While we certainly still wish we still had the likes of Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson competing in the ring, we still have plenty of fantastic boxers who are willing to throw hands in the ring for our enjoyment. In fact, over the last few years we have actually had quite a few good fights happen.
There have been so many good fights over the last few years that it’s unlikely that you have seen all of them! You can test your knowledge by seeing if you recollect any of the fights below that we will recap, and it’s also just a good way for you to learn a bit more about the best boxing bouts in modern history. Let’s take a look!
Anthony Joshua vs. Wladamir Klitschko
Let’s start with one of the biggest boxing bouts in the heavyweight world in recent history. Anthony Joshua took on Wladimir Klitschko in 2017 at Wembley Stadium in England. This was a unification fight to bring together the IBF heavyweight title along with the vacant WBA and IBO heavyweight titles.
Both these fighters had a rare respect for each other in the build up to the fight, and boxing fans were absolutely excited for the fresh Joshua to take on the former long-reigning heavyweight champion Klitschko. What you have to remember about this era, is that Joshua was the big name on everyone’s lips, and Klitschko was one of the most dominant heavyweights of his era. The build-up was HUGE! In the end, it was Joshua who was victorious, knocking Klitschko down in the eleventh round.
The fight itself had lots of people clamoring for tickets and PPV subscriptions, and there were plenty of bets in the anticipation of the big fight. Boxing fans often bet on big heavyweight bouts such as this, and they do this by finding the best online sports betting sites around. Gone are the days when you’d have to walk into a local betting shop!
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs. Austin Trout
Going back a few more years to 2013, we had Saul “Canelo” Alvarez take on Austin Trout in Texas (it was really meant to be with this name, wasn’t it?). This was a highly anticipated showdown between two skilled junior middleweight boxers.
At the time of the bout, Alvarez was the undefeated WBC junior middleweight champion and a rising star in the stop. Trout, on the other hand, held the WBA junior middleweight title and wanted to be a top contender.
The fight itself was of good quality, with a lot of aggressive moves and quick counters. Both fighters had their own moments of success, with both hitting their fair number of shots. In the end, the fight went all the way to the final bell and it came down the judges’ scorecards. The winner was Alvarez by unanimous decision, which gave Trout his first defeat. This was a big moment for Alvarez, as this was his biggest win to date, and set the stage for many more high-profile fights later on in his career, earning him quite a lot of money along the way.
Carl Froch vs. Mikkel Kessler II
Let’s talk about the first rematch on this list. Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler originally fought in 2010, with Kessler winning a close fight. The fight was so close, that a rematch was wanted by everyone, so that boxing fans could determine the better fighter between the two.
The rematch would take place three years later in 2013 and took place in England rather than Denmark this time. Straight from the first punch, these two went aggressive against each other, which meant the fight quickly became something of a back-and-forth slugfest. Both fighters put on a great show, and fans weren’t sure which way it would go.
The fight was so closely matched that it actually went the full 12 rounds, with both fighters giving it their best go right up until the final bell. In the end, it was Froch that was declared champion by unanimous decision. He managed to avenge his defeat and regain his WBA super middleweight title.
Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury
More recently, you can’t have missed the developing story between Deontay Wilder and the Gypsy King himself, Tyson Fury! The two originally butted heads in 2018 in LA, and it was a highly anticipated heavyweight championship bout. Interestingly, the fight actually ended in a controversial draw.
As you well know, draws are quite rare in the boxing world, and some would say that Fury had the better of the fight. The two would come together to fight once again in 2020 in LA, and boxing fans couldn’t wait!
Fury knocked Wilder down in the 3rd round, and he was relentless throughout the rest of the fight, not letting Deontay catch a break. He was so relentless during the right that Wilder’s corner actually threw in the towel in the eighth round! Arguably, this was the biggest fight of the last decade, but who knows what the next big fight will be? It could be influencer boxing with KSI and Jake Paul that take over. Who knows!
