Manny Pacquiao vs Marco Antonio Barrera and the 22 Greatest 2-Fight Blowouts
Not every fight series ends in a trilogy. Sometimes a fighter just has another fighter's number, and this can be just as entertaining as a highly competitive fight.
From Joe Frazier to Shane Mosley to Oscar De La Hoya, many fighters have been a victim to a fighter who just knew how to beat them and did so twice.
My personal criteria for a great two-fight blowout includes two things:
1. How great is the opponent that got blown out? The greater the opponent, the better the ranking.
2. How badly did the opponent get blown out? The greater the blow out, the better the ranking.
Sometimes these two things have to be weighed properly against each other. For instance, someone who beats a decent ex-world champion in three rounds and then in 10 might rank above someone who beats a legend by unanimous decision twice.
Now that you understand my ranking system, here's the list of the "22 Greatest Two-Fight Blowouts of All Time."
Honorable Mention: Floyd Mayweather Jr vs Jose Luis Castillo and Others
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This is likely to be a controversial entry. The reason why is likely to be the first match in this series.
While Mayweather's victory over Castillo in the rematch is unquestionable and embarrassingly brilliant, he made more than a few mistakes in the first match.
He made enough mistakes that many consider him to be 40-1 instead of 41-0.
I personally scored that fight close, seven rounds to five in favor of Floyd, but there were at least two rounds that could've been a draw or went to Castillo.
Any scorecard that had the first fight seven to five in either fighter's favor or a draw is a correct scorecard in my eyes, but in no way was either fighter dominated.
Mayweather said he was fighting with one hand because of a hurt shoulder. Mayweather could be seen momentarily wincing in pain as a result of this injury rather than Castillo's punches during the fight.
So when the rematch came, Mayweather fully recovered and had no excuses. He thoroughly beat Castillo to masterful unanimous decision.
Because of the closeness of the first fight, I can't in good conscious place it in my top 22 BLOWOUTS in boxing history. Even if Mayweather didn't lose, by no means did he BLOWOUT Castillo in the first fight.
Here's a list of 10 other BLOWOUTS that didn't make my top 22: (Feel free to moan and complain in the comment section below)
Chad Dawson vs Glen Johnson
Jermaine Taylor vs Bernard Hopkins
Chad Dawson vs Antonio Tarver
Shane Mosley vs Oscar De La Hoya
Vernon Forrest vs Shane Mosley
Sugar Ray Robinson vs Kid Gavilan
Michael Spinks vs Larry Holmes
Ronald "Winky" Wright vs Shane Mosley
Hector Camacho vs Roberto Duran
Muhammad Ali vs George Chuvalo
22. Ricardo Mayorga vs Vernon Forrest
2 of 23Forrest was an undefeated welterweight world champion coming off back-to-back major wins over Shane Mosley when he fought Mayorga.
Mayorga wasn't supposed to give him such a tough fight, but he did. Forrest suffered a knockdown in the first round. He quickly rebounded in the second round with ferocious uppercuts.
Then in the third round, Mayorga leaped forward with a thunderous right that bolted Forrest to the canvas.
Forrest got up for the count, but his eyes showed he was not ready to continue to the fight.
The referee waved off the fight, giving Forrest his first knockout and professional loss.
The two warriors would put on another show in six months. Mayorga won this time by majority decision after a more competitive effort was given by Forrest.
These two back-to-back victories over Forrest became the single biggest beacon of light in Mayorga's intriguing but troubled career.
What Holds It Back?
Vernon Forrest didn't do quite enough before his early death to become a certifiable legend. He beat Shane Mosley twice by decision, but he also lost to Sergio Mora.
Also the second fight was a majority decision, not even a clear unanimous one. This greatly hurts how I rank Mayorga's blowouts, but the third-round knockout victory almost single-handedly puts this one on the list.
21. Julio Cesar Chavez vs Meldrick Taylor
3 of 23Chavez vs Taylor was the biggest fight of the decade in 1990. Two undefeated welterweights (147 lbs) left their hearts in the ring.
