Greatest Rivalries That Defined Boxing History

No sport has run through the veins of society and popular culture like boxing has. Certainly, the sport might not have the same connection to the fabric of the world as it did in the 1960s when Ali made world news by refusing to go to Vietnam. The USA stood still when Joe Louis fought Max Schmeling a year prior to the beginning of World War 2. Does any match-up generate that level of interest today?

These moments are marked in history and speak to the issues and deep social problems that defined their era. The greatest boxing rivalries that have emerged over the years have captivated audiences the world over and etched the names of the protagonists into boxing folklore for the rest of eternity.

Muhammad Ali vs Foreman

Starting with two men who only fought once might not be the best place to begin when discussing great rivalries. However, Ali and Foreman were so much bigger than their ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ in 1974.

Ali went into the fight as a massive underdog with the sportsbooks, some offering odds of nearly +700 for him to win the fight. Try exploring a list of the newest bookmakers to compare recent fight odds to see how lacking in confidence they were that the Louisville man would beat the indestructible Foreman.

Modern-day rivalries will never have the same bite. It’s estimated that the fight drew a TV audience of around one billion people, which, at the time, was the most-watched live sports event of all time. Two Olympic gold medalists, with Foreman going into the fight undefeated in 40 fights, with 37 knockouts, and many people believing Ali was past it. They were wrong! Following an epic defeat, George Foreman went on to redeem himself by lifting the heavyweight title again in the 1990s.

Compare that to one of the top modern-day rivalries, such as the Bivol and Beterbiev rematch, it’s just not the same. That’s not to say I’m not looking forward to that fight, though, after how close the first fight was back in October last year. Although it will attract a massive audience, it certainly helps that the undercard is arguably the greatest in boxing history.

Joe Louis vs Max Schmeling

Louis and Schmeling faced off twice in three years in the 1930s. An American versus a German for the world heavyweight title. With the political climate at the time, it was about the whole world sitting up and taking notice.

The first fight saw one of the biggest shocks in heavyweight boxing as the talented, but limited, Max Schmeling dismantled the Brown Bomber. In the rematch dubbed the Fight Of The Century, Louis obliterated Max in one round.

Schmeling is considered to be one of the top icons in German sporting history. Joe Louis is right up there as one of the best heavyweights of all time. But this is a rivalry whose significance has been lost in the mists of time.

Ali vs Frazier

Muhammad Ali, for me, is the greatest sportsman of the 20th century. He embodied what boxing was all about. He possessed mesmerizing skill, agile footwork, and an ability to stand up in the face of adversity, often beating younger, fresher fighters against all odds. A gladiator of a man, and in many ways the only man who was ever bigger than the sport itself.

His trilogy with Frazier is the definitive rivalry in boxing. Smokin’ Joe Frazier is another name that is deservedly up there amongst the pantheon of legendary heavyweights. In the first fight, they comprehensively beat Ali. Roughing him up, breaking his jaw, and putting him down with a left hook that could’ve knocked out a horse in the 15th and final round.

Ali got up, knowing he had lost, but started to plan his revenge. Enacting it via a unanimous decision in the rematch. The third and final fight, the Thrilla In Manila, ranks alongside the Rumble In The Jungle as arguably the best-known fight in the sport’s history. Ali won by stoppage when Frazier refused to come out for the 15th and final round.

Barrera vs Morales

Mexican Hall of Famers Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales did not like each other from the get-go. It included an infamous fistfight in the press conference in the build-up. The actual fight certainly lived up to the hype, going all 12 rounds, and is considered to be one of the greatest fights of the last 50 years.

Disappointingly the second fight of their trilogy was more of a chess match than a slug-fest. The third and final fight was yet another one for the purists though. In retirement, these boxing icons now host a podcast together and are considered legends in their home country for their services to boxing.

Leonard vs Duran

Two names that don’t need any introduction to the boxing world are Sugar Ray Leonard and Manos De Piedra, Roberto Duran. In their first fight, Duran moved up two weight classes to take on the golden star of American boxing.

While few thought Duran had it in him, he bullied the American, rocking him heavily in the first round. Using tactile, intelligent defense work and remarkable timing and footwork to beat Leonard over 15 rounds. Their second fight was the famous No Mas fight, where Leonard enacted revenge and schooled Duran before the Panamanians walked off in the 8th round.

We can’t mention these two greats without mentioning the other half of The Four Kings, Hagler and Hearns. Together, they encapsulated what many believe was the last great era of boxing outside the heavyweight division.

Benn vs Eubank

The Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank rivalry lit a spark under the somewhat stagnant British boxing scene. Britain had struggled to find two genuinely world-class fighters in any weight division for much of the 1980s.

Their genuine needle and clashing personalities were made for box office TV. More importantly, they both knew how to fight. After a pulsating first match, shown on mainstream TV in the UK to an audience of over 10 million people, the pair carved their names into British boxing folklore. Together they helped bring a lot more attention to what was a fringe sport in Britain in the 1980s.

Final thoughts

An incredible number of rivalries have shaken the sport over the last 150 years. However, these rivalries managed to transcend boxing and perfectly capture the sporting culture of their era.

Some honorable mentions include Sugar Ray Robinson vs. Jake LaMotta, who faced off six times. Tyson vs. Holyfield, whose fights first saw Holyfield smash the idea of Tyson’s indestructibility, and then take a bite out of his ear in the second fight.

If we’re talking iconic rivalries, though, it’s all about Ali and his opponents. Without them, he wouldn’t have been as great as he was. Without them, he wouldn’t have had the chance to showcase his true warrior identity, who risked it all for the sport.