1. NEW ERA
“We have a new era in boxing.” Few lines of commentary have been as prophetic as Barry Tompkins’ after Mike Tyson stopped Trevor Berbick to become WBC heavyweight champion.
2. DOWN HE GOES
Just minutes into George Foreman’s demolition of Joe Frazier in 1973, Howard Cosell memorably yelled. “Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!”
3. CARPENTER AT WORK
Harry Carpenter may have slightly let his affection for Frank Bruno get the better of him when he shouted “Go on… Get in there Frank!” during his fight with Mike Tyson in 1989.
4. LANDING MISSION
Reg Gutteridge hit the nail on the head when Chris Eubank vaulted the ropes for his rematch with Nigel Benn: “The ego has landed.”
5. TAKE THAT, FLOYD
Larry Merchant’s hilarious response to criticism from Floyd Mayweather: “If I was 50 years younger, I’d kick your ass.”
6. BAD ADVICE
As Mickey Ward poured into Arturo Gatti in their first fight, Jim Lampley urged ref Frank Cappuccino to step in: “Stop it Frank! You can stop it at any time.” Thankfully he didn’t.
7. THE HAPPENING
When Michael Moorer was counted out against 45-year-old George Foreman, a stunned Lampley simply yelled: “It happened! It happened!”
8. HEAVY HEART
Merchant summarised the bravery Evander Holyfield showed during his first fight with Riddick Bowe by saying: “If he weighs 205lbs, his heart weighs 204.”
9. PAC MAN DOWN
If we needed clarification Pacquiao had been knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez in their fourth fight, Roy Jones Jnr provided it: “He’s not getting up, Jim.”
10. QUESTIONABLE
“How do you like it? How DO you like it!?” Tompkins’ question at the end of Marvin Hagler-Sugar Ray Leonard is still debated today.
