Everyone loves an epic, twelve-round affair by which two warriors step into the ring to prove who is the best fighter on the planet. That doesn’t mean that you can’t put on a classic that doesn’t go the distance; being in a short fight doesn’t mean that you didn’t just walk out of an epic. Even fights that are three rounds and under can leave lasting impressions. Here, the panel of boxing experts from Inside Fights pick their top 5 favorite contests that only lasted three rounds or less.
Trent Pusey‘s Top 5
1. Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas Hearns – 1985
Any list of this nature begins and ends with Hagler-Hearns. Hyped beforehand as The War, the 1985 Fight of the Year had it all. With his back against the wall due to a cut that may stop the fight, Hagler scored a dramatic third round KO.
2. George Foreman vs. Joe Frazier I – 1973
Both men came in undefeated but Foreman would emerge the victor in his first world title fight by second round TKO. Foreman looked like an unstoppable monster. The final punch from Foreman actually lifted Frazier off his feet before he hit the ground.
3. Kostya Tszyu vs. Zab Judah – 2001
These were the top two light welterweights in the world and the old guard schooled the undefeated, cocky youngster. Despite a great start, Judah lost composure after a late second round knockdown. He tried to get up too fast, showing he wasn’t hurt, but he didn’t have his legs under him and went back down for the TKO. Chaos ensued.
4. Iran Barkley vs. Tommy Hearns I – 1988
Hearns dominated the early part of the middleweight title fight as most expected him to. With a nasty cut looking like it would cause Barkley’s night to end early, Barkley made a huge comeback by landing two big rights. Hearns would nearly fall out of the ring.
5. Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston II – 1965
One year after scoring one of the biggest upsets in boxing, Muhammad Ali gave a rematch to the same man he beat for the title in seven rounds. This fight wasn’t close and is more remembered for the controversial phantom punch. The image of Ali standing over a fallen Liston is embedded in the brains of all sports fans.
Paul Magno‘s Top 5
1) Marvin Hagler TKO 3 Tommy Hearns
Brutal and historically significant 3-round war between two Hall of Famers who legitimately didn’t like each other.
2) Antwun Echols TKO 3 Charles Brewer
Only for the regional NABA title, but fought with the same passion as a world title fight. Echols would come off the canvas 3 times in the 2nd round to stop Brewer in the 3rd. A forgotten classic.
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3) Joe Louis KO 1 Max Schmeling
After a tough loss in their first meeting, Joe Louis would come back to crush Schmelling in a bout full of political overtones.
4) Tommy Hearns KO 2 Pipino Cuevas
I remember being a poor kid in the barrio of Chicago listening to radio coverage of this in a room full of Mexican fight fans. I was the only one cheering for the “Hit Man.”
5) Mike Tyson KO 1 Michael Spinks
Supposed to be “Iron” Mike’s first real test, it turned out to be a 91-second blow out and the beginning of the Mike Tyson legend.
Corey Willinger‘s Top 5
1. Marvin Hagler TKO3 Thomas Hearns
What needs to be said about not only the greatest three-round fight in history but one that is always mentioned among the greatest fights of all time across the entire sport? In a role-reversal of sorts, a bloodied Hagler employed a seek-and-destroy approach to dispatch his nemesis in three unforgettable rounds that will forever remain a cherished part of boxing lore.
2. Ray Mancini TKO1 Art Frias
The fight that brought Boom Boom his first world title only lasted a round but was one of the most violent of his career. In a performance that would go on to define his character, Mancini survived being stunned in the opening seconds and didn’t stop swinging until he had Frias cut, on the canvas, and eventually defenseless against the ropes.
3. Ricardo Mayorga TKO3 Vernon Forrest
Hot off back-to-back wins over Shane Mosley, Forrest was one of the highest rated fighters in the sport coming into 2003. Then he ran into Ricardo Mayorga. In a vicious battle of machismo, Forrest made the mistake of going toe-to-toe with a monster who could take his best shot. Unfortunately for Forrest, he couldn’t take Mayorga’s and was knocked loopy.
4. Kostya Tszyu TKO2 Zab Judah
In a highly anticipated battle for junior welterweight supremacy, an undefeated Judah had Tszyu rocked in the first round but was dropped himself in round two. Not yet feeling the full impact of the heavy handed Russian’s shot, Zab got off the canvas too fast and ended up collapsing again, prompting a controversial stoppage and an infamous post-fight meltdown from the Brooklyn native.
5. Iran Barkley TKO3 Thomas Hearns
After two competitive opening rounds that saw both men wobbled, Hearns seemed to be on the verge of stopping Barkley with a committed assault to the body. But Barkley swung for the fences and caught Hearns with his hands down, scoring a knockdown and eventually knocking the Hitman through the ropes for the shocking win.
