Best Fights of the 2000s

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Dec 14, 2009

Best Fights of the 2000s

Antonio Margarito-Miguel Cotto

Miguel Cotto's first professional defeat came in a welterweight title defense against Antonio Margarito at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. After weathering the Puerto Rican's best shots in the early rounds, the Tijuana Tornado used constant pressure to turn the tide. Cotto went down twice in the 11th before his corner threw in the towel. The luster from Margarito's career-defining victory proved short-lived, however, after he was caught attempting to use illegal hand wraps in his very next fight against Shane Mosley.

Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez II

Five months after bantamweight champion Rafael Marquez moved up in weight and stopped junior featherweight titlist Israel Vazquez, the fighters waged a thrilling rematch in the border town of Hidalgo, Texas. After five back-and-forth rounds, Vazquez regained the 122-pound world championship with a scintillating sixth-round TKO.

Somsak Sithchatchawal-Mahyar Monshipour

A YouTube cult classic among fight fans, Thailand's Somsak Sithchatchawal met the Iranian-born Mahyar Monshipour outside Paris and captured the junior featherweight title with a dramatic 10th-round TKO -- following nine pulsating rounds of brutal two-way punishment.

Juan Manuel Marquez-Manny Pacquiao

Juan Marquez put his WBA and IBF featherweight titles on the line against Manny Pacquaio -- and barely got out of the first round. Marquez tasted the canvas three times in the first three minutes, but showed great heart to battle back and flummox Pacquiao with shrewd counter-punching. The result? A controversial draw.

Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez III

Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez put the finishing touches on one of boxing's greatest latter-day trilogies at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The thrilling rubber match went to Vazquez, who rallied from a fourth-round knockdown to eke out a narrow split decision. The fourth installment is scheduled for May 22, 2010.

Erik Morales-Manny Pacquiao I

Manny Pacquiao moved up from featherweight to face Mexican legend Erik Morales at 130 pounds. In the first and best fight of their mid-decade trilogy, Morales got the best of the Filipino southpaw in a unanimous decision. Despite a comfortable lead on the scorecards, Morales went toe to toe with Pacquiao in the 12th -- cementing his warrior reputation.

Felix Trinidad-Fernando Vargas

Fernando Vargas had never tasted the canvas throughout 20 professional fights, but went down no fewer than five times against Felix Trinidad, who consolidated power in the junior middleweight division with a TKO at 1:33 in the 12th round.

Erik Morales-Marco Antonio Barrera I

Erik Morales survived a 12th-round knockdown to escape with a split decision over Antonio Barrera in the first bout of their memorable trilogy. It was The Ring magazine's pick for Fight of the Year in 2000.

Micky Ward-Arturo Gatti I

The first installment in what's widely considered the decade's iconic trilogy saw Micky Ward earn a 10-round decision over Arturo Gatti. Emmanuel Steward called the famous ninth round -- when Ward dropped Gatti with a fierce left hook -- "The Round of the Century."

Diego Corrales-Jose Luis Castillo I

Fought at a relentless, grueling pace with toe-to-toe action from start to finish, the bout ended with Diego Corrales unifying the lightweight championship with an unforgettable 10th-round TKO of Jose Luis Castillo at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.