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

Yea great thread and good calls. Not quite up there and won't be a popular one to add, but I really enjoy Floyd vs Canelo. It's easy to dismiss the ginger because he probably didn't win a round and barely connected, but it's only because he was always that step to slow, what he was actually trying to do technically was pretty neat. It was really a masterpiece from Floyd to have never gotten tagged or bothered in that fight considering everything, imo.

Paul Williams/Sergio Martinez I

I don't believe either fighter won 2 consecutive rounds. Heck of a fight to end the decade (December 2009).

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Originally Posted by p4pking

Yea great thread and good calls. Not quite up there and won't be a popular one to add, but I really enjoy Floyd vs Canelo. It's easy to dismiss the ginger because he probably didn't win a round and barely connected, but it's only because he was always that step to slow, what he was actually trying to do technically was pretty neat. It was really a masterpiece from Floyd to have never gotten tagged or bothered in that fight considering everything, imo.

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I'm gonna vehemently disagree with this and of course it's going to sound like just more antagonism, but c'est la vie. The thread title includes the words "highly skilled/technical fights". Forgive me for chuckling but.... you're not seriously including Canelo's shutout loss to Floyd in that list. You said it yourself. Ginger didn't win a round. So why the contradiction? It lessens/discredits all the hundreds if not thousands of true boxers that have engaged in pure boxing matches. Some of which have been mentioned here. Canelo did not belong in the same ring with Floyd, and that was borne out from the very beginning. Let's give Canelo the credit he deserves for being a puncher..... for having a good chin.... for being tough. But pleeeeease do not put him anywhere near the phrase highly skilled and technical fights. Now if this warrants another hate PM from you, so be it. I'm not going to stand idly by and read your incomprehensible crap.

Well good evening to you as well! Canelo is a skilled boxer.. he wouldn't have just beat Cotto if he wasn't. I said it wouldn't be popular, and I realize there was no two way action in the fight. I simply feel it was a masterclass from Floyd to have not gotten tagged and won every round, as he was facing a very competent boxer with a lot of size on him. It's one of his best performances and probably the last great one, that's all.

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Originally Posted by TitoFan

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Originally Posted by p4pking

Yea great thread and good calls. Not quite up there and won't be a popular one to add, but I really enjoy Floyd vs Canelo. It's easy to dismiss the ginger because he probably didn't win a round and barely connected, but it's only because he was always that step to slow, what he was actually trying to do technically was pretty neat. It was really a masterpiece from Floyd to have never gotten tagged or bothered in that fight considering everything, imo.

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I'm gonna vehemently disagree with this and of course it's going to sound like just more antagonism, but c'est la vie. The thread title includes the words "highly skilled/technical fights". Forgive me for chuckling but.... you're not seriously including Canelo's shutout loss to Floyd in that list. You said it yourself. Ginger didn't win a round. So why the contradiction? It lessens/discredits all the hundreds if not thousands of true boxers that have engaged in pure boxing matches. Some of which have been mentioned here. Canelo did not belong in the same ring with Floyd, and that was borne out from the very beginning. Let's give Canelo the credit he deserves for being a puncher..... for having a good chin.... for being tough. But pleeeeease do not put him anywhere near the phrase highly skilled and technical fights. Now if this warrants another hate PM from you, so be it. I'm not going to stand idly by and read your incomprehensible crap.

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Floyd the mother fuker was flawless against Canelo. Floyd was flawless after being rocked twice by Mosely as well and I hate to even write it.

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Originally Posted by p4pking

Well good evening to you as well! Canelo is a skilled boxer.. he wouldn't have just beat Cotto if he wasn't. I said it wouldn't be popular, and I realize there was no two way action in the fight. I simply feel it was a masterclass from Floyd to have not gotten tagged and won every round, as he was facing a very competent boxer with a lot of size on him. It's one of his best performances and probably the last great one, that's all.

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You know.... I saw some of the exchanges between Cotto and Canelo, even in slow-mo..... and I must say I was pleasantly surprised at some of Canelo's improved boxing skills. I saw him avoiding some of Cotto's punches in a very skillful manner. So improved he has. I still think the biggest factor between Cotto and Canelo was the difference in size. It was there for the fight, and would be there for a rematch. Against Floyd.... I'll stick to my previous opinion. Canelo had no business in the ring with Floyd and I said as much before the fight. The actual fight only confirmed my thoughts. Did Floyd put on a flawless performance? Yes he did. It was obvious he had to. There was no way he was going to put a dent on Canelo's chin, Canelo being the much bigger man and having that very good chin. For that fight, however, Canelo was just a plodding, much slower puncher.... trying to catch Floyd with a lucky shot. So for me the fight does not qualify for this thread. If fact, speaking again of Cotto-Canelo..... I'd put THAT fight in this thread instead of the Floyd shutout win.