Tweet
What fights in boxing history pitted two great fighters at the peak of their skills on the same night on even terms?
Here's what I mean. Ali/Frazier III was legendary but both fighters were already past their primes on fight night. Pacquiao/ Barrera I was great but even though Barrera was # 2 Pound for Pound on fight night, Pacquiao was not yet in the top 10 p4p. When Corbett beat Sullivan, the latter was "old and drunk". Louis vs. Conn had two fighters at their peak on the same night but they didn't fight on even terms because Louis was much bigger. Same with Dempsey vs. Carpentier.
So which fights had two great fighters fight at their lifetime peak on the same night and on even terms?
This is a very difficult list to make. What follows is not in order of greatness. I'll rank them in terms of greatness later on.
Meldrick Taylor vs. Julio Cesar Chavez
Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Wilfredo Benitez
George Foreman vs. Joe Frazier
Sugar Ray Robinson vs. Jake LaMotta I to VI - incredible!!!
Bowe vs. Holyfield I and II
Whitaker vs. Julio Cesar Chavez
Cassius Clay vs. Sonny Liston I
Henry Armstrong vs. Barney Ross
Jack Johnson vs. Sam Langford
Ike Williams vs. Beau Jack
Salvador Sanchez vs. Wilfredo Gomez
Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns
Evander Holyfield vs. Dwight Qawi
Question I: Do you agree with everything on this list?
Question II: What fights did I miss?
Question III: How would you rank these fights?
Here's what I mean. Ali/Frazier III was legendary but both fighters were already past their primes on fight night. Pacquiao/ Barrera I was great but even though Barrera was # 2 Pound for Pound on fight night, Pacquiao was not yet in the top 10 p4p. When Corbett beat Sullivan, the latter was "old and drunk". Louis vs. Conn had two fighters at their peak on the same night but they didn't fight on even terms because Louis was much bigger. Same with Dempsey vs. Carpentier.
So which fights had two great fighters fight at their lifetime peak on the same night and on even terms?
This is a very difficult list to make. What follows is not in order of greatness. I'll rank them in terms of greatness later on.
Meldrick Taylor vs. Julio Cesar Chavez
Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Wilfredo Benitez
George Foreman vs. Joe Frazier
Sugar Ray Robinson vs. Jake LaMotta I to VI - incredible!!!
Bowe vs. Holyfield I and II
Whitaker vs. Julio Cesar Chavez
Cassius Clay vs. Sonny Liston I
Henry Armstrong vs. Barney Ross
Jack Johnson vs. Sam Langford
Ike Williams vs. Beau Jack
Salvador Sanchez vs. Wilfredo Gomez
Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns
Evander Holyfield vs. Dwight Qawi
Question I: Do you agree with everything on this list?
Question II: What fights did I miss?
Question III: How would you rank these fights?
Comment