Let’s take a look at some of history’s most memorable fights.
1. Jack Johnson vs Jim Jeffries
'The 1st Fight of the Century'
The heavyweight title fight between reigning champion Jack Johnson and Jim Jeffries was the first boxing match of the 20th century that transcended the sport. It took place on July 4, 1910 in front of 20,000 people.
Johnson, the first black American to win the world heavyweight title, was a controversial figure due to his color, arrogance and inter-racial relationships. Jeffries, a retired heavyweight champion, was summoned from retirement and was pitted against Johnson as the "Great White Hope."
But Johnson was too simply much for Jeffries, who went down in the 15th round. Johnson earned $65,000 (roughly $1.6 million in today's money) for that bout.
2. Joe Louis vs Max Schmeling II
'US vs Nazi Germany'
The boxing rematch between "The Brown Bomber" and the "Black Uhlan of the Rhine" took place on June 22, 1938. That boxing match between Joe Louis and Max Schmelling became a symbol of the struggle between the US vs the Nazi Germany during the 1930s.
Louis, who got knocked out in their first meeting, was eager to finish Schmelling early in the bout. He did stop the German, knocking down his foe three times, for a first-round technical knockout.
3. Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman
'Rumble in the Jungle'
Considered one of the most memorable fights in boxing history, Rumble in the Jungle featured a fearsome George Foreman against the Muhammad Ali, who was making a comeback after being suspended for three-and-a-half years for his refusal to comply with the US draft. The bout was set on May 20, 1974 in Zaire (now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo).
Ali, who was already past his prime, was considered a heavy underdog against the younger and indestructible Foreman. But "The Greatest" was able to pull off a huge upset by using his right hand leads and the rope-a-dope tactic to out-psyche Foreman to topple his opponent in the eighth round.
4. Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier III
'Thrilla in Manila'
"Thrilla in Manila" was the third of the three 'Fights of the Century" between bitter rivals Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, who decided to conclude their fabled trilogy at the Araneta Coliseum on October 1, 1975.
Frazier beat Ali in 1971, but "The Greatest" was able to tie the score three years later, culminating to one of the best boxing trilogies in history. The lead-up to the Manila fight saw Ali repeatedly taunting Frazier, calling his former friend a "gorilla" in an effort to anger his foe ahead of their match.
As a result, the two engaged in 14 grueling rounds that badly damaged both fighters. After Frazier sustained massive lumps in the head and was already fighting with blind left eye, his coach Eddie Futch called a halt to the fight to give the victory to Ali.
Just before Futch signaled referee Sonny Padilla to stop the fight, Ali was ordering his cornerman to cut his gloves off and was ready to surrender the bout. The boxing great was later quoted as saying that that was the closest to dying he had ever been.
5. "Sugar" Ray Leonard vs Thomas Hearns
'The Showdown'
It was indeed a showdown between "Sugar" Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns on September 16, 1981. Leonard and Hearns, the top welterweight of that era, fought before a live crowd of over 20,000 and a TV audience of 300 million.
Despite lagging behind the scorecards, Leonard was able to hurt Hearns in the 13th round. In the 14th, he was able to pin the taller boxer against the ropes and punished Hearns until the referee stepped in to stop the fight.
6. Marvelous Marvin Hagler vs Thomas Hearns
'The War'
The middleweight title bout between Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns was considered to be one of the finest boxing matches in history due to the thrilling exchange between the two pugilists. The fight, set on April 15, 1985, pitted Hearns, then regarded as the hardest puncher of the time, and Hagler, the undisputed middleweight champion.
After the bell rang, the boxers immediately went at each other and traded heavy shots, disregarding defense and pacing. The round was so explosive that it was named as 1985's Round of the Year.
The pacing soon took toll on the lanky Hearns and when he was tagged with a right hook and a couple of uppercuts in the third round it was over. The bout cemented Hagler's status as one of the greatest middleweights of all time.
7. Mike Tyson vs Michael Spinks
'Once and for All'
It was a battle between undefeated heavyweight champions Mikle Tyson and Michael Spinks. The bout, which drew comparisons with the 1971 Fight of the Century between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali, took place on June 27, 1988 to determine who between the unbeaten champions should be the undisputed heavyweight king. Tyson was the WBA, WBC and IBF champion, while Spinks was the Ring and lineal champion.
The fight was over in just 91 seconds with Tyson winning by knockout.
8. Oscar De La Hoya vs Floyd Mayweather Jr.
'The World Awaits'
"The World Awaits" was the super fight that catapulted Floyd Mayweather Jr. to boxing superstardom. It pitted him against the "Golden Boy" Oscar De La Hoya on May 5, 2007 in what was described as the richest boxing match at the time.
Mayweather eventually eked out a split decision after 12 tightly fought rounds to snatch the WBC junior middleweight title from De La Hoya. It generated $130 million, making it the most lucrative fight at that time.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
