This current generation has given us boxing fans some amazing fighters. As always - the cream has generally risen to the top. Of the five mentioned fighters below - each has captured some great wins. Lets go over what is their best win, in my humble opinion - and allow NSB to select the best one of the bunch. Keep in mind - this list of great wins is my own - feel free (in a non-troll way if possible by the casuals) to disagree and state your own case.
Bernard Hopkins
-TKO12 Felix Trinidad: In a fight that established the lineal MW crown that changed hands this weekend, this was the biggest fight of the year. Felix Trinidad, a WW beast who moved up and dominated JMW and moved up to MW to destroy Joppy was now in-line to retire the then washed up Hopkins. In what looked like a showcase fight - Hopkins thoroughly dominated Trinidad to establish himself as the MAN.
-UD12 Kelly Pavlik: Fast forward nearly 6 years, and this was the fight that was billed as Hopkins retirement fight - with no hope of defeating the new MW king. Pavlik was supposed to add another notch on his belt at Hopkins expense, but Hopkins had other ideas. In one of the most dominating performances in recent years - Hopkins ended in one fell swoop what could have been a promising career, reestablishing himself a once in a lifetime talent.
Floyd Mayweather
-TKO10 Chico Corrales: In a dominating effort - PBF thoroughly outclassed the undefeated and seemingly impenetrable Corrales, forcing the corner men to throw in the towel. Floyd was an unheard of combination of power, speed, intelligence.
-MW12 Canelo Alvarez: Floyd did something that he often gets accused of not doing - fight a young, prime, bigger and stronger fighter. He often gets criticized for the prime Cotto, Pac, Margarito and other countless misses - but on this night he went against popular opinion and fought Canelo at JMW. Despite the dubious scorecards - Floyd boxed masterfully and ended the hypetrain. He systematically broke Canelo down mentally and effortlessly outpointed him in his greatest performance post 30. At age 36, he looked better than he ever did.
Manny Pacquiao
-TKO11 Marco Antonio Barrera: Against one of the greatest Mexican fighters who ever lived - these two went to war! Pacquiao's speed and power were too much for the Mexican legend. In what amounted to the beginning of his ascension to greatness - Pacquiao produced one of his finest performances against a certified HoFer.
-TKO10 Erik Morales: In a rematch of their first war, one in which saw Morales defeat Pacquiao - Pacquaio came out for vengeance against another Mexican great. In a trilogy that will never be forgotten, Pacquiao put forth another dazzling performance with a combo of speed and power to overwhelm the other member of this generation's Fab Four. It was a classic battle that continued to propel Pacquiao to new heights.
Miguel Cotto
UD12 Shane Mosley: Settling in at 147 - Cotto faced his stiffest test at 147, the great Shane Mosley. Cotto started off on point - out jabbing, overpowering and ultimately outboxing Mosley, before Mosley could mount a tremendous comeback. Cotto held on and outfought Mosley when it mattered to win a close, but clear UD.
TKO10 Sergio Martinez: Moving up to 160, to engage in a historic fight - Cotto accomplished a feat that no PR fighter has ever done, and win a title only a select few ATG Welterweights have ever accomplished. Considered washed up and outside his element - Cotto gave his best performance has he systematically destroyed the MW King and forcing him to retire on his stool. He outboxed, overpowered and ultimately outclassed the considerate favorite to make a statement - that his time isn't quite done. Arguably the best win of any boxer since...
Juan Manuel Marquez
KO6 Manny Pacquiao IV: In what is arguably their defining fight of their 4 fight history; these two engaged in a war few will ever forget. After trading knockdowns and what looked like was turning into a massacre in favor of the Filipino icon, Marquez landed a counter right square on the chin of a closing in Pacquiao - putting his ATG nemesis to sleep. This win solidified JMM standing in the pantheon's of this generation's best fighters
UD12 Marco Antonio Barrera: The Fab Four at it again - this time, these two proud Mexican warriors head to head. In a great back and forth battle - JMM put forth a gutsy and impeccable performance has he kept Barrera at bay to win a unanimous decision. This fight continued to raise the stock of JMM as a legitimate great of this generation, as he battled back from a setback in Indonesia and off the amazing performance he gave in the first Pacquiao fight. JMM made the statement on this night that he will be remembered as a Mexican icon.
Feel free to disagree or agree - but lets debate it out!
