Boxing Rematches – Setting the record straight

By Boxing News - 04/11/2014 - Comments

pac100By Simon Allen: There is no clear science, rematches for the most part always remain unpredictable. This is because we have seen the fighters go to war and know their strengths and weaknesses. In general the bouts have been so close as to be hard to separate and any convincing decision seems unfair on both warriors.

Despite all this rematches nearly always leave the fans wanting more.

Rematches are a constant throughout the annals of boxing history; the great Sam Langford fought Henry Wills twenty one times in his career. Although this had more to do with colour barriers of the times, these two competitors always brought out the best in each other.

The first major international rematch of note involved the great Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney. Dempsey had lost his heavyweight title to Tunney via decision after the latter fought intelligently and outboxed the out of shape Dempsey. Many considered it a major shock and a rematch was soon put in place.

As the bell rang for their second fight the world stopped to watch, this time Dempsey having trained properly finally caught up with the elusive Tunney thumping him to the canvas, in his excitement to finish the fight he failed to return to a neutral corner, a new rule introduced and cost himself valuable time. Add to the factor a mobbed up referee and an infamous long count and you have enough material to write another article.

The legend that is Sugar Ray Robinson had hugely popular rematches with Jake Lamotta and Carmen Basilio.

Robinson fought Lamotta five times in his career in a classic stylistic match up, always battles of attrition. Robinson lost only once to Lamotta in their first fight, Jake for his part always fought like a lion and famously told Robinson “You never knocked my down Ray,” after their final fight dubbed the St Valentine’s Day massacre.

Against Basilio, Robinson was to lose his middleweight title only to win it back in a rematch. The two fights were closely fought and tough wars in which both fighters were hurt. Both fights ended via split decisions and won fight of the year awards.

Floyd Patterson had an epic trilogy with Ingemar Johansson. In their first for the heavyweight title Johansson landed his big punch labelled the Hammer of Thor to KO Patterson in three rounds and take the title. In their rematch both fighters came out swinging heavy blows this time Patterson prevailing in five rounds and become the first heavyweight boxer to regain his title. Their rubber match went the same way with Patterson winning by knockout in six. All their fights were back and forth affairs.

The “Greatest” Muhammad Ali was no stranger to rematches. Three epic fights with “Smokin” Joe Frazier will forever be remembered by boxing fans and historians alike. Frazier emerged the victor in their first fight handing Ali his first loss on points and temporarily dropping his ego down a peg or two. Their rematch occurred three years later with Ali emerging victorious via unanimous decision. The third dubbed the Thriller in Manila, resulted in Ali winning by TKO in the fourteenth round after Frazier was unable to continue. The epic brutal match up and exhausting heat was to take its toll on both fighters. To many in boxing it is considered the greatest fight of all time.

Sugar Ray Leonard was involved in two controversial rematches in his career. Leonard took on Roberto Duran in of his Ring and WBC welterweight titles. Duran much to everyone’s shock one on points outworking Leonard throughout the fight and taking Leonards unbeaten record in the process.

In the rematch Leonard proceeded to fight a different fight frustrating Duran for eight rounds, leading Duran to quit with his hands in the air shouting “No Mas.” The two legends were to go onto have another fight later in the careers with Leonard winning on points.

His fights with Thomas Hearns were arguably more exciting. In the first after being outboxed and beaten to the punch by Hearns, Leonard managed to somehow come out in the fourteenth and stop the weight drained and punched out Hearns.

In their rematch Hearns appeared to again outbox and outpoint Leonard only for the fight to be scored a draw by the judges at ringside. In what many saw as a shutout for Hearns.
Micky Ward and Arturo Gatti fought three memorable wars in the early 2000’s. In what were three hellish back and forth fights. Ward ever the underdog managed to hurt and outpoint Gatti in the first battle. A rematch declared and after both fighters pushing their boundaries Gatti’s greater skill earned a points victory. Their third and final fight was equally as vicious both fighters crunching blows but despite knocking Gatti down Ward was ultimately to lose on points. The first and third of these fights both went on to win fight of the year.

Manny Pacquiao is another fighter no stranger to rematches. He has fought Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera three times winning both the first by knockout and the second unanimous decision.

He fought Erik Morales three times, losing the first fight by unanimous decision but winning the other two by TKO in ten rounds and knockout in three.
He has fought his nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez four times, drawing their first fight after flooring Marquez three times in the first round. Winning the second by a close split decision. The third by a controversial unanimous decision and losing the fourth by a sixth round knockout.

For all these great rematches there have been some that have been unappealing and unnecessary. To name a few Roy Jones Jr in his rematch with Bernard Hopkins was years overdue and uninteresting failing to really grab the public’s attention. Julio Cesar Chavez against Oscar de la Hoya after the way the first fight proceeded the second was pointless and Chavez didn’t need it as part of his legacy. Lennox Lewis vs Evander Holyfield had to happen but shouldn’t have needed to really as Lewis had clearly won their first fight and it was never going to be different in the second.

Holyfield for his part was involved in two of the most controversial rematches of the modern era. The first his rematch with Riddick Bowe, not only was the fight a competitive back and forth affair but was made famous by an attention seeking parachutist landing on the ropes mid fight. The fight had to be stopped why the ruckus was dealt with. Holyfield went on to win on points and reclaim the belts.

The second was versus Mike Tyson. After surprisingly knocking Tyson out in their first fight a big money rematch was quickly arranged. The fight carried on the same as their last with Holyfield frustrating and outboxing his opponent. Tyson then remarkably bit a large chunk of Holyfield’s ear spitting it out to the canvas. The fight was allowed to continue only for Tyson to repeat his cannibal tendencies. Tyson was ultimately disqualified.

With these fights in mind this Saturdays much looked forward to rematch between Bradley and Pacquiao has much to live up to and all the ingredients for a classic.



Comments are closed.