Your personal Favorite Fight of All Time, and why

It doesn’t have to be the greatest fight of all time… just your personal favorite. What fight did you see that thrilled you the most? That instantly became your personal favorite of all time? That you’d watch over and over again?

My own Favorite Fight of All Time (no surprise here) was the Trinidad-Vargas fight.

There are many factors involved. First, Tito was on the rise and had already won the hearts of Puerto Rican boxing fans everywhere. He was starting to get the vastly overdue recognition from the U.S. media after his win (albeit controversial) over Oscar de la Hoya. Then… there was the Puerto Rican-Mexican boxing rivalry thing. Few sporting events get the people here (in P.R.) as excited as a PR-Mexican championship fight.

Then there was Vargas himself. Young, arrogant, and undefeated… a tough brawler and puncher who distanced himself from De la Hoya when he claimed: “This Mexican won’t run.”

So the buildup to the fight was tremendous. I admit to have been a bit nervous, ‘cause I had seen Vargas in some impressive KO victories. Then there was the fight itself. Vargas knocking over the fake stone blocks in his grand entrance to the ring, complete with Aztec warriors and fire coming out of the ground. Then while getting the last pre-fight instructions, Vargas’ look of total disdain toward Tito. One of his handlers pulled him away briefly for a last minute shot of water (yes, I remember… I’ve seen it many times), and when Vargas turned back toward Tito, he came to within inches of Tito’s face. Real intimidating stuff.

Then the bell rang. First, let me mention that my house was full of people watching the fight. I had to take the TV out to the terrace so everyone would fit (and to minimize any damage from excessive celebrations). Anyway, when Tito knocked Vargas down in the very first round, we all erupted in wild cheering. I thought the fight was over. But to Vargas’ credit (and what made the fight an instant classic), he showed his heart and his guts, and he survived that first round. Not only that, the fight became a tremendous battle of survival, with both men giving and taking with all they had. There was a nervous quiet stretch, when Vargas knocked Tito down and won some of those middle rounds.

Then the end of the fight. I wanted a knockout, not a decision. And when the KO came, it was delirium all over again.

Some people don’t understand this, but boxing can cause this sort of thing like few other sporting events can. To the British boxing fans here, can you imagine the scene in Las Vegas (and all across England) had Hatton somehow pulled off not just a win, but a KO victory over Floyd Mayweather? Hell… they’d STILL be clearing the streets of Las Vegas and in Manchester. Also, although not very big in Puerto Rico or the U.S., how about football? (or what we call “soccer”) Anyone who watches the news knows just how intense the fans at a soccer match can be. Especially when rival countries are facing each other. Well… that’s what it’s like.

So although there’s probably been better fights (though I can’t think of many), Trinidad-Vargas is MY alltime personal favorite. What’s yours?

top stuff tito, when i first read the title of the thread i assumed this would be your fave fight solely in terms of the action inside the ring...was pleasently surprised to see you opted for a home town hero partaking in a superfight.

Being a born and bred englishmen for pure fight euphoria hatton-mayweather tops it all. Dont know about the attention it got in americabut it was the single biggest sporting event of 2007 in the UK and one of those special moments that transcends the sport to the next level.

Remember having a mate driving us to leicester square at 2.30 on a sunday morning and seeing streets that are normally derelict at that time of night ram packed full of party goers desperately seeking somewhere to watch the fight.

It was on the front and back pages of all the tabloid papers on the day of the fight and whether you were watching a newscast or listening to the radio it was all on everyones minds.

Though the fight itself proved to be a great anti-climax in that our boy took a bit of a hiding it gave boxing the much needed recognition it had needed in the UK since the days of lennox lewis and got kids all over the country into their local boxing gyms to take up the sport.

Mine is Tyson vs Douglas. It is the first fight I ever watch, and it got me hooked.

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Originally Posted by hattonthehammer

top stuff tito, when i first read the title of the thread i assumed this would be your fave fight solely in terms of the action inside the ring...was pleasently surprised to see you opted for a home town hero partaking in a superfight.