Taylor had been winning most of the rounds and was nearing a victory should he survive the 12th and final round.
Chavez sent a hellacious flurry toward Taylor that sent him to the canvas.
Taylor got up but was counted out with two seconds to go in the final round.
Referee Richard Steele said that Taylor didn't respond when he asked if he was all right, so he waved the fight off.
This TKO victory is one of the most controversial calls in sports history.
The way I saw it, Taylor didn't respond when prompted to so the ref had the right to stop it as long as the fight was ongoing. With there being two seconds though, the champ should've had the opportunity to continue since he had gotten to his feet.
It's a tough call, but Chavez did a number on Taylor's body. Taylor was reported urinating blood after the match and had to be taken to a hospital on a stretcher.
Maybe referee Steele had a point in stopping the match, maybe he didn't.
The next match would clarify any doubt that Chavez had bested Taylor. Taylor's toughness helped him hang in there long enough to get a glimpse of a rare sight of Chavez actually backing up in a fight.
But in round eight, Chavez stunned and finished Taylor with a signature closing flurry that prompted the fight to be waved off.
Taylor lost. He may have had many inspiring moments in the ring against Chavez and came very close to snatching the Mexican's undefeated record, but Chavez defended his "0" with a strength and determination that proved too much for Taylor.
What Holds It Back?
The fact that Chavez had to dig so deep to get these two victories holds these two back. Chavez had to stop Taylor in the last few seconds of the final round to controversially win the first fight.
Then Chavez was getting his behind handed to him in the second match a couple times, but he rallied a stunning effort in round eight to claim another knockout victory.
The fact that these two victories are both knockouts and against a strong competitor like Taylor is what helps keep this one on the list.
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20. Larry Holmes vs Earnie Shavers
4 of 23Holmes was undefeated (26-0) facing arguably the heaviest hitter of the modern era in Earnie Shavers. The winner would be the WBC mandatory challenger for Ken Norton's heavyweight title.
The battle was hair-raising because of Shavers' determination and Holmes' skilled jab and movement to avoid the bald bull that was Shavers.
Holmes skillfully out-jabbed Shavers to a unanimous decision.
Holmes gave Shavers a rematch a year and half later after he became world champion.
Shavers put him down in Round 7, but Holmes survived. Shavers unfortunately did not. Shavers punched himself out by Round 10, going so far as to let his hands down as he shuffled forward on more impulse than thought.
Holmes put to rest a tired zombie-fied Shavers with a series of hard shots in the eleventh round.
Holmes showed more skill in the first match and then more heart in the second match, blowing Shavers away in the ring.
What Holds It Back?
Shavers may be one of the hardest punchers of all time, but he isn't Frazier, Ali or Foreman in terms of greatness.
Holmes also had some trouble from Shavers, even suffering a knockdown. These fights were blowouts but not extraordinarily dominating blowouts.
They make it on the list off the basis of Holmes come from behind knockout in the rematch and the skill on display overall by Holmes against a rather solid Hall of Famer in Shavers.
19. Julio Cesar Chavez vs Roger Mayweather
5 of 23Mayweather first encountered Chavez at super featherweight (130 lbs) in 1985. He battled the tough Mexican well, winning the first round on all scorecards.
Then something went wrong. He was knocked down twice and loss by TKO in Round 2.
A rematch would have to wait until four years later in 1989. By this time, Mayweather was junior welterweight (140 lbs) world champion.
Chavez chose Mayweather for his first trip to the junior welterweight division to earn a world title in a third weight class.
Mayweather came out hard, winning the first three rounds before Chavez's toughness and perseverance became the story of the fight.
Body punches from Chavez slowed Mayweather down and then halted him before Round 11. Mayweather quit on his stool after Round 10.
Even across two weight classes, Mayweather just couldn't best Mexico's greatest warrior, Chavez.
What Holds It Back?
Mayweather did give Chavez a trouble initially before Chavez prevailed and despite Mayweather being a solid opponent, he's not a legendary boxer.
