Boxing has always been an enthralling entertaining event not only in terms of the fighting technique and performance. What started thousands of years ago has evolved into an international phenomenon that has spread worldwide. At some points in the sport’s history, such events not only make its viewers elated but also transform the sport.
These finishes have brought the breathtaking knockouts to life to controversies surrounding the brilliance of the moves as well as court discussions on the best bit of the fight.
These exciting fights have given rise to generations and new stories, they have remolded legends and fighters’ careers and have contributed to the existing mold of boxing’s narratives.
Going into ten great finishes that revolutionized boxing we look back at the highlights that have thrilled the spectators and, at the same time, contributed to the development of boxing as a sport that is loved by millions of fans.
The Science of Striking: The techniques that revolutionized fighting sports
Punching is incorporated in most of the Martial-Arts combat disciplines such as boxing, kick- boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA). Eventually, there are some ways developed, altering the manner of engaging in combat.
This article looks at some of the more successful striking methods that not only altered fighting techniques but also the essence of these martial arts.
The Jab: A Tactical Foundation
This is usually described as one of the most basic punches in boxing. Learning this approach helps one regulate space, break an opponent’s timing and rhythm, and stage bigger strikes in martial arts combat.
Its significance is founded on the fact that it is used both as an attack weapon and a defense instrument. The efficacy of the jab has seeped into other striking arts, making it the building block of any striking game plans in combat velocity sports.
The Roundhouse Kick: A Game-Changer in Striking
Representing a distillation of the roundhouse kick technique from traditional Asian martial arts disciplines including, but not limited to Karate and Muay-Thai. One can be completely crippling to the opponents because they get to strike from other forms of angles.
In the MMA fights, roundhouse kicks altered the way standing fight engagements are approached and became more explosive.
The Overhand Right: The Knockout Artist’s Tool
The overhand right is a strong punch, and the winners of a fight usually throw this punch most of the time. Common during Tyson and George Axel Foreman’s boxing eras, this technique is a strong blow targeted to the head, and usually delivers the blow in a blind spot.
In one capability it has especially appealed to fighters because it lays stress on the effectiveness of the final punch, the blow that turns the tables.
The Spinning Back Fist: An Element of Surprise
The spinning back fist which is originally from martial arts has recently become part of MMA, expanding the horizon of striking. It is a fast technique, which is also characterized by uncertainty, sometimes catching an opponent off guard.
I believe Anderson Silva & Stephen Thompson are good examples of this where constant striking can completely turn the tide inside the octagon.
The Low Kick: Disrupting Mobility
The low kick, another devastating common to Muay Thai and kickboxing, attacks an opponent’s lower limbs making it difficult for him/her to move or balance. Used often in MMA, this tactic knocks out an opponent’s base to make moves and make openings for more attacks.
Wise use of low kicks has changed the fighting tactics; currently, fighters pay much attention to their leg protection while training.
The Uppercut: The Close-Quarter Finisher
The uppercut is an overhand blow most likely to be delivered at a short distance. Hoping to throw proper punches, opponents often leave themselves open and that is why the hook is loved in boxing and MMA. When done correctly, it can shift the tide in a fight immediately as anyone who has followed multiple legendary bouts knows.
10 Stunning Finishes In Boxing That Changed The Sport Forever.
Below are the 10 stunning finishes that changed the sports:
Floyd Mayweather Jr. UD 12 Manny Pacquiao, May 2, 2015.
But including this fight feels like a complicated thing I’m not even sure I’m fully ready to name yet. This fight was billed for many years as the ‘Fight of the Century’ but it proved to be dull.
However, it turned into the most viewed and financially successful boxing match in history, representing the gap between true boxing fans and the over-the-top spectacle.
This year private jets were a common sight at McCarran International Airport while Hollywood stars were being spotted at the MGM, in the Philippines the fans were watching the fights live on large outdoor screens.
Although the fight was dull it created the atmosphere that all younger and older generations who remember boxing as the sport that could capture the whole world.
Roberto Duran UD 15 Sugar Ray Leonard, June 20, 1980: “The Brawl in Montreal”
This match signified the start of what was to be known as “The Four Kings”, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns, and Marvin Hagler. By the time Leonard fought the fight of his life against Ayala on June 20, 1984, he had already established himself as boxing’s new golden boy and the natural heir to Muhammad Ali, having won the WBC welterweight title in 1979 after claiming Olympic gold in ‘76. Duran’s triumph here paved the way for one of the most exciting years of the club.
Mike Tyson vs Michael Spinks Round 1, June 27, 1988.
After first coming to prominence as a fistic phenom at 17, Mike Tyson continues also to be an important figure in the new boxing, having made appearances on the Big Screen and in his own Broadway play.
