The Brits are on top of their game when it comes to boxing right now. In Tyson Fury they have the best heavyweight in the division, while the likes of Josh Taylor, Anthony Joshua, Josh Warrington and many more are real stars of the sport.
Over the last few years there have been some excellent fights involving Brits, from huge Las Vegas showdowns to full on, bloody British battles, but what have been the best fights involving Brits in history?
Tyson Fury v Deontay Wilder III
All three fights between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder could be deemed classics. There was the dramatic rise from the dead moment in the dying stages of the first fight. Then we had the two Las Vegas fights, a dominant display by Fury in the second round saw Wilder pulled out in the seventh, and then the third was an all-time, Las Vegas superfight.
It was quite simply phenomenal. So used to gambling sites like casino777.nl, thousands of Brits made their way over to Sin City and from the spins of the roulette wheel to the jingle-jangles of slots, Wilder and Fury were preparing for what would be something really special.
One of the greatest heavyweight fights ever, it saw both men hit the canvas, with Wilder going down in the third, before Fury going down in the fourth. Fury was down again thanks to a stunning right hook and it looked to be over.
But Fury rose, and began to take control, winning rounds six to nine and really beginning make his mark on the Bronze Bomber. Round 10 saw Wilder go down again, and once more in round 11 which was enough to see the referee stop the fight and hand victory to the Brit.
Nigel Benn v Chris Eubank
This all-British fight was a grudge that went way beyond the sport of boxing, with the entire country captivated by what was unfolding in the press ahead of the first bout. The two couldn’t be further apart from each other. One, Eubank, an eccentric toff-like character well known for his dapper attire. The other, Benn, a gritty, working-class brawler who doesn’t take any messing around.
The pair battled it out in two brutal fights, the first in 1990 which ended with Benn being stopped in round nine after what referee Richard Steele claimed was, “the most dramatic fight I’ve ever refereed”.
The second fight was just as dramatic, ending in a controversial draw three years later in Manchester. Taking place at Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United, it was one of the biggest UK fights ever and saw a more cautious battle between the two, except for a thrilling final round.
Seen as one of the classic rounds of boxing, it went to the judges scorecard in which it was declared a draw.
Lennox Lewis v Evander Holyfield
Lennox Lewis was the UK’s great heavyweight hope for some time and his bouts with Evander Holyfield were among the biggest in boxing history, certainly when it comes to British fighters.
The first fight took place at Madison Square Garden in March of 1999, with Lewis largely controlling the fight and significantly outpunching his opponent. It was a unification fight that rather controversially ended in a split decision and a draw.
A rematch was ordered, and to Las Vegas they headed towards the end of the year. Another stellar performance from Lewis gave the judges an easy decision and Lewis added to his waist the WBA, IBF and IBO heavyweight title to compliment his WBC belt.