Being a born and bred englishmen for pure fight euphoria hatton-mayweather tops it all. Dont know about the attention it got in americabut it was the single biggest sporting event of 2007 in the UK and one of those special moments that transcends the sport to the next level.

Remember having a mate driving us to leicester square at 2.30 on a sunday morning and seeing streets that are normally derelict at that time of night ram packed full of party goers desperately seeking somewhere to watch the fight.

It was on the front and back pages of all the tabloid papers on the day of the fight and whether you were watching a newscast or listening to the radio it was all on everyones minds.

Though the fight itself proved to be a great anti-climax in that our boy took a bit of a hiding it gave boxing the much needed recognition it had needed in the UK since the days of lennox lewis and got kids all over the country into their local boxing gyms to take up the sport.

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This is exactly the kind of stuff that generates new interest in this great sport of boxing. Although the outcome of the Hatton-PBF fight wasn't what British fans would've liked, it still generated tons of new interest in the sport. I remember the parades and homecoming parties when Tito would come back from one of his huge victories. It was awesome. And the night of the Vargas fight... cars were screeching their tires and blaring their horns for hours after the fight. I myself was hoarse for three days from all the screaming and yelling during and immediately after the fight.

All of the Gatti Ward's.

Honestly I have no idea, been trying to think of it and I find I can't just choose one. Some fights that I don't think get enough credit: Chacon-Limon 4, Ward-Burton, Toney-Jirov, and another one that I've totally forgotten. There are a whole lot of other ones.

So basically I'm giving a non-answer.

Well I followed closely when I was younger by the time the Oscar Tito fight happend I was hooked but after that desicion I stopped watching boxing.For my first fight back I remember seeing Arturo Gatti vs Mickey Ward and I said ah what the hell I haven't watched boxing in a few years.Then the next thing I know I am the only guy in the township who has probably watched Eugene Crickey vs Johnny Kilbane for the featherweight strap and know who won.


Now that I didn't answer your question.I would at certain times I liked certain fight's. Holyfield vs Tyson in '96 also that year the Bowe Golota fight's.Recent times Calzaghe vs Lacy for some reason always stick's in my head,Tarver knocking Jones Jr out and then Glen Johnson.Like I said Certain fight's at certain points in my life never could say just 1.

The one I will choose that got me off my seat was Benn v McClellan. I had always been a fan of Benn but I knew that Gerald was the bomb as I had seen him destroy Julian Jackson and just did not think Benn would win. Felt King and Warren had set him up to loose. When he survived that first round and slowly come back and landed his bombs I was jumping for joy. Never normally do that but the comeback was amazing and to pull off the victory was magic!

Leonard-Hearns I

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Originally Posted by OumaFan

Honestly I have no idea, been trying to think of it and I find I can't just choose one. Some fights that I don't think get enough credit: Chacon-Limon 4, Ward-Burton, Toney-Jirov, and another one that I've totally forgotten. There are a whole lot of other ones.

So basically I'm giving a non-answer.

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Ward/Burton-Augustus is my #1,

Honorable mention to Duran/Leonard 1, Hagler/Mugabi, and Toney/Jirov.

Barrera vs Morales 1

The poor decision cant take away what a great contest it was. Ive seen the fight over and over again cuz of the sheer quality

What made it so great was teh passion both guys showed in there. Alot of fighters know when theyre beat but these two didnt, they just kept going fighting through the pain. Barrera seemed to have the edge defensivley and the faster, more powerful hands but Morales would never allow himself to be dominated and fought fire with fire.

Just when you thought 1 guy was finally wilting, back he'd come with an assult of his own and there were many times I thought Morales was out on his feet which he was honourable enough to admit aftewards but he somehow managed to hang in there . I thought he'd never be the same again and it did take him a while to find his form after that brawl.

Barrera went on to greatness and scored 2 wins against Morales but it was the 1st fight which was the classic for me.

Well this is going to sound horrible but here it goes....