This is the thrilling story of Tyson’s intense endeavor to be the youngest champion of the heavyweight division. In 1987, his reign of destruction had made him a subculture hero and by the end of the nineties, he became a man of the mainstream.
Above all, the no-contest match defines this period as no other fight can, the 91-second knockout of Michael Spinks. Spinks, a gold medal winner of the famous 1976 Olympiad and a light heavyweight champion had earlier beaten Larry Holmes in his early years as a heavyweight boxer.
Tyson at the time of the fight was holding all three major championship belts but the lineal champion was Spinks and both pugilists had not lost their debut fights.
Gene Tunney UD 10 Jack Dempsey, September 22, 1927: “The Long-Count Fight”
Jack Dempsey otherwise called The Manassa Mauler was incredibly well-known, having knocked out Jess Willard and possessing the heavyweight title in 1919 from him after making him fall seven times in the first round. The victory over Willard began boxing’s first so-called “Golden Age” and Dempsey was nearly as popular as Babe Ruth during the 1920s.
Johnson’s September 5, 1921 knockout of Georges Carpentier was the first million-dollar fight grossing over 90,000 fans; it was also the first fight ever broadcast coast-to-coast by radio. In 1923, 85,000 people watched him fight Luis Angel Firpo in the Polo Ground and although Dempsey was knocked down twice he knocked out the opponent in the second round.
Known as the Fighting Marine, Gene Tunney was a hard and scientifically minded pugilist. The victory he scored against Dempsey in 1926 remains astonishing to everybody. When Tunney and Dempsey fought for the second time in 1927 the bout again was won by Tunney though he was knocked down by Dempsey at one time.
Muhammad Ali KO 8 George Foreman, October 30, 1974: “The Rumble in the Jungle”
An even more inspiring story of a comeback was when Muhammad Ali floored the ‘terrifying’ George Foreman, proving that Ali was undoubtedly the ‘Greatest of all time’. This was similar to the victory over Sonny Liston, where the champion, a heavy-weight boxer considered almost unbeatable, was defeated.
It went beyond sports, due to Don King who made the fight accompanied by a cultural event with artists such as James Brown, BB King, and others This was a fight held in a soccer stadium in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and fans cheered; Ali, Bomaye!!! Meanwhile, Gore wasn’t friendly, chanting “Ali, Kill Him!” throughout the entire match.
This bout was even more important because it became the premise for setting the Oscar-winning movie “When We Were Kings,” two decades later. the formidable George Foreman, reaffirming his status as the greatest boxer of all time. This victory mirrored Ali’s earlier triumph over Sonny Liston, as he overcame a heavyweight champion deemed nearly invincible.
The fight transcended sports, thanks in part to Don King, who organized a cultural festival around the event featuring icons like James Brown and B.B. King. Set in a soccer stadium in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), the atmosphere was electric, with local fans passionately chanting “Ali, Bomaye!” (“Ali, Kill Him!”) throughout the match.
The significance of this bout was further cemented when it became the subject of the Oscar-winning documentary “When We Were Kings,” over two decades later.
Muhammad Ali TKO 14 Joe Frazier, October 1, 1975: “The Thrilla in Manila“
The last bout of the famous Ali-Frazier trilogy took place in the Philippines and the fight was an excellent example of the heavyweight championship class. At first sight, the bout could be said to be less important compared to previous matches they fought; however, it grew into a classic battle in a matter of rounds.
The fight was another typical titanic battle where Ali had an advantage in the early rounds using the jab effectively and accurate footwork to build up a big lead but Frazier’s pressure and vicious hook kept the fight on a very level ground.
Even if Frazier’s eyes were almost swollen shut, he continued the fight, taking several big hits himself. The final scene is the 14th round, Frazier kept trying, but after sustaining so much damage his trainer threw in the towel to not let him get in the last round.
Ali rejoiced in his triumph and then fell down the floor in the form of exhaustion, at some point in his life experience in the ring, he said he was so close to death.
Corbett Defeated Sullivan by Knocking him out in 21 Rounds, on September 7, 1892
It became the start of the division of the gloved heavyweight championship which established the fight between the old and the young phenomenon. John L. Sullivan was acclaimed as the first sports icon of America in the styles of the roaring eighties he was also known for his aggressive prowess and sharp sheer power with which he could end the combats with the top challengers.
He took Paddy Ryan and the bare-knuckle championship and then began traveling around the country, challenging all comers to a four-round fight with the gloves on if they would just give him $500 first. Sullivan became a great favorite and acted on stage as well as socializing with members of European nobility but he drank excessively.
