With 10 days left for the second World Boxing Association (WBA) Heavyweight Super Championship fight between the Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk and the British Anthony Joshua, it is interesting to remember some rivalries of recent years that needed to face each other more than once.
A rematch can take place for different reasons, either because it was stipulated in the contract, because it works from a commercial point of view or, in the best cases, because people were eager to see more.
1. Mayweather-Maidana
Floyd Mayweather faced Argentina’s Marcos Maidana at the MGM Grand on May 3, 2014 when he was boxing’s biggest name. The aggressiveness of the challenger put the American in trouble on many occasions and although he claimed victory it was a very competitive fight, which forced a repetition in September of that same year with the same result in favor of Mayweather, but with a fight full of action and with a pressure that few opponents could put on Floyd in his career.
2. Pacquiao- Marquez
The rivalry between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez is one of the most epic and memorable of recent times. From their first fight in May 2004, in which Marquez was knocked down three times in the first round but recovered and gave a great performance to get a draw, to their last fight in December 2012 that the Mexican with a spectacular knockout, they gave a great show. There were four fights, two for the Filipino, one draw and one win for the Mexican. An unforgettable journey.
3. Canelo-GGG
The rivalry between Saul Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin has left its mark and is still alive. They have fought twice and a third one is expected to happen next September 17. Their fight in September 2017 ended in a draw after a great fight, which happened again in September of the following year with a tight victory for “Canelo”.
4. Fury- Wilder
The heavyweights entered a new era with the clashes of Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder that have been among the highlights. In 2018 they had a draw in an action-packed fight in which Fury recovered from a knockdown when it seemed impossible. He then knocked out Wilder in February 2020 and again in October 2021. Fights full of knockdowns and drama that seal one of the best trilogies in a long time.
5. Estrada- Chocolatito
The first fight between Roman Gonzalez and Juan Francisco Estrada was in November 2012. The victory of the Nicaraguan was notorious but the action they gave away left everyone wanting more. However, it wasn’t until March 2021 when Estrada was able to get a rematch in another fight full of exchanges and action that promises to have a third part soon.
6. Gatti-Ward
The Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward trilogy between 2002 and 2003 had fights that should be shown if you want to convince someone to become a boxing fan. Tireless action, exchanges and drama. In the end it was two victories for Gatti and one for Ward.
Other fights like Rafael Márquez-Israel Vázquez, Brandon Ríos-Mike Alvarado, among other great rivalries of this century, are also remembered.