I had a sparring session vs this guy at my gym. He was a former golden gloves winner....I totally owned him landing like 30 jabs in a round not to mention the numerous right crosses and left hooks I landed to boot.

Anyway it was one of my better sparring sessions and it had to be stopped early because I beat the crap out of him but that wasn't the best part....

A few days later I learned that this guy had murdered his step father with a knife and he's now in prison. He was also like addicted to crack and had mental issues like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder or something which ain't great either




So I basically whipped the crap out of a insane murderer....it makes you feel a little bit tougher after knowing that ;D



True story

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Originally Posted by Lyle

Well this is going to sound horrible but here it goes....


I had a sparring session vs this guy at my gym. He was a former golden gloves winner....I totally owned him landing like 30 jabs in a round not to mention the numerous right crosses and left hooks I landed to boot.

Anyway it was one of my better sparring sessions and it had to be stopped early because I beat the crap out of him but that wasn't the best part....

A few days later I learned that this guy had murdered his step father with a knife and he's now in prison. He was also like addicted to crack and had mental issues like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder or something which ain't great either




So I basically whipped the crap out of a insane murderer....it makes you feel a little bit tougher after knowing that ;D



True story

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Nice 1 ;D

I once had a fight with a guy who I knew then afew years later I found out that he commited suicide after murdering someone cuz he didnt wana go back to prison . Glad I lost contact with him now.

My first santioned amateur fight will always be my favorite fight of all time. I went in scared shitless, thought I was total crap at boxing, was in grade 7 and was fighting' a dude 3 years older in grade 10 and 10 lbs heavier. Fought him in his hometown and got boo'd by 1000 people in a casino as I entered the ring which didn't exactly help my confidence. Then proceeded to punch the absolute snot out of him from the second the bell rang...

Never got hit once and realized right there that maybe i didn't suck, and that boxing was purdy freakin' cool!

WoW this is a tough one I have a few that all rank the same but for a few different reasons...Just to name a couple in no particular order...

Hagler/Hearns...I am a HUGE Hearns fan and Hagler fan as well...Tommy was stepping up to try and claim another world title in a new weight class and Hagler was tough as nails seemingly unbeatable at the time (and this was a time where even the second tier fighters were top notch EG Mugabi,)...It was a bout we all knoew before it started it could end with 1 shot either way...It lived up to it's hype and more...the 3 most exciting rounds of all time IMO

Arguello/Pryor 1....Alexis was so good and soo loved...Pryor so mean and loved to fight!!...Was he going to be proven nothing more then a brawler and have some respect beaten into him by Arguello or was he going to break the thin man and establish himself as the most feared man in boxing under 160lbs...again it lived up to it's hype..action, heartbreak..skill, agressiveness...you name it this fight had it

Leonard/Hearns 1...No need to explain this one

I can name a bunch but I would be here all day

hatton /mayweather,,,simply for the sheer spectacle,the fight caught the imagination of the world and it has to be THE weigh in to end all of em,it put boxing back on the map,lets be honest the sport was taking a pounding,one man put it back up there HATTON,,,ricky supporter till i die, win or lose.

duran v leonard 1 was great

lacy v calzaghe, complete missmatch, it was a complete masterclass in boxing, perfection.

and of course castillo/corrales.

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Originally Posted by RozzySean

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Originally Posted by OumaFan

Honestly I have no idea, been trying to think of it and I find I can't just choose one. Some fights that I don't think get enough credit: Chacon-Limon 4, Ward-Burton, Toney-Jirov, and another one that I've totally forgotten. There are a whole lot of other ones.

So basically I'm giving a non-answer.

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Ward/Burton-Augustus is my #1,

Honorable mention to Duran/Leonard 1, Hagler/Mugabi, and Toney/Jirov.

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I couldn't tell you how many times I have watched Ward/Augustus. One of my faves.

There are so many though; but I gotta say a couple more would be Pavlik/Taylor I and Marquez/Vasquez III.