Wrestling champion William Muldoon got Sullivan back in shape to defeat Kilrain and claim the final bare-knuckle championship fight in 1889. By 1892 the cocky Sullivan tried the comeback bout against the upcoming Corbett. While he beefed up and became reasonably fit he simply did not possess the strength to deal with a scientific fighter like Corbett.
Jack Johnson KO 15 James Jeffries, July 4, 1910: “The Fight Of The Century”
This match between Jack Johnson and James Jeffries was important – a recurring interracial conflict of early twentieth-century America that struggles with the problem of slavery.
The first African-American to clinch the heavyweight championship was Johnson who defeated Tommy Burns in 1908. His triumph stirred up resentment in white America which wanted someone they deemed worthy to vie for the championship. But, the most potent competitors were black boxers such as Sam Langford and Joe Jeannette.
They managed to sway Jeffries into coming out of retirement after retiring undefeated in 1904 even after the public had grown desperate for a challenger. But once a great heavyweight, he had grown fat with a similar muscle mass to today’s fighters and was nearly 300 pounds when he lived on his farm.
Having gotten into tournament weight it was evident once the bout began that he was out of his league against Johnson.
For the Heavyweight Championship Joe Louis KO 1 Max Schmeling, on June 22, 1938
While the fight between Jack Johnson and James Jeffries can represent the American oppression of Black faces, the 1938 KO applied by Joe Louis on Max Schmeling can depict a shift that was soon to take root; the America of a melting pot. Louis became an unbeaten heavyweight contender in the middle of the 1933-1937 period and worked on his naturally abrasive billion-dollar boxing technique with former Lightweight contender Blackburn.
The same year he scored wins over ex-champions Primo Carnera and Max Baer – knocking them out. But in their first bout in 1936 they held, Schmeling saw a weakness in Louis’ system so used a right-hand blow effectively knocking him out in the 12th round. That win made Schmeling an icon in Nazi Germany. At their second bout, Louis was already the heavyweight champion having knocked Jim Braddock in 1937 while the world was on the brink of the Second World War.
For the first time, an African was depicted as a national icon. This is a visit to the White House when Roosevelt told Louis “Joe, we need muscles like yours to beat Germany.”
Joe Frazier UD 15 Muhammad Ali, March 8, 1971: “The Fight of the Century”
It is undoubtedly correct that there is no single sporting occasion that has pre-supposed the nationality, rarity, and legacy of the first fight between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali.
One of the most important factors that influenced the preparation for this bout was the bitterness of the Cold War: two top male UD champions, both of the heavyweight divisions, were to fight, and both of them represented the political and cultural platforms the opponents in the Cold War had held.
Ali, who turned from an Olympic winner into the symbolic icon of civil rights and anti-war protest, lost his title in 1967 for his conscientious objection to serve in the army. After three years of absence, he came back in 1970, and Frazier has evolved into a serious threat in the boxing arena.
That fight along as well as surpassed all the expectations and proved that Frazier is at the pinnacle of his powers. While in the first three rounds, Ali managed to dominate the fight with his jab and straight right, Frazier emerged the stronger man in round 4 with his left hook that pounded on Ali’s midsection.
Despite all his attempts to land punches and perform wonderful footwork throughout the 15 rounds, Ali was defeated by Frazier. In round 11 Frazier landed a hook that should have been counted as a knockdown for Ali because his gloves touched the canvas.
Frazier knocked Ali down with another powerful hook and won the last round, thereby gaining the title.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
What does training do to yield these finishes?
The men undertake daily rigorous training and strategic preparation which improve a fighter’s performance not only in strength but also flexibility in grabbing any opportunity in a ring.
To what extent do these finish the sport?
Cohesive performances can redefine a fighter’s status, dictate his schedule, and draw more fans thereby directly determining the trajectory of the sport.
Are there any finishes that are considered to offend the cardinal rule of minimalism – simplicity?
To the best of my knowledge, there are those that have raised so much concern in terms of their admissibility for example ‘Phantom Punch’ that was relied on in the fight between Ali and Liston or some stoppage by the referee.
What role do all these finishes play in determining the legacy of these fighters?
Popular conclusions mark the career of a fighter as those moments that are recalled by the fans, which ultimately have a major impact on the fighter’s legacy.
Conclusion
Dramatic finishes in boxing do more than give an identity to boxers, they also write the history of boxing. Every knockout, as well as winning a match, represents the emotion, technique, and frailty that go into boxing.
These bring memories to fans, keep the hope alive for potential champions, and are part and parcel of the fight’s history. Knowledge of these finishes adds more perspective to the development of boxing and the legacies of its most prominent figures.
