Patience Is a Virtue: Like Taylor vs. Catterall II, these 10 rematches took their time to materialise

1) Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins (17 years and one month between struggle one and two)

It’s laborious to imagine there have been 17 years between Jones and Hopkins sharing the ring for the primary time in 1993 and the second time, nevertheless it’s the reality. With Jones eager to journey up the weights, and Hopkins destined to spend most of his profession at middleweight, it wasn’t till 2010 that the pair reunited.

2) Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns (seven years and 9 months)

Whereas the primary struggle between Leonard and Hearns in 1981 is a bona fide traditional and nearly as good because it will get in boxing, the rematch eight years later isn’t so revered. Both have been at super-middleweight by then, now not welterweights, and the struggle resulted in a draw.

3) Julio Cesar Chavez and Meldrick Taylor (4 years and 6 months)

Given the controversial nature of the primary struggle in 1990, it was a shock it took Chavez and Taylor so long as it did to reconvene. It wasn’t till 1994, in truth, that Chavez was in a position to beat Taylor extra convincingly, this time stopping a shell of the Philadelphian in eight rounds.

4) Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez (three years and 10 months)

They fought a complete of 4 instances, but nonetheless there was a vital four-year hole between fights one and two; this regardless of the very fact the primary struggle in 2004 resulted in a draw. Marquez, floored thrice in spherical one, battled again to push Pacquiao all the way in which that night time, however wouldn’t get his satisfaction till struggle 4.

5) George Foreman and Joe Frazier (three years and 5 months)

Rarely do you see a fighter stopped inside two rounds safe a rematch with their conqueror three years later, however that’s what occurred with Frazier and Foreman. In hindsight, the very last thing Frazier wanted after Ali in Manila was Foreman and one other stoppage defeat in ’76.

6) Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn (two years and 11 months)

In a relatively uncommon twist on the theme, the controversial struggle within the Benn vs. Eubank rivalry proved to be the rematch relatively than the primary struggle. The 1993 rematch resulted in a draw, whereas the primary struggle, in 1990, was completed by Eubank in 9 rounds.

7) Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier (two years and 10 months)

They mixed to produce arguably the best heavyweight struggle of all time in 1971, and but the world would have to wait nearly three years to see Ali, crushed first time round, and Frazier, crushed second time round, have their rematch.

8) Lennox Lewis and Oliver McCall (two years and 5 months)

After getting stopped by McCall in fairly the upset in 1994, Lewis launched into a interval of rehabilitation, beating the likes of Tommy Morrison and Ray Mercer earlier than preventing McCall once more in ’97 and this time profitable inside 5 rounds.

9) Manny Pacquiao and Tim Bradley (two years)

As controversial because it was, the choice Bradley acquired towards Pacquaio in 2012 wouldn’t be rectified till they met once more two years later. By that time Pacquiao had been stopped by Juan Manuel Marquez, which made the Bradley revenge win all of the extra spectacular.

10) Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder (one yr and three months)

The first struggle between Fury and Wilder in 2018 resulted in a draw and seemingly arrange a right away rematch. However, Fury, earlier than stopping Wilder within the return, would struggle Tom Schwarz and Otto Wallin, leaving Wilder to struggle Dominic Breazeale and Luis Ortiz.

Tyson Fury lands a proper hand on Deontay Wilder in their rematch