The 7 Best Boxing Fights of All Time Revealed | Parimatch

1. Arturo Gatti vs Micky Ward (May 2002)

The 2002 light welterweight fight between Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward goes down in many fans’ eyes as the best boxing fight of all time. Although other fights may run it close for pure sporting value, the entertainment and grit between Gatti and Ward was something else, with neither fighter giving an inch. 

Round nine in their first of three fights was a jaw-dropping three-minute period. It was raw, pent-up aggression, with both fighters running on fumes by the end of it. Although Ward was given the points decision on the night, both fighters were winners on this occasion, spawning the remaining bouts as part of their intense trilogy. 

Even their third and final bout would be crowned Fight of the Year by ESPN. Gatti would eventually win the decisive fight by unanimous points decision. Ward retired immediately after the third fight, with Gatti dying just six years later, aged only 37. The pair developed a newfound respect for one another, with Gatti going on record to say that the fights were what it must’ve been like to “fight his twin” – a nod to how even the contests were. 

2. Joe Frazier vs. Muhammad Ali (March 1971)

Gatti vs Ward only narrowly pips the so-called ‘Fight of the Century’ between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali. Frazier went into the contest as the WBA, WBC and The Ring heavyweight champion, and Ali was a former undisputed heavyweight world champion looking to win back those belts. 

Staged at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, this fight was a commercial goldmine for promoters, drawing a truly global audience, which is why it’s still seen as one of the best boxing fights of all time. 

Both fighters were undefeated in the ring. Ali was only a former heavyweight champion due to being stripped of his belts for refusing to be on the draft list for the US in the Vietnam War. 

With Joe Frazier, a staunch supporter of US involvement in the war, the fight was eventually billed as Team US vs. Team Anti-Establishment. The 15-round classic lived up to the billing, although Frazier appeared to have the edge throughout, knocking Ali to the canvas in the 11th round. 

Frazier won by unanimous points decision, but the fight was so competitive that they would lock horns twice more, including the ‘Thriller in Manilla’ where Ali got his divine retribution. 

3. Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas Hearns (April 1985)

‘Marvelous’ Marvin Hagler was the undisputed middleweight champion of the world going into his fight with challenger Thomas Hearns. Hearns was the WBC super welterweight champion and was happy to go up in weight to get his chance with Hagler. 

Staged in Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, this fight was billed as ‘The Fight’ but would later become known as ‘The War’ among boxing enthusiasts. That’s because the fight only lasted three rounds, but it was one of the most electrifying and attritional three-round fights the sport has ever seen. 

The opening round saw both fighters get straight down to action. Hagler came out of the traps fast, pinning Hearns back on the ropes with a spate of vicious blows. Hearns retaliated and stunned Hagler for a split second before he regained his composure to tie up Hearns on the ropes a second time before the end of the round. 

The second round was rather more one-way traffic in Hagler’s favour, with Hearns struggling to keep the pace. He admitted post-fight that his legs had already gone, and Hagler was working the body well again. 

In the third and final round, Hearns tried to set a ferocious pace again, but despite a cut on his forehead, Hagler eventually floored Hearns with a string of right-hand blows to claim a richly deserved victory. 

4. Erik Morales vs. Marco Antonio Barrera (February 2005)

The Morales vs. Barrera trilogy was one of the biggest talking points in boxing through the early 2000s. This duo were Mexico’s most decorated boxers. Erik ‘El Terrible’ Morales was undefeated and the WBC super-bantamweight world champion. Meanwhile, Marco Antonio Barrera was the WBO super bantamweight champion and had held the belt since the mid-1990s. 

Despite being compatriots, there were immense levels of bad blood between them. Although some fighters respect their opponents deep down, there was a sense of genuine hatred between Morales and Barrera – and it showed in the ring. 

Once again, Las Vegas was the perfect backdrop for this fight at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. Morales was the heavy pre-fight favourite and the working-class hero of many Mexican boxing fans. Barrera had a rather more privileged upbringing, bringing class warfare into the fight’s storyline. The bout itself was a helter-skelter affair, with many having Barrera narrowly up on their scorecards at the end of round 12.  

However, Morales took the victory by a split points decision, with one judge giving him a three-round advantage over Barrera – something many find mystifying to this very day. 

5. George Foreman vs Muhammad Ali (October 1974)

Foreman vs Ali is another worthy addition to our list of the best boxing fights ever. The story surrounding the fight was the main headline-grabber, with the African nation of Zaire hosting one of the biggest boxing spectacles the sport had ever seen. 

Promoters Jerry Masucci and Don King worked their magic to bring boxing to Africa, with a record one billion-plus viewers watching the fight worldwide. Ahead of this historic bout, Ali was a major underdog. Foreman was in irrepressible form, undefeated in 40 fights. He swatted away the likes of Ali’s rival, Joe Frazier, with relative ease, so Ali looked to be in for a tough evening. 

The ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ proved to be Ali’s finest hour in the sport. Aged 32, Ali fought a man seven years his junior and was rated a 4/1 underdog. Ali showed masterful ring craft throughout this fight to absorb everything Foreman could throw at him before securing that career-defining eighth-round knockout. 

6. Joe Louis vs. Billy Conn (June 1941)

It’s important not to forget the biggest and best boxing fights which happened generations ago, and Louis vs Conn is a worthy addition to this list. Louis is still considered by many to be the finest heavyweight boxer of all time. His fight with Conn seemed something of a mismatch, with Conn usually more comfortable at super middleweight and even middleweight. 

Conn was a staggering 30 pounds lighter than Louis on the night of the fight. Although fans were expecting Louis to make light work of Conn in the opening rounds, Conn displayed tremendous heart and spirit to hang in there. 

As a matter of fact, Louis didn’t have it all his way. Conn was reportedly ahead on two of the three judges’ scorecards going into the closing stages. However, Louis managed to land a miraculous knockout blow in the decisive 13th round with just two seconds remaining before the bell—a valiant effort from Conn, who was heartbroken post-fight. 

7. Mike Tyson vs. Buster Douglas (February 1990)

The Tyson vs. Douglas fight in early 1990 makes the cut for shock value alone. Ahead of the fight in the Japanese capital, Tokyo, Tyson was the unbeaten and undisputed world heavyweight champ. Douglas was only considered the seventh-best heavyweight by Ring Magazine at the time. 

Pre-fight, most analysts tipped Tyson to get the job done inside one or two rounds. However, Tyson looked undercooked and unfocused throughout – and Douglas smelt blood. Even Tyson’s cornermen were ill-prepared, heading to the ring without ice packs or an endswell to help reduce swelling 

Round ten proved to be the decisive moment as Douglas rocked Tyson to the canvas after prolonged punishment throughout. It was a remarkable win which earnt him just $1.3m compared with Tyson’s $6m purse. 

If you’re wondering which boxers will make the next historic bout, be sure to check out our upcoming boxing betting markets, covering all the most significant fights, including odds on exhibition fights. You can even speculate on potential bouts that haven’t yet been officially announced. 

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