5. Amir Khan vs. Marcos Maidana
Photo by Getty Images
It’s intimidating to watch a boxer like Marcos Maidana taste the mat, but a body shot like this only makes viewers respect the art even more.
Amir Khan is quick to attack in the first round, a treat that many boxers hold off till the 10th. Starting with a jab to command his range, Khan then steps in with another one before throwing a right to the face, which was deflected by Maidana’s elbow.
A hard two and a finishing three that is delivered perfectly into “El Chino’s” side, rocked him to the ground.
Maidana was able to recover, but still was defeated in the end by a solid UD.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2aaUcdM-RU
4. Arturo Gatti vs. Micky Ward
Screenshot
While the entire May 2002 Arturo Gatti vs. Micky Ward bout could have entire books and movies dedicated to it, we’re still drooling particularly over the body shot seen in the first 20 seconds of the 9th round.
It’s a special day when a body blow can knock a professional boxer to the ground.
While these two warriors go at some of the most intense, tactical fighting many of us will ever witness, Ward is still able to snake in a crushing body shot on Gatti, who ultimately takes a knee while the referee counts away. Luckily for Gatti, however, he was able to get back up and finish the fight.
The body blow showed the real difference between the fighters in the end though, as Ward was awarded the win by majority decision.
3. Oscar De La Hoya vs. Bernard Hopkins
Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images
There are few fights (well, one) that ends with one fighter on the ground, head in hands, and the other doing a celebratory summer-sault across the ring. Round 9 of the Oscar De La Hoya vs. Bernard Hopkins is a KO for the history books.
Within seconds of the bell, Hopkins jumps in and closes the gap, forcing his throws to be short and sweet.
The lack of range doesn’t influence their power though, as he drives De La Hoya backwards. In the flurry, Oscar is able to land a blow solid enough to back out, establishing range once again.
Like a wolf on its prey, Hopkins jumps right back in landing a devastating hook, immediately resulting with “The Golden Boy” on the ground.
2. Arturo Gatti vs. Leonard Dorin
Photo by Ed Mulholland
Leonard Dorin’s only professional loss doubles as one of the highlights of Arturo Gatti’s professional career.
The two light welterweights made the fight thrilling by coming out strong, fast, and determined-instead of the usual prancing and dodging we often witness in the first few rounds.
After five and a half minutes of making smart, classic boxing combos, Gatti comes in for a standard 1-2 hook, forcing Dorin to bring his hands up, exposing his body, just as Gatti had wanted him to.
Gatti wastes no time in resetting himself, shifting all his weight to his left leg, and letting that left hook fly. This is about as classic as it gets, folks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8hBopWt_zM
1. Gerry Penalosa vs. Jhonny Gonzalez
Photo by Craig Bennett
Another beautiful body shot, Gerry Penalosa loses no time in the seventh round looking for that exposed skin to slam his left into.
Jhonny Gonzalez’s lanky range ended up working against him, after leaving himself exposed with some wild head shots. Penalosa expertly slipped the right hand swinging at his head, leaned, and plowed a hook right into the liver.
Gonzalez seemed to not even realize how shattering the blow was at first, as he stood up tall and bounced backwards. A second later is when the immense pain shows on his face and the fighter falls down to the ground, leading to his loss.
