When Saturday evening came around, boxing fans were doing everything BUT what they should have been because, as we all know, there was no undisputed heavyweight champion crowned this weekend. 

And, because of the sheer enormity of the event that should have been, boxing is in complete ceasefire. On what should have been our loudest weekend, we’re firing blank. 

But stress not, as we recall four memorable heavyweight clashes to fill the void.

Evander Holyfield vs Riddick Bowe - November 13th 1992 

What better way to start than with an undisputed fight?! Sorry to poke the wounds. 

This bruising battle crossed the paths of a colossal champion in Holyfield, and a hungry challenger in Bowe. Little did they know then that it would end up as the first instalment of a story that typified heavyweight boxing in its glorious 1990s era. 

Bowe was explosive, and Holyfield was resilient, and no more so than in the 10th round, when Holyfield had to rise after being put to the deck by a thudding left hook. 

The fight would see the distance, and go down as one of the division’s greatest ever tussles as Bowe recorded a huge victory.

Jersey Joe Walcott vs Rocky Marciano - September 23rd 1952 

The name Marciano still carries plenty of weight in boxing circles, largely due to fights such as this.

Walcott navigated Marciano’s early pressure by doing what many before had failed to do - forcing him into retreat. Things soon got worse for the ‘Brockton Blockbuster’, as in a career-first he was sent to the canvas. 

He rose, bloodied, and wrestled his way back into the fight. But even that wasn’t without Walcott landing more bombs of his own. Then, after treacherous 11th and 12th rounds, Marciano did what he did best. 

Thirteen really is unlucky for some, especially Jersey Joe Walcott. 

Jack Dempsey vs Luis Firpo - September 24th 1923 

Not only was this the maiden occasion on which a Latin American had challenged for a world heavyweight title, but it was also the first time anyone had met the pugnacious Dempsey head on. 

Granted, it was Firpo’s downfall, as he ended up going down a ridiculous SEVEN times. He did, however, manage to send Dempsey flying through the ropes with a shoving right hand. 

But Dempsey saw red, and came back with a wicked combination that ended just how the other seven should have, with Firpo’s lights out. All of this in just two exhilarating rounds. 

I’m tired just writing about it. 

Anthony Joshua vs Wladimir Klitschko - 29th April 2017 

People tend to ignore fights beyond a certain date, with a nod to nostalgia arguably trendier than anything we had the ability to discuss live on social media. 

Yet this one you just cannot disregard. In front of a whooping 90,000 at Wembley Stadium, Joshua set about Klitschko, dropping him heavily inside the fifth. Seeking the finish, Joshua then punched himself out, before being punched to the floor by a trademark straight right. 

The fight then looked to have settled, before Joshua landed one of the best uppercuts in the history of the sport, nearly sending the Ukrainian’s head up into the London night sky. 

If you’re ever tempted to jump on the Joshua slander, just watch this one back and realise how wrong you really are. 

Oscar Bevis

Check out our latest interviews and subscribe to get a notification when our interviews go live by clicking HERE