BoxRec

In your opinion, tell us the greatest boxing accomplishment by a boxer in a fight.

Frazier's win over Ali is probably the biggest achievement in boxing. The most popular division in its most popular era. The first fight ever, where two undefeated HW champions faced each other. Ali had the biggest cultural impact on boxing through all its history and Frazier managed to defeat him. Furthermore, the fight itself was a display of great skills and spectacle. It was just HUGE by all means.

Leonard beating hearns.

Hearns ko2 duran. Followed closely by Making Duran say No Mas.

For me, it's Ali besting George Foreman in Africa. Patterson regained his title over a very beatable fighter. But Foreman was considered a monster who absolutely destroyed the two guys who beat Ali. Ali was considered to be too far past his prime to compete with Foreman. This is one of those fights that transcended boxing (like Frazier-Ali I) and pulling off the upset by KO helped cement Ali's legend.

I think Buster Douglas, George Foreman and Ray Leonard all had a win that made everyone go “wow I can’t believe they pulled that off”. Also, you knew something a bit special was happening watching Pacquiao blaze through the weight divisions like he did.

Jaywheel wrote: ↑04 Oct 2020, 19:57 Hearns ko2 duran. Followed closely by Making Duran say No Mas.

Would you say that Hearns and Leonard "whupped" Duran?

I would venture to.

I must say De La Hoya beating Chavez to a pulp ranks also pretty high.

I was surprised that De La Hoya didn't make it for one accomplishment or another. Wasn't there a Muhammad something or another that should be listed as well ?
Beating Iran Barkley gets you in though. Interesting.

Benitez becoming a bona fide world champion at 17 was an incredible accomplishment. Tops my list

Jaywheel wrote: ↑09 Oct 2020, 14:19 I must say De La Hoya beating Chavez to a pulp ranks also pretty high.

That was an old Chavez so can’t rank it that high

bollocks wrote: ↑09 Oct 2020, 16:39 Benitez becoming a bona fide world champion at 17 was an incredible accomplishment. Tops my list

Its also the feat least likely to be repeated. (I mean a Hagler-Leonard rematch also unlikely but big upsets will happen again).

slappy wrote: ↑09 Oct 2020, 20:56

bollocks wrote: ↑09 Oct 2020, 16:39 Benitez becoming a bona fide world champion at 17 was an incredible accomplishment. Tops my list

Its also the feat least likely to be repeated. (I mean a Hagler-Leonard rematch also unlikely but big upsets will happen again).

No question that will never happen again.

I would say Foreman winning the title at 44. But out of the choice voted for Benitez, to beat a prime Cervantes at 17 in the manner he did true definition of a prodigy.

Buster Douglas KO's the "invincible" Mike Tyson..

AntonioMartin wrote: ↑11 Oct 2020, 19:27 Buster Douglas KO's the "invincible" Mike Tyson..

Sub par Tyson or not Buster boxed beautifully that night.

littlepug wrote: ↑11 Oct 2020, 19:39

AntonioMartin wrote: ↑11 Oct 2020, 19:27 Buster Douglas KO's the "invincible" Mike Tyson..

Sub par Tyson or not Buster boxed beautifully that night.

I know! And Tyson was still undefeated before the fight!

How about Floyd's 50 wins and no losses?

elmersalsa wrote: ↑11 Oct 2020, 23:40 How about Floyd's 50 wins and no losses?

If he continued his career without retirement after De La Hoya, if he faced a row of fighters while they would have been fresher, especially Pacquiao, if he didn't make the last two wins out of mismatches, then this number would have been more backed up. It's still impressive, but there are better achievements for sure.

Benitez for me and possibly Spinks next.

Cholo_cws wrote: ↑12 Oct 2020, 06:28 Benitez for me and possibly Spinks next.

I won't call Spinks' achievment that impressive. It was important historically, on paper, but still the greatness of this achievement is a bit lowered by the fact, that Holmes was clearly past prime and he had arguably been coming off a gift decision over Williams.

It's all about the weight, all about the weight.
A couple more that we nave not talked about: Ali win over Foreman has to be considered. Actually, Foreman's destruction of Frazier should be as well.