Feature Articles
Twenty bouts ranked for drama, stakes, and historical significance.
Editorial ranking compiled by The Ring Almanac from widely cited historical consensus. It is subjective and not an official list.
Special Selection · Toledo, 1919
The title-fight build-up, seven knockdowns, archival photographs, left hook and neutral-corner context.
Read the special feature →1975-10-01 · Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City · Ali RTD 14
The third Ali–Frazier fight was fought in brutal heat, with both men taking sustained punishment before Eddie Futch retired Frazier before the 15th round.
Why it ranks: Widely regarded as the most brutal heavyweight title fight ever, closing boxing’s greatest trilogy.
1971-03-08 · Madison Square Garden, New York · Frazier UD 15
Two unbeaten heavyweight champions met; Frazier’s 15th-round left hook dropped Ali on the way to a decision win.
Why it ranks: A cultural event as much as a fight—Ali’s first professional loss.
Marvelous Marvin Hagler vs Thomas Hearns
1985-04-15 · Caesars Palace, Las Vegas · Hagler TKO 3
Eight minutes of nonstop exchanges. A cut Hagler stopped Hearns in the third round.
Why it ranks: Considered the most explosive first round in boxing history.
Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman
1974-10-30 · Stade du 20 Mai, Kinshasa · Ali KO 8
Ali used the rope-a-dope to absorb Foreman’s power before knocking him out to regain the heavyweight title.
Why it ranks: One of sport’s great tactical upsets.
1938-06-22 · Yankee Stadium, New York · Louis KO 1
Louis avenged his only prime defeat, stopping Schmeling in 2:04.
Why it ranks: A rematch loaded with pre-war political meaning.
Sugar Ray Leonard vs Thomas Hearns
1981-09-16 · Caesars Palace, Las Vegas · Leonard TKO 14
Trailing on the cards, Leonard rallied to stop Hearns and unify welterweight titles.
Why it ranks: A peak-against-peak welterweight classic.
Jack Dempsey vs Luis Ángel Firpo
1923-09-14 · Polo Grounds, New York · Dempsey KO 2
Seven knockdowns in round one, and Firpo knocked Dempsey through the ropes before Dempsey won in the second.
Why it ranks: Possibly the wildest heavyweight title fight ever staged.
2002-05-18 · Mohegan Sun, Uncasville · Ward MD 10
Ward’s ninth-round body shot and the toe-to-toe fight that followed created a legendary non-title bout.
Why it ranks: Its ninth round is often called the round of the century.
Diego Corrales vs José Luis Castillo
2005-05-07 · Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas · Corrales TKO 10
Down twice in round ten, Corrales rose to stop Castillo minutes later.
Why it ranks: One of the greatest comebacks in a single round.
Riddick Bowe vs Evander Holyfield
1992-11-13 · Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas · Bowe UD 12
Bowe took the undisputed title in a fight remembered for its back-and-forth tenth round.
Why it ranks: The modern heavyweight division’s fiercest title fight.
Marvelous Marvin Hagler vs Sugar Ray Leonard
1987-04-06 · Caesars Palace, Las Vegas · Leonard SD 12
Leonard returned from a long layoff and outpointed the middleweight king.
Why it ranks: Still one of boxing’s most argued decisions.
Julio César Chávez vs Meldrick Taylor
1990-03-17 · Las Vegas Hilton · Chávez TKO 12
Taylor led on two cards before Chávez stopped him with two seconds remaining.
Why it ranks: One of the most dramatic and controversial finishes in boxing.
Sugar Ray Robinson vs Jake LaMotta
1951-02-14 · Chicago Stadium · Robinson TKO 13
The “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre” gave Robinson the middleweight title.
Why it ranks: The climax of a six-fight rivalry.
Érik Morales vs Marco Antonio Barrera
2000-02-19 · Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas · Morales SD 12
A super bantamweight unification fought at a ferocious pace.
Why it ranks: Launched one of the bitterest trilogies in boxing.
Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Márquez
2012-12-08 · MGM Grand, Las Vegas · Márquez KO 6
After knockdowns on both sides, Márquez landed a stunning counter right.
Why it ranks: A definitive ending to a closely fought rivalry.
1978-06-09 · Caesars Palace, Las Vegas · Holmes SD 15
A dead-even 15th round decided the WBC heavyweight title.
Why it ranks: One of the greatest final rounds in a title fight.
1976-01-24 · Caesars Palace, Las Vegas · Foreman KO 5
Both heavyweights were knocked down repeatedly before Foreman finished it.
Why it ranks: A legendary heavyweight slugfest.
2021-10-09 · T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas · Fury KO 11
Five knockdowns between them before Fury’s 11th-round knockout.
Why it ranks: The modern era’s standout heavyweight thriller.
Anthony Joshua vs Wladimir Klitschko
2017-04-29 · Wembley Stadium, London · Joshua TKO 11
Both men were knocked down before Joshua stopped the former champion.
Why it ranks: A dramatic generational passing before 90,000 fans.
Thomas Hearns vs Iran Barkley
1988-06-06 · Las Vegas Hilton · Barkley TKO 3
Behind on points, Barkley turned the fight with one right hand.
Why it ranks: An iconic sudden upset.
1974-01-28 · Madison Square Garden, New York · Ali UD 12
Ali outboxed Frazier over 12 tense rounds to set up the Foreman fight.
Why it ranks: The middle chapter of the greatest heavyweight rivalry.
Rocky Marciano vs Jersey Joe Walcott
1952-09-23 · Municipal Stadium, Philadelphia · Marciano KO 13
Behind on points, Marciano landed a single right hand in the 13th to take the heavyweight title.
Why it ranks: One of the most famous single punches in boxing history.
1941-06-18 · Polo Grounds, New York · Louis KO 13
Conn led on points before Louis caught him late in a dramatic finish.
Why it ranks: The classic “he can run but he can’t hide” fight.
Sugar Ray Robinson vs Carmen Basilio
1957-09-23 · Yankee Stadium, New York · Robinson SD 15
Robinson regained the middleweight title in a savage 15-round battle.
Why it ranks: 1957’s Fight of the Year between two all-time greats.
Sugar Ray Leonard vs Roberto Durán
1980-06-20 · Olympic Stadium, Montreal · Duran UD 15
Duran dragged Leonard into a brawl and took the welterweight title.
Why it ranks: The “Brawl in Montreal,” a masterpiece of pressure fighting.
Sugar Ray Leonard vs Roberto Durán
1980-11-25 · Superdome, New Orleans · Leonard TKO 8
Leonard taunted and outboxed Duran until Duran quit, saying “no más.”
Why it ranks: The most famous surrender in boxing history.
Roberto Durán vs Ken Buchanan
1972-06-26 · Madison Square Garden, New York · Duran TKO 13
Duran took the lightweight title from the skilled Scotsman in a punishing fight.
Why it ranks: Announced Duran as a generational force.
1964-02-25 · Convention Hall, Miami Beach · Ali RTD 7
22-year-old Cassius Clay “shook up the world,” forcing Liston to retire on his stool.
Why it ranks: One of the greatest upsets in sports history.
Muhammad Ali vs Cleveland Williams
1966-11-14 · Astrodome, Houston · Ali TKO 3
Ali delivered perhaps his most perfect performance against the big-punching Williams.
Why it ranks: Widely considered Ali’s finest night in the ring.
1988-06-27 · Convention Hall, Atlantic City · Tyson KO 1
Tyson destroyed the unbeaten Spinks in 91 seconds to settle the heavyweight debate.
Why it ranks: The peak of Tyson’s aura of invincibility.
Mike Tyson vs Buster Douglas
1990-02-11 · Tokyo Dome, Tokyo · Douglas KO 10
42-to-1 underdog Douglas knocked out the undisputed champion.
Why it ranks: The biggest upset in boxing history.
