It’s the weekend, and there’s still a month to go for the David Morrell–David Benavidez clash. Add twenty more days’ wait for the Artur Beterbiev–Dmitry Bivol showdown. Yes, the Jai Opetaia–David Nyika match is just around the corner on Wednesday. But what should diehard boxing fans do in the meantime? The best suggestion—rewatch a few unforgettable fights from recent memory. There are multiple choices depending on your taste.

If you’re in the mood for timeless classics, delve into the era of ‘Sugar’ Ray Robinson, Rocky Marciano, Joe Louis, and Archie Moore. Or fast-forward to the golden age of heavyweight boxing, defined by Muhammad Ali‘s legendary bouts with Joe Frazier, George Foreman, and Ken Norton. The 1980s and 1990s also offer easy picks, with the legendary clashes of the ‘Four Kings’ and the electrifying dominance of Mike Tyson. For fans of the late 1990s and early 2000s, names like Roy Jones Jr., Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather Jr., and Manny Pacquiao surely ring a bell. But to keep things more recent, here is a curated list of five modern-day classics from 2010 to 2024—bouts that have left an indelible mark on the sport.

Juan Manuel Márquez vs. Manny Pacquiao IV – December 8, 2012

The fourth fight in the iconic Pacquiao-Márquez rivalry is nothing short of legendary. Their storied series began in 2004 and included three closely contested bouts. Many fans viewed the outcomes of the first three fights—a split-decision draw and two razor-thin Pacquiao victories—as controversial. The final chapter came on December 8, 2012, delivering a definitive, unforgettable conclusion at the MGM Grand Arena.

The ‘Fight of the Decade’ began with Pacquiao appearing to take control in the first two rounds, but Juan Manuel Márquez found his rhythm in the third, landing a massive overhand right that knocked Manny Pacquiao down. The Mexican fighter continued to excel with precise counterpunching. By the fifth round, Pacquiao responded by dropping Márquez with a powerful left hand. The tension peaked in the sixth, with Pacquiao pressing the attack, seemingly on the verge of ending the fight.

But with just seconds remaining in the round, Márquez unleashed a perfectly timed overhand right, flooring Pacquiao face-first in one of the most dramatic knockouts in boxing history. The stunning finish earned Ring Magazine’s ‘Fight of the Year’ and ‘Knockout of the Year’ honors. For his third knockout loss, Pacquiao received a guaranteed purse of $26 million against Marquez’s $6 million. To this day, it remains a must-watch.

Gennady Golovkin vs. Canelo Álvarez II – September 15, 2018

The rematch between Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Álvarez came a year after their controversial first fight, which ended in a disputed draw. The rematch, held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, had its own share of drama leading up to the fight. Originally slated for May 5, the ‘Final Judgement’ was postponed after Álvarez served a suspension for a failed drug test. When the two finally squared off in September, expectations were sky-high.

In front of a sold-out crowd, both Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin went all out against each other. Canelo brought the aggression, pushing the pace, while Golovkin relied on his powerful counters. The back-and-forth action saw both fighters exchange dominant rounds. In the second half, Álvarez’s body shots began to make the difference. Golovkin rallied late, but it wasn’t enough to sway the judges. Canelo emerged victorious via majority decision (115-112, 115-112, 114-114). The highly competitive fight saw Gennady Golovkin connecting with 27% of his punches against Alvarez’s 33%.

The duo went on to fight one more time four years later. As in the rematch, Canelo Alvarez won the trilogy as well, winning it unanimously. Business-wise, with over $23 million in gate and more than 1.1. million pay-per-view buyouts, the fight proved a resounding success.

Errol Spence Jr. vs. Shawn Porter – September 28, 2019

When Errol Spence Jr. faced Shawn Porter in 2019, it was a unification bout for the IBF and WBC welterweight titles. The fight took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and was an instant classic.

Porter started fast, bringing relentless aggression, while Spence gradually found his rhythm, targeting Porter’s body with punishing shots. By the midway point, the fight was evenly poised, with both fighters trading rounds. The action intensified in the later stages, culminating in the eleventh round, when Spence dropped Porter with a sharp left hook. Porter recovered quickly and fought back valiantly in the final round, landing a powerful right hand that briefly stunned Spence.

In the end, Spence earned a split-decision victory (116-111, 116-111, 112-115), cementing his place as one of boxing’s top welterweights. The fight’s high-octane action and competitiveness make it a must-rewatch.

Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder III—October 9, 2021

After he defeated Wladimir Klitschko and secured the unified heavyweight title, Tyson Fury stepped out of the ring and returned only in 2018. Following two non-title bouts, he was ready to face the WBC champion from the United States, Deontay Wilder. The December clash at the Staples Center ended in a draw with Wilder retaining his title. Two years later, Fury returned for the rematch. The final chapter in the Fury-Wilder trilogy is often described as a modern heavyweight masterpiece.

Though he started explosively, Deontay Wilder was forced to take a step back in the first round when a straight right from Fury neatly connected on his face. ‘The Gypsy King’ repeated the pattern in the second round, with yet another straight right. Though he rebounded in the third, Wilder suffered a knockdown when Fury’s combinations—right-right and left—found their mark.

Finally, in the fourth round, Wilder’s right landed straight on Fury’s face, knocking him down. He got up only to face another knockdown when, with just fifteen minutes left in the round, a short right from Wilder threw him down. The fight seesawed with Fury often pinning Wilder against the ropes. In the tenth, the crowd witnessed a fifth knockdown when a short right from Fury felled Wilder. It was becoming increasingly clear—Deontay Wilder had walked to the limits of his tenacity.

Finally, he gave up in the eleventh round when Fury’s right hook connected and dropped him. This time Wilder couldn’t get up, and the referee called off the fight. Commentators called the fight ‘a modern-day classic.’ It was Ring magazine’s 2021 Fight of the Year.

Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano – April 30, 2022

In a historic moment for women’s boxing, Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano headlined Madison Square Garden on April 30, 2022. The fight was billed as the ‘biggest women’s fight of all time’, and it lived up to the hype.

Katie Taylor became an undisputed lightweight champion in 2019. Against Serrano, it was her sixth title defense. Already a unified featherweight champion, Serrano moved up a division to challenge Taylor. Originally slated for 2020, the face-off underwent two postponements before receiving the April 30 schedule. Displaying outstanding fighting skills, both Serrano and Taylor went after each other. Fighting from the inside, Serrano kept the pressure on Taylor during the early rounds.

However, as the rounds progressed, the Puerto Rican fighter slowed down as she moved around the ring chasing the Irish champion. Gradually the fight moved to ring center. Taylor found her mark. The fierce exchange between the two in the fifth round had all the spectators rising from their seats.

Taylor found herself answerless against Serrano’s relentless combinations. Though bleeding and looking tired, she kept on fighting. Regaining confidence, by the seventh round, she started gaining ground. Working on a combination of body shots and clinches, Taylor slowed down Serrano. Many felt that Serrano won the fight. Out of the three judges, two awarded the fight in Taylor’s favor 97-93 and 96-93, and the remaining one kept it 94-96 in Serrano’s favor.

These five fights offer a glimpse into the drama, skill, and heart that define modern boxing. Which of these bouts will you revisit this weekend? Or do you have a favorite fight that deserves a mention? Let us know!