Top 5 biggest wins

[Redd Foxx]

I'd venture to guess that the biggest win, as the modern public views it, would be Ali over Foreman. The fight had poetic quality in that a great story played out from before the fight, up through the moment it turned around. The fact that that everyone has heard the term "rope-a-dope", even though most don't know what it means, says a lot.

[Joe Beamish]

Well that didn't touch on my main arguments, which I believe are all more important than the excitement level of the fight. This was more of an enjoyment for people who really understand a chess game in pugilism which it was, not so much for the buzzed casuals who want to see blood and violence.

I agree that it could have been better if they had fought earlier, but that doesn't completely discredit it. Because like I said these two guys were still far ahead of everyone else(top 3 P4P) and not that far removed from their primes, and the two best of their generation. I'd say it's rather rare that the p4p two best of an era happen to be in the same weight class so that they can fight in order to determine who is the best, which is what we got in the end.

I guess your first "main argument" is that the fight boasted the two greatest names of their era: Mayweather and Pacquiao.

But a great cast doesn't always make a great movie. It was more like a reunion, with the players past their prime.

The other main argument that you think MayPac was a top 5 fight is that it was a "chess match." I agree great thinking and strategy are necessary to make a great fight, but I mostly prefer chess on the chessboard. A great fight also requires actual fighting, fueled by desire and ferocity -- not letting things slide into a lukewarm judgment.

This could be one of your top 5 greatest fights, but I don't think it will do down that way in boxing history by a long shot.

[Joe Beamish]

I'd venture to guess that the biggest win, as the modern public views it, would be Ali over Foreman. The fight had poetic quality in that a great story played out from before the fight, up through the moment it turned around. The fact that that everyone has heard the term "rope-a-dope", even though most don't know what it means, says a lot.

This one is so obvious I assumed it was mentioned already; agree...there's no bigger one than this at least since WW2.

[BKM-]

I guess your first "main argument" is that the fight boasted the two greatest names of their era: Mayweather and Pacquiao.

But a great cast doesn't always make a great movie. It was more like a reunion, with the players past their prime.

The other main argument that you think MayPac was a top 5 fight is that it was a "chess match." I agree great thinking and strategy are necessary to make a great fight, but I mostly prefer chess on the chessboard. A great fight also requires actual fighting, fueled by desire and ferocity -- not letting things slide into a lukewarm judgment.

This could be one of your top 5 greatest fights, but I don't think it will do down that way in boxing history by a long shot.

I took a look at some of your others and I'm not entirely sure on the consistency. Tunney-Dempsey was more of a boxing clinic put on by a man far ahead of his time against an ATG. The rematch had the drama of the long count, but it was still more of the same story.

Louis-Schmeling 2 wasn't a fight as much as an execution lol. Louis just immediately took Schmeling's space away and finished him very quickly.

Unless a one sided beatdown doesn't take away from the greatness of a win for you.

The fact that that everyone has heard the term "rope-a-dope", even though most don't know what it means, says a lot.

Nice one. Louis-Schmeling also created a permanent saying in American culture: "He can run but he can't hide"-Louis on Max before the fight.

[Joe Beamish]

I took a look at some of your others and I'm not entirely sure on the consistency. Tunney-Dempsey was more of a boxing clinic put on by a man far ahead of his time against an ATG. The rematch had the drama of the long count, but it was still more of the same story.

Louis-Schmeling 2 wasn't a fight as much as an execution lol. Louis just immediately took Schmeling's space away and finished him very quickly.

Unless a one sided beatdown doesn't take away from the greatness of a win for you.


Nice one. Louis-Schmeling also created a permanent saying in American culture: "He can run but he can't hide"-Louis on Max before the fight.

Yeah, I don't mind giving up the Tunney/Dempsey fight, as Dempsey was definitely over the hill. The result was, however, a big deal -- as was the result of the second fight.

The Loius/Schmeling fights had tremendous cultural resonance, as well as shocking KO endings.

Mayweather/Pacquaio didn't have anything. A couple stellar names on the marquee, but a fight that was anything but a "top 5 win", chess or no chess.

[ShoulderRoll]

Agreed, Mayweather waited out Pacquiao, just like Leonard waited for Hagler to be past prime. Leonard even admits to it, punk move IMO.

Mayweather is OLDER than Pacquiao. It makes no sense to wait him out since he himself would be getting older in the process.

Also, Mayweather agreed to all terms back in 2009. Purse split, gloves, penalties for coming in over the weight...you name it. It wasn't him that walked away from the negotiations because of a little blood testing.

Despite not being a barnburner that fight was the largest money spinner in the sport's history. So it certainly qualifies as "big" in that sense.

[PRINCEKOOL]

Not the biggest wins in history, but big at the time....

Evander Holyfield vs Mike Tyson I.
Lennox Lewis vs David Tua (A underrated win at the time).
Shane Mosley vs Antonio Margarito (Margarito must of been one of the most feared fighters at that point in time).
Bernard Hopkins vs Kelly Pavlik (I picked Pavlik to beat Hopkins)

Overall as a fighter Muhammad Ali probably has the two biggest wins in history, which are? George Foreman and Sonny Liston. When you take into consideration how he was a underdog, and the magnitude of his opponents performances and public admiration at the time etc

[Sugar Adam Ali]

All era's and weights. Broad context needed.

Mine in no order:

Frazier-Ali I
Lamotta-Robinson II
Duran-Leonard I
Greb-Tunney
Mayweather-Pacquiao

Good list

Leonard-hearns 1 is the best win ever IMO

May/PAC not sure of,, I would put Leonard/hagler above that


Foreman vs moorer
Ali-foreman
Buster-Tyson
Louis-schmelling 2

All could be mentioned

[Joe Beamish]

Mayweather is OLDER than Pacquiao. It makes no sense to wait him out since he himself would be getting older in the process.

Also, Mayweather agreed to all terms back in 2009. Purse split, gloves, penalties for coming in over the weight...you name it. It wasn't him that walked away from the negotiations because of a little blood testing.

Despite not being a barnburner that fight was the largest money spinner in the sport's history. So it certainly qualifies as "big" in that sense.

That fight was watery puke.

I don't particularly blame Mayweather for waiting out the fight; he may have had a point about Pacquaio doping. I tend to blame both sides.

But look at the Pac that knocked the brains out of Hatton (if he had any) in 2009, for example. That was not the same fighter who faced Floyd. Pac had changed -- whether it was doping, Jesus, the congress, basketball, singing or age, who knows. Maybe all of the above. Mayweather was shrewd to wait it out, and again I don't necessarily think it was wrong.

The fight ******.

[rightsideup]

I do not think mayweather pac deserves consideration.

There are so many top five. Here is mine in no particular order.

SRR one punch ko of Fulmer
Louis vs Conn
Duran leonard 1
Hagler hearn's
Leonard hearn's 1