Most Controversial Boxing Moments: Get to know all about the top 10 biggest controversies ever to take place in the sport of boxing and who it involved.
Be it the world of science or sports, one thing which flows common, is the chance of any controversial happening taking place at any time. Similar to all the other combat sport, the world of boxing involves fighters have a go at one another, which can often end up resulting in epic controversies.
Want to know all about the biggest boxing controversies? Then need not look any further as we cover the top 10 in this very list.
Most Controversial Boxing Moments: List of Top 10 Biggest Boxing Controversies Ever
10. Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Marquez 1 (2004)
This pair has cemented its place in the most heated rivalries of all time inside a ring. However when Pacquiao met Marquez for the first time, the former dopped Marquez three times in the first round, only the end of the fight in a draw.
Although this was a long fight wherein both fighters took their chances, the reason why it makes it into the top 10 biggest boxing controversy list is because of the mistake of a magistrate on their scorecard. Instead of scoring first round 6-10 in favor of Pacquiao for three knock-down, he scored a 7-10.
9. Floyd Mayweather vs Jose Luis Castillo (2002)
This controversy goes back to the days when Floyd Mayweather was working his way up to the top of the elite boxers tally. During his contest with Jose Luis Castillo in 2002, Mayweather took some blistering knocks, yet the referee decided to give the result in his favor as they mentioned Floyd to be the aggressor.
This result led to a universal fact in the upcoming years of boxing to come, that more than the action in the fight, it depends upon the judges witnessing which fighter beats the other more.
8. Tommy Hearns vs Sugar Ray Leonard (1989)
Back in the laste 80s, Toomy Hearns and Sugar Ray Leoanrd were 2 of the biggest names in the welterweight boxing division. Talking about their fight from 1989, Chinese Ray Leonard was down twice in this encounter with Tommy Hearns. It was finished in approximately seven rounds.
Apart from this, they got a chance to return, and Tommy Hearns made the best in the 5th round. He also did his moments in the last series. But this very fight ended with a decision leading to a controversial draw in the most controversial boxing moments.
7. Manny Pacquaio vs Timothy Bradley (2012)
Until Manny Pacquaio faced Timothy Bradley fr the first time he was considered to be the boxer to beat Floyd Mayweather. Yet his first fight with Bradley resulted is his stakes lowering significantly as he lost to Bradley via split decision. Even when he landed more significant punches.
Knowing the character Manny Pacquaio has been in his career, the duo faced each other on two separate occasions after this fight, wherein the former beat Bradley decisively on both occasions.
6. Pernell Whitaker vs Julio Cesar Chevaz (1993)
These were the days when Pernell Whiteaker was establishing himself as the slick boxer. Locking horns against Mexican legend Julio Cesar Chevaz, Whitaker displayed just why he is enormously getting famous in the world of boxing with his movements and raw strength.
Yet the audience and spectators were shocked to see the results which declared Chevaz continued his undefeated streak as the match was called a draw.
5. Tito Trinidad vs Oscar Del Hoya (1999)
Oscar Del Hoya was a huge draw name in the last 90s, having scheduled against Tito Trinidad, Oscar Del Hoya displayed one of his finest performances till the ninth round where he clearly dominated his opponent.
Having said that, rather than finishing up Trinidad, Oscar decided waste time which fooling around in the ring. When the bell struck, everyone was shocked to witness one of the most controversial decision ever as it declared Tito Trinidad as the winner.
4. Juan Manuel Marquez vs Manny Pacquaio 2 (2008)
Manny Pacquaio last fight which makes it into the top 10 biggest boxing controversies list, the Filipino boxer was able to knock down Juan Manuel Marquez in the third round when the duo foght for the second time inside the boxing ring.
Not only that, he was able to apply pressure in a back and forth fight between the two men.
In the end, it was Manny Pacquiao walking away with the decision. According to compubox, Pacquiao landed 172 of 511 punches. Whereas Marquez landed 157 of 619 punches.
The fight which was derived as a truly deserved raw, went into Pacquaio’s favor as some suggest, because of his popularity to become the most controversial boxing moments.
3. James Toney vs Dave Tiberi (1992)
One of the most shocking decision ever outjudged in the sport of boxing. When James Toney faced Dave Tiberi in 1992, James Toney, had reduced a tremendous amount of weight prior to their fight.
Dave Tiberi barraged the dehydrated James Toney 439 to 290 effective punches after the completion of 12 rounds. Despite the clear margin in the number of punches landed, James Toney walked away with the split decision.
2. Oscar Del Hoya vs Felix Sturm (2004)
In order for Oscar Del Hoya to face Bernard Hopkins, the Golden Boy was given a relatively unknown boxer to get used to the middleweight division. With Strum not being as popular as his opponent, he left the spectators in shock.
The evidently heavier Sturm was able to hurt Oscar Dela Hoya since the first round. Sturm was able to land 234 punches against Dela Hoya’s 188. Yet Sturm lost the decision via unanimous decision.
1. Park Si Hun vs Roy Jones Jr (1988)
Undoubted the biggest controversy in boxing came when Roy Jones Jr faced park Si Hun inside the ring in 1988. Despite a dominating performance by the 19 year old Roy Jones Jr, he fell victim to one of the worst and most controversial decisions in boxing.
What made this as the number one of our top 10 controversial boxing decisions is the fact that the officials dined with the judges the night prior to the fight. As a result to which they were suspended after this incident.
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