With the boxing world preparing for another record-breaking year, I have pressed the recall key and replayed in my head the most memorable world titles fights I've covered on SunSport.
You could have done dozens, but these are my top ten chronologically.
Smokin' Joe Frazier - Muhammad Ali, WBC, WBA World Heavyweight Title, Madison Square Garden New York, March 8, 1971
Two unbeaten world heavyweight champions were able to fight each other for the first time. It was "Fight of the Century"!
Each man received $2.5million. This was a staggering sum back then. The Garden atmosphere on Monday night was so intense that two men died of heart attack before the event even started.
As Ali and Frazier fought it out, the excitement was palpable.
Ali was caught with a deadly left hook in round one and Joe continued throwing punches unabated.
Frazier was deserved the points win at the end the intense 15-round fight. Ali, who had lost his unbeaten record, had to be admitted to the hospital because his jaw was swelling.
These are two things that I will never forget. Frank Sinatra was accompanied by a photographer who passed his neck while he worked ringside at Life Magazine. Joe Louis received a standing ovation as Joe Louis made his way to the ringside seat.
Result - Frazier unanimous 15 round point win
George Foreman-Muhammad Ali, WBC,WBA world heavyweight title, Stade du 20 Mai, Kinshasa, Zaire, October 30, 1974
The Rumble in Jungle is the most well-known fight in boxing history. It has been seen by over one billion people worldwide.
Because Zaire President Mobutu was one of Africa's most brutal dictators, it was staged at 4am in this strange location. Ali and Foreman shared the PS10m.
Ali, 32, was not likely to win back his title. Ali, 32, was not likely to win back his world title. Unbeaten Foreman is a brutal puncher who had killed all but three of his 40 victims. Many felt Ali would end up in hospital, or worse.
Foreman was able to punch himself in the face with 50,00 locals shouting "Ali Bomaye".
Big George was exhausted by the eighth round and Ali, with a left-right combination, sent him spinning to the canvas for counting.
As the British writer who predicted an Ali victory, I must admit that I was unprofessional at the end. I jumped out of my press chair and pounded the air with joy.
Result - Ali wins by KO in round 8 2mins 58secs
Muhammad Ali-Smokin Joe Frzier, WBC,WBA World Heavyweight Title, Araneta Stadium Manila, October 1,1975
The Thrilla in Manila was by far the most brutal and vicious world heavyweight championship fight that I have ever seen.
Ali and Frazier were both way beyond their best and couldn't stop the fights. They practically punched each other to death.
Frazier's left eye was closed at the end of the 14th round. He was on his feet when referee Carlos Padilla led him back to his corner.
Joe sank on his stool, legendary trainer Eddie Futch looked at him and called off the fight despite Frazier’s protestations.
Futch told Joe, "Sit down son. It's over." Joe was trying to get up to leave for the last three minutes. However, no one will ever forget the things you did today.
Ali, who was equally exhausted, said that "that's the closest I've been"
He winced when asked when he would watch the replay of the fight and replied "Who wants to go back to hell twice?"
Result: Ali won after Frazier retired at the end of round 14
Sugar Ray Leonard-Roberto Duran WBC world welterweight title. Olympic Stadium, Montreal. June 20, 1980
It is rare to see two of the greatest boxers in history fight each other. Leonard and Duran put on a stunning, captivating 15-round display of all that is best about boxing.
It was an amazing display of non-stop action that ebbed, flowed with both men showing all their skill and speed.
There were no knockdowns, and not one drop of blood was shed. This fight is still my favorite in over fifty years of covering the sport. It should be shown at every amateur club in the world to show youngsters what the Noble Art really is.
Leonard made the error of trying to out-macho macho men and was punished. Although Sugar Ray won, Duran was able to take the title.
Harry Gibbs, a British judge, declared him a winner by one point
Result. Duran won with a unanimous 15-round points win.
Sugar Ray Leonard-Thomas "Hitman" Hearns WBC, WBA unification title world welterweight title Caesars Palace, Las Vegas September 16, 1981
They provided enough energy to light up Vegas, and kept the 23,000 people on the edge of the seats from beginning to end.
Unbeaten Hearns (WBA champion), the 6ft 2in freakof-nature with dynamite and dynamite, boxed brilliantly behind his trombone left jab. Leonard, an all-round champion, didn't have an answer and was well on his way to defeat.
Angelo Dundee, Leonard's great motivating cornerman and trainer, yelled at Leonard before the start of round 13.
Sugar Ray showed the difference between the great and the good. Hearns was thrown into the air by Sugar Ray, who jumped at him and hurled at him with precise combination punches at blinding speed. Hearns was knocked unconscious by the explosive attack, but he survived to the end.
It was evident that he wasn't fully recovered when he returned for the 14th. Leonard had him trapped against the ropes, and was about to kill him when Davey Pearl intervened to save him.
Leonard was not included in the scores of the three judges.
