Although it is not a prerequisite for the competition. But by nature Rematches are often an example of what fans want to see repeated. This hunger may be fueled by some controversy. Either in the scoring of the fight or in the way it ended. Or maybe it’s because Fight One is good and competitive. It’s a shame I won’t do it again.
Whatever it is The overall rematch is a fight that people want to see and comes with a level of anticipation that the first fight may have lacked. We now know what the two fighters involved will look like in the ring together. We know how they will move. We know what’s at stake. We also have a good idea of what happens when fleas start flying. It’s about as good a idea as you could hope for in a sport like boxing anyway.
When the competition deviates from these expectations It might startle us. We arrive expecting one thing and then deliver something else with a script already written and rehearsed, which suddenly goes out the window.
This bait and switch was perhaps no better exemplified than Saturday (October 12) in the British Heavyweight Championship fight between Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke six months ago. The two men went to war for 12 rounds in London and three ringside judges couldn’t tell them apart. Both were dissatisfied with the tie, however, in the match on Saturday. With only a month and location now different from their first fight, Wardley stopped Clarke with fierce punches in the first round. By adjusting the original battle frame to be similar and competitive. without being effectively involved
For Wardley, The victory was better than he had imagined. Because not only did a one-round victory over Clark ensure that he would retain his title and build on his superiority over the competition, but with great ferocity It also ends this competition indefinitely, and that’s it, it’s done. There is no need for a judge. There is no need to argue. And now there’s no need to see these two heavyweights join the ring again.
Those who watched were both happy and disappointed. On the one hand, they were happy to escape the argument and see the battle decisively decided. There is also an element of anti-climax considering the exciting nature of the first battle between these men and the high level of anticipation for this. New competition is the result.
If given the option Of course, we as fans The shortest and most conclusive path must be chosen forever. Over a long and conflict-filled path That goes without saying. Actually, if you’re not sure about this, Well, we don’t have to wait long on Saturday to think about the stark contrast. As for what followed after Fabio Wardley’s one-round destruction of Frazer Clarke was an excellent 12 round battle between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol, the only downside was the fact that after 12 rounds no one really knew who won. This became clear later when everyone had opinions and scorecards they wanted to share. By a Russian winner in the eyes of some. And another Russian in the eyes of others
Indeed, while wading through conflicting and ultimately meaningless opinions and theories, I stumbled upon an interesting thread regarding Wardley and Clarke; One such battle that we can all express our opinions with some level of confidence. The thread started with Tom Gray inviting people to give examples of rematches like Wardley vs. Clarke II, which were only a fraction of the first fight and were shockingly one-sided. What follows are countless examples of this trend. Each item is unique and interesting. And each show shows that even repeat competitions This repeat performance This is not necessarily the case that both style and history would have us believe.
Joe Louis vs. Max Schmeling
Fight one: Like the Fight of the Year in 1936, Schmeling’s 12th round stoppage of Louis at Yankee Stadium also created a major stir. This is a story that reverberates throughout the sports world. Eliminated in both the 4th and 12th rounds, Louis suffered his first professional defeat at the hands of an unknown German golfer. who time and time again took advantage of the flaws he noticed in the American style.
Fight two: When they met again in 1938, Louis had won 11 fights and had now grown into the world heavyweight champion. Once again at Yankee Stadium, he dissected Schmeling in the first round. It resulted in one of the most iconic revenge victories in boxing history.
Rocky Marciano vs. “Jersey” Joe Walcott
Fight one: After being eliminated in the first round and finding themselves behind in points. Marciano needed a famous punch from “Susie Q” in round 13 to turn the tide of the 1952 fight and stop Walcott. Cott dropped to his knees. with his arms draped over the ropes motionless and counting down
Fight two: After first meeting in September 1952, Marciano and Walcott reunited the following May. And now Walcott is 39. If the first fight represented “Jersey” Joe, this one represents The End. And he was eliminated in the first round by Marciano.
Matthew Saad Muhammad vs. John Conte
Fight one: Saad Muhammad and Conteh competed for the WBC light heavyweight belt in 1979 and advanced through the full 12 rounds, with Saad Muhammad taking a unanimous decision and retaining the title. All the votes were in his favor. And in the eyes of some it has become controversial. They soon became inconsequential too as the decision was rendered invalid and a rematch was ordered due to Saad Muhammad’s Corner using an illegal substance to stop the bleeding from his wound.
Fight two: They met again in March 1980 and on this occasion Saad Muhammad nailed Conteh with two vicious right hands in the fourth round. and refused to let him off the hook. Conteh went down to the left again and took a total of five knockdowns before the referee finally called the fight.