Will, determination, heart and great back and forth; all ingredients to the 3 fights above.

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Originally Posted by LEGION

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Originally Posted by RozzySean

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Originally Posted by OumaFan

Honestly I have no idea, been trying to think of it and I find I can't just choose one. Some fights that I don't think get enough credit: Chacon-Limon 4, Ward-Burton, Toney-Jirov, and another one that I've totally forgotten. There are a whole lot of other ones.

So basically I'm giving a non-answer.

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Ward/Burton-Augustus is my #1,

Honorable mention to Duran/Leonard 1, Hagler/Mugabi, and Toney/Jirov.

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I couldn't tell you how many times I have watched Ward/Augustus. One of my faves.

There are so many though; but I gotta say a couple more would be Pavlik/Taylor I and Marquez/Vasquez III.

Will, determination, heart and great back and forth; all ingredients to the 3 fights above.

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Too be honest I enjoyed a lot of Augustas bouts...He had a hell of a decent bout with PBF before being stopped and I loved the second Burton bout when he taught Courtney a lesson

Ali/Foreman,for all the obvious reasons
Hopkins/Trinidad,a guy with a reputation as a brawler delivers a clinic on boxing on somebody who is supposed to be unbeatable

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Originally Posted by DaxxKahn

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Originally Posted by LEGION

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Originally Posted by RozzySean

Ward/Burton-Augustus is my #1,

Honorable mention to Duran/Leonard 1, Hagler/Mugabi, and Toney/Jirov.

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I couldn't tell you how many times I have watched Ward/Augustus. One of my faves.

There are so many though; but I gotta say a couple more would be Pavlik/Taylor I and Marquez/Vasquez III.

Will, determination, heart and great back and forth; all ingredients to the 3 fights above.

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Too be honest I enjoyed a lot of Augustas bouts...He had a hell of a decent bout with PBF before being stopped and I loved the second Burton bout when he taught Courtney a lesson

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Too true; I can't really think of an Augustus fight I didn't enjoy. Either he was in the thick of a toe to toe fight, or was breakdancing around the ring, or both:D

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Originally Posted by LEGION

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Originally Posted by DaxxKahn

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Originally Posted by LEGION

I couldn't tell you how many times I have watched Ward/Augustus. One of my faves.

There are so many though; but I gotta say a couple more would be Pavlik/Taylor I and Marquez/Vasquez III.

Will, determination, heart and great back and forth; all ingredients to the 3 fights above.

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Too be honest I enjoyed a lot of Augustas bouts...He had a hell of a decent bout with PBF before being stopped and I loved the second Burton bout when he taught Courtney a lesson

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Too true; I can't really think of an Augustus fight I didn't enjoy. Either he was in the thick of a toe to toe fight, or was breakdancing around the ring, or both:D

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So true when you watched Augustas you were entertained...Though I wish at times he would have toned it down and been more serious during bouts...it cost him a lot of wins because it turned judges off...I always though he had world class skill reguardless of his win loss record...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=n6z2UE0hdT8

Morales-Barrera I

Two first ballot HOFers, in their primes, wailing away on each other for 12 rounds. I think it's the best fight of this decade, better than Castillo-Corrales I, Gatti-Ward I, etc.

One of my all time Favorites is Michael Carbajal Vs. Chiquita Gonzalez I.Everything a fight fan could hope for and more.

Mayweather-Hatton. Just for the ring post head butt. Classic stuff

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Originally Posted by Violent Demise

Mayweather-Hatton. Just for the ring post head butt. Classic stuff

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:lol:

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Originally Posted by Spicoli surfs 'Nawlins

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Originally Posted by Violent Demise

Mayweather-Hatton. Just for the ring post head butt. Classic stuff

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:lol:

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Too bad lefty just got banned and can't defend his boy.

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Originally Posted by Pacstraightleft

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Originally Posted by Spicoli surfs 'Nawlins

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Originally Posted by Violent Demise

Mayweather-Hatton. Just for the ring post head butt. Classic stuff

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:lol:

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Too bad lefty just got banned and can't defend his boy.

