Most intense, adrenaline-boosting, boxing match

[Montauk6]

Poll question: Most intense, adrenaline-boosting, boxing match

I'm probably dating myself with these choices, as I don't keep up with it as much these days, which is why I'm including the all-purpose "Other"

[H2O Man]

1. I'll start .....

I'll stick to the choices you listed, as I think they offer a good variety of relatively recent boxing matches.

The Hearns-Haglar match started with a bang. Keep in mind that most "experts" believed Marvin would try to outbox Tommy for the first half of the fight, then try to take advantage of his getting tired.

Instead, Haglar rushed right at him. He knew that Tommy was, deep down, afraid of him, and pre-fight fear can drain a man's strength. Thus, he didn't want Tommy to get his "second wind." Now ain't that something?

But, in order to kick ass, Marvin had to bring his own, right there behind him. And the Hit Man landed a hell of a shot on Haglar, within the first real exchange. Haglar was hurt and shaken, and forced to defend himself. Tommy tried to hurry the finishing blow, and did not land a clean follow-up. Marvin was a half-step too close, and Tommy -- being with his back to the ropes -- couldn't take a half-step back for leverage. Instead, he nailed Haglar on the top of his head, hurting his hand.

The fight was savage. By the time Tommy tried to box, he was shot.

The others were all great fights. The build-up to Frazier-Ali (The Fight of the Century) was more exciting than any other match. Their third fight may have been their most exciting, in the ring.

The build-up and the Cooney-Holmes fight itself was wonderful. In his day, Mike Tyson created a strange exitement. Roberto Duran was always fun to watch. I'll have to get out the series of photos I have from ringside at his fight with the Hit Man.

[PDittie]

3. Favorite quote from that fight:

Hagler, blood rushing from the cut on his head into his eyes, was asked by the ref: "Can you see?"

Hagler: "I ain't missin' him, am I?"

Marvelous Marvin finished the Hit Man shortly thereafter.

[Montauk6]

4. Do you think the fight would've had a drastically different outcome

if Hearns didn't bust his hand?

In all candor, and I'm an ol' Hearns-rootin' supporter, I don't think it would've mattered; Tommy just didn't have the chin.

[H2O Man]

5. No.

Haglar would have knocked him out, because Tommy was afraid of him. I've got to look through some old photo albums, as my brother used to be in Kronk, and was ringside for most of Hearn's fights. I've got some pictures you might enjoy.

Hearns, Haglar, Leonard, Benitez, and Duran made for exciting fights. It is interesting that no one was able to beat all of the others consistently. On a gien day, any one of them could beat most of the others. Hearns is interesting: while he would have taken Duran any night, he may never have used his physical skills to beat Haglar, even if they fought a half-dozen times.

[PDittie]

7. Agreed.

I was a Hit Man fan too; I just thought he had the height and reach advantage on every man he fought. Hearns was also usually in top-notch condition -- I envied his ability to do dozens of fingertip (or fisted) pushups. And he had his own mean streak.

But Hearns wasn't always the toughest guy in the ring, and Hagler was possessed that night (whether Hearns was afraid of him or not, I couldn't say).

[dr.zoidberg]

2. I picked Ali-Frazier I.

To me, Ali-Frazier I had as much if not more intensity that Ali-Frazier III. The fight had an intense build-up and it lived up to the hype and then some. It also had a picturesque knockdown in the 15th, with Frazier hitting Ali with a picture perfect leaping left hook. When it took place, the fight answered two questions: 1)That Joe Frazier, in winning the fight, was truly the world heavyweight champion and 2)That Ali could face adversity in the ring. Keep in mind that ali had not really been tested in the ring since his first fight with Liston.

I know of several other fights that could make the list. For instance, almost any Mathew Saad-Muhammed WBC Light heavyweight title defense. Another good one is Nana Konadu/Sung Kil Moon I WBC Super flyweight title fight. Konadu-Moon was interesting in that you had two fighters with vastly differing styles. Konadu was a classic boxer, almost what one expect a super flyweight to be. He had blazing speed and a great jab. Moon, on the other hand, was a slugger. He threw,for the most part, wide looping punches and was always looking for a KO. In their fight, both men were down a combined 5 times within 5 rounds; Konadu 3 times(twice in the 1st, once in the 3rd) and Moon twice(once in the 1st, once in the 4th), with three knockdowns in the first round alone! That does not sound like a typical super flyweight fight does it?

[H2O Man]

6. The Fight of the Century

was great for the reasons you mention. It's a great choice.

Matthew Saad Muhammad was always very exciting. I liked his defense against Dwight Qawi. It was one of the most brutal fights I've ever seen.

[Awsi Dooger]

8. Ali/Frazier I transcended boxing

Most anticipated sporting event of all time, with nothing a close second. The fight itself was excellent although Ali took it too soon after his return and I thought Frazier won a bit more decisively than is generally conceded. He really batttered Ali in one round, I think the 11th.

I attended Hagler/Hearns in '85. When Hearns entered the ring I could see his legs were even more unsteady than normal and I told my friend it wouldn't last long. My friend was so drunk after making thousands scalping tickets he couldn't tell which fighter was which. It's still hard for me to believe I was able to bet Hagler at basically even money in that fight, -120 or 6 to win 5. Hagler was never even money in those days. Two years later against Leonard he was more than a 1/4 favorite.

I'm surprised no one highlighted Leonard/Hearns I. That was my choice in this poll. I thought it featured the greatest variety of fascinating variables, including several dramatic changes of momentum and the incredible switch of the boxer and puncher roles.

[TSIAS]

9. Gatti/Ward I should be noted

Surely, the significance of this bout doesn't compare to the choices listed above. I don't recall it being for any sort of championship belt. However, I think it's the most brutal and entertaining fight I've ever watched.

[H2O Man]

10. It was a throw-back

to the days of Graziano v Zale - type matches. Certainly it should be in the list. God call.