He's one of the solid ex-champions of his time. He's a notch above a Demarcus Corley, but that's roughly about all.
The two knockout victories (especially the second round TKO) are what place this pair of blowouts where they are on the list.
18. Sugar Ray Robinson vs Fritzie Zivic
6 of 23An undefeated Ray Robinson was set to face Zivic, the man that knocked out his idol Henry Armstrong roughly nine months prior.
On Halloween night 1941, Robinson gave Zivic nightmares with combinations he had no answers for.
Zivic had his moments in the middle rounds, but he was on unsteady legs by Round 9. Had the contest been any more than 10 rounds, Zivic would surely had been knocked out.
He instead escaped with a loss to the young Robinson by unanimous decision.
In their rematch in January of 1942, Zivic again made it to the 10th round. But this time, he didn't make it out the 10th round.
These two dominating victories would further excel the hype-train that would become the legend of Sugar Ray Robinson as history continued to be made.
New York Times writer James P Dawson put it best in his 1942 article:
""Ray Robinson, Harlem's spectacular contender for the world welterweight title, wrote the most brilliant chapter in a sparkling career when he knocked out Fritzie Zivic..."
"
What Holds It Back?
Zivic is a Hall of Fame fighter but not one of the marquee names of his time. He did some great things like upset Henry Armstrong (Tyson-Douglas of its time), but Zivic is no Armstrong in accomplishments.
What keeps this fight on here is Robinson's knockout victory and ease of victory against Zivic.
17. Steve Collins vs Nigel Benn
7 of 23Benn is the veteran challenger. Collins was the current world champion at super middleweight (168 lbs). Benn attempted to give Collins all he could handle.
Benn hurt his ankle, before quiting in the fourth round of the first fight with Collins in 1996. Then Benn quit on his stool in the sixth round of the rematch four months later.
Benn retired after losing the second time to Collins. Collins retired the following year after two more fights. Both men were 32 when they faced one another. Collins just happened to be the better man during those two competitions.
What Holds It Back?
Benn is legendary, but not nearly as legendary as some of the other victims of this list are (Chavez, Liston). Benn was also nearing the end of his career, ready to call it quits.
Couple that with the ankle injury and you have a quite a few things ailing this from becoming a higher entry into the top 22 blowouts.
The redeeming factor is that both wins are by knockout against someone as accomplished as Benn.
16. Rocky Marciano vs Ezzard Charles
8 of 23Charles (93-25-1. 52 KOs) met Marciano in the ring for the first time in June 1954.
Charles became the only fighter to last a full 15 rounds against Marciano.
It still wasn't enough for him to clinch a victory.
The two met again after many felt the first fight was close.
This time in September of the same year, Marciano knocked Charles out in the eighth round.
Beaten going the distance and by knockout, Charles was clearly outclassed despite giving amazing efforts that resulted in Marciano taking heavy cuts that could've caused the fights to be stopped.
What Holds This Back?
Charles was very much in both fights with a great chance to win. Some even say he won the first fight, but Marciano pulled that decision.
The fact that Charles is one of the greatest heavyweights of all time definitely helps advance this entry to where it is coupled with the rematch knockout victory.
15. Muhammad Ali vs Henry Cooper
9 of 231963, a 21-year-old Ali is on the cusp of championship status.
The only thing standing in his way is British talent, Cooper. A rugged championship-level fighter with a vicious knockout left hand.
Ali went into their first fight jabbing and moving out of danger. Cooper moved closer to Ali the entire fight, but it was only in the fourth round that Ali would get caught enough to fall.
Ali barely got up from the knockdown. His corner struggled to get him alert between Rounds 4 and 5. When round five began, Ali came alive.
He vicious sent his fist to Cooper's face, opening up cuts under his eye that kept getting bigger and bigger with each connect. Eventually the referee had to step in to stop the damage.
Ali had won by technical knockout in Round 5. He would go on to dominate Sonny Liston for the world title.
It would be three years before Ali was able to rematch Cooper.
This fight went a similar manner, except Ali was more cautious in avoiding Cooper's left.