Evander Holyfield vs Mike Tyson
1996-11-09 · MGM Grand, Las Vegas · Holyfield TKO 11
Holyfield stood up to Tyson’s power and stopped him late.
Why it ranks: A stunning upset that reshaped the heavyweight division.
2002-06-08 · The Pyramid, Memphis · Lewis KO 8
Lewis dominated and stopped Tyson in the richest fight of its era.
Why it ranks: Settled a decade-long debate at heavyweight.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs Manny Pacquiao
2015-05-02 · MGM Grand, Las Vegas · Mayweather UD 12
The long-awaited superfight ended in a Mayweather decision.
Why it ranks: The biggest-grossing fight in boxing history.
Manny Pacquiao vs Érik Morales
2006-01-21 · Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas · Pacquiao TKO 10
Pacquiao avenged his defeat, stopping Morales in a thrilling rematch.
Why it ranks: Confirmed Pacquiao as a superstar.
Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto
2009-11-14 · MGM Grand, Las Vegas · Pacquiao TKO 12
Pacquiao broke down Cotto to win a record seventh divisional title.
Why it ranks: Peak Pacquiao against an elite welterweight.
Oscar De La Hoya vs Félix Trinidad
1999-09-18 · Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas · Trinidad MD 12
Trinidad’s late rally took a disputed majority decision in a huge welterweight unification.
Why it ranks: One of the most debated decisions of the modern era.
Félix Trinidad vs Fernando Vargas
2000-12-02 · Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas · Trinidad TKO 12
A brutal junior middleweight war with knockdowns both ways.
Why it ranks: 2000’s Fight of the Year.
Shane Mosley vs Oscar De La Hoya
2000-06-17 · Staples Center, Los Angeles · Mosley SD 12
Mosley outfought De La Hoya down the stretch in a fast-paced classic.
Why it ranks: A landmark fight for West Coast boxing.
2002-11-23 / 2003-06-07 · Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City · Gatti UD 10 (both)
Gatti boxed through injury to win the rematch and the trilogy finale.
Why it ranks: Completed boxing’s most beloved modern trilogy.
Diego Corrales vs José Luis Castillo
2005-10-08 · Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas · Castillo KO 4
Castillo avenged his loss with a devastating left hook.
Why it ranks: A rematch nearly as dramatic as the first fight.
Érik Morales vs Manny Pacquiao
2005-03-19 · MGM Grand, Las Vegas · Morales UD 12
Morales stood toe-to-toe and outpointed Pacquiao in a thriller.
Why it ranks: The opening chapter of a great trilogy.
Marco Antonio Barrera vs Naseem Hamed
2001-04-07 · MGM Grand, Las Vegas · Barrera UD 12
Barrera dismantled the unbeaten, flamboyant Hamed.
Why it ranks: A masterclass that ended an era of showmanship.
Julio César Chávez vs Pernell Whitaker
1993-09-10 · Alamodome, San Antonio · Draw MD 12
Whitaker appeared to outbox Chávez but received only a controversial draw.
Why it ranks: One of the most criticized scorecards ever.
Julio César Chávez vs Edwin Rosario
1987-11-21 · Las Vegas Hilton · Chávez TKO 11
Chávez battered the puncher Rosario to take the lightweight title.
Why it ranks: Chávez’s arrival as an elite force.
Alexis Argüello vs Aaron Pryor
1982-11-12 · Orange Bowl, Miami · Pryor TKO 14
A savage junior welterweight war ended amid the “black bottle” controversy.
Why it ranks: One of the greatest 140-pound fights ever.
Marvelous Marvin Hagler vs John Mugabi
1986-03-10 · Caesars Palace, Las Vegas · Hagler KO 11
Mugabi pushed Hagler through a brutal war before being stopped.
Why it ranks: Hagler’s hardest title defense.
Marvelous Marvin Hagler vs Vito Antuofermo
1979-11-30 · Caesars Palace, Las Vegas · Draw SD 15
Hagler was denied the title in a controversial draw despite a furious rally.
