Three is a magic number: there have been many great rivalries in boxing history that were resolved in exciting trilogies. When two champions clash, a single battle is often not enough to determine the best: tactical adjustments, targeted training, and differing physical conditions can turn the tide in a rematch, making a final chapter necessary. Sometimes the last act comes too late, with one of the fighters already in decline, but trilogies still hold extraordinary appeal for fans of the Sweet Science. Today, we present 10 memorable trilogies!
Marco Antonio Barrera vs Erik Morales
Three fiery battles that ignited the crowds and fueled a rivalry that lasted even after the two fighters retired. The clashes between Barrera and Morales were all spectacular and closely contested in terms of score: while the first two bouts sparked controversy over the decisions (the first for Morales, the second for Barrera), the third and final fight, slightly more tactical than the previous ones, saw the ultimate triumph of the Baby-Faced Assassin!
Sugar Ray Leonard vs Roberto Duran
In this case, the decisive fight to close the trilogy came too late, with Duran weighed down by age and battles, easily outpointed by the great Sugar Ray. The first two fights, however, were historic and unforgettable. The first was an intense victory for “Hands of Stone,” narrowly winning on points, and the second featured the famous “No mas,” where Leonard tasted sweet revenge.
Floyd Patterson vs Ingemar Johansson
To be literally destroyed, learn from mistakes, come back to face the “enemy,” and beat him twice is no small feat. Patterson, a protégé of the great Cus D’Amato, did just that: knocked down seven times by Johansson, he lost the title in 1959 but regained it the following year with a superb KO. The final showdown was spectacular: although Patterson was knocked down twice in the first round, he came out on top in six rounds!
Riddick Bowe vs Evander Holyfield
Bowe dealt Holyfield a crushing defeat in 1992, taking three world titles from him. Evander, however, refused to give up and returned the favor to his rival a year later in a fight famously interrupted by a skydiving intruder. In the final act, Bowe won by KO over an unusually weak and struggling Holyfield, but not without some drama, as Holyfield managed to knock Big Daddy down for the first time in his career.
Tony Zale vs Rocky Graziano
The story of Italian-American Rocky Graziano is depicted in the wonderful film Somebody Up There Likes Me. His trilogy against Zale, although ending in defeat for the brave Rocky, marked the pinnacle of his career, as his victory in the second fight made him world champion.
Nino Benvenuti vs Emile Griffith
There’s also a bit of Italian pride on our list, thanks to one of the most successful Italian boxers of all time. Benvenuti achieved one of his most significant triumphs at Madison Square Garden in New York, defeating the experienced and talented Griffith in a fight where both fighters were knocked down. The boxer born in the Virgin Islands took his revenge five months later, but the third and final chapter saw the Italian once again emerge victorious.
Arturo Gatti vs Micky Ward
Relentless punches, granite chins, constant shifts in momentum, and boundless hearts: the wars between Gatti and Ward can be watched hundreds of times and still deliver thrills. After narrowly losing the first bout, in which he showed an inhuman ability to withstand pain, Gatti won the next two fights, pushing Ward into retirement, and the two later developed a deep friendship.
Antonio Tarver vs Roy Jones Jr
Decline eventually comes for all fighters; for the great Roy Jones Jr, the first signs appeared during his narrow and unconvincing win over Antonio Tarver. “Magic Man” then confirmed the end of Jones’ elite status by brutally knocking him out in the rematch and winning a deserved points victory in the third and final chapter of the saga.
Manny Pacquiao vs Erik Morales
Tactical intelligence in boxing can work wonders, and even the most devastating force, like the inimitable Pac-Man, can be neutralized with the right strategy and plenty of skill. Erik Morales was simply perfect on the night of their first fight, winning on points, but in the next two bouts, he was overwhelmed by the fury of the Filipino, who sealed two KOs and emerged the victor of the trilogy.
Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier
The trilogy between Ali and Frazier is considered by many fans to be the most thrilling in boxing history. Smokin’ Joe won the first fight with relentless pressure, but in the rematch, Ali came out on top, moving with great agility and clinching at the right moments. The third and final bout was a brutal war, decided when Frazier’s corner stopped the fight after the 14th round, just as Ali was about to throw in the towel himself.
Honorable mentions: Barney Ross vs Jimmy McLarnin, Roberto Duran vs Esteban De Jesus, Muhammad Ali vs Ken Norton, Humberto Gonzalez vs Michael Carbajal, Emile Griffith vs Benny Kid Paret, and Daniel Zaragoza vs Paul Banke.