Most Important Fights in Boxing History?

[Jetset78]

Please take into account the significance of the fight, fan excitement, world media coverage.

I would be interested in your views

The obvious ones:
Clay vs Liston
Ali vs Frazier 1,2,3
Ali vs Foreman

Frazier vs Foreman I

Tyson vs Lewis
Tyson vs Spinks
Tyson vs Douglas

Hagler vs Hearns
Hagler vs Leonard

Mayweather vs De La Hoya


I'm sure there are lots more...

[JAB5239]

The two most important fights were Jack Johnson beating Tommy Burns, and Joe Louis defeating Max Schmeling in their second fight.

[PH|LLA]

Duran vs SRL was huge
SRL vs Hearns

Oscar vs Tito


but Jab is right about those 2 being even more important

[Jetset78]

The two most important fights were Jack Johnson beating Tommy Burns, and Joe Louis defeating Max Schmeling in their second fight.

Very good picks - told you I had missed some!

[saul_ir34]

For the hardcore fans. The most anticipated fight the past 2 years were
Rafa Marquez- Israel Vasquez I II and III.
I dont think as a hardcore fan there was a fight we looked forward to more.

[bxrfan]

Jones-Ruiz from a historical standpoint.

[cardstars]

For the hardcore fans. The most anticipated fight the past 2 years were
Rafa Marquez- Israel Vasquez I II and III.
I dont think as a hardcore fan there was a fight we looked forward to more.

And now let us pray for #4

[cardstars]

And also as of recently MANY people were patiently waiting for Pac-JMM II

[JAB5239]

Ali vs Foreman has to rank up there.

[Tencount85]

Ali-Frazier 3? Well, famous anyway.

[pryorgatti]

Joe Louis vs Max Schmeling II

Sugar Ray Robinson vs Jake LaMotta

Henry Armstrong vs Lou Ambers
Henry Armstrong vs Barney Ross

Willie Pep vs Sandy Saddler

Aaron Pryor vs Alexis Arguello

Ali vs Liston
Ali vs Frazier
Ali vs Foreman

Tyson vs Berbick
Tyson vs Tucker
Tyson vs Spinks

Chavez vs Taylor I
Chavez vs Whitaker

SRL vs Duran
SRL vs Hearns

DLH vs Trinidad
DLH vs Mosley I

[Bobby Tony]

Jack Johnson-Jim Jeffries

Louis-Schmeling II

Frazier-Ali I

the three fights of the 20th century

[randeris]

Louis - Schmeling II

Ali - Foreman

Ali - Frazier I and III

[Grant1]

Muhammad Ali vs Chuck Wepner

May not seem it at first glance, but this fight served as the inspiration for the Rocky series which in turn got many youngsters hooked on boxing. Probably many people posting on this site !!

[saul_ir34]

And now let us pray for #4

Im praying for them. It cant be good for their health.

[truewarrior]

Chavez V Camacho
Tyson V Holyfield

[David_TheMan]

Louis vs. Schmelling hands down.

[BewareofDawg]

Importance to the world of sports:
Louis vs Schmelling

Importance to the sport of boxing:
Fight of the Century

[jbrunner3]

1. Ali vs Frazier
2. Leonard vs Duran
3. Hagler vs Leonard
4. Chavez vs Whitaker
5. Ali vs Foreman
6. JLouis vs Schmeling 2
7. Tyson vs MSpinks
8. Ali vs Frazier 3
9. DeLaHoya vs Trinidad
10. JJohnson vs Jeffries

[la-califa]

Jack Johnson-Jim Jeffries

Louis-Schmeling II

Frazier-Ali I

the three fights of the 20th century Exactly! Right on the money!! Ali-Frazier in "The Fight of the century" Louis knocking out Schmeling with the world on the verge of war. And Johnson vanquishing the "Great White Hope."

[Sdt]

Jack Dempsey vs Jess Willard or Carpentier were pretty huge

[Action]

Originally Posted by Bobby Tony
"Jack Johnson-Jim Jeffries

Louis-Schmeling II

Frazier-Ali I

the three fights of the 20th century"

Exactly! Right on the money!! Ali-Frazier in "The Fight of the century" Louis knocking out Schmeling with the world on the verge of war. And Johnson vanquishing the "Great White Hope."


Nothing else even comes close to these three. No others!
Name any boxers that you want to throw out there in any combination. Dempsey-Tunney, Robinson-LaMotta, Leonard-Hagler, Holmes-Cooney, Tyson-Douglas, Tyson-Holyfield , Chavez-DeLaHoya, Morales-Pacquiao, and they don't even make the top ten list compared to these three fights. Absolutely none in the past 35 years.

