Boxing has long had a place as a popular sport among spectators everywhere. It has a long history of famous battles, but some will live in infamy longer than others. Superprof uses iconic fights to illustrate boxing methods for students, providing insight into boxing training for bouts.
In this post, we'll look back at some historic boxing champion fights.
What Are Some of the Most Iconic Boxing Matches of All Time?
Here are some of the most remarkable boxing matches in the history of this sport:
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Muhammad Ali KO Vs. George Foreman
After their fight in Zaire, Muhammad Ali was crowned heavyweight champion of the world for a second time. Many analysts predicted Foreman would win the fight easily since he was stronger than Ali. One of the most anticipated battles in boxing history completely blew everyone away.
In the lead-up to the battle, Ali unleashed a relentless verbal assault on Foreman. Foreman was prepared to knock Ali out when the bell sounded, but it was exactly what Ali had in mind from the start. Ali used a novel strategy that he subsequently dubbed the "rope-a-dope" to wear out Foreman before dismantling him. The strategy was successful, and Ali was reinstated as heavyweight champion.
Muhammad Ali's dramatic, come-from-behind defeat of George Foreman cemented his status as the greatest boxer ever. Ali again overcame an untouchable heavyweight champion, much like his famous knockout of Sonny Liston a decade earlier.
The football stadium in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) where the battle went down became a cultural landmark in its own right. Ali was a local favorite and a global icon. Throughout the bout, the crowd memorably screamed, "Ali, Bomaye!" (meaning: "Ali, Kill Him!").
Twenty years later, this fight is an integral part of sports history worldwide, with students analyzing it to prepare for their boxers training. It was also the subject of an Oscar-winning documentary called "When We Were Kings," further attesting to the bout's historic status.
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Ron Lyle vs. George Foreman
The 1976 clash between George Foreman and Ron Lyle was the power-hitting slugfest that distinguished heavyweight boxing in its prime. After losing to Muhammad Ali in the legendary "Rumble in the Jungle," George Foreman wanted to win back the championship. Conversely, Lyle was motivated to prove himself a formidable combatant.
So, the heavyweights fought it out for five rounds, with each man falling twice. To cap off one of the most exciting heavyweight fights in the history of boxing, Foreman scored a third and final knockdown of Lyle.
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Jose Luis Castillo vs. Diego Corrales
Although boxing's popularity has declined over the last decade, the sport retains some of its luster because of sporadic boxing title fights. One such brilliant moment was the 2005 fight for the WBC Lightweight Title. It was a ten-round battle of attrition between Diego Corrales of California and Jose Luis Castillo of Mexico, two men who stood toe-to-toe in the center of the ring and traded shots for over half an hour until a fascinating series of events unfolded.
Corrales was knocked down twice in a row by Castillo in the tenth, but he managed to get up and land a remarkable right hand that struck "El Terrible" in the chin. The official finally called a halt to the bout after "Chico" sprayed his opponent with a barrage of punches and kicks.
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Meldrick Taylor vs. Cesar Chavez
This 1990 fight between Mexican icon Julio Cesar Chavez and Philadelphia's rising star Meldrick Taylor is remembered for two seconds despite lasting 12 exciting rounds. The fight was fast-paced from the get-go, and early on, Taylor was in control when he successfully dodged most of Chavez's ferocious blows and scored more points with his stick-and-move strategy. However, the rugged Mexican started hitting his target in the latter rounds and relentlessly attacked Taylor.
The odds were still in Taylor's favor heading into the 12th round, but his corner persuaded him differently, and the inexperienced fighter charged Chavez instead of dodging the dangerous brawler, exposing himself to a barrage of hard blows. Visibly battered after many rounds, Taylor collapsed in the last round, prompting referee Richard Steele to halt the fight. There is ongoing discussion in modern boxing classes about Steele's decision, but one thing remains unchanged: the sheer greatness of this fight.
