How Often have the 2 best fighters in the world fought each other in boxing?

[1SILVA]

I don't think Monzon that highly rated in 1971. Napoles had lost to Billy Backus on a cut. It's arguable that Ali and Frazier were the two best fighters in the world at the time.

Looking at all the champions at that time, it is indeed arguable. Monzon would be the only one you'd make an argument for because he had just ko'd Benvenuti a few months before to win the 160 pound crown

[TheGreatA]

Looking at all the champions at that time, it is indeed arguable. Monzon would be the only one you'd make an argument for because he had just ko'd Benvenuti a few months before to win the 160 pound crown

And even then Monzon only had the win over Benvenuti. Not enough to put him over Frazier or even a returning Ali at that point in my opinion. Of course he would go onto cement his legacy afterwards.

[wpink1]

Officially, Whitaker vs Chavez was the only fight where the top 2 P4P fighters fought.

Leonard hearns was top 2 pound per pound..

[wpink1]

When most people want official P4P rankings, they look at Ring Magazine. If not, that's fine.

But do you really think that Ali and Frazier were rated as the top two P4P fighters in the world? Seems unlikely.

The ring magazine did not even start rating pound per pound until 1989.
I was clear after hearns beat cuevas he and leoanrd stood alone as top 1 and 2 pound per pound. Biggest fightin boxing since ali frazier.

In fact I think Hearns was ranked number one, after the leoanrd duran 1 and 2fights.

[TheGreatA]

The ring magazine did not even start rating pound per pound until 1989.
I was clear after hearns beat cuevas he and leoanrd stood alone as top 1 and 2 pound per pound. Biggest fightin boxing since ali frazier.

In fact I think Hearns was ranked number one, after the leoanrd duran 1 and 2fights.

January 1981 KO Magazine Pound for Pound Ratings
From Boxrec Boxing Encyclopaedia

1 - Thomas Hearns
2 - Sugar Ray Leonard
3 - Marvin Hagler
4 - Larry Holmes
5 - Alexis Arguello
6 - Wilfredo Gomez
7 - Eddie Mustafa Muhammad
8 - Matt Saad Muhammmad
9 - Wilfred Benitez
10 - Roberto Duran
10 - Aaron Pryor

[1SILVA]

January 1981 KO Magazine Pound for Pound Ratings
From Boxrec Boxing Encyclopaedia

1 - Thomas Hearns
2 - Sugar Ray Leonard
3 - Marvin Hagler
4 - Larry Holmes
5 - Alexis Arguello
6 - Wilfredo Gomez
7 - Eddie Mustafa Muhammad
8 - Matt Saad Muhammmad
9 - Wilfred Benitez
10 - Roberto Duran
10 - Aaron Pryor

Great reference. A year prior, I believe Duran was voted number 1

[mickey malone]

Good topic question..

unofficially

Joe Gans vs Joe Walcott
Willie Pep vs Sandy Saddler
Ray Robinson vs Kid Gavilan
Jim Corbett vs Peter Jackson

[project xxx1]

With the Mayweather-Pacquaio fight being potentially the two best fighters in the world at the present time facing each other, how often has that occurred in the history of boxing?

Leonard-Duran I&II(1980)
Leonard-Hearns I(1981)
Hagler-Hearns (1985)
Frazier-Foster(1970)
Ali-Frazier I(1971)
Whitaker-Chavez(1993)

These are some possibilities. Any others?

chuck in oscar vs mosley,morles ve barraer,roy jones vs hopkins

[1SILVA]

chuck in oscar vs mosley,morles ve barraer,roy jones vs hopkins

Roy Jones was rated as number 1 p4p in the first 2 fights you mentioned. Hopkins was an unknown at the time he fought Jones. The top 2 fighters at the time were Whitaker and Chavez, who fought a month later

[GJC]

Obviously a bit before p4p ratings but Ketchell v Johnson in 09 and Langford in 1910 must be up there?