In Round 6, similar cuts opened up and Cooper was stopped. Ali won by TKO again, proving that the first time was no fluke or beginner's luck.
What Holds It Back?
An aging Cooper still gave a young Ali a whole lot to learn in their initial hard-fought fight.
These pair of fights make it here mostly off the basis of Cooper's legacy and the fact that they were both mid-fight knockouts.
14. Evander Holyfield vs Mike Tyson
10 of 23This matchup was highly anticipated ever since 1990, but Mike Tyson lost to Buster Douglas and then went to prison for six years.
When he got out and beat a few tomato cans, the hype was back on. Tyson vs Holyfield was "finally" happening.
Nov. 9, 1996, what was supposed to be a competitive match became a complete blowout.
Holyfield simply out-muscled and outclassed a lesser version of the once great Tyson.
In the 11th round, Holyfield continued a barrage of punches he had unleashed near the end of the previous round that forced the referee to stop the fight.
The unthinkable had happened: Tyson lost by 11th-round TKO.
A rematch would occur on June 28, 1997. Tyson came looking for redemption and instead made one of the most bizarre maneuvers in boxing history.
In protest of Holyfield's repeated headbutting without penalty over the course of the first three rounds, Tyson bit Holyfield's ear twice.
Tyson was disqualified and Holyfield retained his championship...at the cost of a piece of his ear.
What Holds It Back?
Post-prison Tyson was just not the same as the pre-prison Tyson. That diminishes the accomplishment enough to keep out of the top 10.
The fact that Tyson, of all people, was completely outclassed gives this entry a high favor.
13. Giovani Segura vs Ivan Calderon
11 of 23Legendary Calderon made history by defending his WBO light flyweight (108 lbs) world title a record 18 times for a Puerto Rican.
The younger Giovanni Segura, owner of the WBA light flyweight world championship.
Both men came together for the firs time in Aug. 28, 2010. Calderon attempted his usual style of sticking and moving to avoid engaging in a trading war with the stronger Segura.
The only problem with that was that Segura kept his pace of stalking Calderon until Calderon could no longer slip and slide around the ring.
Body punches from earlier rounds had finally caught up with Calderon. Calderon would be forced to stand and compete.
And boy did he compete, Calderon got the better of Segura in a few exchanges in order to get the pressure fighter off of him.
Eventually the pressure proved too much for the aging 34-year-old Calderon. He took a knee in the eighth round and was counted out, suffering his first loss.
A rematch came April 2, 2011, Calderon tried to outbox Segura and was taken out by a series of body punches followed by a fast, mean shot on the chin. He took a knee in the third round and was counted out again.
Segura has since moved up in weight to the flyweight division (112 lbs) to face new legends in hopes of forging his own.
What Holds It Back?
Calderon was 34 years old and clearly not the man he uses to be.
Calderon is a Puerto Rican legend and both knockouts were rather sensational. These two things help this entry rank as high as it does.
12. Oscar De La Hoya vs Julio Cesar Chavez
12 of 23
June 7th, 1996, a nearly 34-year-old Julio Cesar Chavez was looking to stand up to the new young threat of a 23-year-old undefeated Oscar De La Hoya.
De La Hoya was 21-0 and ready to make Chavez victory number 22. The fight didn't start well for Chavez. In Round 1, cuts opened up on Chavez's face.
De La Hoya continued to jab and batter Chavez across four rounds, with each punch seemingly busting down the levees of old Chavez's skin to let the red river flood his face crimson.
When the ruby mask threatened to eclipse the legendary face of Mexican boxing, the referee stepped in to stop the fight on cuts in the fourth round, giving De La Hoya the TKO victory and a major Hall of Famer under his belt.
Two years later, Chavez sought vengeance for receiving his first TKO loss.
Chavez instead suffered a beating so bad, he quit on his stool at the end of the eighth round (sound familiar boxing fans?).
Chavez gave a more spirited performance in the rematch, but it was matched and eventually surpassed by De La Hoya's growth and hunger to not be conquered.
