For a boxer to be successful, they need killer focus in the ring, concentrating their energy and attention on their single opponent. Unsurprisingly, this can lead to more than a few loaded rivalries that transcend the boxing ring.
Fans love to see their favorite athlete topple a rival. And with boxing’s long list of eccentric and interesting fighters, it should come as no surprise that title fights can get a little hairy (if not outright strange) behind the scenes as boxer’s jockey for advantages—real or imagined.
There was that time Tyson Fury dressed up as Batman for a press conference prior to a bout with Wladimir Klitschko. And although many discussions of the strangest athletes worldwide focus on names like Dennis Rodman and Mario Balotelli (and rightfully so), similar cases could be made for most of boxing’s biggest names, like Mike Tyson and Tyson Fury.
In fact, Rodman, Fury, and Tyson could easily spend an afternoon back-and-forthing about their craziest exploits.
Over the course of his career, Rodman had a promising rivalry with fellow power forward Karl Malone, but their exploits on the court never proved quite as satisfying as a 12-round boxing match. Fury and Tyson each got to take their rivals into the ring, which has made for high-octane entertainment.
With all of this in mind, let’s take a look at boxing’s five greatest rivalries.
Tyson Fury & Wladimir Klitschko
Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury isn’t short on rivals. Most would say that Deontay Wilder or Anthony Joshua are Fury’s ongoing rivals. Others might point to Steve Cunningham, who Fury cited as his most difficult opponent in a Sport Bible interview.
But few rivalries have proved as amusing as his ongoing spat with Wladimir Klitschko. The pair faced off in 2015, where Fury stripped the heavyweight of his IBF title. After winning the match, he sang Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing” to his wife… while still in the ring. It’s not Fury’s most hard-hitting rivalry, but it’s definitely the most entertaining.
Muhammed Ali & Joe Frazier
Considered one of the greatest rivalries in sports history, Muhammed Ali and Joe Frazier were incredibly polarizing characters in boxing. Social and political issues in the 1960s and 70s gave their rivalry a deeper tension that many fans resonated with.
When they faced off, Frazier earned a surprise win, which was answered by a victory from Ali years later. Their final bout in Manila in 1975 is considered one of the most grueling fights in boxing history.
Manny Pacquiao & Juan Manuel Marquez
Though most closely followed Manny Pacquiao in the 2000s and 2010s as he became a superstar, Juan Manuel Marquez was Pacquiao’s toughest opponent. Also hailing from the Philippines, Marquez represented one of the only forces capable of stopping Pacquiao.
The first three fights saw Pacquiao win. Marquez won their last spat with a Round 6 knockout in a thriller of a match back in 2012.
Sugar Ray Robinson & Jake LaMotta
Some consider Sugar Ray Robinson and Jake LaMotta to be boxing’s best rivalry, rather than Frazier and Ali. However, Robinson and LaMotta fought more frequently—and their rivalry ended in a much more grandiose fashion.
After a handful of faceoffs that became increasingly tense and controversial, the pair separated ways for five years.
Their final match became known as the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre for the long and grueling fight which ultimately ended in Robinson’s favor. LaMotta never recovered in his final years, losing half of his last boxing matches before retiring.
Mike Tyson & Evander Holyfield
This rivalry has more to it than many boxing fans would expect. In their second fight, Mike Tyson gained international infamy after biting Evander Holyfield’s ear. The match ended, Tyson was reprimanded by boxing authorities and covered heavily by the international press.
What followed was a downward spiral for Tyson, which ended in bankruptcy and a long road of recovery (and a face tattoo). Years later, Tyson and Holyfield appeared on a string of TV shows, including Oprah, where public apologies were exchanged.
Oddly enough, this is the only rivalry known to be quashed on this list. Holyfield eventually came forward in a 2019 interview with Joe Rogan, saying he’d been guilty of biting another boxer’s ear in the past. In 2013, they even spoofed the moment in a Foot Locker commercial.
