The 21 Greatest Welterweight Boxing Matches in History

Nearly a century of 147-pound title wars sits here, Prohibition-era brawls next to pay-per-view megafights. A few of the scorecards are still being argued over.

1. 1
   Spence vs. Porter

   Errol Spence Jr.'s 2019 split-decision unification over Shawn Porter in Los Angeles, decided by a late knockdown.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Honeyghan vs. Curry

   Lloyd Honeyghan's 1986 upset of undisputed champion Donald Curry in Atlantic City, one of the decade's great shocks.
   731pts
3. 3
   Ross vs. McLarnin I

   The 1934 Madison Square Garden Bowl fight where Barney Ross took the welterweight crown from Jimmy McLarnin, opening a famous trilogy.
   700pts
4. 4
   Napoles vs. Griffith

   Jose Napoles' 1969 decision over Emile Griffith, the Cuban-Mexican stylist's crowning win as welterweight champion.
   642pts
5. 5
   Leonard vs. Duran I

   The 1980 Brawl in Montreal, where Roberto Duran outworked Sugar Ray Leonard over 15 rounds to take the WBC welterweight title.
   642pts
6. 6
   Pacquiao vs. Cotto

   Manny Pacquiao's 2009 12th-round stoppage of Miguel Cotto for the WBO welterweight title, a record seventh division world title.
   577pts
7. 7
   Leonard vs. Hearns I

   The 1981 undisputed welterweight unification in Las Vegas, won by Sugar Ray Leonard with a 14th-round stoppage while trailing on the cards.
   576pts
8. 8
   Leonard vs. Duran II

   The 1980 'No Mas' rematch in New Orleans, where Duran quit in the eighth round after Leonard taunted and outboxed him.
   576pts
9. 9
   Robinson vs. Bell

   Sugar Ray Robinson's 1946 decision over Tommy Bell for the vacant world welterweight title, a fight with knockdowns on both sides.
   500pts
10. 10
    Walker vs. Britton

    Mickey Walker's 1922 decision over veteran champion Jack Britton at Madison Square Garden, with Britton down three times.
    500pts
11. 11
    Mayweather vs. Pacquiao

    The 2015 unification in Las Vegas, the richest fight in boxing history, won by Floyd Mayweather on a unanimous decision.
    409pts
12. 12
    Basilio vs. DeMarco II

    Carmen Basilio's 1955 12th-round stoppage of Tony DeMarco in Boston, the second of two brutal welterweight title wars.
    409pts
13. 13
    Pacquiao vs. Marquez IV

    The 2012 welterweight bout ended by Juan Manuel Marquez's one-punch knockout of Pacquiao, The Ring's Fight of the Year.
    409pts
14. 14
    Mosley vs. De La Hoya I

    Shane Mosley's 2000 split-decision win over Oscar De La Hoya at Staples Center for the WBC welterweight title.
    409pts
15. 15
    Spence vs. Crawford

    Terence Crawford's 2023 ninth-round stoppage of Errol Spence Jr. to become the first undisputed welterweight champion of the four-belt era.
    409pts
16. 16
    Leonard vs. Benitez

    Sugar Ray Leonard's 1979 15th-round stoppage of Wilfred Benitez to win his first world title, a chess match between two master boxers.
    300pts
17. 17
    Robinson vs. Gavilan II

    The 1949 title defence in which Robinson beat the Cuban Kid Gavilan over 15 hard rounds in Philadelphia.
    300pts
18. 18
    Hearns vs. Cuevas

    Thomas Hearns' 1980 second-round demolition of Pipino Cuevas in Detroit to win the WBA welterweight title.
    0pts
19. 19
    Armstrong vs. Ross

    Henry Armstrong's 1938 rout of Barney Ross, a step in his unique run as simultaneous champion in three divisions.
    0pts
20. 20
    De La Hoya vs. Trinidad

    The 1999 'Fight of the Millennium' unification won by Felix Trinidad on a disputed majority decision.
    0pts
21. 21
    Margarito vs. Cotto I

    Antonio Margarito's grinding 2008 11th-round stoppage of Miguel Cotto, later shadowed by the hand-wrap scandal.
    0pts

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