Lamont Peterson’s upset of light welterweight champion Amir Khan on Saturday night at the Washington Convention Center was the rare title fight that exceeded the hype. Few in Washington boxing history have. Here are five ranked worst to first. 5. Riddick Bowe def. Jesse Ferguson (RFK Stadium, 1993) » This ill-conceived HBO debacle drew just 12,000 to rainy RFK and ended appropriately with a second-round knockout.
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4. Muhammad Ali def. Alfredo Evangelista (Capital Centre, 1977) » Ali won in 15 forgettable rounds. ABC’s Howard Cosell provided the most memorable TV moment, saying of the underdog: “[His] height I think is grossly overstated at 6-2. He looks closer to 5-10 … He has virtually no neck.”
3. Sugar Ray Leonard def. Davey “Boy” Green (Capital Centre, 1980) » Four months after beating Wilfredo Benitez to become a world champion for the first time, Leonard landed a thunderous left hook in the fourth round, appearing to knock out the Englishman before he hit the canvas.
2. Muhammad Ali def. Jimmy Young (Capital Centre, 1976) » This 15-rounder was best remembered for the circus atmosphere as D.C. welcomed the world’s most famous athlete. Other winners on the card that night were Larry Holmes and Ken Norton.
1. Joe Louis def Buddy Baer (Griffith Stadium, 1941) » Louis had to rally after getting knocked through the ropes in the first round by the underdog. Louis won on a disqualification after six wild rounds in a fight then considered the most action-packed in the heavyweight division since Jack Dempsey-Luis Firpo (1923).
– Kevin Dunleavy
