Ranked: the most explosive all-British spectacles in boxing history
Carl Froch vs George Groves, 2014
Although Froch had beaten Groves in their first meeting, the loser, who at one point dropped his opponent, won his appeal to the International Boxing Federation that the fight had been stopped prematurely.
The rematch at Wembley Stadium played out in front of 80,000 fans and a tight contest was decided when Froch knocked Groves out with a cannonball right hand in the eighth round.
On This Day! ⏮ @Carl_Froch v @StGeorgeGroves 2
6 years ago today Froch and Groves met in their highly anticipated rematch at Wembley stadium in front of 80,000 fans 🔥
📺 Watch the full fight here: https://t.co/quQR2knnzG pic.twitter.com/rB9M12TulX— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) May 31, 2020
Eubank vs Benn, 1990
The NEC in Birmingham witnessed a brutal affair in the first of two fights between the bitter rivals. The fight was all-action. Benn dropped Eubank in the ninth round before being stunned by a left hook followed by a barrage of punches.
Eubank then landed a powerful straight right and the American referee Richard Steele stepped in to end the fight. Steele called it “the most dramatic fight” he had ever been involved in.
Anthony Joshua vs Dillian Whyte, 2015
Whyte had beaten Joshua in the amateur ranks. This grudge fight at London’s O2 arena for the vacant British heavyweight title was called ‘Bad Intentions’. Whyte rocked and hurt Joshua in the second round, the first time he had been truly troubled in his professional career. Joshua recovered to brutally stop his opponent in the seventh round with a right hook, and an uppercut finish.
Frank Bruno vs Lennox Lewis, 1993
Bruno went into the Cardiff clash angered by Lewis, who was also of Jamaican heritage, labelling him an ‘Uncle Tom’. In the seventh round Lewis caught Bruno with a looping left hook and followed up with a series of head punches.
#OnThisDay in 1993, I stopped my fellow Englishman, Frank Bruno, in the 7th Round to win "The Battle of Britain" to retain my WBC belt and improve my record to 24-0. pic.twitter.com/7wwfde00nr
— Lennox Lewis, CBE, CM (@LennoxLewis) October 1, 2018
Dillian Whyte vs Derek Chisora, 2016
The build-up to the Manchester fight was marred by an ugly melee at the press conference, with tables overturned. The bad blood continued in the ring for 12 relentless rounds in Manchester, Whyte was the winner in a split-decision.
Fabio Wardley vs Frazer Clarke, 2024
Called ‘Bad Blood’, the slugfest saw neither fighter relenting. After a split draw, the British and Commonwealth champion Wardley held on to his titles in front of 13,000 delirious fans at London’s O2 Arena. The unbeaten pair will meet again in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 12.