Why it ranks: The injustice that fueled Hagler’s reign.
Carlos Monzón vs Nino Benvenuti
1970-11-07 · Palazzo dello Sport, Rome · Monzón TKO 12
Monzón took the middleweight crown in the champion’s home country.
Why it ranks: Launched one of the great middleweight reigns.
Emile Griffith vs Benny Paret
1962-03-24 · Madison Square Garden, New York · Griffith TKO 12
Griffith’s final barrage left Paret comatose; he died ten days later.
Why it ranks: The tragedy that changed televised boxing.
Gene Fullmer vs Carmen Basilio
1957-08-28 · Derby Downs, San Francisco · Fullmer TKO 14
A ferocious middleweight title war between two iron men.
Why it ranks: One of the toughest fights of the 1950s.
Archie Moore vs Yvon Durelle
1958-12-10 · Forum, Montreal · Moore KO 11
Down four times in round one, Moore rallied to stop Durelle.
Why it ranks: The ultimate veteran comeback.
Ezzard Charles vs Jersey Joe Walcott
1952-06-05 · Municipal Stadium, Philadelphia · Charles UD 15
Charles and Walcott closed their four-fight series with another hard battle.
Why it ranks: Capped one of heavyweight’s great rivalries.
Rocky Marciano vs Ezzard Charles
1954-06-17 · Yankee Stadium, New York · Marciano UD 15
Charles gave Marciano his toughest test over 15 brutal rounds.
Why it ranks: Proved Marciano’s championship mettle.
1947-07-16 · Chicago Stadium · Graziano TKO 6
Graziano took the middleweight title in a savage slugfest.
Why it ranks: The middle act of boxing’s bloodiest trilogy.
1949-02-11 · Madison Square Garden, New York · Pep UD 15
Pep regained the featherweight title in a fight marred by fouls and brilliance alike.
Why it ranks: The high point of a vicious four-fight rivalry.
1939-08-22 · Yankee Stadium, New York · Ambers UD 15
Armstrong’s bid to hold three titles simultaneously ended in a war.
Why it ranks: Homicide Hank’s boldest gamble.
Henry Armstrong vs Barney Ross
1938-05-31 · Madison Square Garden Bowl, New York · Armstrong UD 15
Armstrong took the welterweight title, his third divisional crown.
Why it ranks: The night Armstrong made history.
1927-09-22 · Soldier Field, Chicago · Tunney UD 10
The famous “Long Count” fight—Dempsey’s knockdown of Tunney lasted well past ten seconds.
Why it ranks: Boxing’s most famous count.
1919-07-04 · Bay View Park, Toledo · Dempsey TKO 3
Dempsey knocked the giant champion down seven times in round one.
Why it ranks: The birth of the Dempsey legend.
Jack Johnson vs James J. Jeffries
1910-07-04 · Reno, Nevada · Johnson TKO 15
Johnson dominated the “Fight of the Century” against the retired former champion.
Why it ranks: A seismic social and sporting event.
John L. Sullivan vs Jake Kilrain
1889-07-08 · Richburg, Mississippi · Sullivan KO 75
The last bare-knuckle championship fight went 75 rounds in the summer heat.
Why it ranks: The end of the bare-knuckle era.
1976-09-28 · Yankee Stadium, New York · Ali UD 15
Ali edged Norton in a disputed decision to keep the heavyweight title.
Why it ranks: Closed a trilogy that twice nearly ended Ali’s reign.
1973-01-22 · National Stadium, Kingston · Foreman TKO 2
Foreman scored six knockdowns in two rounds to take the title.
Why it ranks: “Down goes Frazier!”—a terrifying coronation.
1969-06-23 · Madison Square Garden, New York · Frazier RTD 7
A punishing battle between two fearless punchers.
Why it ranks: 1969’s Fight of the Year.
Lennox Lewis vs Evander Holyfield
1999-11-13 · Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas · Lewis UD 12
Lewis unified the heavyweight titles after their controversial first draw.
