We all know you’ve barely began sampling all the nice battles we listed yesterday in Half One in every of this checklist, however we promised, and so we ship: right here’s the opposite half of the eighty epic fights from the 1980’s, one of many biggest a long time within the lengthy historical past of pugilism, with an all-star solid of greats: Duran, Chavez, Tyson, Hagler, Leonard, Hearns, plus a number of lesser-known gems. All the hyperlinks both take you on to a video of the combat, or to a publish that has the video embedded. Take pleasure in!
1984Jose Ramirez vs Edwin Rosario II: A ton of motion was packed into this seesaw San Juan scrap, a rematch of Rosario’s shut resolution the earlier Might. In his 93rd outing, Mexican veteran Ramirez utilised all his expertise and grit to beat two early knockdowns and pull off an inconceivable fourth-round TKO.
Jung Koo Chang vs Katsuo Tokashiki: Jung Koo Chang’s fourth title defence in opposition to combative Japanese challenger Katsuo Tokashiki is among the biggest ever gentle flyweight bouts. Teak-tough Tokashiki survived a devastating first-round knockdown and willed himself into the combat, however the champ was in the end too sturdy, his remaining assault within the ninth devastating.
Ray Mancini vs Livingstone Bramble I: It didn’t matter how a lot swarming stress Mancini put him below, Bramble simply wouldn’t budge. A detailed contender for Struggle Of The 12 months, this one was irresistible power meets immovable object, with ironman Bramble stopping an exhausted “Increase Increase” after fourteen rounds of steady motion.
Juan Meza vs Jaime Garza: Juan Meza’s roll-the-dice shootout with Jaime Garza was a brilliant bantamweight traditional. Boasting a mixed 75 KOs coming in, the pair went straight to work, Garza dropping Meza with a giant left hook inside the primary minute. Then Meza surged again and cleaned the champ’s clock with the very same punch close to the bell. It was Ring journal’s Spherical of the 12 months.
Azumah Nelson vs Wilfredo Gomez: Followers knew they have been in for a deal with when “The Professor” met “Bazooka.” With each having solely ever misplaced thrilling wars to Salvador Sanchez, macho pleasure and honour have been at stake. The bull-strong Ghanaian was the aggressor all through, however artful Gomez picked him off at occasions and was forward going into the eleventh, at which level Nelson stormed to a brutal KO win. If solely there’d been a rematch!
Tommy Cordova vs Freddie Roach: Neither Tommy Cordova nor Freddie Roach might ever be mistaken for stylists, however by way of twelve breathless rounds, the perimeter contenders gave a rowdy Las Vegas viewers their cash’s price. At occasions, the venturous pair threw palms concurrently, leading to a form of collaborative loss of life march with Cordova ultimately awarded a cut up resolution.
Tony Sibson vs Don Lee: This collision of middleweight contenders lit up Atlantic Metropolis’s Sands On line casino Lodge. Lanky Lee sought to include Sibson from vary early, solely to go down from a snap jab. Then he turned southpaw, from which he decked the Brit with a candy hook-cum-uppercut within the third. The rest unfolded excitingly, with each guys damage on a number of events: seconds after scoring a knockdown, Sibson was poleaxed by a straight left within the eighth.
1985 Lee Roy Murphy vs Chisanda Mutti: A very legendary brawl. Murphy and Mutti rolled the cube in Monaco and gave all that they had; no-one might have requested for extra. However then got here the unbelievable ending.
Marvelous Marvin Hagler vs Thomas Hearns: Memorably described as eight minutes of mayhem, 1985’s Struggle of the 12 months noticed two of the Fab 4 wage conflict at Caesar’s. In a brutal three-round firefight, Hagler survived a right-hand grenade within the first to bulldoze his method to a career-defining victory over the gallant Hitman.
Livingstone Bramble vs Ray Mancini II: Mancini was the identical perpetual movement machine, however as of their first combat, Bramble made his punches rely, exploiting openings and inflicting cuts. In brief, he had his man’s quantity; “Increase Increase’s” face was a masks of crimson as early because the fifth, and after a closely-fought contest, Bramble claimed a well-earned resolution.
Bobby Chacon vs Arturo Frias: Previous his finest and with a ton of miles on the clock, Bobby Chacon might nonetheless entertain a combat crowd. The touchpaper was lit early as a brawl ignited, each buying and selling heavy leather-based in shut and Chacon hitting the ground. The Californian then dug his heels in, weathered Frias’ relentless aggression, damage him within the third and completed him within the seventh. A barnburner!
Barry McGuigan vs Eusebio Pedroza: In entrance of 26,000 full-throated followers, Barry McGuigan achieved his world title ambitions by pounding out a hard-fought fifteen spherical resolution over the nice Eusebio Pedroza. A tactical affair by way of the primary six, McGuigan dropped the serene Panamanian within the seventh and damage him a number of extra occasions on the house straight.
