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Muhammad Ali is backing Manny Pacquiao to beat Floyd Mayweather when the pair collide in their Las Vegas showdown.
Pacquiao and Mayweather will meet at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on 2 May in what will be the biggest fight ever seen in the sport in terms of the prize money on offer. A reported £170m-minimum purse will be up for grabs as two of the greatest boxers the sport has ever seen will seek to unify the welterweight division.
However, ‘The Greatest’ will be in Pacquiao’s corner when it comes to choosing a winner, as his daughter Rasheda Ali revealed that it’s his contribution outside of the ring that impresses the three-time heavyweight champion of the world.
Show all 10 1 /10Great boxing rivalries Great boxing rivalries Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier – 1971, 1974 & 1975 Possibly one of the greatest rivalries of all time, not just in boxing but in any sport. These two titans met three times, with Ali taking home the spoils 2-1. The first was known as the ‘Fight of the Century’ in which two undisputed title holders came together, it ended with Frazier winning after 15 rounds via unanimous decision. The final fight was dubbed ‘Thrilla in Manilla’, where Ali retained all three of his heavyweight titles.
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Great boxing rivalries Joe Louis vs Max Schmeling – 1936 & 1938 Among two of boxing’s most historical fights. With Schmeling’s origins of Nazi Germany, these two represented something a little more than just two heavyweight boxers at their peak coming together. Louis was undefeated coming into the first fight while Schmeling already had 60 fights under his belt. The German won it with a 12th round knockout. By the time the pair met again, Louis had won the world Heavyweight title. It only took him one round to knock out Schmeling. Louis’ performances gained him national recognition and became one of America’s first African American heroes.
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Great boxing rivalries Micky Ward v Arturo Gatti – 2002, 2002 & 2003 The first time these two met proved to be The Ring Magazine’s ‘Fight of the Year’. A famous left hook body shot in the ninth brought Gatti to his knees and proved the deciding factor in the judges’ decision. A rematch was agreed immediately with Gatti knocking Ward down in third, however the American managed to finish the fight before losing by decision. The final fight also won The Ring Magazine’s fight of the year, Ward knocked down Gatti in the sixth, but before the referee could count to ten, the bell sounded. Gatti was able to come back and win via unanimous decision.
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Great boxing rivalries Nigel Benn v Chris Eubank – 1990 & 1993 In what was initially a fierce domestic rivalry, became one of world interest between these two British greats. Eubank was originally the challenger and began shouting out for Benn after only 10 fights. After winning his WBO middleweight title, Benn agreed to face Eubank. With each fighter saying they were going to knock the other one out, it was the challenger that actually did. With a technical knockout in the ninth round. The re-match was watched by half a billion people worldwide, with both defending titles it was so even, it ended in a draw.
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Great boxing rivalries Gene Tunney v Jack Dempsey – 1926 & 1927 Fighting twice, these bouts have gone down as two of the most famous in boxing history. Tunney won the first over 10 rounds via unanimous decision. The second is why these two were forever known in boxing history. In the seventh round Dempsey threw a flurry of punches to knock Tunney down for the first time in his career. The referee couldn’t count until Dempsey had reached a neutral corner. He didn’t oblige, buying Tunney valuable time. Tunney managed to rise at a time many say was over ten seconds. This is why the fight is known as the Long Count. Tunney went on to knock down Dempsey in the eighth and win by unanimous decision.
Great boxing rivalries Manny Pacquiao v Juan Manuel Marquez – 2004, 2008, 2011 & 2012 One of the greatest modern day rivalries which will go on to be imprinted in boxing’s history. Having fought four times to this day, Pacquiao has won two, Marquez one and the other being a draw. Marquez winning the most recent with a sixth round knockout, handing the Pac-Man back to back defeats. The Ring Magazine awarded it not only ‘Fight of the Year’ but also ‘Knockout of the Year’.
Great boxing rivalries Ken Norton v Muhammad Ali - 1973, 1973 & 1976 Ali’s second defeat came to the man known as ‘The Black Hercules’. In what was their first fight, Ali was the 5-1 favourite and had won 10 fights since his first lost to Frazier. Norton broke Ali’s jaw in the fight, despite The Greatest carrying on, he lost on a split decision. Six months later, Ali avenged Norton winning also on a split decision and re-gaining his NABF Heavyweight title. The third and final fight was some three years later after Rumble in the Jungle, Ali won via unanimous decision.
Great boxing rivalries Marco Antonio Barrera v Erik Morales - 2000, 2002 & 2004 Involving two of more modern days most famous Mexican boxers, the Barrera v Morales trilogy is a famous one, spanning over three different classes. Their first fight was in the super-bantamweight division with both holding titles. Morales won the first on a close split decision. Deciding to move up classes, Morales went to Featherweight, where again he met Barrera for a title match. This time Barrera won, in what was Morales’ first ever career defeat. The third and final time they met was in the Super-Featherweight division, where again Morales lost and with it his WBC title.
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Great boxing rivalries Riddick Bowe v Evander Holyfield - 1992, 1993 & 1995 These two Heavyweight giants came together three times in a famous blockbuster conquest. In the first fight, Holyfield walked in with Lineal, WBC, WBA & IBF Heavyweight titles having beaten Buster Douglas and George Foreman. Bowe had never tasted defeat and to everyone’s surprise, won via unanimous decision. The re-match went the distance with Holyfield winning on a split decision. This was Bowe’s first and only career defeat. The third, unlike the other two, was ended after eight rounds when Bowe knocked out Holyfield.
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Great boxing rivalries Sugar Ray Leonard v Thomas Hearns – 1981 & 1989 These two first met in a heavyweight clash with both boxers’ welterweight titles on the line. Ray Leonard known for his boxing skill, and Hearns for his vicious punching. The epic battle lasted 14 rounds before Leonard unleashed a series of punches, forcing the ref to stop the fight. The re-match, known as ‘The War’, had both fighters again holding titles, this time in the super-middleweight class. After 12 rounds of back and forth punishment, the fight was scored as a judge’s draw. The two never fought again with Hearns moving to light-heavyweight.
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Rasheda told TMZ Sports : “My dad is Team Pacquiao all the way. My dad really likes Manny. He’s a huge fan of his.
“He knows Manny’s a great fighter but it’s more about what he does outside the ring. He’s such a charitable person.”
Ali won the heavyweight championship three times during his illustrious career (Getty Images) Rasheda also confirmed that while Ali will not be attending the fight, he will no doubt be watching it at home.
“There’s no question he’s going to order it. It takes my dad way back to when he was fighting,” she said.
Manny Pacquiao will meet Floyd Mayweather on 2 May (Getty Images) The friendship between the pair goes back for years and Rashida also explained why Ali prefers the Filipino over fellow-American Mayweather.
“My dad stood for things,” she added. “Mayweather … I don’t think there’s a comparison.”
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