British boxing has a long and storied history and down through the years there have been plenty major ‘all-British’ encounters that left lasting memories. Here are our top five from the last 50 years.
Frank Bruno vs Lennox Lewis (1993)
Frank Bruno and Lennox Lewis clashed in the Battle of Britain at Cardiff Arms Park in Wales in 1993. No fighter had captured the affection of the nation like Bruno, but the Hammersmith hitter was taking on a fearsome opponent.
Lewis held the WBC belt and it was the first time that two British boxers had contested a heavyweight world title fight.
The Lion had the skill, physical strength and speed to trouble Bruno, but True Brit had the will of the fans.
Lewis eventually stopped Bruno in the seventh round to retain his WBC title, but it was not without a worrying moment and it was certainly a memorable contest.
Carl Froch vs George Groves II (2014)
This was a highly anticipated rematch and it certainly delivered on the expectation. Wembley was packed with 80,000 fans and they witnessed an eight-round stoppage win for Carl Froch.
However, that doesn’t tell the full story. Groves had knocked down the Corba in their first contest and the Hammersmith man was on the verge of victory in that contest. However, Froch showed miraculous powers of recovery, to then stop Saint George in controversial circumstances.
That added an extra layer of intrigue into the rematch, with many believing the Groves would finish the job on the second occasion. However, Froch recorded a repeat victory over his super-middleweight rival to hold onto his WBA and IBF world titles.
Nigel Benn vs Chris Eubank II (1993)
Old Trafford played host to the second fight between Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank, which was watched by half a billion people worldwide. It came in a golden era of British super-middleweights, with Eubank having come out on top in the first clash between the pair.
There was much more to this bout beyond what happened in the ring. The two fighters were tough and big-hitting boxers, but their energy and charisma outside of the squared circle stole the show.
There was no love lost between the two, but they couldn’t be separated inside the ring, with the fight being declared a split-decision draw.
Amir Khan vs Kell Brook (2022)
A bout between these two British world champions had been talked about since the early stages of their careers but it didn’t materialise until the very end.
Both fighters had claimed world titles and enjoyed some huge victories along the way, but there was still a question as to who was the best.
Clearly, neither man was at their peak of their powers come fight night, but it was still a frenzy of anticipation ahead of the Manchester clash.
It was Brook that secured the victory, with a sixth-round stoppage and both boxers then called time of their glittering careers.
David Haye vs Tony Bellew I (2017)
After an acrimonious build-up David Haye and Tony Bellew got it on Haye’s backyard of Greenwich.
The Haymaker was a former heavyweight world champion and Bellew was moving up from cruiserweight. Bomber was rated a 9/2 outsider to upset his fancied rival and the Merseyside man duly delivered.
Haye tore an Achilles tendon during the fight, leaving him as a sitting duck for Bellew. The Bermondsey man’s corner eventually threw in the towel and Bellew also went onto win the rematch, again at the O2 Arena, a year later.