The old dog went out knowing he gave his best, though it was not enough.
What Holds It Back?
Chavez was old while De La Hoya was the younger fighter. This damages the value of the victory a bit.
The name Julio Cesar Chavez is still a geat name to have under your belt, especially by knockout.
11. Shane Mosley vs Fernando Vargas
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Mosley was on the comeback trail when he engaged in an entertaining duo of fights with Vargas.
Feb. 25th, 2006. Their first fight was a display of ferocity from Mosley at the expense of Vargas.
Vargas gave Mosley a good show, but Mosley closed the night early with a TKO in the 10th round.
Nearly five months later, Mosley closed the curtains even earlier in the rematch. Vargas was sent to the canvas in Round 6.
He barely beat the count. Then he was saved by the referee who stopped the fight in Round 6 once it became clear Vargas could no longer defend himself against Mosley's barrage of right-handed bombs.
What Holds It Back?
Vargas is not legendary, but he'd done great things big enough to make him a nice name to add to the list. Both wins produced strong knockouts.
10. Manny Pacquiao vs Marco Antonio Barrera
14 of 23Pacquiao fought at featherweight (126 lbs) for the first time on Nov. 15, 2003.
Decorated Mexican favorite Barrera was his opponent. The Alamodome was the setting, an arena full of Barrera supporters.
Despite all the odds against him, Pacquiao put on the performance of his career, beating Barrera by technical knockout in the 11th round.
A rematch would come three years later. By this time, Pacquiao had fought and beaten the likes of Juan Manuel Marquez and Erik Morales.
A much improved Pacquiao dominated Barrera from opening to closing bell to win by unanimous decision.
Barrera was so frustrated he threw a punch on the break, resulting in a point deduction, further widening the lead Pacquiao had built throughout the fight.
It didn't matter what Barrera did, Pacquiao just had his number.
What Holds It Back?
Pacquiao didn't knock him out in both fights. There are also just overall better blowouts in boxing history.
9. Muhammad Ali vs Floyd Patterson
15 of 23Muhammad Ali had recently abandoned the name of Cassius Clay in the year 1965. If anyone refused to call him Muhammad Ali and had the misfortune of being his future opponent in the ring, they would be in for a world of hurt.
Floyd Patterson was such an unfortunate opponent. He refused to call Ali by his new name and even spoke out against his Islamic faith.
Ali punished and mocked Patteron for 12 rounds before a flurry made the ref wave off the embarrassing one-sided fight.
They would rematch seven years later, but Patteron never made it out the seventh round.
After his second loss to Ali, Patteron called it quits to a legendary career that included victories over Ingemar Johansson, George Chuvalo and Henry Cooper.
What Holds It Back?
Patterson was on his way out of boxing in the second fight while Ali wa still a prime young fighter. I know that's being picky, but this is the top 10.
8. Mike Tyson vs Frank Bruno
16 of 23British heavyweight Frank Bruno was popular in his home country. Mike Tyson was a rising star in the U.S. They seemed a natural fit for each other in the ring especially when one considers their superb punching power.
Bruno became one of the first fighters to wobble Tyson in the first round of their initial match in 1989. Tyson rebounded quickly and knocked Bruno out in the fifth round.
They would rematch in 1996 during Tyson's comeback after serving six years in prison. Bruno, the then current WBC heavyweight world champ, looked terrified. He held Tyson every chance he could get.
Legendary referee tried to keep Bruno from holding throughout the fight, but points being taken away and threatening to disqualify him couldn't keep Bruno from holding to avoid Tyson's ferocious punch.
In Round 3, a flurry of punches ended the match and Bruno's boxing career. Bruno retired from boxing at age 35.
What Holds It Back?
Bruno was great, but he can't hang with Lennox Lewis or Evander Holyfield in accomplishments.
The redeeming factor here is how badly Bruno was beaten and how quickly he was blown out both times.
7. Sonny Liston vs Cleveland Williams
17 of 23Liston was a fearful assassin. With his strength, he was untouchable. Though Williams had a similar reputation, he couldn't defend it properly against Liston.
