BEST ALL AROUND BOXING MATCHES

Two all time greats, undefeated, in their prime, with genuine hatred 4 each other! The fight transcended boxing and was arguably the most anticipated fight in American history. Action bell to bell with both men hurting the other throughout. No other fight in history has all those elements.

Roberto Duran was already slightly past his prime when this fight took place, however he still beat a Ray Leonard in his prime.

Every indication was this fight HAD to be good. Bad blood. Hot blooded latinos from rival nations Puerto Rico and Mexico. Both men feared, highly aggressive boxer/punchers with power. Both men undefeated, in their primes, with claims to being the true junior middleweight champion. Multiple knockdowns, blood, guts, and glory. De La Hoya shoulda took notes.

The 2 of the greatest welterweights in history in their prime with only one loss between them. (that loss had been avenged by ko at the time these legends met) Both men highly skilled boxers with devastating KO power. Genuine bad blood. Both men with legitimate claim to being champion. Action thru and thru. See saw match up and high drama.

Anytime 2 champs unify, I expect a good fight. When the 2 champs are known to be very aggressive warriors from boxing's greatest breeding grounds (Mexico and the mean streets of Philadelphia) I know there will be blood. Both men now hall of famers, were in their primes when they met. Greater drama than any fight on my list as Chavez was on verge of upset loss before he managed to pull out a KO win with 2 seconds left in fight!

Two red blooded Mexicans from opposite sides of the tracks with true hatred for each other. Both in their primes and Hall of Fame bound. Ive never seen a better action fight between 2 Mexicans, and that's sayin a lot!

Plenty of knockdowns, high drama, championship caliber warriors in their primes an at their most effective weights.. When was the last time u saw all that in the $40 - $60 PPV fights boxing offers now days? This is one of 4 fights I show people when I argue against some referees decisions to stop fights without giving boxers the full 10 seconds they are allowed by rule, to recover an fight on after a knockdown.

This makes the list because it was undeniably the greatest fight in the history of the 108lb division. Both men were reigning champions in their primes with only 1 loss between them. Great Mexican/Mexican American rivalry. The 2 hardest punchers in the the division layin it on the line for the right to be called undisputed champ. Both men would be down before it was over. 1st "million dollar junior fly bout".

Two young Hall of Fame childhood rivals with only 1 controversial loss between them, an a whole lot to prove to their fans, the critics and themselves. Although the action doesnt rank with any of the fights on my list, the skill level, determination and caliber of the participants does. No blood nor knockdowns, but it did have aggressive, skillful, boxing from start to finish. As hard fought as most of the fights on my list.

Ironically, this fight wouldnt even make my top 100 list of FAVORITE matches because I like Holyfield, and dislike Bowe who won the fight. However, I take pride in being objective, unbiased an intellectually honest. Therefore based on their undefeated records, the historical significance of the bout, the incredible action and drama in the fight, and the fact that both men were in their primes, this fight must make my list.

Beautiful contrast of boxer/puncher styles. Full of machismo and in their primes, these Hall of Fame champions delivered the type of fight that had blood, knock downs and high skill level. It would rank higher if not for the premature stoppage from the ringside physician who was alarmed by a gruesome, but inconsequential cut to Diego's lip. Ranks on my list of worse stoppages in boxing history.