There is always that one big fight that intrigued us to become major hardcore boxing fans! Which fight was it to you that made you love this sport and why was it so special to you!
In my case, it was the Margarito vs Cotto 1. I’ve always been a casual fan since childhood to early teen years and would watch boxing every once in while their was a big fight but that Margarito vs Cotto 1 was special cause it was a blood and glory type of fight, and the machismo in that fight was at a all time high also the rivalry between Mexicans & Puerto Ricans put a little extra into that fight! The promotion to the fight was also great! Since that fight, I’ve been following boxing religiously!
Pryor/Arguello 2. I watched it at my neighbors house. Everyone in the house was rooting for Arguello but I liked Pryor. I hadn't watched the first fight yet but the announcer kept talking about the controversy with the water bottle. Pryor was a beast either way. Still my favorite fighter to this day.
Benn vs Eubank for me. The build up was incredible, especially when they signed the contracts live on television.
Tyson made me a boxing fan but this fight made me want to be a boxer. That era of UK fighters was amazing.
That said, beyond the heavyweights I didn't really know much about non UK fighters unless they came up against our guys.
I knew a bit of history through my dad but the internet was a bigger change than any one fight.
I can't pick out a specific fight, I just know I've loved boxing as long as I can remember. Grew up idolizing rjj, holyfield, tyson and as the internet came around seeing old fighters like robinson, dempsey, louis, hagler, duran etc. Something about it hooked me right from the beginning.
The first fight I ever saw was Peterson-Khan.
I'm glad it was that fight because it had everything. Excitement, Drama, a knockdown, and the upset at the end.
I WAS HOOKED! this was the 1st fight I been to live. Very dramatic.
Sugar ray Leonard/Hagler, my dad made me watching Ray! The arm roll swing that he does made me such a boxing fan that I do it when I play football on the wing!!!
Not really sure if there was a particular fight. My grandad and uncle were both boxing trainers and i went to my uncles gym from a young age, so just naturally got into it and watched from then on but my interest kind of drifted in and out of boxing as a kid until i was a teenager.
Then i watched Calzaghe v Lacy after getting home from an airport about 1am and putting the TV on, not knowing any boxing would be on. I got back into boxing in a big way and started watching pretty much everything from then on.
Oscar De La Hoya vs Tito Trinidad.
Was a casual before that fight as a kid. Made me so sick to my stomach watching Oscar throw it away in the end, but that fight gave me nerves no other sport could mimic.
Boxing is a sport like no other.
I was 8 when Holyfield-Bowe II happened and that really got me in and then I'd watch fights and old films with my grandfather that transition sort of happened over time without pinpointing one particular fight. I'd just say it was sometime around 1994 or 1995.
I started to read the magazines around 1995/1996 and then got books and stuff for christmas and birthdays shortly and haven't looked back since. That's when I started getting fights from collectors and stuff then when I had my own money after high school I'd do trades and all kinds of stuff getting my hands on as many fights, magazines, books, old materials as I could. Started getting memorabilia and selling it and spending it on going to the fights etc; I got some really good video trader connections which I still work with today.
I love this sport!
Same fight as for me! Watched it live at 4am (UK, free on ITV!), amazing drama. Went to the boxing gym for the first time the next day. :D