RINGSIDE
bird’s-eye view of Rahman splayed out on the canvas only made Lewis’ KO more memorable.
sports was won via DQ. The rematch, held at the Garden Bowl in Long Island City, New York, before 61,000, was equally controversial – this time because nobody apart from two of the judges thought Sharkey deserved to have his hand raised after 15 rounds. Louis vs. Billy Conn June 19, 1946 (KO 8) Their first bout was an all-time classic. The return bout, which took place five years later, was an all-time letdown. Both fighters were diminished following their four-year USO service during World War II, but the naturally bigger man had more left in the tank, and the punch is the last thing to go on an aging fighter. The fight, staged in front of more than 45,000 at Yankee Stadium, is notable as the first time a heavyweight title bout was broadcast live on TV (NBC).
Shavers, one of the great heavyweight punchers, delivered arguably the hardest punch ever landed on a champion that didn’t knock him out. Hall-of-fame sportswriter Doug Krikorian says it’s the LOUDEST punch he ever witnessed from ringside. But Holmes did what great boxers do in those situations: He got off his ass and got back to work en route to a late stoppage.
Holyfield vs. Ruiz March 3, 2001 (L-UD 12)
I was ringside for this one, too, also held at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. It wasn’t the most interesting contest, but Ruiz’s points victory (punctuated by an 11th-round knockdown) made him the first Latino heavyweight world titleholder. It also spelled the end of Holyfield as a legit title threat, although he’d stick around for another decade.
Frank Bruno vs. Tyson March 16, 1996 (L-TKO 3)
A deer-in-the-headlights Bruno (who was hyperventilating BEFORE the bout began) was no match for even the faded, post-prison version of Iron Mike, who regained the same green WBC belt he won at the record age of 20. The bout, held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, did a $10.6 million gate and garnered 1.37 million PPV buys (generating $58.3 million).
Wladimir Klitschko vs. Chris Byrd April 22, 2006 (L-TKO 7)
Two years after being written off following his KO loss to Lamon Brewster, Klitschko began his hall-of- fame-clinching second reign against his undersized familiar foe. He went on to make 18 defenses of the IBF title he lifted from Byrd, adding the WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine belts to his collection during a 9½-year unbeaten streak.
Leon Spinks vs. Ali September 15, 1978 (L-UD 15)
Holyfield vs. Michael Moorer November 8, 1997 (RTD 8)
Ali was an old 36 when Leon Spinks outhustled him over 15 rounds to take the heavyweight crown in February 1978. Spinks was a 1976 Olympic champ but also a 10-1 underdog due to his inexperience (seven pro bouts). Ali, a shell of his former greatness, couldn’t keep up with the 24 year old. However, his pride and spirit – along with a jab- and-grab strategy – was enough to regain the title an unprecedented third time in front of 63,352 inside the Superdome in New Orleans. The indoor record crowd produced a $4.8 million gate (another record), while an estimated U.S. audience of 90 million watched the bout live on ABC (yet another record). Ali’s last hurrah was seen by an estimated worldwide audience of 2 billion.
This stoppage, which avenged a 1994 points loss to the sullen southpaw, unified the IBF and WBA belts and enabled Holyfield to win The Ring’s Fighter of the Year award for the third time (in back-to-back years).
Wilder vs. Fury February 22, 2020 (L-TKO 7)
Like Lewis-Holyfield, this rematch followed a controversial draw verdict (although not as egregious). Unlike Lewis-Holyfield II, this one was not competitive as Fury steamrolled Wilder, dropping the unbeaten WBC beltholder twice before the American’s corner waved it off midway through Round 7. The emphatic victory earned Fury his second Ring Magazine title and co- Fighter of the Year honors. So, there’s 20 heavyweight title rematches for you. Some are great, some are not so great, but all are significant in my view. If you disagree with any of my choices or think I left out an important rematch, please let me – and Ring Magazine readers – know via email at comeoutwriting@gmail.com. If you have strong opinions on anything boxing related, share them with us. Your words will be immortalized in print!
Hasim Rahman vs. Lewis November 17, 2001 (L-KO 4)
Man, was I wrong about this matchup. I figured the Baltimore-bred American, who shocked Lewis seven months earlier in South Africa, had the Englishman’s number as well as his heart (after out- grappling him during an ESPN studio scuffle). But Lewis reminded all of us American haters that he’s arguably an all-time great with the manner he dispatched Rahman. The internet was still “new media” at this time, so only newspaper guys were on the floor. MaxBoxing.com colleague Steve Kim and I witnessed the fight from an auxiliary media sky box inside the Mandalay Bay Event Center, but the
Holmes vs. Earnie Shavers September 28, 1979 (TKO 11)
Their first bout was an uneventful 12-round WBC title eliminator won by Holmes, but the belt he earned with his epic battle vs. Ken Norton the previous year was on the line in the rematch and it almost changed hands in Round 7.
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