Liston gave Williams all he could handle, sending him crashing to the canvas in Round 3 of their first match in 1959.
Williams beat the count at nine but could barely stand without wobbling, so the ref waved off the competition. This awarded Liston the third-round TKO.
In 1960, their rematch produced even quicker results. Liston put Williams away in two rounds in an equally ferocious contests.
While the fights lasted, Williams gave Liston some of the hardest shots he ever felt. Though Williams gave a worthy pair of Hall of Fame performances against Liston, he never had much of a chance against the most feared man in boxing at the time.
What Holds It Back?
Williams is great but not great as some of the other heavyweights of his time. Because he is great but was still blown out rather thoroughly, this entry ranks quite high.
6. James J Jeffries vs Bob Fitzsimmons
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Jeffries was a big man, outweighing Fitzsimmons by nearly 40 pounds when they first met for the world heavyweight title in 1899.
The size difference is generally ignored by boxing fanatics because Fitzsimmons is known as one of the hardest punchers of all time, regularly knocking out men the outweighed him 40 to 80 pounds (even on some occasions 90 pounds).
Jeffries knocked him out Round 11.
A rematch came in 1902. Fitzsimmons put Jeffries legendary ability to take a punch to the test. Going into round eight, Jeffries' cheeks were cut to the bone.
Blood was flowing freely, and the referee was getting ready to stop the fight.
Jeffries needed a knockout win so he delivered with a right to the stomach followed by a smashing left that knocked Fitzsimmons unconscious.
Jeffries proved that when pushed to the limit, he could go further to do amazing things. Though Fitzsimmons could never best Jeffries, he brought out the best in Jeffries.
What Holds It Back?
Fitzsimmons was basically a middleweight fighter moving up to heavyweight.
He punches harder than possibly anyone ever alive, but he is still a nonheavyweight.
The hardest puncher of all time quality of Fitzsimmons is why this blowout ranks so highly.
5. Rocky Marciano vs Jersey Joe Walcott
19 of 23September 1952, a 29-year-old Marciano took on 38-year-old world heavyweight champion Jersey Joe Walcott.
Walcott was able to get ahead on all the scorecards and kept his lead until Round 13.
In Round 13 of their first fight, Marciano delivered quite possibly the greatest knockout punch ever landed in a heavyweight match.
Walcott slumped over off the ropes laying motionless long after the 10-count was done. Marciano was the new world champion.
He gave Walcott one more chance in a rematch the following year. Marciano knocked him out in the first round.
What Holds It Back?
Walcott has grown elderly in the world of boxing and then Marciano fights him.
Walcott is one of the greatest boxers of all time, which is why this entry is so high.
4. Aaron Pryor vs Alexis Arguello
20 of 23Arguello and Pryor were two champions who came together at the junior welterweight (140 lbs) division to create the best fight of the 1980s.
Billed as the "Battle of the Champions," both men fought like champions with Pryor coming out as the more determined one.
Pryor stalked and killer-bee stung Arguello every chance he got. Arguello threw some hard shots of his own, but Pryor ate them for breakfast and proceeded to use his hungry fists to make lunch and dinner of Arguello's face.
Dinner was served in Round 14, bone-apetit.
Arguello caught from a wild shot from Pryor, leaned up against the ropes taking a barrage of head-snapping shots that nearly beheaded the believed boxing icon.
A second water bottle was given to Pryor later in the match in his corner that caused many to question whether his trainer had given him any drugs.
Pryor gave Arguello a rematch in 1983, less than a year after the initial clash of the two legends.
Pryor had no mysterious water bottle and knocked Arguello clean out in Round 10, further establishing his dominance during his era as an undefeated world champion.
What Holds It Back?
Arguello did put up a hell of a fight in the first fight.
Pryor did knock him out twice but not in a true classic blowout scenario.
The match was highly competitive, which barely keeps it from besting the top three.
