Top 10 boxing fights of all time: Unforgettable moments in the ring

The top 10 boxing fights of all time have changed the history of the sport and left fans in awe, from their anticipation to their cultural impact.

From dramatic title bouts to brutal showdowns that tested the champions’ limits, these fights showcase the grit and determination of pro boxing‘s biggest names.

Revisit Muhammad Ali’s “Fight of the Century” to Mayweather vs. Pacquiao‘s war; these bouts redefined what it means to be a true champion.

Rank	Matchup	Winners	Result	Date of fight
1	Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier	Joe Frazier	Unanimous decision (UD)	March 8, 1971
2	Joe Louis vs Max Schmeling	Joe Louis	Knockout (Round 1)	June 22, 1938
3	Jack Johnson vs James Jeffries	Jack Johnson	Technical Knockout (TKO) Round 15	July 4, 1910
4	James Corbett vs John L. Sullivan	John Corbett	KO, 21st round	September 7, 1892
5	Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier	Muhammad Ali	TKO, Round 14 (corner stoppage)	October 1, 1975
6	Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman	Muhammad Ali	KO, Round 8	October 30, 1974
7	Gene Tunney vs Jack Dempsey	Gene Tunney	UD	September 22, 1927
8	Mike Tyson vs Michael Spinks	Mike Tyson	KO, Round 1	June 27, 1988
9	Juan Manuel Marquez vs Manny Pacquiao	Juan Manuel Marquez	KO, Round 6	December 8, 2012
10	Floyd Mayweather Jr vs Manny Pacquiao	Floyd Mayweather Jr	UD	May 2, 2015

1. Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazer: “Fight of the Century” (March 8, 1971)

The Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier showdown on March 8, 1971, at Madison Square Garden featured two undefeated heavyweights battling for the crown.

Dubbed the “Fight of the Century,” the fight carried immense cultural significance: Ali represented anti-war protests and black pride, while Frazier symbolized resilience.

Frazier dominated most of the 15-round fight, highlighted by his relentless attack in the 11th round that had Ali stunned.

Ali suffered a knockdown in the 15th round, but he quickly got back up and finished the fight.

The globally anticipated fight sparked one of boxing’s greatest rivalries and remained the benchmark for a bout that electrified the world.

2. Joe Louis vs Max Schmeling II (June 22, 1938)

Joe Louis faced off against Max Schmeling twice, but their rematch at Yankee Stadium on June 22, 1938, was something to remember.

Louis had something to prove after he lost via knockout in their first fight in 1936.

This time, Louis launched a vicious attack that knocked Schmeling out three times en route to a first-round knockout.

Louis’s punches were so hard that the then-New York Boxing Commission head had to visit Schmeling to determine if the German faked his injuries.

Louis’s mighty bounce-back victory showed that the fight’s cultural and political gravity makes it more than a sport – it was a moral triumph.

3. Jack Johnson vs James Jeffries (July 4, 1910)

James Jeffries had to come out of retirement to challenge Jack Johnson in their titanic showdown on July 4, 1910, in Reno, Nevada.

Johnson took pride in being the first black heavyweight champion of the world from 1908 to 1916, but Jeffries had none of it.

Jeffries, a white retired heavyweight champion, was out to prove that “a white man is better than a Negro,” Heavyweightboxing.com reported.

Johnson knocked down Jeffries twice for the first time in his career in the 15th round.

Out of pride, Jeffries’ team decided to throw in the towel before the inevitable happened, as Johnson’s victory sparked race riots across the U.S.

Why these fights made the list:

• Cultural and Political Impact: Louis vs Schmeling; Ali vs Frazier; Ali vs Foreman
• Sheer Brutality and Endurance: Ali vs Frazier III (Thrilla in Manila)
• Controversy and Myth: Tunney vs Dempsey, Johnson vs Jeffries
• Upsets and Redemption: Marquez vs Pacquiao; Ali vs Foreman
• Historical Legacy: Ali-Frazier I and III, Corbett vs Sullivan
• Monetary Value: Mayweather vs Pacquiao; Tyson vs Spinks

4. James Corbett vs John Sullivan (September 7, 1892)

The James Corbett vs. John Sullivan fight on September 7, 1892, at the Olympic Club in New Orleans, Louisiana, marked a significant moment in the sport’s history.

The fight was held under Queensbury rules, which required gloves for both fighters.

Sullivan and Corbett displayed contrasting fighting styles, with the former described by a sports journalist at the time as that of a “hostile drunk.”

On the other hand, Corbett trained with an instructor, rather than picking up his skills on the street.

