BoxRec

Even harder to make a top ten from this era, so many fights to choose from... .... but here goes!.......

1. Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier 3
2. Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier 2
3. Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman
4. Danny 'Red' Lopez vs Mike Ayala
5. Mathew Saad Muhammad vs Richie Kates
6. Ruben Olivares vs Alexis Arguello
7. Bobby Chacon vs Danny Lopez
8. Larry Holmes vs earnie Shavers 2
9. Larry Holmes vs Ken Norton
10. Chartai Chinoi vs Efren Torres
.........................................................views anyone?.... 8)

I'm guessing you meant Ali-Frazier I and not II. The second bout was nontitle and not very compelling.

You listed Saad Muhummad-Kates (didn't see that) but I doubt it was better than Saad Muhummad-Marvin Johnson II. That was a great fight and would be on my list.

You forgot Foreman-Lyle! I'm sure this was unintentional as this was one of the great heavy slugfests of all time.

Ali-Frazier I...perhaps the action didn't completely live up to the hype...but considering what was at stake, and considering it was 2 undefeated heavyweight champions, both on many all time lists, both still in their 20's...top fight in the decade...

...others I liked...

Duran-Buchanan

Monzon-Benvenuti

Ali-Norton II

Holmes-Norton

Ali-Foreman

Ali-Frazier III

Bob Foster-Finnegan

(all 3) Duran-Esteban DeJesus

silkov wrote:Even harder to make a top ten from this era, so many fights to choose from... .... but here goes!.......

1. Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier 3
2. Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier 2
3. Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman
4. Danny 'Red' Lopez vs Mike Ayala
5. Mathew Saad Muhammad vs Richie Kates
6. Ruben Olivares vs Alexis Arguello
7. Bobby Chacon vs Danny Lopez
8. Larry Holmes vs earnie Shavers 2
9. Larry Holmes vs Ken Norton
10. Chartai Chinoi vs Efren Torres
.........................................................views anyone?.... 8)

I think the first Ali-Frazier is much better then the other 2. The Thrilla is entertaining but seeing how slowed down they both had become by that point is kind of sad.
Holmes-Shavers 2 save the KD is not too entertaining . .too one-sided.

Those were some great fights. I agree that the 2nd Matthew Saad Muhammad-Marvin Johnson was a great fight. Of course both of those guys were in a lot of great fights.
I remember the Jimmy Young -Ken Norton fight as being very exciting, but I haven't seen it since it happened in 1977.
Ron Lyle-Earnie Shavers was pretty wild.
For their action and importance, I would have to put Ali-Frazier III and Ali-Foreman at the top.