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Classic trilogies: Glenn McCrory recalls bouts that needed three attempts to settle a score

'There is something special about trilogies'

Image: Muhammad Ali (L) fought Joe Frazier (R) three times with Don King promoting.

Brandon Rios and Mike Alvarado are going at it for the third time this weekend, so we got Glenn McCrory to explain why three can be the magic number.

There is something special about trilogies, something that we rarely see.

There was always something that brought it all together: not only in the ring but there is always something outside the ring. Whether it is personal issues, class issues, political issues, pure simple hatred or a bigger picture.

I have been lucky to work on some of the best there have been and while we all ask why certain ones didn't materialise, the three I have picked are hard to beat...

Muhammad Ali v Joe Frazier

Image: Ali's biggest struggles may have come against Frazier

Ali v Frazier

  • I. Frazier won by UD, 08/03/1971, Madison Square Garden, New York, WBC & WBA heavyweight titles
  • II. Ali won by UD, 28/01/1974, Madison Square Garden, New York, NABF heavyweight title
  • III. Ali won by Frasier RTD 14, 10/01/1975, Araneta Coliseum, Manila, Philippines, WBC & WBA heavyweight titles

That first fight, to me, was the fight of the century yet there was my hero, Muhammad Ali, getting beaten for the first time in his career. And as a kid it was a real shock and I couldn't believe it, but on reflection, down the line, it wasn't. He'd been out of the sport because of the Vietnam issue and had had a bad time and was coming back quickly against a real young gun in the shape of Frazier.

That second one was a much tougher, grittier and a quite close and debatable affair that Ali really had to work hard for. He really had to push through and that was a real painful affair. Joe Frazier almost nicked it and to be honest I don't think anyone came close to having Ali's number like he did. That's what made this such a brilliant trilogy.

Finally, the Thrilla in Manila was an epic with two great, great fighters who probably, if I'm honest, finished each other that night. Eddie Futch pulled Frazier out with three minutes to go, which was a remarkable piece of care but he knew it might have ended his life 10 years earlier. The way that ended was like something out of Hollywood, it really was. It was exciting and emotional. And if you made a film of those three fights, with their relationship, their style, the fighter against the slick boxer, tall against small. It was greatest trilogy of all time.

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Erik Morales v Marco Antonio Barrera

Marco Antonio Barrear v Erik Morales
Image: Two Mexicans who dislike each other to this day

Morales v Barrera

  • I. Morales won by SD, 19/02/2000, Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, WBC & WBO super bantamweight titles
  • II. Barrera won by UD, 22/0/6/2002, MGM Grand, Las Vegas, WBC featherweight tiel
  • III. Barrera won by MD, 27/11/2004, MGM Grand, Las Vegas, WBC super featherweight title

This had it all, style, class, a real hatred and a huge contrast out of the ring. Barrera was from Mexico City, trained to be an accountant and there was Morales who was a working class kid from Tijuana, which we all knew was a crazy place just over the border. And the two just hated each other. I remember thinking that because they were both Mexican, they'd be the best of pals, but I couldn't have been further from the mark.

That first one was the best fight I have ever seen live. I went out there to work on it and I remember thinking 'why?'. They both had world titles but they hadn't made it into the superstar world yet, so it was a bit strange. Yes, they were in Vegas, but the Mandalay Bay, not the MGM. But it was a Mexican holiday, it was full of people cheering one or the other and on top of that, we got 12 of the best rounds I have ever seen. 

Morales won that first one and I thought Barrera should've won it, but he did get the second one, but I thought Morales should have been given it! Barrera won the third but it was such a good trilogy, you couldn't really work out who had won it overall! The third fight wasn't that good - as was often the case - and maybe that was just because they knew each other too well. And maybe that was why Morales chucked that water at Barrera's old man! It didn't have the same excitement of the first two but I know for a fact that they still don't like each other and if they had a fourth tear-up, that would still be worth watching.

Riddick Bowe v Evander Holyfield

Holyfield v Bowe
Image: Bowe earned a stoppage over Holyfield in their final bout

Bowe v Holyfield

  • I. Bowe won by UD, 13/11/1992, Thomas & Mack Centre, Las Vegas, WBC WBA & IBF heavyweight titles
  • II. Holyfield won by MD, 06/11/1993, Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, WBA & IBF heavyweight titles
  • III. Bowe won by TKO, 04/11/1995, Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, non-title.

The first one between these two was one of, if not the, best heavyweight fight I have commentated on, it was just unbelievable. Again, they had all the ingredients and that is exactly why we all wanted to see them do it again and again. These two were different but they gelled; their styles did, their size did, their egos did and we knew they were going to go at it. And they did... and it lived up to expectations.

Who would've believed the second one and the entry of Fan Man? Again, much like Ali-Frazier, this could've come straight out of Hollywood. Funnily enough I was out there for the first and third ones but again, it could've been either that won that last one and it was never going to be as good as the first two. It didn't really matter but Riddick Bowe was a terrific, terrific fighter but didn't really live up to our hopes and expectations.

Yes, we all wanted him to fight Lennox Lewis but fighting against Evander Holyfield proved just how good he was. When you look at Holyfield at that time and what he'd done to Lewis, what he'd done to Tyson, to everyone at the very top of the tree, he was incredibly good and yet Bowe got the better of him. That third fight had nothing on the line apart from honour and he came out ahead. And why didn't we get the third between Lewis and Holyfield? I'll leave that one to you...

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