3. Muhammad Ali vs Sonny Liston
21 of 23A 22-year-old Muhammad Ali beat the ferocious favorite Sonny Liston by seventh-round TKO for his heavyweight world championship in 1964, shocking the world and raising his legacy to new heights.
In 1965, Ali gave Liston a rematch. In this fight, he did something even more impressive, he stopped Liston in the first round. Liston was known as the most dangerous fighter in the world, so him being stopped in the first round was unheard of.
Some even questioned whether Liston lost on purpose to Ali in the first match to spark a trilogy in order to squeeze more money out of Ali's growing popularity.
Some conspiracy theorists question whether the mob had any influence over Liston possibly taking a dive in the matchup because of his underworld ties, but I sincerely think he was knocked loopy by an unexpected punch to the head.
I think it's a credit to Ali's timing and skill that he could put away such a fearsome character so quickly.
What Holds It Back?
Nothing really, just tough competition from the top two.
2. George Foreman vs Joe Frazier
22 of 23Foreman and Frazier were both undefeated. Frazier was the world champion and was still being heralded for his accomplishment of handing Muhammad Ali his first professional loss.
Foreman was a HUGE underdog in this fight according to the betting houses despite his considerable size advantage.
Foreman stood six foot four with an 82-inch reach. Frazier stood only 5'11" with a 73-inch reach.
Jan. 22, 1973, Frazier came in the ring with a championship and woke up the following day without it.
Foreman plodded forward that night and proceeded to beat Frazier down for all of two rounds before the referee was forced to stop the fight.
Over the course of two brutal rounds, Foreman knocked Frazier down six times.
One of these knockdowns sparked the instantly unforgettable call by boxing commentator Howard Cosell, "Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!"
It was a moment many could not believe. Foreman wasn't suppose to dominate and brutalize Frazier. He was expected to struggle at best. How could the man who handled Ali not handle Foreman?
Boxing pundits were stunned. This would later lead to an even bigger shock when Ali came back and defeated Foreman in the famous "Rumble in the Jungle" fight over almost two years later.
Foreman and Frazier had a much more competitive rematch.
Frazier became a more elusive target, bobbing and weaving Foreman's flagpole of a reach until Foreman put him down twice in Round 5 en route to another knockout victory.
These two fights reminded boxing fans just how dangerous and powerful Foreman truly is.
What Holds It Back?
Nothing. It's an amazing two-fight blowout, but No. 1 is just that much better.
1. Sonny Liston vs Floyd Patterson
23 of 23
When I mention the term "two-fight blowout," Liston vs Patterson comes immediately to mind more than any other pair of fights.
Liston was a betting favorite for his punching power and incredible size.
Patterson though was the 28-year-old world heavyweight champion just having conquered Ingemar Johansson in the last two fights of their incredible trilogy.
James "The Cinderella Man" J. Braddock, Ingemar Johansson, undefeated heavyweight Rocky Marciano, Joe Walcott, Ezzard Charles and others made up a Who's Who of boxing celebrities that predicted Patterson's agility would beat Liston.
Liston had no birth certificate. A range of possible birth dates suggests he may have been anywhere between 32 and 34 years old or even older.
With age, speed, agility and the boxing's most famous insiders against him, Liston losing didn't seem to be very far-fetched.
Liston's brushes with the law, well-known connections to the mob, and vicious knockouts of past solid opponents such as Zora Folley (79-11-6, 43 KO's) and Cleveland Williams (78-13-1, 58 KO's) made a brutal beating of Patterson entirely plausible.
Each man has his comparable pros and cons.
Both men could be considered equals, so a knockdown drag-out fight should be expected...right?
Wrong!
Sept. 25, 1962. Patterson was knocked out in the first round by Liston's fierce assault to the body and beautifully crafted hooks to the head.
The knockout established many records in boxing history.
It became the first time a heavyweight champion was knocked out in the first round of a championship match.
It also became one of the quickest knockouts in boxing history at two minutes and five seconds.
That was a brutal one-sided first match, but what seals the deal on this being the biggest two-fight blowout is the rematch.
The rematch only lasted four seconds longer.
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