Corbett used a straight hand to knock out Sullivan in the 21st round to end the latter’s career as a professional boxer.

The fight thus marked the end of the bare-knuckle era style of boxing and ushered in a more modern approach to the sport.

5. Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier: ‘Thrilla in Manila’ (October 1, 1975)

The third chapter in the Ali-Frazier trilogy was fought in Manila on October 1, 1975.

Dubbed “Thrilla in Manila,” the fight didn’t disappoint, as Ali landed several strong right-handed punches in the early rounds before Frazier made his move in the 10th round.

Ali then changed his tactics in the 11th round with strong combinations that wobbled Frazier up to the 13th and 14th rounds.

It was in the 14th round that Frazier’s trainer stopped the fight, giving Ali a smashing TKO victory.

As Ali kept his heavyweight title, the fight showed tremendous grit, endurance, and extreme human will between two proud fighters.

See also:

• Boxing 101: List of different boxing styles
• Top 10 Reasons why Manny Pacquiao is a boxing legend
• Six highest-paid boxers of 2023, per Sportico

6. Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman: ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ (October 30, 1974)

Ali was involved in another marquee matchup, this time against George Foreman in the Democratic Republic of Congo on October 30, 1974.

Also known as “Rumble in the Jungle,” the fight lured an estimated 60,000 fans to the 20th of May Stadium in Kinshasa, Zaire (now DR Congo).

Ali was a 4-1 underdog against his unbeaten opponent, but he peppered Foreman with six stinging shots in round eight.

He would continue to implement his “rope-a-dope” strategy when he delivered a knockout blow with his right hand to deck Foreman.

The fight would then gross an estimated USD 100 million, making it one of the world’s most-watched live TV broadcasts at the time.

7. Gene Tunney vs Jack Dempsey: ‘The Long-Count Fight’ (September 22, 1927)

Gene Tunney faced off against Jack Dempsey twice, with Tunney winning both times in 1926 and 1927.

Their second fight was more memorable, held at Soldier Field in Chicago on September 22, 1927.

Known as “The Long-Count Fight,” Dempsey knocked down Tunney in the seventh round, but Dempsey failed to quickly move to a neutral corner.

That resulted in the referee delaying the standard count, sparking controversy among boxing circles for years to come.

Tunney would recover to win the fight via unanimous decision, holding the heavyweight title from 1926 until 1928.

8. Mike Tyson vs Michael Spinks (June 27, 1988)

“Iron Mike” Tyson took on Michael Spinks at the Atlantic City Convention Hall in Atlantic City on June 27, 1988.

It became the most lucrative fight in boxing history at the time, earning a total of almost USD 70 million.

Tyson made it a short night after he knocked out Spinks in the first round in 91 seconds, earning himself a record-breaking USD20 million in the process.

The loss marked Spinks’ first professional defeat, even as he received USD13.5 million for the fight.

Tyson’s grip of the undisputed heavyweight championship resulted from this fight, which came at the peak of his career.

9. Juan Manuel Marquez vs Manny Pacquiao (December 8, 2012)

Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao were involved in a swashbuckling trilogy of epic fights that all ended in close decisions.

Pacquiao emerged victorious twice, on a split verdict and a majority decision, while Marquez settled for a draw on the other occasion.

Their fourth fight turned out to be as explosive as the trilogy offered when they collided one last time in Las Vegas on December 8, 2012.

Marquez delivered a knockout punch in the last second of the sixth round to knock out Pacquiao for good.

Their rivalry will be remembered for its intense fights at every turn, with no fighter dominating the other.

10. Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao (May 2, 2015)

The collision between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao is considered one of the most highly anticipated showdowns after years of anticipation by fans.

Many fans felt the fight was not as explosive as they had expected, but Mayweather’s defensive and counter-striking style baffled Pacquiao throughout.

Mayweather would deliver a masterclass performance, resulting in a unanimous decision win that earned him a massive USD 240 million.

Pacquiao didn’t go home empty-handed but just with a bruised ego in a few blots compared to some of his several comeback moments.

as he collected USD125 million in the mega-fight that grossed an estimated USD600 million.

Those staggering numbers made it one of the richest boxing matches of all time, despite fans hoping for a more exciting exchange between the two fighters.

Legacies of these top 10 fights transcend boxing for generations to come

The top 10 boxing fights of all time in this list transcend boxing, capturing the essence of what boxing is truly iconic.

These fights were selected based on their anticipation, cultural impact, and resonance with the sport’s history.

A new wave of major fights is expected to emerge in a few years, but these showdowns have stood out over time and will be talked about for generations.