Why it ranks: Crowned the last undisputed heavyweight champion of the century.
Riddick Bowe vs Evander Holyfield
1995-11-04 · Caesars Palace, Las Vegas · Bowe TKO 8
Bowe rallied from a knockdown to end the trilogy.
Why it ranks: A fittingly brutal end to a great rivalry.
Wladimir Klitschko vs Corrie Sanders
2003-03-08 · Preussag Arena, Hannover · Sanders TKO 2
Sanders blitzed the champion in a stunning two-round upset.
Why it ranks: The shock that forced Klitschko’s reinvention.
2024-05-18 · Kingdom Arena, Riyadh · Usyk SD 12
Usyk’s ninth-round assault secured the first undisputed heavyweight title in 24 years.
Why it ranks: Crowned the first four-belt undisputed heavyweight champion.
Canelo Álvarez vs Gennady Golovkin
2017-09-16 · T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas · Draw SD 12
A high-level middleweight war ended in a controversial draw.
Why it ranks: The defining rivalry of the modern middleweight era.
Canelo Álvarez vs Gennady Golovkin
2018-09-15 · T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas · Álvarez MD 12
Canelo pressed forward and edged the rematch in another classic.
Why it ranks: One of the best rematches of the decade.
2019-11-07 · Super Arena, Saitama · Inoue UD 12
Inoue survived a broken orbital and a late knockdown scare to beat the legend.
Why it ranks: The bantamweight fight of the modern era.
Dmitry Bivol vs Canelo Álvarez
2022-05-07 · T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas · Bivol UD 12
Bivol outboxed the pound-for-pound king at light heavyweight.
Why it ranks: A masterclass that derailed Canelo’s climb.
Meldrick Taylor vs Julio César Chávez
1994-09-17 · MGM Grand, Las Vegas · Chávez TKO 8
Chávez ended the rivalry with a decisive stoppage.
Why it ranks: Settled the debate left by their first fight.
Israel Vázquez vs Rafael Márquez
2008-03-01 · Home Depot Center, Carson · Vázquez SD 12
The third war between the Mexican rivals ended in a split decision.
Why it ranks: Capped arguably the best trilogy of the 2000s.
Israel Vázquez vs Rafael Márquez
2007-03-03 · Home Depot Center, Carson · Márquez RTD 7
A ferocious super bantamweight title war launched the rivalry.
Why it ranks: An instant classic between two Mexican greats.
Juan Manuel Márquez vs Juan Díaz
2009-02-28 · Toyota Center, Houston · Márquez TKO 9
Márquez survived an early storm to stop the younger champion.
Why it ranks: 2009’s Fight of the Year.
Sergio Martínez vs Paul Williams
2010-11-20 · Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City · Martínez KO 2
A single left hand produced the knockout of the decade.
Why it ranks: One of the most replayed knockouts ever.
Sergio Martínez vs Julio César Chávez Jr.
2012-09-15 · Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas · Martínez UD 12
Martínez dominated, then survived a dramatic 12th-round knockdown.
Why it ranks: A near-perfect performance with a heart-stopping finish.
Andre Ward vs Sergey Kovalev
2016-11-19 · T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas · Ward UD 12
Ward rose from a knockdown to take a disputed decision.
Why it ranks: A chess match between two elite champions.
Joe Calzaghe vs Jeff Lacy
2006-03-04 · MEN Arena, Manchester · Calzaghe UD 12
Calzaghe dominated the hyped American in a career-defining display.
Why it ranks: One of the great British performances.
1990-11-18 · NEC, Birmingham · Eubank TKO 9
British boxing’s bitterest rivalry began with a brutal war.
Why it ranks: Defined an era of British boxing.
Michael Watson vs Chris Eubank
1991-09-21 · White Hart Lane, London · Eubank TKO 12
Watson led before a tragic final-round stoppage changed boxing safety forever.
Why it ranks: The fight that transformed ringside medical care.
