Best UK fight cards
Posted: 25 May 2017, 10:50
Just thinking back to the better UK fight cards we have had over the years....
I have to say I stepped away from boxing from the mid 00s for a bit, although so I may have missed something in that time.
Just a few events below which i think were some of the better cards since the mid 90s....
02 September 1995
Oliver McCall v Frank Bruno WBC World heavyweight title
Nigel Benn v Daniel Perez WBC World super middleweight title
Virgil Hillv Drake Thadzi WBA World light heavyweight title
08 February 1997
Naseem Hamed v Tom Johnson IBF WBO
Robin Reid v Giovanni Pretorius WBC
Steve Collins v Frederic Sellier WBO
Jake Matala v Mickey Cantwell WBO
Harry Simon v John Bosco
11 October 1997
Naseem Hamed v Jose Badillo WBO
Joe Calzaghe v Chris Eubank WBO
Johnny Nelson v Dirk Wallyn EBU
Paul Ingle v Jon Jo Irwin Brit Comm
18 April 1998
Naseem Hamed v Wilfredo Vasquez WBO
Carl Thompson v Chris Eubank WBO
Herbie Hide v Damon Reed WBO
Ensley Bingham v Jim Rock
Robin Reid v Graham Townsend
Junior Witter v Jan Piet Bergman
Ricky Hatton v Karl Taylor
15 July 2000
Lennox Lewis v Francois Botha WBC IBF IBO
Wlad Klitchko v Monte Barrett
Adrian Stone v Geoff McCreesh
Scott Harrison v Tom Johnson
Noel Wilders v Paul Lloyd
10 Sept 2016
Kell Brook v GGG WBC IBF IBO
Haskins v Hall IBF
Ward v Townsend Brit
Casimero v Edwards IBF
I struggle to find better cards in the noughties, largely due to Hatton being one of the few star attractions and his undercards were normally quite underwhelming.
We have obviously had great "event" fights since, most recently Joshua v Klitchko/ Froch v Groves but generally the undercards dont seem as good as they were in the cards above.
This isnt meant to bash any specific promoter... but those late 90s Allegedly cards were pretty good. His quality slipped afterwards, probably realising he could sell out big arenas with just Hatton headlining, the same model Hearn has used with Joshua.
I really think a "Big" card should have a couple of good world title fights and a EBU or a British fight or two.
Just my thoughts.... clearly the money is there in boxing again and it doesnt seem unreasonable, especially if its a PPV
I have to say I stepped away from boxing from the mid 00s for a bit, although so I may have missed something in that time.
Just a few events below which i think were some of the better cards since the mid 90s....
02 September 1995
Oliver McCall v Frank Bruno WBC World heavyweight title
Nigel Benn v Daniel Perez WBC World super middleweight title
Virgil Hillv Drake Thadzi WBA World light heavyweight title
08 February 1997
Naseem Hamed v Tom Johnson IBF WBO
Robin Reid v Giovanni Pretorius WBC
Steve Collins v Frederic Sellier WBO
Jake Matala v Mickey Cantwell WBO
Harry Simon v John Bosco
11 October 1997
Naseem Hamed v Jose Badillo WBO
Joe Calzaghe v Chris Eubank WBO
Johnny Nelson v Dirk Wallyn EBU
Paul Ingle v Jon Jo Irwin Brit Comm
18 April 1998
Naseem Hamed v Wilfredo Vasquez WBO
Carl Thompson v Chris Eubank WBO
Herbie Hide v Damon Reed WBO
Ensley Bingham v Jim Rock
Robin Reid v Graham Townsend
Junior Witter v Jan Piet Bergman
Ricky Hatton v Karl Taylor
15 July 2000
Lennox Lewis v Francois Botha WBC IBF IBO
Wlad Klitchko v Monte Barrett
Adrian Stone v Geoff McCreesh
Scott Harrison v Tom Johnson
Noel Wilders v Paul Lloyd
10 Sept 2016
Kell Brook v GGG WBC IBF IBO
Haskins v Hall IBF
Ward v Townsend Brit
Casimero v Edwards IBF
I struggle to find better cards in the noughties, largely due to Hatton being one of the few star attractions and his undercards were normally quite underwhelming.
We have obviously had great "event" fights since, most recently Joshua v Klitchko/ Froch v Groves but generally the undercards dont seem as good as they were in the cards above.
This isnt meant to bash any specific promoter... but those late 90s Allegedly cards were pretty good. His quality slipped afterwards, probably realising he could sell out big arenas with just Hatton headlining, the same model Hearn has used with Joshua.
I really think a "Big" card should have a couple of good world title fights and a EBU or a British fight or two.
Just my thoughts.... clearly the money is there in boxing again and it doesnt seem unreasonable, especially if its a PPV