OP Note: Wlad Klitschko definitely should be considered in the same class as above mentioned fighters - I could not include him however in the poll because I had a real hard time trying to single out one or two career defining fights. Maybe its a result of his true greatness or lack of HW competition the past 10 years - either way, the HW King was not forgotten
Bernard Hopkins
-TKO12 Felix Trinidad: In a fight that established the lineal MW crown that changed hands this weekend, this was the biggest fight of the year. Felix Trinidad, a WW beast who moved up and dominated JMW and moved up to MW to destroy Joppy was now in-line to retire the then washed up Hopkins. In what looked like a showcase fight - Hopkins thoroughly dominated Trinidad to establish himself as the MAN.
-UD12 Kelly Pavlik: Fast forward nearly 6 years, and this was the fight that was billed as Hopkins retirement fight - with no hope of defeating the new MW king. Pavlik was supposed to add another notch on his belt at Hopkins expense, but Hopkins had other ideas. In one of the most dominating performances in recent years - Hopkins ended in one fell swoop what could have been a promising career, reestablishing himself a once in a lifetime talent.
Floyd Mayweather
-TKO10 Chico Corrales: In a dominating effort - PBF thoroughly outclassed the undefeated and seemingly impenetrable Corrales, forcing the corner men to throw in the towel. Floyd was an unheard of combination of power, speed, intelligence.
-MW12 Canelo Alvarez: Floyd did something that he often gets accused of not doing - fight a young, prime, bigger and stronger fighter. He often gets criticized for the prime Cotto, Pac, Margarito and other countless misses - but on this night he went against popular opinion and fought Canelo at JMW. Despite the dubious scorecards - Floyd boxed masterfully and ended the hypetrain. He systematically broke Canelo down mentally and effortlessly outpointed him in his greatest performance post 30. At age 36, he looked better than he ever did.
Manny Pacquiao
-TKO11 Marco Antonio Barrera: Against one of the greatest Mexican fighters who ever lived - these two went to war! Pacquiao's speed and power were too much for the Mexican legend. In what amounted to the beginning of his ascension to greatness - Pacquiao produced one of his finest performances against a certified HoFer.
-TKO10 Erik Morales: In a rematch of their first war, one in which saw Morales defeat Pacquiao - Pacquaio came out for vengeance against another Mexican great. In a trilogy that will never be forgotten, Pacquiao put forth another dazzling performance with a combo of speed and power to overwhelm the other member of this generation's Fab Four. It was a classic battle that continued to propel Pacquiao to new heights.
Miguel Cotto
UD12 Shane Mosley: Settling in at 147 - Cotto faced his stiffest test at 147, the great Shane Mosley. Cotto started off on point - out jabbing, overpowering and ultimately outboxing Mosley, before Mosley could mount a tremendous comeback. Cotto held on and outfought Mosley when it mattered to win a close, but clear UD.
TKO10 Sergio Martinez: Moving up to 160, to engage in a historic fight - Cotto accomplished a feat that no PR fighter has ever done, and win a title only a select few ATG Welterweights have ever accomplished. Considered washed up and outside his element - Cotto gave his best performance has he systematically destroyed the MW King and forcing him to retire on his stool. He outboxed, overpowered and ultimately outclassed the considerate favorite to make a statement - that his time isn't quite done. Arguably the best win of any boxer since...
Juan Manuel Marquez
KO6 Manny Pacquiao IV: In what is arguably their defining fight of their 4 fight history; these two engaged in a war few will ever forget. After trading knockdowns and what looked like was turning into a massacre in favor of the Filipino icon, Marquez landed a counter right square on the chin of a closing in Pacquiao - putting his ATG nemesis to sleep. This win solidified JMM standing in the pantheon's of this generation's best fighters
UD12 Marco Antonio Barrera: The Fab Four at it again - this time, these two proud Mexican warriors head to head. In a great back and forth battle - JMM put forth a gutsy and impeccable performance has he kept Barrera at bay to win a unanimous decision. This fight continued to raise the stock of JMM as a legitimate great of this generation, as he battled back from a setback in Indonesia and off the amazing performance he gave in the first Pacquiao fight. JMM made the statement on this night that he will be remembered as a Mexican icon.
Feel free to disagree or agree - but lets debate it out!
OP Note: Wlad Klitschko definitely should be considered in the same class as above mentioned fighters - I could not include him however in the poll because I had a real hard time trying to single out one or two career defining fights. Maybe its a result of his true greatness or lack of HW competition the past 10 years - either way, the HW King was not forgotten
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