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Really? Why he get banned for?

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Originally Posted by Violent Demise

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Originally Posted by Pacstraightleft

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Originally Posted by Spicoli surfs 'Nawlins

:lol:

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Too bad lefty just got banned and can't defend his boy.

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Really? Why he get banned for?

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Never mind. I just saw the thread. Boy deserved the ban. He was way out of line.

Castillo - Corrales for me. Never have I seen two fighters go so hard shoulder to shoulder, just laying there and battling out. It was absolutely unbelievable I remember when I watched it. I watched on the Sunday after, I was looking forward to it but had went out that night and came home very late. The next afternoon I went downstairs and my dad asked me if I saw Corrales-Castillo, I said no and that was the end of it. I didn't think anything of it. I grab a watermelon and take it upstairs, flip on ondemand and put the fight on. Halfway through the fight and halfway through the watermelon, I was glued to the edge of my bed watching this battle unlike any I've ever seen.

That is the best fight. Morales - Barrera an extremely close second. The night I watched Morales-Barrera was the night we got our computer, our first computer. I was in 4th grade or maybe 5th it's hard to remember. But that night I got into a boxing chat room on Yahoo with my dad who was using the internet for something other then email for the first time in his life. That kind of manifested into this if you really think about it because that was my personal boxing revival where I was shook to the core by a fight. I still remember that night great and to be honest don't even watch the fight all that much even though I have it because I like that original feeling of watching it.

Probably Ali-Williams. That was the closest ive seen a fighter come to fighting a perfect fight. Absolute masterpiece ans Alis best performance.

Leonard v Duran 1 Cracking fight my man wins

Duran v Davy Moore Wins big time

Hagler v Mugabi Love this fight Mugabi wont roll over

Mc Guigan v Pedrosa QPRs ground full to the max mental atmosphere, Mc Guigan at his best.

It is seemingly impossible for me to list just 1.

But there are 2 fights that just stand out the most to me.

JLC vs. Corrales I - Being ringside for this fight was one of the most amazing things my eyes have ever seen.

Rafa vs. Izzy III - Being ringside for this fight was intense and just out of control.

Those are 2 amazing fights I attended that's not even getting into fights I've only seen on television. :-\

Here are some fights I like to watch and that I re-visit often:
'Locomotora' Castro vs. 'Action' Jackson I
Barrios vs. Freitas
Gatti vs. Ruelas
'Smokin' Cooper vs. Moorer
Zarate vs. Zamora
Foster vs. Finnegan
Basilio vs. Saxton II
'Little Red' Lopez vs. Ayala
Tua vs. Ike
Rosario vs. Ramirez II
Campas vs. Duddy
Tapia vs. Ayala I
'Posion' Jones vs. John M. Johnson II
Johnson vs. Galindez
Muhammad vs. Yaqui Lopez II
Hamed vs. Kelly

My knowledge of boxing history is minute, but I think my favorite will have to be Buster Douglas vs. Mike Tyson.

Big upset there, had a 42 to 1 chance of winning, but somehow the fire was flowin' in him, and he became champ. (I hated how he lost the next fight though, I think Holyfield knocked him out the 1st round).

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Originally Posted by TitoFan

It doesn’t have to be the greatest fight of all time… just your personal favorite. What fight did you see that thrilled you the most? That instantly became your personal favorite of all time? That you’d watch over and over again?

My own Favorite Fight of All Time (no surprise here) was the Trinidad-Vargas fight.

There are many factors involved. First, Tito was on the rise and had already won the hearts of Puerto Rican boxing fans everywhere. He was starting to get the vastly overdue recognition from the U.S. media after his win (albeit controversial) over Oscar de la Hoya. Then… there was the Puerto Rican-Mexican boxing rivalry thing. Few sporting events get the people here (in P.R.) as excited as a PR-Mexican championship fight.

