UK vs America: Sportsmail decide the superior boxing nation
Great Britain vs America: Tyson Fury is dominating the heavyweight boxing scene, while Muhammad Ali put the USA on the map… Sportsmail look at who is really the superior boxing nation
- There is a fierce rivalry between the USA and UK when it comes to boxing
- The MGM Grand Garden Arena has become one of the biggest boxing venues
- British heavyweight boxers are currently dominating the USA heavyweights
- The supporters in the UK were called superior by boxing icon Michael Buffer
- Sportsmail have looked at who the superior nation is when it comes to boxing
The rivalry between British and American boxers has been at the forefront of the sport ever since Bob Fitzsimmons crossed the Atlantic in 1890 to take on some of the biggest names in the United States.
The rivalry between the two nations has transcended the sport, with fans across the world debating over which country has the better fans, venues and world champions.
Muhammad Ali became an American archetype after establishing himself as a boxing legend with a final record of 56 wins and 5 losses with 37 knockouts.
While Tyson Fury is dominating the current heavyweight boxing scene after defending his WBC title against Derek Chisora.
However, there has been great debates over who is the superior boxing nation – with discussions intensifying following Fury’s trilogy with Deontay Wilder and Dillian Whyte’s bout with Jermaine Franklin.
So, with the above in mind, Sportsmail have compared the two nations, taking into consideration: venues, world champions, fans and iconic fights over the years.
Sportsmail has compared America and the UK as boxing nations, taking into consideration: venues, world champions, fans and iconic fights over the years
Venues like Madison Square Garden in New York and the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas have become highly sought-after locations for boxing events.
They have hosted some of the biggest fights in history and will continue to dominate the boxing calendar.
In the UK, boxing events have traditionally taken place at the O2 and Wembley. However, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has established itself as one of the up-and-coming spots for highly anticipated bouts.
Winner: USA
Venues like Madison Square Garden in New York and the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas have become highly sought-after locations for boxing events
In the UK, boxing events have traditionally taken place at the O2 and Wembley. However, the Tottenham Hotspur stadium has established itself as one of the up-and-coming spots as well
World Champions: American vs British
Americans certainly ruled the roost back in the day.
They produced the likes of Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Rocky Marciano, Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Roy Jones Jr, Andre Ward, Oscar De La Hoya, Bernard Hopkins, Shane Mosley, and Floyd Mayweather Jr, among others.
While the UK produced former featherweight world champion Prince Naseem Hamed, heavyweight boxing icon Lennox Lewis, former super middleweight world champion Joe Calzaghe, and former junior welterweight legend Ricky Hatton.
I think it’s fair to say the USA dominated back in the day but the British heavyweights are currently taking the division by storm. You’ve got the likes of Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, Joe Joyce, Dillian Whyte and Daniel Dubois all inside the top 10.
Winner: America for their past champions, UK for their current champions
Americans certainly ruled the roost back in the day. They produced the likes of Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Leonard (above), Rocky Marciano, Muhammad Ali and more
British fighters are currently dominating the heavyweight division – with the likes of Tyson Fury
Boxing fans: Why the British are superior
America may be leading the race when it comes to boxing venues. But, it’s safe to safe the United Kingdom have a larger fan-base.
The term ‘boxing’ is Googled an average of 225,000 times a month in the UK. Over 493,000 people participated in boxing in 2021, while 775,000 people participated in 2020.
Boxing fans in the UK have also been credited with better attendance figures of fight night events.
Michael Buffer, who is famous for his ‘let’s get ready to rumble’ catchphrase, said the British fans were superior to the American fans during an interview in 2017.
America may be leading the race when it comes to boxing venues. But, it’s safe to safe the United Kingdom have a larger fan-base
Michael Buffer, who is famous for his ‘let’s get ready to rumble’ catchphrase, said the British fans were superior to the American fans during an interview in 2017
Speaking to the Express, Buffer said: ‘We just did a sellout fight in Las Vegas – Canelo vs GGG – and for the two or three fights before the main event, there was nobody in their seats.
‘There was nobody there. We’re not talking about major league boxing fans – they’re just people who want to come and see the main event.
‘But for the fights here in the UK, the stadium or arena is packed four or five hours before the main event with hardcore, knowledgable, appreciative fans. That’s the biggest difference. They are true fans who know what they are looking at.’
Winner: UK
Biggest fights between the USA and UK
Mike Tyson vs Frank Bruno
Mike Tyson vs Frank Bruno was one of the most epic battles to have taken place between an American and British boxer. In 1989, Bruno travelled to Las Vegas to face Tyson – who was unbeaten as the world heavyweight champion.
Both fighters came out flying. The tone for the bout had been set. Tyson knocked Bruno down with a strong right hook, but the Brit managed to collect himself and rise to his feet on the second count.