[JAB5239]

Originally Posted by Bobby Tony
"Jack Johnson-Jim Jeffries

Louis-Schmeling II

Frazier-Ali I

the three fights of the 20th century":think

Exactly! Right on the money!! Ali-Frazier in "The Fight of the century" Louis knocking out Schmeling with the world on the verge of war. And Johnson vanquishing the "Great White Hope."


Nothing else even comes close to these three. No others!
Name any boxers that you want to throw out there in any combination. Dempsey-Tunney, Robinson-LaMotta, Leonard-Hagler, Holmes-Cooney, Tyson-Douglas, Tyson-Holyfield , Chavez-DeLaHoya, Morales-Pacquiao, and they don't even make the top ten list compared to these three fights. Absolutely none in the past 35 years.

Jack Johnson defeating Tommy Burns and breaking down the color barrier at heavyweight doesn't come close? :think Boxing, and America may not have seen a more important bout.

[jecxbox]

Tyson vs Holyfield
Trinidad vs Oscar

[Action]

Tyson vs Holyfield
Trinidad vs Oscar

Why are these the most importatnt fights in boxing history?

[Action]

Jack Johnson defeating Tommy Burns and breaking down the color barrier at heavyweight doesn't come close? :think Boxing, and America may not have seen a more important bout.

The fight was in Australia and there were other cross-race fights before this one.

[JAB5239]

The fight was in Australia and there were other cross-race fights before this one.

The fight was between two Americans and the first time a black man had been allowed to fight for the heavyweight championship. If he had lost, the repurcussions could have been extreme not only for boxing, but for race relations in the US. Where they fought doesn't mean shit.

[RafaelGonzal]

Jack Johnson vs Jim Jeffries

Joe louis vs Max Shmeling 11

Ali vs Frazier 1

these are historically the greatest events that captured the imagination of the public and were more than just fights but contests with sociological and psychological consequence at the world level.

[Action]

The fight was between two Americans and the first time a black man had been allowed to fight for the heavyweight championship. If he had lost, the repurcussions could have been extreme not only for boxing, but for race relations in the US. Where they fought doesn't mean shit.

Trying to force this one a bit aren't you? Burns was a Canadian and the fight was in Australia. Want to try again?

[JAB5239]

Trying to force this one a bit aren't you? Burns was a Canadian and the fight was in Australia. Want to try again?

Lol, Im forcing it? You are foolish to not acknowledge it. Where it was is meaningless, as is the fact that Burns was a canadian who resided in the United States. Had Johnson lost it would have set black heavyweight, as well as all other black athletes back even further. That is not historical in your opinion?

[JAB5239]

Trying to force this one a bit aren't you? Burns was a Canadian and the fight was in Australia. Want to try again?

In fact, why don't you explain why you think Johnson-Jeffries and Ali-Frazier 1 were more important.

[jupzrooni]

pryor arguello 1
mab morales 1 and 2
jmm pacquiao 2
ali-foreman
ali-liston
ali-frazier 1 2 3
louis schmeling
leonard duran
hagler hearns
jcc-whitaker

[dave82]

pryor arguello 1
mab morales 1 and 2
jmm pacquiao 2
ali-foreman
ali-liston
ali-frazier 1 2 3
louis schmeling
leonard duran
hagler hearns
jcc-whitaker

Great list :good

[LockDog387]

Charlie Zelenoff vs BSterge
Charlie Zelenoff vs Andrew Hartley

[JAB5239]

Henry Armstrong-Pete Saron
Henry Armstrong-Barney Ross
Henry Armstrong-Lou Anbers

These three bouts are historicly significant in boxing because these are the three guys Armstrong defeated to be the only champion in 3 different divisions simultaneously.

[Manos de Piedra]

duran vs leanord, p4p fighter of the 70's had to prove himself against the fighter of the 80's
fraizer vs ali,-friazer had to prove he was the truth only one way to do it
leanord vs hearns,
hagler vs hearns
alivs fraizer 3

[maxanthony]

Foreman v Moorer

[JAB5239]

Foreman v Moorer


Good one!

[Addie]

Mike Tyson vs Buster Douglas

[PaddyD1983]

Difficult one...

I suppose Louis v Schmelling is in there given its political significance, but not sure whether this was particularly important for 'boxing' more for the propaganda machine of the allies and the morale of the US.

Something like Chavez v Haugen showing that boxing could attract major major crowds if the fan base of the boxer was big enough, or maybe the first PPV fight (dont know what that was but its of major significance for the sport).

[maxanthony]

DEmpsey v Carpentier 1st million dollar gate

[PaddyD1983]

DEmpsey v Carpentier 1st million dollar gate

:good

I'd say that these are the type of fights which are more important for the sport although things like Louis v Schmelling are obvioulsy more important in the grand scheme of things,

[thespecialone]

The two most important fights were Jack Johnson beating Tommy Burns, and Joe Louis defeating Max Schmeling in their second fight.

Spot on

[madmanc3210]

mayweather jr vs brussels