Greatest Heavyweight Fight of All Time?

Holyfield vs Bowe is at the top of my list. I would've loved to see Bowe/Lewis. I think we'd be mentioning that fight on this thread if it could've happened

ALI-FRAZIER 3 http://www.boxing-memorabilia.com/images/posalifrazier3.jpg

My personal favorite: Tyson-Ruddock.

Thrilla in Manila Sony said most of the stuff already but just to add, Ali collapsed at the end of the fight and had to be brought to the hospital. Frazier still went to the post-fight party and even sang a few songs.To say that Ali "collapsed" is a tad misleading. As soon as Frazier's corner threw in the towel, Ali was mobbed by jubilant supporters, at which point he deliberately dropped to the canvas to avoid being smothered. Ali explained this himself in the same "close-to-death" post-fight interview. It's a matter of routine for fighters to go to the hospital for a check-up following brutal fights, so that part is quite plausible.

Ali/Frazier III (aka "The Thrilla in Manila")

Ali - Foreman. Maybe not the best fight, but the greatest fight. The stuff of legend.

Best ever is so hard to pick.But I would say Spinks vs Holmes.I just liked the science of that fight.

v. klitschko vs lennox lewis if it had gone a few more rounds

The rumble in the jungle is a great fight, maybe abit onesided.

I would go for the Thrilla in Manilla. As Ali said, it was the closest he had ever come to dying.

I have seen the fight on tv and it was great seeing both fighters go mixing it up and no backing out.

I think all the best Heavy W. fights are already covered in this thread, but one question guys one of my favorite HW fight was ali vs foreman, how do you rate this fight is it in the top 20.....

In terms of historical significance, it's probably 1. Joe Louis-Max Schmeling II 2. Joe Frazier-Muhammad Ali I 3. Jack Johnson-Tommy Burns In terms of pure action and drama, it's definately Ali-Frazier I. I can certainly understand your inclusion of the Johnson/Burns fight as being one of the more significant fights in history, but for my money the fight between Johnson and Jeffries was even more so. Considering the hate the general public had for the arrogant and cocky champion, and their persuasion of a Jeffries return (plus all the rioting before and after the fight), it holds a little bit higher standing in historical significance, in my opinion. I definately agree with your other two selections, though. Most of the greatest fights have been covered already, but here's a few of my favorites; Ali/Frazier I & III, Foreman/Lyle, Marciano/Walcott I, Dempsey/Firpo, Holmes/Norton, Louis/Conn, Patterson/Chuvalo (good to see a mention of it from someone else), Patterson/Johansson II, Marciano/Charles I & II (the footage of the first fight is not complete, but still shows some great action), Bowe/Holyfield I, and Moorer/Cooper. And here's a couple of classics that I haven't seen, but based on their descriptions, they must've have been good ones; The world championship fight between James Jeffries and Tom Sharkey was reported to be fought at a very brisk/tough pace for the full 25 rounds, and it took place underneath incredibly hot ring lights (after the fight, both fighters were burned quite badly on the top of their heads). And the famous fight between Joe Jeanette and Sam McVey should get a mention, considering the amount of knockdowns that took place in it. McVey was reported to give Jeannette a bad beating for the majority of the fight, on his way to knocking him down more than 25 times. But then McVey got tired and started fading, which allowed Jeannettte to get back into it, as he knocked McVey down about 10 times. Jeannette eventually won when McVey couldn't continue, as he did not make it out for one of the later rounds (I don't remember exactly what round, but it was somewhere between the 45th and 50th round).

In terms of historical significance, it's probably 1. Joe Louis-Max Schmeling II 2. Joe Frazier-Muhammad Ali I 3. Jack Johnson-Tommy Burns In terms of pure action and drama, it's definately Ali-Frazier I.

Ali-Frazier 1 is tops for me. If you think the Thrilla was good and haven't seen the first go get it. Faster, more intense action the whole way through. Other great ones: Chuvalo-Patterson, Bowe-Holyfield 1, Derrick Jefferson-Maurice Harris, Moorer-Cooper . . . .

The Thrilla in Manilla has to be the most devastating heavyweight fight i have ever seen. Both fighters gave everything in that fight and it meant everything to them. Muhammed Ali was going to quit but Joe got pulled out first. Two veterans at that point fighting like that truely shows the passion and dedication in both fighters. I'd say that is the greatest heavyweight fight of all time in my opinion.

Thrilla in Manila Sony said most of the stuff already but just to add, Ali collapsed at the end of the fight and had to be brought to the hospital. Frazier still went to the post-fight party and even sang a few songs.

Ali/Frazier 1 and that Tyson/Holyfield 1 was a very exciting fight also

Ali vs Frazier 1

I don't know about all time but I will list the 3 greatest hw fights I have seen personally. 1. Thrilla in Manila: Ali dominated the early rounds with furious jabs and speed of hand and foot. Frazier started "smoking" in the middle rounds and gave Ali such a terrible beating to the body that Ali later said, "it was the closest thing to death" that he ever had experienced. Ali got trapped in Frazier’s corner in the 11th and Ali took a terrible beating against the ropes. Ali came out of his corner for the 12th and began to turn the fight around. By the 13 round Ali was hitting Frazier almost at will and after further punishment in the 14th Frazier's trainer Eddie Futch would not allow Joe to come out for the 15th. 2. George Foreman vs. Ron Lyle: A great heavyweight slugfest between two very hard punching heavyweights. It was perhaps the greatest heavyweight slugfest ever. The guys were hitting the canvas left and right. It was amazing. Both men were on the canvas in the 4th first Lyle then Foreman then Lyle. In the 5th round Foreman was badly staggered, but Foreman landed the final punch. 3. Larry Holmes vs. Ken Norton: Larry used his strong jab and agile footwork to box his way to an early points lead over the more aggressive Norton. In the early stages Holmes hand speed looked like too much for Norton to deal with. Kenny rallied in the middle rounds using pressure and strong body punching to bring the fight close. The final three rounds are what made this fight memorable with both men trying to prove that they deserved to be called champion. Holmes had his best round of the fight in the 13th landing frequently with strong right hands. Norton came back and had his best round in the 14th as he repeatedly landed with smashing overhand rights. The 15th round was one of the best rounds in sustained action in heavyweight history, it was all out for both fighters each landing a good share of power punches. In the end Larry Holmes won a close split decision. RIP Superman.