10 – Wladimir Klitschko w rsf 7 Monte Barrett (July 2000)
Featured on the undercard of Lennox Lewis v Frans Botha, Wladimir Klitschko decked Monte Barrett in the opening round of their scheduled ten, at the New London Arena. Klitschko wasn’t able to capitalise on this however until the fourth, when a combination put the American back on the floor. Barrett found his feet, regained stability and continued until the seventh. But the giant Ukrainian sent Barrett crashing to the canvas on three separate exchanges, leaving referee Richie Davis no option but to call a halt to proceedings.
9 – Henry Akinwande w rsf 4 Biagio Chianese (December 1993)
The successor to Lennox Lewis’ European crown, Henry Akinwande had failed to renew any British fans’ confidence in him with his first two defences of the title – two unanimous decisions over Axel Schulz – and had started to come under increasing pressure from the general public. An impressive victory was demanded when he took on Italian Biagio Chianese, and the Dulwich man delivered, halting his opponent inside four rounds.
8 – Vitali Klitschko w ko 2 Herbie Hide (June 1999)
Dr Ironfist won his first major title in the English capital, stripping Herbie Hide of the WBO heavyweight title in spectacular fashion. Prior to the bout, Hide had been knocking out all of his sparring partners, but found himself on the end of similar punishment in the second frame of their bout. We noted in our analysis: “The final blow broke the skin on Herbie’s left ear and the consequences were devastating. Herbie slid to the floor and crashed half on his side, his body frozen like a statue of a prowling Grizzly turned on his back.”
7 – Oliver McCall w rsf 2 Lennox Lewis (September 1994)
British boxing fans suffered a shock, when Oliver McCall dropped then champion Lennox Lewis, with a sharp right-hand, in round two of their WBC heavyweight title clash. Lewis was not allowed to continue. It was the fourth defence of his title, and the loss marked his first as a professional. Referee José Guadalupe Garcia said after the bout: “I’m absolutely sure about what I did. Lennox Lewis was knocked out. To allow more punches to Lewis could have had fatal consequences.” Lewis merely labelled the punch “lucky.”
6 – Lennox Lewis w rsf 5 Frans Botha (July 2000)
Lewis was an unsurprising 15-1 favourite heading in to his contest with the South African. Nevertheless, it marked his first time in a British ring since his devastating loss to Oliver McCall six years prior, and his WBC, IBF and IBO crowns were on the line. It only took Lennox two rounds to dispose of ‘The White Buffalo’, and with it, gave British fans a reason to celebrate.
5 – David Haye w rsf 5 Dereck Chisora (July 2012)
David Haye met Derek Chisora at Upton Park in 2012 for the vacant WBO International and WBA intercontinental heavyweight titles. A fight that was brought about after the duo brawled at a post-fight press conference, ended with the Hayemaker registering a fifth round TKO over Del Boy.
4 – Henry Cooper w rsf 6 Muhammad Ali (May 1966)
An estimated 46,000 people packed into Highbury to will on Henry Cooper in his second showdown with Muhammad Ali [who had changed his name from Cassius Clay since their first fight], but it was not to be. Showcasing a different skill-set to their first encounter, Ali stood toe-to-toe with Cooper, landing a stream of combinations in quick succession on the Bellingham man’s face. The damage was done by round six, and at 1 minute 38 seconds, the referee called a halt to the action.
3 – Henry Cooper w pts 15 Jack Bodell (March 1970)
After surrendering the British heavyweight title out of protest in May 1969, Henry Cooper claimed it back ten months later, by out-pointing Jack Bodell over fifteen rounds. Prior to the bout, not many had Cooper down to go the distance, reckoning he would have to rely on his left hook to regain the Lord Lonsdale belt. He proved otherwise, using a piston-like jab to keep the heavier Bodell at bay. Dropping the Derbyshire man twice in the seventh proved paramount to him prevailing on the judges’ scorecards.
2 – Cassius Clay w rsf 5 Henry Cooper (June 1963)
“As Cassius moved back he rolled right into the arc of Cooper’s left hook and down he went.” How so many British Boxing fans wished our report of the 1963 bout ended there. The fourth round knockdown was not enough to silence the ‘Louisville Lip’, he rose – and after an extended rest – went back to work, administering enough damage on Cooper’s left eye, to end the bout on round later.
1 – Frank Bruno w pts 12 Oliver McCall (September 1995)
After three failed attempts at gaining world gold, Frank Bruno had the opportunity to make it fourth time lucky against Oliver McCall. A return to Wembley – the scene of his first world title loss – saw him put in twelve incredibly hard-fought rounds against the American champion, emerging the victor by a 117-111 twice, and 115-113 margin.
