Here are 12 rivalries best boxer all the time that rocked boxing world. The best boxing rivalries are more than just a series of action-packed fights. Here are the 12 best boxing rivalries of all time based on: at least three fights, serious impact and significance, great action and dramatic fights, and involving truly great fighters.
12. Ted “Kid” Lewis vs Jack Britton It may sound strange, but what keeps Britton vs Lewis from ranking higher here is too much of a good thing. There is no doubt that Britton and Lewis were among the best boxers of their time, and six of their nineteen meetings (that’s right, nineteen) were for world titles.
However, the Britton vs. Lewis match had to turn into something questionable after they met four times in the span of just 36 days in 1917. Speculation that at least some of those encounters had been choreographed was prevalent enough to force Britton’s manager, “Dumb” Dan Morgan, to openly stated that there was no way two Irishmen (himself and Britton) could trust an Englishman.
There’s also the fact that more than half of those contests were “no-decision” bouts, some scheduled for only six or eight rounds, while others had no official weigh-ins. Obviously, nineteen fights between two of the best boxers of all time qualifies Lewis vs. Britton as a historically significant rivalry, but the best duo offered more than just perfection.
11. Henry Armstrong vs Baby Arizmendi Alberto Arizmendi is an underrated boxer and one of Mexico’s best boxers. There is no doubt that the high water mark of his extraordinary career, which included fights against Tony Canzoneri, Chalky Wright, Lou Ambers and Freddie Miller, was his series of matches against three-time consecutive world champion Henry Armstrong, one of the greatest boxers ever ever, pound-for-pound.
Both men were bold and aggressive fighters, known for their action-packed fighting styles, and they submitted five times, all in distance fights, the first two in Mexico City at featherweight, and the last three in Los Angeles. Arizmendi followed Armstrong as he moved up a division and challenged Henry for the welterweight world title in their final fight.
Their first duel was the biggest win of Baby’s career as he easily defeated “Hammerin’ Hank,” despite injuring his right wrist in the second round. He repeated the feat a year later, but the next three fights, despite heavy exchanges, saw the great Armstrong impose his will and win easily.
10. Cocoa Kid vs Holman Williams The two rivalries on this list bring attention to the regrettable fact that some of the best fighters in boxing, because of their race, are not getting the opportunities they deserve. Such injustices deeply affected members of the legendary “Murderers’ Row” group in the 1940s and ’50s and forced out such elite talents as Lloyd Marshall, Charley Burley, Herbert Hardwick (aka “Cocoa Kid”), Holman Williams, and Eddie Booker to face each other.
The most significant rivalry among them is between Hardwick and Williams, two talented athletes who are ready to take on anyone in the welterweight and middleweight divisions, and have knocked out their opponents no less than thirteen times. Both are considered to be one of the best, but neither of them ever got the chance to win the world title. Instead, they gave fans an incredible run of matches, with Cocoa Kid winning eight of eight matches against three wins for Holman Williams and two draws.
