By Gav Duthie: Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic we are spending more time indoors than ever before and most fans have probably went through their entire extensive youtube sporting back catalogue to keep amused. I’ve already had Ward v Gatti, Morales v Barrera, Moore V Durelle, Hagler v Hearns and any other big fight that happened over the last 100 years. As a result I thought I would reach deep into my mind for fights most fans maybe hadn’t watched. Top fights fans either haven’t seen, are forgotten about or didn’t get enough credit to begin with. Here are my top 10 must see action fights. Feel free to share your own so we can stay safe and keep busy during self isolation.
I will reveal the results at the end so if you want to watch without knowing leave reading out the last part.
In chronological order
George Chuvalo (29-8-2) v Floyd Patterson (41-4)
1 February 1965
This bout won Ring magazine fight of the year for 1965. Muhammad Ali also made his commentating debut on it impressing viewers with his articulate analysis. Patterson was seen as somewhat washed up by this point or certainly on the decline. Chuvalo has arguably the greatest chin of all time having never been knocked down. Patterson had won his last 3 after double first round defeats to Sonny Liston and many thought Chuvalo would be too strong and he was very bullish throughout. Ali had dethroned Liston by this point and Patterson abandoned his usual aggressive peek-a-bo pre Mike Tyson style for a more jab and move approach. What made the fight great though was that Chuvalo was able to drag Patterson into a fight every now and then producing spectacular action. This one goes the distance but is a great boxer/puncher combination worth watching.
Michael Moorer 28-0 v Bert Cooper 27-8
15 May 1992
Reading Joe Fraziers autobiography Bert Cooper was his best prospect. He had the Frazier bob and weave and power in both hands. Cooper was a drug addict though and died in his early 50s in 2019 and lost 25 fights in total destroying his talent. He gave the likes of Michael Moorer and Evander Holyfield all sorts of problems though at his best. The best ever first round of course is Hagler v Hearns, no dispute there but Moorer v Cooper must be close. Cooper batters him in the beginning and is lucky to survive by the rounds end. The trade further knockdowns later in the fight. The bout was for the vacant WBO heavyweight title.
Jorge Castro (95-4-2) v John David Jackson 32-0
10 December 1994
This was probably the greatest comeback of the last 30 years after Corrales v Castillo. The fight is in danger of being stopped in one way and ends up getting smashed with an off the ropes counter. This was a world title fight for the WBA middleweight title and won ring magazine fight of the year. The bout was competitive but Jackson was well ahead on the cards going into the 9th and final round where the real fun began.
Kennedy McKinney (28-1-1) v Marco Antonio Barrera (39-0)
3 February 1996
Because of Barrera’s amazing trilogy with Erik Morales this bout often gets forgotten about. This was a defence of McKinney’s WBO super bantamweight world title which at the time was considered a peripheral title. High profile champion fighters like Barrera and Calzaghe changed that in later years. Before Barrera lost twice to the rapid Junior Jones he had a more aggressive Mexican Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr style. The losses made him more cautious and counter punching but he could always be exciting. He stalks McKinney most of the fight but the American stands up to him and lands several right hands. The bout is back and fourth, trading knockdowns and goes right to the final round with one fighter not making the final bell.
Arturo Gatti (24-1) v Wilson Rodriguez (44-8-3)
23 March 1996
Much like Barrera Gatti’s trilogy with Ward make some of his other previous fights fade into the background. I almost went for Gatti’s first loss to Ivan Robinson or even Rafael Ruelas but this one just edges it. Gatti was extremely raw at the time although he had just won the IBF world title from Tracy Harris Patterson (Floyd’s adopted son) and this was his first defence. Gatti’s eyes are both badly swollen in the first round and in the second he is just walking onto quick combinations by Rofdriguez. He is also dropped and looking embarrassed but as we know Gatti is made of stronger stuff. He is relentless in his pursuit and round 4 is amazing pendulum swinging action. The fight doesn’t make the half way point and the final knockout punch is stunning.
Corrie Sanders (36-1) v Hasim Rahman (32-2)
20 May 2000
A great heavyweight bout that really went under the radar. Both Rahman and Sanders later in their careers scored two of the biggest upsets of all time defeating both Lennox Lewis and Wladimir Klitschko respectively. Before that the two served up a real treat hurting each other several times both scoring knockouts. This bout was for the WBU heavyweight title which was quite popular at the time. Both boxers can punch and do some serious damage to the other and defence seems an optional disregard during the contest.
Danny Williams (21-1) v Mark Potter (14-2)
21 October 2000
Its hard not to describe whats happens in this one without giving away the result. Williams was a big prospect in the UK at this time and in subsequent fights gets his best win next time out against New Zealander Kali Meehan. He also avenges a previous defeat to Julius Francis before losing to the late Sinan Samil Sam in 2003 and of course beating Mike Tyson. Before that he had to face a tough, resilient Mark Potter and do it with one arm after dislocating his right shoulder. The action and fighting spirit is amazing. The winner took both the British and Commonwealth titles.
Scott Pemberton (26-3-1) v Omar Sheika (23-5)
Rematch 23 January 2004
Possibly the greatest ever fight on the ESPN Friday Night fights platform that no longer exists. These events were reserved for the nearly men contenders. They weren’t quite journeyman nor were they elite but often very evenly matched for competitive bouts. This fight was actually a rematch and both of them were incredible. Sheika had been tipped for big things before losing his first bout to Joe Calzaghe. Pemberton took the NABF title on a split decision and in the rematch the action is amazing. Both go down and their styles gel really well with Sheika’s aggression against the taller Pemberton who fights back hard when Sheika gets inside. Both bouts are incredible but the rematch edges it and is well worth a watch.
Matthew Macklin (17-1) v Jamie Moore (24-3)
29 September 2006
These two are good friends now but had an incredible rivalry in the ring which took both men to the brink. Both men had an all action style and the ability to hurt the other. The bout goes 10 rounds and its very difficult to predict the winner as it goes along with both enjoying major successes at different times. The winner took the British super welterweight title.
Tommy Coyle (17-2) v Daniel Brizuela (25-2-2)
22 February 2014
The most recent of the selected fights taking place just over 6 years ago. The contest was merely seen as a tune up for Coyle in building up to a fight with Luke Campbell but the Argentine Brizuela hadn’t read the script. There are 8 knockdowns in this fight (4 each) and it goes to the 12th and final round. It looked like it was going to go to the cards but finally one of them didn’t get back up.
The results
Many of you knowledgable fans will likely have seen some of these but if you haven’t it can be fun to not know who wins. Feel free to share other underrated bouts for us to watch over the next few weeks.
Floyd Patterson UD 12
Michael Moorer KO 5
Jorge Castro KO 9
Marco Antonio Barrera KO 12
Arturo Gatti KO 6
Hasim Rahman KO 7
Danny Williams KO 6
Scott Pemberton KO 10
Jamie Moore KO 10
Tommy Coyle KO 12