Ali, Tyson, Hatton, Haye, Froch, Benn, Eubank, Bellew and more
Wednesday 22 March 2017 19:05, UK
Kell Brook is following in the footsteps of Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Ricky Hatton, Carl Froch, David Haye and many of Britain's biggest names as he takes on Errol Spence Jr at his beloved Bramall Lane, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Here are a dream dozen fighters that saw boxing and football combine, with unforgettable outcomes...
Three years earlier at Wembley, "Enry's 'Ammer" clocked a 21-year-old Cassius Clay in what became one of the most famous punches in boxing history. Clay, of course, survived due to some shady shenanigans in his corner before stopping a bloodied Cooper, but the controversy warranted a rematch at Arsenal's first stadium. Renamed Ali, the American legend returned to London as world heavyweight champion but the majority of the 46,000 attendees roared for Cooper. Ali, 23-0 at the time, withstood an early barrage and stopped Cooper in the sixth due to a cut.
Glasgow's favourite had won his world lightweight title at the iconic Kelvin Hall in November over a year before, but made his third defence at the home of Rangers. Howard Davis Jr had won an Olympic gold and the Outstanding Boxer award at the 1976 games in Montreal and had won all 13 pro fights. Yet Watt was on home soil, welcomed into the ring by the Flower of Scotland at his peak. A classic 15-round show saw him secure a huge home win.
Barry McGuigan beat Eusebio Pedroza at Loftus Road, 1985
Ireland crowned their first world champion in 35 years at Queen's Park Rangers' stadium in west London, which was turned green for McGuigan's greatest night. He became WBA featherweight champion in front of 27,000 supporters after unanimously outpointing the Panamanian, who had previously strung together 19 successful title defences.
Frank Bruno beat Joe Bugner at White Hart Lane, 1987
The visiting Bugner had twice boxed Ali, once faced Joe Frazier and dished out defeat to Cooper but those histrionics did not matter in London against one of the most popular athletes of a generation. Bruno, 32-2 at the time, enjoyed overwhelming support at Tottenham's ground and won via an eighth-round stoppage to earn another crack at the world heavyweight title.
Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn drew at Old Trafford, 1993
The aggression of Eubank's win over Benn in Birmingham three years earlier could only have been matched by the personal animosity between the two men, who staged one of the most thrilling all-British dust-ups ever. Don King promoted a rematch at Manchester United's famous venue to unify Eubank's WBO super-middleweight title and Benn's WBC belt, ruling that the winner must join his stable of fighters. However, the rematch never lived up to their iconic first fight and, scored as a draw, meant King left empty handed, too.
Born in south London, Bentt grew up in America yet his first - and sadly final fight - took him back home to the New Den, the home of Millwall. Bentt had the support and the WBO heavyweight title that he'd taken from Tommy Morrison with a first-round KO, on the line. He was sporting a Millwall cap in the press conference with Hide but a heavy knockout saw Bentt lose his world title and never fight again.
Mike Tyson beat Lou Savarese at Hampden Park, 2000
Those in attendance at Scotland's national team's stadium left feeling short-changed after Savarese hit the canvas after 15 seconds, before Tyson finished the job inside a minute, and even found time to shove the referee down. There was also the small matter of Zab Judah defending his IBF light-welterweight title against Sheffield's Junior Witter.
Ricky Hatton beat Juan Lazcano at the City of Manchester Stadium, 2008
Manchester City supporter Hatton was afforded a hero's reception in his comeback fight after losing to Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas. He defeated the 'Hispanic Causing Panic' on the turf that his beloved football team played on having incited an emotional atmosphere with his trademark 'Blue Moon' entrance. The 55,000 captivated by Hatton's unanimous decision win, including a host of Manchester-based footballers, set a record for the highest boxing attendance that was only broken by Carl Froch and George Groves six years later.
Kevin Mitchell lost to Michael Katsidis at Upton Park, 2010
Mitchell, the affable East End underdog, suffered the cruellest of defeats by losing for the first time at the home of West Ham United. The Hammers supporter was introduced to the 15,000 expectant fans by a rendition of 'I'm forever blowing bubbles' by punk band, Cockney Rejects, but the raucous mood dimmed after the first bell. Australia's Katsidis delivered a surprisingly powerful performance and shocked Mitchell - and his fellow Londoners - with a third-round stoppage.
Wladimir Klitschko beat David Haye at the Imtech Arena, 2011
The mighty Ukrainian had turned Germany into his personal stronghold throughout his iron grip of the heavyweight division, and out-jabbed Haye for 12 rounds at Hamburg's stadium five years ago. Haye had riled both Klitschko brothers in a fiery build-up, but wasn't able to end the most dominant heavyweight title reign of the 21st century.
Carl Froch beat George Groves at Wembley, 2014
One of British boxing's grandest occasions concluded with a spectacular one-punch knockout from Froch that folded Groves beneath him. The controversial manner of Froch's original win in Manchester resulted in a spiteful feud that warranted a stadium rematch, and the 80,000 that watched the super-middleweight world title fight remains the biggest UK boxing crowd ever.
Bellew had already become a Hollywood star but even he couldn't write the sensational script that saw him be crowned the WBC world cruiserweight champion. The lifelong Toffee came into Z-Cars and his fellow fans behind him, was put down in the first but recovered and knocked Makabu out in the third round. An explosive, emotional and unforgettable night for Bellew, British boxing and especially those in Blue.