Bruno caused some damage of his own. With just 50 seconds left in the first round, Bruno caught Tyson with a left hook–right hand combination to the side of the head. It was marked the first time Tyson had been hurt in his professional career.
Nevertheless, Tyson went on to dominate the fight before referee Richard Steel stepped in to wave the contest off in the fifth round.
Winner: USA
Mike Tyson vs Frank Bruno was one of the most epic battles to have taken place between an American and British boxer
Floyd Mayweather vs Ricky Hatton
Floyd Mayweather and Ricky Hatton with both go down in history as boxing legends. However, it is Mayweather who emerged victorious from their blockbuster bout in 2007.
Mayweather was the favourite heading into the fight, but both boxers were undefeated. Nevertheless, Hatton had the better record, 43-0 with 31 knockouts, compared to Floyd Mayweather’s 38-0 with 24 knockouts.
Hatton struggled to get off the mark. He escaped two early knockouts to take the fight to the 10th round. However, Mayweather finished him off, winning via TKO.
Although Hatton will have been disappointed with the result, there was a lot for him to be proud of.
Not many people could push ‘Money’ the way he had and the 45-year-old American boxer still refers to him as ‘one hell of a champion and a UK legend’.
Winner: USA
Floyd Mayweather and Ricky Hatton (right) will both go down in history as boxing legends
Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder
Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder is one of the more recent trilogies that captured the attention of boxing fans all around the world. Not only was it a battle between two heavyweight giants, it was a showdown between Britain and America.
Fury and Wilder’s first fight took place in December 2018. The bout came to a controversial ending, with the judges deeming the contest a draw.
The pair went head-to-head in a rematch in February 2020, with Fury winning via seventh-round technical knockout to secure the WBC and vacant Ring magazine heavyweight titles.
Fury gave Wilder the chance to redeem himself by agreeing to a trilogy fight. However, the Gypsy King emerge victorious via an 11th-round knockout.
Fury went over to shake Wilder’s hand after the fight but the American boxer refused to acknowledge his rival.
Winner: UK
Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder is one of the more recent trilogies that captured the attention of boxing fans all around the world
Muhammad Ali vs Henry Cooper
Muhammad Ali and Henry Cooper went head-to-head on two separate occasions. Ali won both fights and went on to become a boxing legend with a final record of 56 wins and five losses with 37 knockouts.
Ali – who was still called Cassius Clay at the time – first fought Cooper in 1963. The British boxer was not the biggest heavyweight boxer but he was fast and packed a good punch.
Cooper was known for starting slow, but he came out of his corner flying against Ali. In the closing seconds of the fourth round, Cooper landed a strong left-hook to send Ali crashing to the canvas.
Muhammad Ali and Henry Cooper went head-to-head on two separate occasions
But, Ali promised to knock Cooper out in the fifth round – stating ‘it ain’t no jive, Henry Cooper will go in five!’ before the fight.
Ali’s prediction proved to be right as referee Tommy Little stepped in and waved off the fight in the fifth round after the British boxer received a flurry of punches.
Ali’s onslaught split the skin above Cooper’s left eye. His face, body and gloves were covered in blood as a result. The pair went head-to-head for a second time in 1966. Ali emerged victorious again, winning in the sixth round.
However, Ali remained very complimetary about Cooper after the second fight.
When asked about the British boxer, he said: ‘Cooper is the best fighter I ever met. He’s really a great fighter and you can’t take anything away from him. He shook me every time he hit me.’
Winner: USA
Ali – who was still called Cassius Clay at the time – first fought Cooper in 1963
Ali (right) was crowned the winner in the fifth round after cutting Cooper’s left eye open
Lennox Lewis vs Evander Holyfield
On March 13, 1999, Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield went head-to-head at Madison Square Garden. Lewis was looking to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion from the UK when he faced the IBF and WBA titleholder.
However the judges scored the bout as a 12-round split decision draw. Lewis was devastated after producing a stellar performance. Speaking after the fight he said: ‘I was really disappointed at the time.
‘But, as the days and weeks went by, I realized that the people knew who the champion was. I was okay because I was going off public opinion. I’d accomplished what I wanted to accomplish, and the world knew I was the best.
In 1999, Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield went head-to-head at Madison Square Garden
‘There were people, mostly American fans, saying, ‘Oh, well, you had him hurt, you should have took him out!’ But I fought intelligently because Holyfield is known for faking being hurt, then he’ll lure you into a trap.
‘I wasn’t taking chances or punching myself out. Holyfield had an extensive amateur career, he should have won the Olympics (at light heavyweight in 1984) and, like me, he takes the sport very seriously. I knew what I was up against.’
Lewis and Holyfield activated the re-match clause and fought again in 1999. Lewis admitted to being underprepared for the second fight and said Holyfield was much better second time around.
Nevertheless, Lewis won the majority of the late rounds. As a result, he emerged victorious. The official score cards from the fight were: 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113.
Winner: UK
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