Result Leonard By TKO 1min 45secs from round 14
Marvin Hagler Thomas 'Hitman" Hearns, WBC.WBA.IBF world middleweight title Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, April 15, 1985
This X-rated violence fight was regarded as the most violent since the 1922 Dempsey Firpo fight.
I was doing inter-round summaries for BBC radio and my jaw was open in disbelief as Ian Darke was helping me.
Darke asked me to comment, and my mouth was dry.
Hagler and Hearns fought with each other with the kinda ferocity that horror movies can only imagine.
They fought again in round 2. Hagler was bleeding from his forehead after an accidental headbutt.
The third wound was still bleeding. Referee Richard Steele stopped action to examine the wound and asked Hagler: Can you see?" Marvin responded, "I'm missing him aren't I?"
Hagler smashed into Hearns, fearing that the fight might be stopped, and dropped him. Tommy won the count, but his legs were not strong enough to hold him upright and he was thrown into Steele's arms.
Although the action lasted only seven minutes, those of us who were there will always remember one of the greatest tear-ups of all time.
Result: Hagler KO 1min 52secs in Round 3
Amazing Marvin Hagler-Sugar Ray Leonard WBC world middleweight title, Caesars Palace Las Vegas, April 6, 1987
Leonard, who had been out of action for three years due to a detached retina, nearly died when he announced that he would be back to challenge Hagler (one of the great middleweight champions).
Leonard was unable to deal with Hagler, especially after such a long wait.
Marvin was at his Palm Springs training camp, so I asked him whether he was worried that one of his punches might cause Leonard blindness.
His chilling reply was "I'd love to knock his eye out, and watch it roll across a canvas."
Leonard displayed a rare display of artistry and cunning, as it turned out.
People who saw Anthony Joshua defeat Andy Ruiz in 2019 thought that they were witnessing a masterclass. They should see Leonard's performance against Hagler. Then they will know what a real masterclass looks like.
Hagler was too smart for him, and that's why Leonard is, pound-for pound, the greatest fighter I have ever seen.
He would have defeated Floyd Mayweather Jr., I believe.
Result - Leonard won a 12 Round Split Points decision
Mike Tyson-Buster Douglas WBC, WBA and IBF, world heavyweight title. Tokyo Dome, February 11, 1990
Iron Mike Tyson, The Baddest Man on Earth, had steamed through 37 unbeaten fights, and was using Douglas (42-1), as a tune up for an epic battle with Evander Holyfield.
Tyson was experiencing severe problems outside of the ring - he was close to an acrimonious split with Robin Givens, and was involved in major managerial disputes.
Rumours circulated that he was less than diligent with training, and Greg Page had beaten him during a sparring session.
No one could have imagined what was about to happen when Tyson faced Douglas in front 40,000 polite Japanese.
Douglas, who Don King called "a dog" and was sure to be waggin' his tail after outboxing Tyson and outfighting him before knocking him out the tenth round to end Iron Mike’s invincibility for good.
This is the biggest upset in boxing history. My most vivid memory is of Tyson, who was confused and unable to tell if he was in Tokyo, or Timbuktu. He was trying desperately to get his gum shield back in his mouth while he was being counted.
Result Douglas KKO 1min 22secs Round 10
Oliver McCall-Frank Bruno WBC world heavyweight title. Wembley Stadium September 2, 1995
In his quest to win the most prestigious prize in sports, Tim Witherspoon and Tyson knocked Frank Bruno out. In front of a crowd of over 40,000, he was allowed one last chance against Oliver McCall who had been his sparring partner.
Bruno was boxing intelligently behind the jab and delighting his fans. He had three rounds left to go, but he was losing points, just as he had done so frustrately in the past.
McCall recognizing that he may still be able save his crown, McCall continued to fight and the tension was unbearable. Bruno barely managed to hold on to the last bell.
As Frank raised his hand in victory, there were many tears as Frank and his supporters joyfully sang Land of Hope and Glory.
He was a true bulldog and became the heavyweight world champion at the fourth attempt.
There couldn't be a British household, from Buckingham Palace to the council homes, that wasn't happy for him.
Result: Bruno won a unanimous 12 round points decision
Evander Holyfield-Mike Tyson, WBA world title heavyweight, MGM Grand Arena Las Vegas, June 28, 1997
I thought I knew everything about boxing - the good, bad and ugly - until those few moments of madness on the Vegas Strip in the middle of summer.
It was disgusting to see Tyson eat a piece Holyfield's right ear, then spit it out onto the canvas in the third round.
Tyson attempted to do the exact same thing with Holyfield’s other ear right before the bell rang to make it impossible for Mills Lane to disqualify him from what would become known as The Bite Fight.
Tyson claimed that he was retaliating against being head-butted constantly.
The truth is closer to the truth than you might think. Holyfield was set to give him another beating seven months ago when he stopped him in eleven rounds.
Mike was suspended for 12 months and fined $3 million for his unspeakable behavior. Mike, the one-time Baddest Man on the Planet, had lost all respect for himself and his credibility.
Result - Tyson disqualified at the end of Round 3
