What is the biggest fight in boxing history?

[KOTF]

No, I'm not talking about in terms of combined mass in the ring, I'm talking about in terms of publicity and importance to the boxing world. What fight gets that distinction?

[teeto]

I don't know shit about the publicity factor, but for the purists i can contribute here.

The one we want to see at the moment is big, let's leave that at that.

Frazier-Ali 1 was one of them, Duran-Leonard may be the ultimate example of when the two best fighters ever shared a ring, ie combined skill in a ring at any given time was at it's all time highest.

Out of curiosity though, how big was Zarate-Zamora for publicity at the time?

Also, Frank Erne and Joe Gans were on some collision course.

[TBooze]

Publicity: Ali/FrazierI; Tyson/Spinks

Importance: Schmeling/LouisII

[McGrain]

Louis-Schmeling and Johnson-Jeffries are the one and two.

[janitor]

Relative to the population at the time I would have to say Cribb Molineux II.

[RockyJim]

My lifetime??? Ali-Frazier 1-1971....All time? Louis-Schmeling II-1938...

[BUDW]

Louis-Schmeling

[sweetsci]

I've got to agree with McGrain - Louis-Schmeling in 1938 is number 1, Johnson-Jeffries is number 2. I'd put Frazier-Ali I at #3. After that I'm not so certain. Today I'll say Tunney-Dempsey II at #4, Ali-Foreman at #5, and Ali-Liston I at #6.

Ali-Liston may seem like a strange pick, but it seems like people were really paying attention at the time, even though they thought Liston would destroy Clay. Ed Sullivan brought his show, and the Beatles, down to Miami the Sunday before the fight, for what that's worth. In the U.S., that type of promotional coverage is only reserved for the Super Bowl these days.

[red cobra]

Fotc...3/8/71.

[trampie]

Wales finest v Phillipines finest the fight the World demanded, fought in New York, USA.

Jimmy Wilde v Pancho Villa , Jimmy Wilde was given a massive sum for 1923 of £13,000 pounds sterling, to tempt him out of his two and a half year retirement to fight the young Phillipino sensation Pancho Villa in the US.

[red cobra]

I've got to agree with McGrain - Louis-Schmeling in 1938 is number 1, Johnson-Jeffries is number 2. I'd put Frazier-Ali I at #3. After that I'm not so certain. Today I'll say Tunney-Dempsey II at #4, Ali-Foreman at #5, and Ali-Liston I at #6.

Ali-Liston may seem like a strange pick, but it seems like people were really paying attention at the time, even though they thought Liston would destroy Clay. Ed Sullivan brought his show, and the Beatles, down to Miami the Sunday before the fight, for what that's worth. In the U.S., that type of promotional coverage is only reserved for the Super Bowl these days.
In your second paragraph there's much truth in what you say.

[MrPook]

Frazier vs Ali I

[Robbi]

Frazier-Ali I
Louis-Schmeling II
Johnson-Jefferies
Hagler-Leonard
Tyson-Holyfield II
Duran-Leonard I

[Duodenum]

Now that the last century is solidly behind us, only one fight carries the acronym "FOTC," and it's not Louis-Schmeling II. During the build-up, it was simply called, "The Fight."

Louis-Schmeling II was obviously huge, and the passing of Louis led off the nationally broadcast news reports primarily on the basis of it. (I believe that was the last time the death of a boxing champion led mainstream news coverage, something not likely to happen again until the passing of Ali.) Louis himself did not want to be addressed as champion until defeating Schmeling, and may have always privately considered this the true beginning of his landmark reign.

After those bouts, it depends on whether you're referring to significance before and during, or after the fact. I'll toss out some other matches for consideration here.

Tunney-Dempsey I & II

Corbett-Sullivan

Fitzsimmons-Corbett. This one was important enough for Enoch Rector to film on location, allowing everybody an opportunity to see the same competitive bout for the first time, not just read about it.

Holmes-Ali. This may have actually been the biggest boxing event in world history, as it was broadcast live to the U.S.S.R. and People's Republic of China. Ali was far bigger than John Lennon ever imagined the Beatles to be, as Red China's state controlled media only acknowledged the existence of the Beatles for the first time when he was murdered (a couple months after Holmes-Ali). The Beatles (and rock music in general) were outlawed in the other Communist states. Ali is infinitely more transcendent.

Duran-Leonard I. The biggest non heavyweight fight of my lifetime. Many believed that the larger and younger SRL was the P4P best in the world at the time. Duran leapfrogged the junior welterweight class to cement his all time P4P status.

Dempsey-Willard, after the fact. At the end of the century, a prominent sports magazine (Sports Illustrated?) ran down their list of the most important of the last 100 years in sports. 1919 was at the top of that list, primarily on the basis of the sensational impact of Dempsey's dethroning of Willard.

