Six of the best
Max Schmeling v Joe Louis (New York City, 1936) Unmistakable political overtones hovered over the heavyweight bout as German Schmeling took on Louis at Yankee Stadium. It took only four rounds for Schmeling to send Louis to the canvas, a career-first for the African-American boxer. Louis regained his feet but in the 12th round Schmeling landed a vicious blow to the jaw that sent Louis down for the count. It was the first time the Brown Bomber had been knocked out. Louis gained revenge with a victory in a rematch two years later. Joe Frazier v Muhammad Ali (New York City, 1971) This was a brutal battle of attrition, but both men were still standing, Ali only barely, after 15 rounds. Ali started strongly but Frazier got on top and by the end was clearly ahead on points. Ali was knocked down in the final round but regained his feet in time to avoid a knockout. Nevertheless, he lost on a unanimous decision, his first pro defeat. Muhammad Ali v George Foreman (Kinshasa, Zaire, 1974) Ali was the underdog for what turned out to be a classic fight. Foreman, at 24 eight years younger than Ali, could not deliver a significant head blow and Ali bided his time, staying on the ropes and conserving energy as he waited for Foreman to tire. Late in the eighth round, Ali unleashed a furious attack to Foreman’s head, sending him to the canvas to win by a knockout. Sugar Ray Leonard v Thomas Hearns (Las Vegas, 1981) In this unifying welterweight title bout between two all-time greats, Hearns was ahead on points late in the fight, and Leonard knew he needed a knockout to win. In the 14th round, Leonard unleashed a furious barrage of punches that left Hearns reeling and prompted the referee to stop the fight. Eight years later a rematch ended in a controversial tie. Marvin Hagler v Thomas Hearns (Las Vegas, 1985) It was a short but memorable bout between the middleweights. The fight lasted less than three rounds, barely eight minutes of the most intense and brutal fighting, before Hagler sent the Hit Man to the canvas. Hearns struggled to his feet on the count of nine, but the referee stopped the fight. Buster Douglas v Mike Tyson ( Tokyo, 1990) Considered one of the biggest upsets in history, Douglas was 50/ 1 against the then-undefeated heavyweight champion Tyson. Douglas took the fight to his opponent from the start. But Tyson sent Douglas to the canvas at the end of the eighth round. He was saved by the bell. Two rounds later he launched a series of devastating blows to Tyson’s head, knocking down the champion for the first time in his career. – Reuters
Las Vegas
When Floyd Mayweather Jnr steps into the ring to face Manny Pacquiao in what has been dubbed the “Fight of the Century”, in his corner will be his father Floyd Snr.
Victory tonight would see his son cement his legacy as one of the greatest fighters of all time with the man who sparked that dream looking on with pride.
There have been few such tender family moments in a turbulent Mayweather household, where father and son can share prison experiences as well as successes in the ring.
Mayweather Jnr had boxing gloves slipped onto him by his father before he was a year old, setting him on the path to becoming the greatest fighter of his generation.