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Joe Frazier vs. Muhammad Ali
The first battle between two of the greatest boxers of all time, it went the full 15 rounds in 1971. There's a solid reason why this 1971 Heavyweight Title fight is remembered as The Fight of the Century. Many saw it as illogically representative of the times, a clash between the counterculture, personified by Muhammad Ali, and the pro-war establishment.
Because of the hype surrounding it, this highly anticipated heavyweight bout featured the two boxers in history. Nonetheless, Ali and Frazier did not let the boxing world down, delivering 15 of the most exciting rounds in the sport's history. It was a battle of the unbeaten heavyweight champions. In addition, each combatant was given a symbolic role, exemplifying one of the warring factions in the cultural and political conflicts that have driven the country.
The bout marked Ali's return to the ring after serving time in jail for "dodging" the draught in protest of the Vietnam War and the treatment of African Americans at the time. Ali lost his championship and was forced to sit out of the ring for three long years, depriving his supporters of his excellence throughout that time.
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Roberto Duran vs. Sugar Ray Leonard
It was the most lucrative battle ever in the sport of boxing. As Muhammad Ali's star diminished, Leonard emerged as the new boxing champion. He was also returning to Montreal, where his career took off as the sport's bright future with his Olympic gold medal victory in 1976. However, Duran was a combatant that fans loved to see. Although he lacked Leonard's universal appeal with his cheerful commercialism, the average fan nonetheless respected him for his fierceness.
Leonard's first professional defeat came from Duran's relentless pressure, worse than anything he had encountered. Duran won unanimously with a score of 148-147.
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Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
To say that the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao mega bout was anticipated would be an understatement. Despite the enormous desire from fans, it took nearly a decade for the two men to come to terms with fighting. It was the highest-grossing boxing contest in history, raking $410 million through pay-per-view.
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Marco Barrera vs. Erik Morales
This legendary bout had one of the most exciting opening rounds in boxing history, with both boxers delivering significant blows. In the fifth and final round, Morales continued to lash out viciously at Barrera. When it seemed like Barrera was about to go down, he unleashed a barrage of blows that sent the crowd into a tizzy. Both guys received Ring's Round of the Year award for the exciting matchup.
There were two rematches after the first bout, which Morales won through a split decision. Most boxing classes focus on the famous trilogy between Morales and Barrera, considered one of the most exciting in boxing history.
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Joe Walcott vs. Rocky Marciano
The boxing community was deeply split in the lead-up to this historic bout. Walcott was one of several who believed Marciano's reputation was exaggerated. Walcott thought he would easily defeat Marciano and even offered to have his name erased from boxing history if he did.
When the first bell rang, Walcott was ready to battle. During the fight, he knocked down Marciano, and by the seventh round, Marciano claimed he couldn't see. Both fighters were severely injured at that point.
Marciano famously reversed the fight's momentum with a devastating right hook that knocked Walcott out and sent him tumbling against the ropes.
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Tyson Fury I vs. Deontay Wilder
As it turned out, the first bout between these two greatest boxers was among the most exciting matches in boxing history. Before the fight, it was widely acknowledged that Fury had the technical advantage. He quickly demonstrated his superiority and won most of the rounds on points.
Although Wilder seemed to have sealed the win in the 12th round when he knocked Fury down with a heavy blow, the fight remained exciting because of Wilder's ninth-round knockout. Fury somehow recovered and finished out his opponent. The judges scored the fight a split draw, meaning Wilder got to retain his WBC title.
Learn Technical Aspects of Boxing With Superprof
With Superprof's comprehensive boxing classes, you can now learn every aspect of boxing, regardless of your experience level. Whether you're an experienced boxer wishing to sharpen your abilities or a complete novice, we can help you take your profession to the next level and put you on track to become the next Muhammad Ali.
To help you realize your maximum athletic potential, our professional coaches will walk you through the basics, advanced essential boxing methods, and game plans that will get you there. Come train with us now and start your journey to boxing stardom.
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