Boxing is one of the most popular and most influential sports in the world. Throughout the years, we’ve witnessed many legends step into the ring and achieve greatness which will be remembered for eternity. Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Mike Tyson, and Sugar Ray Robinson are just a few of those legends which managed to make the impossible look easy and show the world that with the proper dedication, there is no height that cannot be reached.
This sport also managed to influence other industries. One of the most interesting and surprising was the online casino industry. Research has shown that boxing fans are also quite fond of these games, which is why game providers have supplied sites like casino777.es with various virtual boxing games, as well as with slot games that are themed on this sport. The idea is to make boxing fans feel comfortable and enjoy them to the maximum.
It goes without saying that boxing is a respected sport. The sportsmen act as role models and continue to elevate this discipline with each passing day. We, the fans, have watched many great fights over the years, and with that thought in mind, we decided to name our list of the top 3 fights in the modern era. Let’s check them out.
Floyd Mayweather – Manny Pacquiao
Dubbed as the Fight of the Century, Floyd Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao went down as the most anticipated fight in the history of boxing. After spending several years negotiating, both of these fighters clashed on May 2, 2015. The fight was televised through a PPV and broke the record with approximately 4.6 million buys.
Although the pre-fight era was very pumped, the fight itself let many people down. Critics stated that Floyd was too defensively orientated, which made it very boring. Several post-fight controversies like the supposed shoulder injury by Manny, and the IV injections that Floyd took also came to light. It is worth mentioning that Floyd won the bout via unanimous decision.
Anthony Joshua – Wladimir Klitschko
Next up, we have a bout in which the underdog managed to shock the world as he beat one of the greatest heavyweight boxers in the history of the sport. Although Joshua has already made a name for himself at the time, no one believed that he has the skills to beat Klitschko. The fight took place on April 29, 2017, at Wembley Stadium in London and it is safe to say that it exceeded the expectations of the fans by a milestone.
It was filled with action, knockdowns, and was named Fight of the Year by The Ring and the Boxing Writers Association of America. Anthony Joshua beat Wladimir via eleventh-round TKO and won the IBF and the vacant WBA (Super) and IBO heavyweight titles.
Deontay Wilder – Tyson Fury II
Our last entry on this list is the rematch between Wilder and Fury. The first fight showed just how good both of these fighters were. Wilder managed to keep one of the most skilled boxers at bay, while Fury put on a flawless show after battling drug and alcohol abuse, as well as depression for the past few years.
Since the first fight ended in a draw, the rematch was highly anticipated and many fans around the world were keen to see these two fighters step in the ring one more time. The rematch took place on February 22, 2020, at the MGM Grand. Fury TKO’d Wilder out in the seventh round. In that round, Wilder’s corner threw the towel and the referee stopped the fight.