Naseem Hamed vs Kevin Kelley
1997-12-19 · Madison Square Garden, New York · Hamed KO 4
Six knockdowns in four wild rounds at the Garden.
Why it ranks: Hamed’s spectacular American debut.
Yuriorkis Gamboa vs Darleys Pérez
2013-06-08 · Bell Centre, Montreal · Gamboa UD 12
Gamboa’s speed and flair on full display in a dominant win.
Why it ranks: A showcase of one of the era’s great talents.
Adrien Broner vs Marcos Maidana
2013-12-14 · Alamodome, San Antonio · Maidana UD 12
Maidana’s relentless pressure handed Broner his first loss.
Why it ranks: A raucous upset in front of a fevered crowd.
Lucas Matthysse vs Ruslan Provodnikov
2015-04-18 · Turning Stone, Verona · Matthysse MD 12
A vicious back-and-forth war between two of the hardest punchers at 140.
Why it ranks: 2015’s most brutal fight.
Carl Frampton vs Léo Santa Cruz
2016-07-30 · Barclays Center, Brooklyn · Frampton MD 12
A high-volume featherweight war won by the Irishman.
Why it ranks: 2016’s Fight of the Year contender.
Deontay Wilder vs Luis Ortiz
2018-03-03 · Barclays Center, Brooklyn · Wilder TKO 10
Wilder survived a seventh-round crisis to stop the Cuban.
Why it ranks: Wilder’s defining title defense.
2018-12-01 · Staples Center, Los Angeles · Draw SD 12
Fury rose from a 12th-round knockdown to earn a draw.
Why it ranks: One of the most dramatic final rounds ever.
Muhammad Ali vs Leon Spinks
1978-09-15 · Superdome, New Orleans · Ali UD 15
Ali regained the title for a record third time before 63,000 fans.
Why it ranks: Ali’s final great night.
1982-06-11 · Caesars Palace, Las Vegas · Holmes TKO 13
Holmes stopped the unbeaten challenger in a fight charged with racial tension.
Why it ranks: One of the biggest heavyweight events of the 1980s.
Thomas Hearns vs Sugar Ray Leonard
1989-06-12 · Caesars Palace, Las Vegas · Draw SD 12
Hearns dropped Leonard twice but had to settle for a draw.
Why it ranks: A worthy, controversial sequel eight years on.
Roy Jones Jr. vs Montell Griffin
1997-03-21 · Foxwoods, Mashantucket · Griffin DQ 9
Jones lost his unbeaten record by disqualification after hitting a downed opponent.
Why it ranks: One of the strangest title changes ever.
Bernard Hopkins vs Félix Trinidad
2001-09-29 · Madison Square Garden, New York · Hopkins TKO 12
Hopkins dominated the unbeaten puncher to unify the middleweight titles.
Why it ranks: A masterclass weeks after 9/11, in a charged Garden.
Bernard Hopkins vs Oscar De La Hoya
2004-09-18 · MGM Grand, Las Vegas · Hopkins KO 9
A body shot ended De La Hoya’s middleweight bid.
Why it ranks: Hopkins’ richest and most famous win.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs Diego Corrales
2001-01-20 · MGM Grand, Las Vegas · Mayweather TKO 10
Mayweather dropped Corrales five times in a flawless display.
Why it ranks: The performance that announced Mayweather’s greatness.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs Canelo Álvarez
2013-09-14 · MGM Grand, Las Vegas · Mayweather MD 12
Mayweather schooled the 23-year-old star in a record-breaking event.
Why it ranks: The highest-grossing fight of its time.
Terence Crawford vs Errol Spence Jr.
2023-07-29 · T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas · Crawford TKO 9
Crawford dominated the long-awaited welterweight unification.
Why it ranks: Crowned the first undisputed welterweight champion of the four-belt era.
Vasiliy Lomachenko vs Jorge Linares
2018-05-12 · Madison Square Garden, New York · Lomachenko TKO 10
Lomachenko rose from a knockdown to win a title in a third division.
Why it ranks: A dazzling display of skill under pressure.