Johnson-Burns

Ali-Foreman. The outcome of this one brought the HW Title out of mothballs. Muhammad was a great fighting champion, putting the title up five times in 1966, and twice before April of 1967. After dethroning Big George, he put it up for grabs four times in 1975, and four more times in 1976.

[Unforgiven]

Dempsey's fights with Carpentier, Firpo and Tunney were HUGE

[Rumsfeld]

It's got to be Ali-Frazier I.

That you had two undefeated fighters who each had a legitimate claim to the heavyweight throne is something you just don't see under those circumstances. Add in the political climate surrounding the fight, and I'm hard-pressed to see a stronger argument elsewhere.

[Bigcat]

Johnson v Jeffries and Louis v schmelling spring straight to mind.........

[Vantage_West]

cooney-holmes i think needs a mention...for the wrong reasons but yeah biggest payday of it's time and first time a contender earned as much as the champ...

[redrooster]

build up wise probably Ali-Frazier 1 and 3. I was barely 9 but couldnt get away from the talk which I knew nothing of and had no interest in. It takes a special athlete to gain my notice. Notice I said ATHLETE, not celebrity.

Of utmost importance it was Hagler-Hearns. I would say Leonard-Hagler but that fight was way past due. Hagler-Hearns was the right fight at the right time.

Hype wise it didnt get special attention but it was because going into the summer of 84, and later throughout the fall, interest intensified. By early spring '85, the outcome of this fight was on the minds of every man, woman, and child in the United States, so intriguing was this rare matchup. Surely the most anticipated fight ever and the most electrifying.

[PetethePrince]

FOTC is arguably the biggest sporting event of all time. So that wins. It gets followed by Louis vs Schemling II, then Dempsey vs Tunney then Johnson vs Jeffries.

[MRBILL]

"Tyson-Holy 2" from 1997 was INSANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Still, on a much lesser note, I was drooling for "Foreman-Holy" or "Foreman-Moorer" much more so.......
:bbb:deal

MR.BILL

[TIGEREDGE]

in my lifetime of 26 years, tyson v lewis and holyfield were probably the biggest fights for world wide coverage. lewis v holyfield 1 was nat far behind

been v eubank 1 & 2 brought britain to a standstill. mayweather v hatton was another that had this effect in britain

[KTFO]

FOTC is arguably the biggest sporting event of all time. So that wins. It gets followed by Louis vs Schemling II, then Dempsey vs Tunney then Johnson vs Jeffries.



Louis vs Shommel I was a mega-seller.

[TBooze]

in my lifetime of 26 years, tyson v lewis and holyfield were probably the biggest fights for world wide coverage. lewis v holyfield 1 was nat far behind

been v eubank 1 & 2 brought britain to a standstill. mayweather v hatton was another that had this effect in britain

I disagree about Benn/EubankI; not enough people knew of Chris at the time. Benn/EubankII was helped ln that the Bomber and Lennox were fighting in virtually the same week, and thus we had our last great boxing hurrah in this country.

[bodhi]

Duran-Leonard may be the ultimate example of when the two best fighters ever shared a ring, ie combined skill in a ring at any given time was at it's all time highest.


I think this title is taken either by Greb-Walker or Armstrong-Ross.

[bodhi]

FOTC is arguably the biggest sporting event of all time. So that wins. It gets followed by Louis vs Schemling II, then Dempsey vs Tunney then Johnson vs Jeffries.

I second that.

[turpinr]

My lifetime??? Ali-Frazier 1-1971....All time? Louis-Schmeling II-1938...:goodyes and probably

[Mr Butt]

louis vs schmeling

frazier vs ali I

[TIGEREDGE]

I disagree about Benn/EubankI; not enough people knew of Chris at the time. Benn/EubankII was helped ln that the Bomber and Lennox were fighting in virtually the same week, and thus we had our last great boxing hurrah in this country.


dont remember the first fight but i remember the rematch. i thought the first fight was massive. remember seeing a video of the two signing for the fight on bbc

[GPater11093]

Dempsey vs Carpientier sprung to my mind, Dempsey was raking in 1 million dollar gates in the 20s, how much is that worth now?

Also Johnson vs Jeffries was huge probably my pick for this, there was even an air baloon used to take pictures from above but it went wrong and ended up killing the driver and destroying the camera film.

[lefthook89]

ali/frazier 1

louis/schmelling 2

duran/leonard 1

hagler/hearns

[teeto]

I think this title is taken either by Greb-Walker or Armstrong-Ross.
They're justifiable shouts, i'd still opt for Duran-Leonard 1 as my choice though.