Ahead of David Haye's fight against John Ruiz, we reflect on 10 of the best world title fights on home soil.
With David Haye's WBA heavyweight title defence against John Ruiz around the corner we reflect on 10 of the best world title fights on home soil.
1 Bruno v McCall
At the fourth time of asking, Briton's favourite boxer claimed a version of the heavyweight title with a gut-wrenching victory over Oliver McCall at Wembley in 1995.
Bruno had come so close against Tim Witherspoon almost a decade earlier, while Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis had proved different class.
But with Tyson behind bars, England's finest laid it all on the line against the 'Atomic Bull', winning a unanimous points decision to the delight of a partizan crowd.
2 Conteh v Ahumada
The Liverpudlian earned a narrow decision over the Argentine at Wembley in 1974 but proved a solid champion, defending his WBC light-heavyweight belt three times.
3 Benn v Eubank
Two entries for the 'Dark Destroyer', his first coming in defeat to Chris Eubank, who won the first of two thrillers with Benn at the NEC, Birmingham.
Benn was the holder of the WBO strap in 1990 before an unbeaten Eubank came along, the pair already openly admitted their dislike of each other.
And it showed in the ring, a brutal contest mercifully ending in the ninth with the judges barely able to split the two warriors at the time.
4 Calzaghe v Lacy
The Welshman had reigned as WBO champ for eight years but raised his profile significantly by dominating the undefeated American to unify the belts in Manchester.
Calzaghe had been going through the motions for the best part of a decade before finally luring IBF champion and highly considered Lacy to the MEN.
But the 'Pride of Wales' won almost every round in a one-sided contest that proved once-and-for-all Calzaghe was the real deal.
5 Hatton v Tszyu
Arguably the Hitman's best performance as he raised the roof of the MEN Arena with a late stoppage victory over the ageing IBF champion to win his first title.
Hatton was given the title shot he deserved and didn't let his supporters down with a courageous and relentless offensive display.
The barrage eventually wore down the Australian, who was behind on the scorecards before reluctantly failing to answer the bell for the 11th round.
6 Turpin v Robinson
The 'Leamington Licker' stunned the world by handing the amazing Sugar Ray Robinson only the second loss of his career at Earl's Court in 1951.
Robinson had won 90 fights in succession and was coming to the end of a six-fight tour of Europe when he put the middleweight title on the line against Turpin.
But for whatever reason, Turpin dominated the action and was given nine of the 15 rounds by the referee to hand the Briton one of the biggest upset victories of all time.
7 Hamed v Robinson
The Prince was crowned king of the featherweight division with a clinical eighth-round stoppage of Steve Robinson in Cardiff.
Hamed had proved his power at super-bantamweight, stopping virtually everyone in his path, but there were still questions to be answered on his first foray into the featherweights.
But the Sheffield boxer was well on top by the time he knockout out the Welshman in the eighth round.
8 Benn v McClennan
In one of the most thrilling, if brutal fights ever witnessed on these shores, Benn earned a 10th round stoppage victory over the ill-fated American at the Docklands Arena.
Such was the power of McClennan - who hadn't been beyond five rounds in years - fans feared for Benn's safety.
Those concerns were only heightened when Benn hit the deck in the first round, only for the Londoner to overcome terrible odds and force a 10th round stoppage.
9 Stracey v Lewis
The Londoner capped a long, successful career by making the first defence of his WBC welterweight title at Wembley in 1976 - he lost it three months later.
The popular Stracey had got off the floor to beat Jose Napoles and claim the sought-after strap, and proved it was no fluke with a commanding victory over Lewis, the referee bringing the fight to a halt in the 10th round.
10 McGuigan v Pedroza
The Clones Cyclone's finest hour came when he won the WBA featherweight title in front of 26,000 fans at Loftus Road in 1985.
Wearing his heart on his sleeve, McGuigan dropped the Panamanian in the seventh round before clinching a unanimous points victory.
