10. Mike Tyson w rsf 2 Julius Francis (January 29 2000)
There was huge controversy in 2000, concerning whether Tyson would be allowed to enter the UK due to his 1992 rape conviction. Tyson was allowed entry and quickly dismantled Francis in four minutes, who was floored no less than five times.
9. Steve Collins w rtd 6 Nigel Benn (November 9 1996)
After the first fight at the Manchester arena ended in a damp squib, with Benn injuring his ankle, the two met again for the WBO world super-middleweight title with Benn retiring a second time, This time around the damage was done by Collins, rather than an accident, and Benn retired after the sixth round. It would be last time Benn would be seen in the ring.
8. Michael Brodie d pts 12 In-Jin Chi (October 18 2003)
Local favourite Brodie was making his first bid for world honours when fighting for the vacant WBC featherweight bauble.
Both boxers exchanged devastating blows throughout the bout, in what left Brodie nearly unrecognisable and bloody at the end. High action and thrilling although ended in a farce when Chi was awarded the win only for the judges’ scorecards to be recounted earning Brodie a brave draw. He would be stopped in seven in the immediate rematch in the same arena.
7. Anthony Crolla d pts 12 Darleys Perez (July 18 2015)
The Manchester crowd turned out in force to watch local hero Crolla in his first bid for a world title. He was returning to the ring after suffering career-threatening injuries while trying to prevent a burglary from his neighbour’s house. He boxed out of his skin and after Perez was deducted two points for low blows, victory looked certain. The fight however was scored a draw – though Crolla would go on to stop the WBA champion in their immediate rematch.
6. Naseem Hamed w rsf 7 Wilfredo Vazquez (April 18 1998)
A broken ring rope could not stop Naseem Hamed back in 1998 as he successfully defended his WBO title for a 10th consecutive time stopping the former three-weight ruler in the seventh round.
5. David Haye w rsf 9 John Ruiz (April 3 2010)
Showman Haye was in devastating form back in 2010, putting in a stylish performance in his first world heavyweight title defence since beating Nikolai Valuev. He knocked John Ruiz to the canvas four times, eventually stopping the American in the ninth to retain the WBA title.
4. Anthony Crolla w rsf 10 John Murray (April 19 2014)
The Manchester Arena was the perfect setting for the ‘Battle of Manchester’ as these two Mancunians and friends fought out a classic for local bragging rights.
The fight was fought at a rapid pace but as it slowed it would be Crolla who would be the victor, stopping Murray in the 10th. Murray was subsequently forced to retire from boxing due to an eye injury.
3. Carl Froch w rsf 9 George Groves (November 23 2013)
Undefeated George Groves walked in to the Manchester Arena to a chorus of boos in 2013 but walked out to a heroic reception despite a controversial defeat. Groves looked on course for victory, flooring Froch in the first and was up on all the judges’ scorecards before the referee intervened in the ninth handing Froch victory. Although not as big as their Wembley Stadium rematch, their first meeting was highly anticipated.
2. Joe Calzaghe w pts 12 Jeff Lacy (March 4 2006)
Calzaghe produced a master class in what was one of the Welshman’s finest performances, winning every round except the 11th where he was punished for an illegal blow. Calzaghe retained the WBO and won Lacy’s IBF title as chants of ‘easy’ circled the venue. It was Joe’s crowning moment and one of the best wins in a British ring in recent history.
1. Ricky Hatton w rtd 11 Kostya Tszyu (June 4 2005)
Hatton himself called this performance his ‘Everest’ in what was an exhilarating contest seen by 22,000 crammed into the arena. He won the IBF world super-lightweight title, as well as pulling off an impressive upset. “Manchester had some wonderful boxing nights but that has arguably got to be the best,” an emotional Hatton claimed on the night.