1986Julio Cesar Chavez vs Juan LaPorte: Struggle followers at Madison Sq. Backyard noticed Chavez examined like by no means earlier than as LaPorte gave the Mexican one in every of his hardest fights, even shaking the iron-jawed champion on multiple event, and taking Chavez the twelve spherical restrict.
Steve Cruz vs Barry McGuigan: Barry McGuigan fought to maintain his title in any respect prices, however within the sweltering desert warmth, “The Clones Cyclone” misplaced a soul-baring encounter with unfancied Texan Steve Cruz. Each males hit the ground as they pushed one another to the restrict, with Cruz’s ferocious remaining spherical assault, together with two knockdowns, overturning the champ’s factors edge.
Marvin Johnson vs Jean-Marie Emebe: Johnson was a three-time world champ at 175 kilos, however this proved to the be the primary event he efficiently defended as he stopped Emebe by TKO in spherical 13 after a busy and bruising battle.
Evander Holyfield vs Dwight Muhammad Qawi I: One of the best cruiserweight combat in historical past noticed a 23-year-old Holyfield overcome “The Camden Buzzsaw” to seize his maiden world championship. Holyfield-Qawi I used to be a pulsating 15-rounder fought solely within the stress cooker, with the challenger having to field and brawl in opposition to a stocky opponent who returned each crisp mixture with curiosity. Collectively they threw over 2,300 punches, Holyfield eking out a cut up resolution.
Marvelous Marvin Hagler vs John Mugabi: Contemporary off the crushing win over Hearns, Hagler squared off with “The Beast” John Mugabi. It didn’t disappoint. Durations of punishing toe-to-toe warfare interspersed with easy boxing from Hagler, who for as soon as met somebody as imply and robust as he was. After enduring loads of the Ugandan’s firepower, Hagler confirmed extra wrinkles to his sport and chopped the challenger right down to measurement in eleven.
Hector Camacho vs Edwin Rosario: The combat that modified “Macho” Camacho’s profession perpetually. Defending his light-weight title at Madison Sq. Backyard, Camacho discovered himself taking critical punishment for the primary time in his profession because the heavy-handed Rosario landed massive photographs in rounds 5 and eleven to make it an in depth combat. Camacho bought the choice however misplaced one thing else: his coronary heart.
Robbie Sims vs Roberto Duran: On the identical Vegas present as McGuigan vs Cruz, the youthful Sims and the veteran Duran placed on an enchanting middleweight duel, a contest between Roberto’s ringsmarts and savvy and Robbie’s better energy and exercise. “Manos De Piedra” gave a valiant efficiency, however a brutal scorecard from one choose (Sims by 5 factors!) and a questionable level deduction to Duran from referee Mills Lane sealed a cut up resolution win for Sims.
1987Fidel Bassa vs Dave McAuley I: Twice these flyweights locked-up, each occasions in Belfast, they usually left no-one wanting for extra by way of motion. Of their first conflict, Bassa prevailed by TKO in spherical 13.
Sugar Ray Leonard vs Marvelous Marvin Hagler: Marvelous Marvin vs Sugar Ray was extra like a “what if?” fantasy combat, destined to be debated for generations. Whereas the illustrious pair didn’t meet of their primes, the conflict nonetheless delivered fireworks and a boatload of income, as matador Leonard’s flash and aptitude noticed him emerge with a hotly-contested cut up resolution win.
Matthew Hilton vs Buster Drayton: Jim Lampley stated it finest throughout commentary: “You’ll seldom see a extra spectacular demonstration of sheer braveness and competitiveness on the a part of two boxers.” Matthew Hilton’s gruelling victory over veteran Buster Drayton is how all world titles must be gained, with most effort expended in opposition to a redoubtable foe who simply retains coming.
Marlon Starling vs Mark Breland I: Marlon Starling’s come-from-behind win over welterweight champ and Olympic gold medalist Mark Breland was memorable for all the suitable causes. Two glorious fighters of their prime did battle that evening, and regardless of boxing intelligently for eleven rounds, Breland was unable to cease Starling’s brutal remaining onslaught.
Thomas Hearns vs Juan Roldan: Juan Roldan had already confirmed his mettle vs Hagler, and he introduced the warmth to “The Motor Metropolis Cobra” once they met in 1987. However regardless of touchdown some massive photographs and having Hearns significantly damage within the opener, the free-swinging brawler was felled a number of occasions earlier than being taken out in spherical 4. The victory made Hearns the primary in boxing historical past to win 4 divisional world titles.
Kelvin Seabrooks vs Thierry Jacob: Opening with the Spherical of the 12 months, whereby Kelvin Seabrooks instantly put the challenger over with a proper hand, just for Jacobs to twice return the favour, this contest had the acquainted ebb and stream of all storied encounters. Seabrooks overcame one more knockdown within the sixth, ultimately triumphing after Jacobs was stopped on a lower after 9 rounds.
Thomas Hearns vs Denis Andries: Within the first combat above 160 kilos for Detroit’s “The Hitman,” Hearns secured his third divisional world title after a wild brawl that noticed him flooring Andries six occasions earlier than the bout was lastly stopped in spherical ten.
