After more than five years of lawsuits, countersuits, PED accusations, defamation rulings, YouTube insults and negotiations, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao will finally meet for the welterweight championship of the world May 2 at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.
Some are calling it the biggest fight in boxing since the 1971 encounter between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. But there have been a few blockbusters since then.
Here is a ranking of the top 10 biggest fights since the first Ali-Frazier matchup. The list
1. Leon Spinks vs. Muhammad Ali, Sept. 15, 1978, New Orleans: In front of more than 63,000 people in the Superdome and 90 million watching on ABC, Ali avenged the shocking loss to Spinks seven months prior, winning an easy decision to reclaim the heavyweight title for a record third time.
2. George Foreman vs. Muhammad Ali, Oct. 30, 1974, Kinshasa, Zaire, Africa: The undefeated and powerful heavyweight king Foreman had annihilated Frazier in 1973, while Ali appeared washed up. But the “Rumble in the Jungle” became the jaw-dropper of the decade when Ali “rope-a-doped” Foreman in eight rounds.
3. Marvelous Marvin Hagler vs. Sugar Ray Leonard, April 6, 1987, Las Vegas: Leonard had not fought in three years and never at middleweight. Yet, he came out of retirement to challenge all-time great Hagler, who had made 12 title defenses. Leonard boxed beautifully to upset Hagler in “The Superfight” via controversial decision. Advertisement
4. Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns, Sept. 16, 1981, Las Vegas: “Hitman” Hearns was undefeated and powerful and threatened to overwhelm Leonard, the Olympic gold medalist and media darling. But Sugar Ray turned hunter and rallied from behind to stop Hearns in 14 rounds, unifying their WBA/WBC welterweight titles.
5. Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao, May 2, 2015, Las Vegas: With five years of buildup, and the constant chirping of fans, media and the fighters themselves on social media, Mayweather-Pacquiao is now bigger than it ever would’ve been five years ago. They are the two best fighters of their generations.
6. Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier, Oct. 1, 1975, Manila, Philippines: It featured two fighters considered long past their best days. But the “Thrilla in Manila” became the ultimate test of endurance before trainer Eddie Futch pulled the plug on Frazier after the 14th round.
7. Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Roberto Duran, June 20, 1980, Montreal: Duran, the greatest lightweight in boxing history, rose from 135 to 147 pounds to challenge the undefeated Leonard. Duran was a raging beast that night, winning a decision in the “Brawl in Montreal.”
8. Evander Holyfield vs. Mike Tyson, June 28, 1997, Las Vegas: Holyfield shocked Tyson seven months earlier with an 11th-round TKO to win the WBA heavyweight title. This was the rematch. Tyson unraveled early, citing head-butts as justification to chomp on Holyfield’s ears ? which earned him a DQ.
9. Larry Holmes vs. Gerry Cooney, June 11, 1982, Las Vegas: WBC heavyweight champ Holmes was 39-0 and the boxer. No. 1 contender Cooney was 25-0 and the puncher. The buildup was big and often ugly. In the end, Holmes’ experience earned him a 13th-round TKO.
10. Marvelous Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas Hearns, April 15, 1985, Las Vegas: Simply, “The Fight” pitted the two best pound-for-pound fighters in boxing. And rarely in boxing history has a fight so emphatically lived up to its billing. Hagler knocked out Hearns in three rounds in an all-time great shootout.
