Best Rivalries in Boxing

[Willie Pep 229]

When you say he was holding Joe, do you mean literally or handling himself well against him? Cause I don’t remember Ali doing THAT much clinching during the second fight

It wasn't clinching - Ali negated Frazier's inside game by grabbing the back of Joe's head and pulling him into his own chest - he would then push him off - he stopped Frazier from being able to beat down his body the way he did in the first fight. Ali never let the fight get going he kept stoping any momentum by grabbing the back of Fazier's head and pulling him slightly inwards and off balance. It was very effective but annoying to watch round after round.

[The Old LefHook]

Art Hafey and Jose Olivares, plus Art and several others. He had may rivalries. Sailor Sharkey fought Jefferies twice. That's a rivalry. Jeffers was the hardest puncher of the century.

[Flickergrab98]

You gotta give a shout out to Lewis v Britton right? I mean have two fighters even come close to fighting as often as these two.

I remember reading somewhere awhile ago that the reason those two fought so many times was because at least a significant portion of their fights were fixed.

[DeeMoney]

I remember reading somewhere awhile ago that the reason those two fought so many times was because at least a significant portion of their fights were fixed.

I'd heard that too I think; but then again they apparently hated each other, and got into fights outside the ring too. So hard to figure.

[billeau2]

10. Wilder vs his costume

You guys can laugh now... when that thing is purchased on Ebay for a cool mill WITHOUT the lights still working...

[billeau2]

I'd heard that too I think; but then again they apparently hated each other, and got into fights outside the ring too. So hard to figure.

Let us not forget the quote attributed to Foreman which could apply, regarding these two..."yeah the fight was 'fixed' I 'fixed' it with a right hand."

Im sure for the thread people have mentioned Gatti vs Ward.

the LaMotta Ray Robinson was a bit of a lopside... Lamotta did beat him once, as Fullmer did the same basic way, except Lamotta was a better fighter than Gene. other way Ray Robinson won a lot more than he lost.

An interesting one was Lennox Lewis and Razor Ruddock. They had a similar background and were both clamoring for more accolades. Both guys were originally Jamaican, Canadian citizens, who I believe had faced off before in the amateurs... I don't know if this is a fact, I do know they had a real passionate rivalry where most were picking Ruddock to KO Lewis.

heres a good one! Marquez versus Morales. Apparently Manuel Marquez was "highbrow" coming from Mexico City, as compared with Morales who came from Tijuana I believe. There was a legit cultural clash of two distinct Mexican cultures...

And always when Puerto Rican/Cuban fighters fight Mexican fighters, there is a big rivalry involved.

[Noelanthony]

You guys can laugh now... when that thing is purchased on Ebay for a cool mill WITHOUT the lights still working...

[Flickergrab98]

I think if I were to redo this list, it would look like the following

1. Ali vs. Frazier
2. Pacquiao vs. Marquez
3. Bowe vs. Holyfield
4. Barrera vs. Morales
5. Leonard vs. Hearns
6. Robinson vs. LaMotta
7. Chacon vs. Limon
8. Ward vs. Gatti
9. Louis vs. Schmeling
10. Toney vs. McCallum

[JAB5239]

I think if I were to redo this list, it would like the following

1. Ali vs. Frazier
2. Pacquiao vs. Marquez
3. Bowe vs. Holyfield
4. Barrera vs. Morales
5. Leonard vs. Hearns
6. Robinson vs. LaMotta
7. Chacon vs. Limon
8. Ward vs. Gatti
9. Louis vs. Schmeling
10. Toney vs. McCallum

Replace Toney-McCallum with Rafael Marquez vs Israel Vasquez.

[Flickergrab98]

Replace Toney-McCallum with Rafael Marquez vs Israel Vasquez.

Nah. Toney vs. McCallum just feels right as a number 10 pick. Great first fight, decent second fight, and (from what I’ve heard) lackluster final fight; doesn’t outshine any of the other rivalries above it in most respects. Whereas I have the feeling I would have a hard time justifying putting Vazquez-Marquez at number 10 and not higher. Plus, there’s plenty of representation from the 2000-2010’s eras on my list. I did Vazquez vs. Marquez 2 though. That was a real ****er