Vinny Pazienza vs Greg Haugen I: Haugen had a title belt whereas Pazienza had the humorous nickname and a large fan following. Each had the reward of the gab and the pre-fight trash speak was positively above common. Battling on nationwide tv in entrance of a sell-out crowd in Windfall, Rhode Island, the house state of “The Pazmanian Satan,” mutual animosity translated into fifteen fast-paced rounds and a call for Vinny that many thought ought to have gone the opposite means.
1988Nigel Benn vs Anthony Logan: It solely lasted two rounds, however this free-swinging brawl between middleweight prospects was electrical. Benn bull-rushed his man to start out, throwing bombs, however the Jamaican quickly dropped him with a crisp proper hander. Within the all-out conflict that adopted, Logan appeared seconds away from a KO victory earlier than Benn flattened him with a thunderous left hook.
Simon Brown vs Tyrone Trice I: This scorcher escapes the retrospective consideration of all however the staunchest followers. The frantic opener set the tone, every man the mirror of the opposite as they hurled punches within the pocket. Brown was felled within the second after fielding twelve unanswered blows, however his spearing jab slowly surfaced as Trice’s wick burned out. A remaining hook in spherical fourteen had Trice out on his toes.
Iran Barkley vs Michael Olajide: The stakes have been excessive on this one as each “The Blade” and “The Silk” have been on the cusp of a title shot at 160 kilos, a reality mirrored within the bout itself which was quick and livid, each males throwing and catching, with Olajide down within the second and Barkley on the deck in spherical 4. However a protracted defensive spell on Olajide’s half impressed referee Arthur Mercante Jr. to step in, quite unexpectedly many thought, and award the bout to Barkley.
Tony Lopez vs Rocky Lockridge I: California was a hotbed of terrific fights within the 80s, and Rocky Lockridge’s third title defence in opposition to Tony Lopez is among the finest. Although the combatants have been very well-matched, Lopez’s motion gave him a slight edge in a gripping bout. After being floored with a glancing proper within the eighth, “The Tiger” triumphed by resolution.
Daniel Zaragoza vs Seung Hoon Lee: Zaragoza ventured to South Korea to defend his tremendous bantamweight title in opposition to the native hero and whereas the cut up draw was a little bit of homestyle cooking, what actually issues is that each males left all of it within the ring in a continuous, excessive depth firefight.
1989Roberto Duran vs Iran Barkley: Nearly 20 years after dethroning Ken Buchanan for the light-weight title, 37-year-old Duran tamed middleweight champ Iran Barkley in a riveting 12-rounder, punctuating an inside-fighting masterclass with a knockdown in spherical 11. Barkley fought a wonderful combat, however the smaller, older man merely wouldn’t be denied.
Mike Tyson vs Frank Bruno: All anticipated one other perfunctory Mike Tyson knockout, however as a substitute Britain’s Bruno shook “Iron Mike” within the first spherical after which pressured him right into a enjoyable heavyweight rumble earlier than lastly succumbing in spherical 5.
Daniel Zaragoza vs Paul Banke I: One other nice web page from the Inglewood Discussion board scrapbook. In a battle of southpaws, champion Zaragoza struggled to discourage free-swinging Banke, regardless of throwing a ton of leather-based simply to maintain him sincere. Banke closely dropped Zaragoza within the ninth, just for the badly-bleeding Mexican to brush the late rounds and earn a cut up resolution.
Evander Holyfield vs Michael Dokes: Was Holyfield a fake heavyweight or the division’s inheritor obvious? This action-packed intestine test in opposition to ex-titlist Michael Dokes recommended the latter, although many reserved judgement. The Ring later known as it one of the best heavyweight battle of the last decade.
Jeff Harding vs Denis Andries I: As with many trilogies, Harding vs Andries I set a normal its sequels couldn’t surpass. Andries commenced his title defence in model, dominating centre-ring and meting out punishment. However a bloodied Harding absorbed the stress as momentum steadily swung his means; the eleventh was a barnstormer and Harding’s rousing final-round assault noticed him snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Sugar Ray Leonard vs Thomas Hearns II: Eight years on from their first conflict, Leonard and Hearns remained two of one of the best fighters in any division. They usually delivered the products of their rematch, every staggering the opposite and Hearns scoring two knockdowns earlier than the judges contrived to name it a draw.
Azumah Nelson vs Jim McDonnell: Coming off an enormous win over Barry McGuigan, McDonnell confirmed nothing however guts and health in his battle in opposition to the extra skilled and savvy Nelson and gave followers a terrific combat, however “The Professor” stopped him within the remaining spherical.
Michael Watson vs Nigel Benn: Most likely one of the best all-British combat of the eighties and positively one of many biggest ever. For six rounds “The Darkish Destroyer” introduced hell, hearth and brimstone to tidy boxer Watson, flailing away as “The Power” tucked up, countered well and bided his time. Then knocked out his tormenter with a stiff jab. Genius. — Ronnie McCluskey