James “Bonecrusher” Smith vs. Tim Witherspoon
Fight one: Witherspoon and Smith first fought in Las Vegas in 1985, and that night Witherspoon dominated the fight for more than 12 rounds. This was not a close or competitive match. Unlike other examples on the show, and of course their shared rematch won’t happen right away. Because at that time it was not necessary at all.
Fight two: Since defeating Smith in ’85, Witherspoon has boxed four times and so has Smith, and their bout took place 18 months after their first fight. This time Witherspoon Instead Smith boxed out 12 rounds like he did in Vegas. Instead, I found myself catching a cold the first time around and was right. “Bone Crusher” fell.
Virgil Hill vs Fabriz Tiosso
Fight one: Light heavyweight at that time Hill and Tiosso crossed paths in Paris in 1993, with Hill winning a split decision after 12 rounds. He was assisted in achieving this by two knockdowns. Once in the first round and once in the second round And with the victory, he broke Tiozzo’s 25-0 record.
Fight two: Hill and Tiosso wouldn’t meet again until 2000, seven years after their first fight. and will meet again in France Which is currently only the cruiserweight division. This time too There was no need for a ringside referee because of Hill. Never thought of as a puncher, surprisingly dropped Tiozzo three times in the first round and finished him there and then.
Roy Jones Jr. vs Montell Griffin
Fight one: More violent than Jones expected. But it is still a fight he must win. His 1997 WBC light heavyweight belt defense ended in the 9th round when Jones punched Griffin after Griffin dropped to his knees. Violations inevitably lead to disqualification and rematch.
Fight two: Obviously to prove a point. Jones immediately attacked Griffin in the match as if wanting to do more than beat him. In fact Judging from the demeanor he set about him in round one, It’s hard not to feel as if Jones wants to embarrass his opponent. and makes the difference between them very clear. This he was able to achieve as well. by stopping Griffin in the first round.
Enzo Maccarinelli vs Mark Hobson
Fight one: When Maccarinelli and Hobson came together in 2006, the expectation was that it would be a positive and equal partnership between two of England’s best cruisers at the time. Having picked up the title following Joe Calzaghe’s classic victory over Jeff Lacy, they also earned that title. It creates an exciting 12-round match filled with delicious exchanges and swinging momentum. The victory ultimately went to Maccarinelli. But it’s close. Close enough to warrant replay.
Fight two: Seven months after that fight, Maccarinelli now holds the WBO cruiserweight title, a belt he won with a ninth-round stoppage of Marcelo Dominguez. Meanwhile, Obson had two fights in the same period. Defeating both John “Buster” Keaton and Pavol Loković, they met again at Manchester’s MEN Arena. This time Maccarinelli attacked Hobson early and ended the fight within a minute and 11 seconds of the first round.
Sergio Martinez vs Paul Williams
Fight one: After a knockdown in round one, Martinez and Williams fought fiercely for 12 rounds and were hard to tell apart when the bell rang to end the fight in 2009. Scorecards everywhere reflected this. And many others, including Martinez, were overjoyed when Williams was announced as the majority decision winner.
Fight two: Since losing to Williams in Atlantic City Martinez returned there to defeat Kelly Pavlik and capture the WBC and WBO middleweight titles, while Williams forced an injury stoppage on Kermit Cintron. They met for the second time on the boardwalk. And now Martinez is determined to leave no chance. Fighting at 158-pound catchweight, he defeated Williams with a devastating left hand in the second round. which Williams was so cold that he could not get up
Sisaket S.Rungvisai vs. Roman Gonzalez
Fight one: This fight in 2017 broke Gonzalez’s 46-fight winning streak. and announced S. Rungvisai on the world stage As expected It’s a great fight. It was full of two-way battles, and in the end S. Rangvisai, a southern philosopher, won a difficult majority decision.
Fight two: It’s no longer a secret: S. Rungvisai is close to a rematch with Gonzalez. Just six months later With regained confidence and fierceness This allowed him to set a pace that Gonzalez couldn’t match and even dropped him twice in the fourth round. This is the round in which the competition is scheduled to end. Suddenly he was finished making Gonzalez look old. (Little did we know)
Naoya Inoue vs. Nonito Donaire
Fight one: It is still Inoue’s toughest fight. And it was considered his closest defeat. When the two bantamweight divisions clashed in 2019, Donaire displayed the courage and intelligence required every time one faces the formidable Japanese superstar known as “Monsters” even get injured sometimes. And although he ultimately lost a 12-round decision, Donaire offered enough during the fight to not only make Inoue nervous, but But it also makes those of us who watched the battle wish to see it again one day.
Fight two: Instead of an immediate rematch A rematch between Inoue and Donaire arrived two and a half years later in 2022. By that time, Inoue was much better and more experienced. As the patriarch of the fight, Donaire was only older. As such, it was no surprise that Inoue attacked Donaire within just two rounds. Any errors That which occurs in battle will disappear immediately.
