Best/Favorite Highly Skilled/Technical Fights

Was watching the first James Toney vs. Mike McAllum fight the other day, and it hit me all at once that boxing is no longer the sport it was back then. To think that those two fought on free t.v. and not pay per view, and to see the skills and toughness those two showed in that fight got me thinking about two things: 1. What other highly skilled fights (skilled on both sides) were exciting to watch, and 2. What two fighters, if any, could replicate that level of fighting today.

Favorite "Skilled/Technical" Fights:
1. Toney vs. McAllum: Everything was captured in this fight: Great chins, body work, jabs, feints, parry, slip, counter, toughness, inside fighting, outside fighting, boxing, stamina, heart...etc. Both of these guys were such solid pros and so skilled that it was a beautiful fight to watch.
2. Izzy Vasquez vs. Raf Marquez: The violence overshadowed how skilled and textbook BOTH guys were. You have to watch closely but both guys are always on balance and in good position, paying attention to fundamentals while fighting at a ridiculous pace. Phenomenal fights (except the fourth installment).
3. Evander Holyfield vs. Riddick Bowe 2: All three fights were exciting and great, but Evander came prepared to win the second fight and thanks to Manny Steward, stuck to a winning game plan to win a tough decision. Bowe was not at his best in this fight, being overweight and under trained, but it is a testament to the man's skills, size, and ability that even in a diminished state, against an ATG Evander fighting at his best, he lost a razor close/debatable decision. These two did everything in the ring in this fight, fighting in a manner usually not seen among the big men of the sport.


As for the fights that I think could realistically be made today, that would compare with the above fights, the only two I can think of would be: Terrance Crawford vs. Mikey Garcia, and Andre Ward vs. GGG (maybe Kovalev can be swapped out here also). Thoughts on the above fights, fights I missed, or any potential great match ups for today?

joe louis vs ezzard charles

Sweet Pea v Buddy McGirt.
Mike McCallum v Herol Graham.
Tommy Hearns v Virgil Hill.

Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Wilfredo Benitez, Tommy Hearns

Duran vs. Dave Moore / Iran Barkley

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Originally Posted by mikeeod

Was watching the first James Toney vs. Mike McAllum fight the other day, and it hit me all at once that boxing is no longer the sport it was back then. To think that those two fought on free t.v. and not pay per view, and to see the skills and toughness those two showed in that fight got me thinking about two things: 1. What other highly skilled fights (skilled on both sides) were exciting to watch, and 2. What two fighters, if any, could replicate that level of fighting today.

Favorite "Skilled/Technical" Fights:
1. Toney vs. McAllum: Everything was captured in this fight: Great chins, body work, jabs, feints, parry, slip, counter, toughness, inside fighting, outside fighting, boxing, stamina, heart...etc. Both of these guys were such solid pros and so skilled that it was a beautiful fight to watch.
2. Izzy Vasquez vs. Raf Marquez: The violence overshadowed how skilled and textbook BOTH guys were. You have to watch closely but both guys are always on balance and in good position, paying attention to fundamentals while fighting at a ridiculous pace. Phenomenal fights (except the fourth installment).
3. Evander Holyfield vs. Riddick Bowe 2: All three fights were exciting and great, but Evander came prepared to win the second fight and thanks to Manny Steward, stuck to a winning game plan to win a tough decision. Bowe was not at his best in this fight, being overweight and under trained, but it is a testament to the man's skills, size, and ability that even in a diminished state, against an ATG Evander fighting at his best, he lost a razor close/debatable decision. These two did everything in the ring in this fight, fighting in a manner usually not seen among the big men of the sport.


As for the fights that I think could realistically be made today, that would compare with the above fights, the only two I can think of would be: Terrance Crawford vs. Mikey Garcia, and Andre Ward vs. GGG (maybe Kovalev can be swapped out here also). Thoughts on the above fights, fights I missed, or any potential great match ups for today?

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Thats a nice eclectic mix. Boxer, punchers dont get enough praise for their techical abilities at times.

Mab/Morales 1
Leonard/Hearns
Conn/Louis
Eubank/Benn 1
Chavez/Taylor

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Originally Posted by IamInuit

Chavez/Taylor

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Chavez / Taylor is #1 example way above any competition about pure strip down to basic phylosophie of what Pro Boxing is all about vs. super good technical Amateur Boxing

Sambu Kalambay v McCallum is quality and skill.

Hearns v Benitez?

The Hit Man was known for his crushing power and fighting heart, which meant he took a few KO losses along the way ..... but he was one of the most skilled technical boxers you could ever see. He boxed and moved throughout the amateurs, and he unrolled all that against Benitez.

He was the only fighter to consistently outbox Ray Leonard too

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Originally Posted by X

Hearns v Benitez?

The Hit Man was known for his crushing power and fighting heart, which meant he took a few KO losses along the way ..... but he was one of the most skilled technical boxers you could ever see. He boxed and moved throughout the amateurs, and he unrolled all that against Benitez.

He was the only fighter to consistently outbox Ray Leonard too

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Hearns was the perfect boxer but he had that power and intent to destroy when he should have relied on his defensive boxing skills more. After he cut Hagler, he should have jabbed and fought long range.

BTW I think McCallum beat Toney the first two times they fought.

Leonard-Benitez was the ultimate in "skilled boxer vs. skilled boxer." And not the boring chess match some boxers engage in which there is next to zero offense. These guys went at it plenty... just in a very skillful manner.

Orlando Canizales v Wilfredo Vazquez was a mirror match.
Donald Curry v Marlon Starling

What a great thread, good stuff. Some really good shout outs.

Marquez/Barrera definitely stands out. I don't think either guy made more than 1 mistake a round in that fight, it was technical brilliance. It was mind blowing to watch at the time and aside from the controversy, that fight is fine wine.

Outside the box a bit but De La Hoya - Quartey was pretty good. De La Hoya had this baffling habit of not sticking to what works throughout his career but this was actually a good example of two guys implementing and sticking to a gameplan to put on a great, evenly matched bout.

That's what I have tonight.

Stuck on trilogies this weekend. As much as I like Carbajal, Chiquita Gonzalez totally revamped in rematch and . Close but looking back far better technical boxer than given credit. Stevie Johnston v Manfredy wasn't massive but top skill.

If you can find any, watch a bit of Fernie Morales, out of El Paso. Very sound, fundamentally solid fighter. Not fast, not a puncher, just a neat boxer.

Oba Carr v Ike Quartey