I doubt I will ever see another that has that effect on me

Totally agree. just turned 17 at the time. Watched it in the market tavern when Carl crook was landlord. Never since experienced such an electric atmosphere I'm a pub. Doubt I will again now tbh. It was epic!! :-D

littlekinny wrote:

littlepug wrote:Benn v Mclellan for me, don't think ive ever been as engrossed by a fight as this one, Benn was one of my favourites at the time and Mclellan came over with a very Tyson-esque reputation, I was fully prepared for Benn to be outta there in a couple of rounds so to watch the fight unfold was utterly mesmerising, in fact I don't think any other fight has blown my mind like that one did and I doubt I will ever see another that has that effect on me

Totally agree. just turned 17 at the time. Watched it in the market tavern when Carl crook was landlord. Never since experienced such an electric atmosphere I'm a pub. Doubt I will again now tbh. It was epic!! :-D

Was in a pub myself, everyone was stood on the tables. And when the end came it was like a mass euphoria, was buzzing for days

littlepug wrote:

littlekinny wrote:

littlepug wrote:Benn v Mclellan for me, don't think ive ever been as engrossed by a fight as this one, Benn was one of my favourites at the time and Mclellan came over with a very Tyson-esque reputation, I was fully prepared for Benn to be outta there in a couple of rounds so to watch the fight unfold was utterly mesmerising, in fact I don't think any other fight has blown my mind like that one did and I doubt I will ever see another that has that effect on me

Totally agree. just turned 17 at the time. Watched it in the market tavern when Carl crook was landlord. Never since experienced such an electric atmosphere I'm a pub. Doubt I will again now tbh. It was epic!! :-D

Was in a pub myself, everyone was stood on the tables. And when the end came it was like a mass euphoria, was buzzing for days

Have you read the Kevin Mitchell book?

He makes I think an interesting point, that the support for Benn that night- and the US team pick up on it, the atmosphere was explosively patriotic- was a massive sign of the progress in race relations in this country. In the arena, a load of coked-up Essex and london boys going mental for a black geezer, and the fact that Benn was indeed a geezer was a big part of that support. I don't think hr says so but I wouldn't be surprised if some of those boys' dads were chucking bottles at hagler 15 years before.