Then there was Vargas himself. Young, arrogant, and undefeated… a tough brawler and puncher who distanced himself from De la Hoya when he claimed: “This Mexican won’t run.”

So the buildup to the fight was tremendous. I admit to have been a bit nervous, ‘cause I had seen Vargas in some impressive KO victories. Then there was the fight itself. Vargas knocking over the fake stone blocks in his grand entrance to the ring, complete with Aztec warriors and fire coming out of the ground. Then while getting the last pre-fight instructions, Vargas’ look of total disdain toward Tito. One of his handlers pulled him away briefly for a last minute shot of water (yes, I remember… I’ve seen it many times), and when Vargas turned back toward Tito, he came to within inches of Tito’s face. Real intimidating stuff.

Then the bell rang. First, let me mention that my house was full of people watching the fight. I had to take the TV out to the terrace so everyone would fit (and to minimize any damage from excessive celebrations). Anyway, when Tito knocked Vargas down in the very first round, we all erupted in wild cheering. I thought the fight was over. But to Vargas’ credit (and what made the fight an instant classic), he showed his heart and his guts, and he survived that first round. Not only that, the fight became a tremendous battle of survival, with both men giving and taking with all they had. There was a nervous quiet stretch, when Vargas knocked Tito down and won some of those middle rounds.

Then the end of the fight. I wanted a knockout, not a decision. And when the KO came, it was delirium all over again.

Some people don’t understand this, but boxing can cause this sort of thing like few other sporting events can. To the British boxing fans here, can you imagine the scene in Las Vegas (and all across England) had Hatton somehow pulled off not just a win, but a KO victory over Floyd Mayweather? Hell… they’d STILL be clearing the streets of Las Vegas and in Manchester. Also, although not very big in Puerto Rico or the U.S., how about football? (or what we call “soccer”) Anyone who watches the news knows just how intense the fans at a soccer match can be. Especially when rival countries are facing each other. Well… that’s what it’s like.

So although there’s probably been better fights (though I can’t think of many), Trinidad-Vargas is MY alltime personal favorite. What’s yours?

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I concurr old friend

Its just like my main man larry mentioned.. I cant remember to quote him but it was generally something like..

Weve had three knockdowns..both guys hit the deck.. Two major fouls..and we're not even half way..

Thats from two prime undefeated fighters..

It easily goes down as my favourite fight of all time.

I think for me it has to be Benn Vs McClellan was the best and yet most tragic fight of all time.

Resto-Collins Jr. was faaaaaar more tragic

Leonard v Hearns 1, that night I saw the best two welters ever put on a story Fantastic both a credit they couldnt have done it without each other.

I posted it in the wrong thread earlier


Corrales Castillo 1 and\
Bowe holyfield 3

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Originally Posted by Deanrw

I posted it in the wrong thread earlier


Corrales Castillo 1 and\
Bowe holyfield 3

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:(......;DAgree with ya on the first.But did you enjoy watching My Man Holyfield fall into that right hand face first & get KTKO ?JK bro but that fight basically 'retired' me from following boxing for a spell when it happened.I was actually in a fog...too much emotional investment :embarassed: Kept flashing back to the 5th(?) when Holy dropped Bowe......and could not follow up,I knew deep down he was done (In that one)....EDIT..;Dnot in career of course

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Originally Posted by Spicoli surfs 'Nawlins

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Originally Posted by Deanrw

I posted it in the wrong thread earlier


Corrales Castillo 1 and\
Bowe holyfield 3

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:(......;DAgree with ya on the first.But did you enjoy watching My Man Holyfield fall into that right hand face first & get KTKO ?JK bro but that fight basically 'retired' me from following boxing for a spell when it happened.I was actually in a fog...too much emotional investment :embarassed: Kept flashing back to the 5th(?) when Holy dropped Bowe......and could not follow up,I knew deep down he was done.

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Yeah but I saw it as Holyfield fighting like a true warrior right till the bitter end. He went down like a man after dishing out major hurt. He lost the fight, but won the war. he basically ruined Bowe.