Top 5 Greatest Boxing Fights Of All Time

The greatest professional boxing bouts encompass strategical brilliance, blistering slugfests and triumphs of will. Here is the top 5 greatest boxing fights of all time based on the criteria aforementioned.

1. 1971 Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier

The Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier bout was dubbed as "The Fight of the Century." It was not only about a championship but a showdown between the counterculture in the guise of Ali and the pro-war establishment somewhat represented by Frazier. The two legendary fighters brawled for 15 rounds amid a media circus. Frazier won the bout by unanimous decision.

2. 1985 Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas Hearns

The fight between Hagler and Hearns only lasted for three rounds but this bout had more action, drama and tension than any other fights in the history of professional boxing. Both feared knockout boxers traded power punch after power punch but neither would go down. Hagler and Hearns struggled through the next two rounds until Hagler found victory after a right hand and two uppercuts.

3. 2002 Micky Ward vs. Arturo Gatti

The Ward vs Gatti fight is dubbed as the most brutal trilogy in the history of professional boxing. The two were known rough fighters but Ward won the majority decision after the 9th round. This fight is remembered not for the outcome but for the action.

4. 1974 Muhammad Ali vs. George Foreman

George Foreman was hell on earth in the boxing realm in 1974. He's too big, too powerful and Muhammad Ali was looked as the underdog. Ali used a technique called the "rope-a-dope" wherein he covered himself up against the ropes and let Foreman throw punches at him until he wore himself out. Foreman was exhausted by the end of eight round and Ali capitalised with a hard right hand that knocked Foreman out.

5. 1982 Aaron Pryor vs. Alexis Arguello

This 1982 dream bout was dubbed by Bob Arum as "The Battle of the Champions." During that time, Arguello was attempting to become the first man to bag titles in four different weight divisions. The Pryor vs. Arguello fight was stopped in a dramatic fashion when a mysterious black bottle was handed to Pryor by trainer Panama Lewis between rounds, which threw the outcome of the fight into question.