7 Of The Biggest Draws In Boxing History

In this, I am going to discuss famous draws that have occurred in the history of boxing. A draw is defined as a contest that ends in a stalemate (or a tie).

It does not have a winner or a loser, and for the most part, the outcomes are very controversial. I will discuss 7 draws that have happened throughout the history of the sport.

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VITO ANTUOFERMO VS. MARVIN HAGLER 1

The first draw is Vito Antuofermo vs Marvin Hagler 1 for the Middleweight Championship on November 30, 1979, in Las Vegas, Nevada. This fight lasted 15 Rounds. Vito Antuofermo was the reigning Champion.

Going into this fight, many considered Hagler the uncrowned Champion. Hagler was a 5 to 1 favorite.   Hagler won many of the early rounds and started the contest boxing orthodox. He switched stances thru the bout. However, by the middle rounds, Vito pulled back into the fight.   The judges’ scores were (145-141 Hagler), (144-142 Antuofermo), and 143-143.

The consensus winner was Marvin Hagler. After this fight, and even later fights, Hagler thought he never got a fair shake in Nevada (unless of course, the fight ended in a knockout).

MICHAEL DOKES VS. MIKE WEAVER 2

The second draw is Michael Dokes vs Mike Weaver 2 for the WBA Heavyweight Championship on May 20, 1983, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight lasted 15 Rounds and going into the fight, the reigning Champion was Michael Dokes.


This was the first Heavyweight title fight that ended in a draw since Jack Johnson against Jim Johnson in December of 1913.  The score totals were two judges had 143-143 and 144-144, and the final had Dokes 145-141. Weaver landed the more telling effective blows but Dokes landed more frequent punches. This is the first time Dokes went 15 rounds.

Both men, especially Dokes, were well spent after the ending. The consensus winner was Mike Weaver.

SUGAR RAY LEONARD VS. THOMAS HEARNS 2

The next draw is Sugar Ray Leonard vs Thomas Hearns 2 for the WBC Super-Middleweight Championship on June 12, 1989, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight lasted 12 Rounds. Sugar Ray Leonard was the reigning Champion going into this fight.

Both men were in their 30s at the time of the fight. Hearns had been knocked out 3 times and Leonard was relatively inactive over the past several years.

Thomas Hearns scored two knockdowns in the 3rd and 11th rounds. It was the first time Leonard was knocked down twice in one fight. Leonard scored zero knockdowns. However, Leonard won a two-point round in 5th by all judges, a two-point round in 12th by one judge, and he finished strong in round twelve.

One judge had (113-112 Hearns), another had (113-112 Leonard), and one judge had it even 112-112.   The consensus winner was Thomas Hearns.

AZUMAH NELSON VS. JEFF FRENCH 1

This draw was Azumah Nelson vs Jeff Fenech 1 for the WBC Super Featherweight Championship on June 28, 1991, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The match lasted 12 Rounds and Azumah Nelson was the reigning Champion going into the match.

Jeff Fenech took the fight to the corner and ropes, dominating the action. This, ladies and gentlemen, was an action-packed, fast-paced, war of attrition. The judges’ scores were (115-113 Fenech), (116-112 Nelson), and (114-114). Jeff Fenech was the consensus winner.

JAMES TONEY VS. MIKE MCCALLUM

The next draw is James Toney vs Mike Mccallum for the IBF Middleweight Championship. The fight occurred on December 13, 1991, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. James Toney was the reigning Champion and the fight lasted 12 rounds.

Mike Mccallum came into this fight with experience and ring generalship. James Toney had the youth. He displayed wild swinging, kept on coming after McCallum, and finished strong with hard punching. Toney came on in the later rounds, and this ladies and gentlemen, was a very even contest. The fight was judged even.

PERNELL WHITAKER VS. JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ

Next, we have Pernell Whitaker vs Julio Cesar Chavez for the WBC Welterweight Championship. This fight occurred on September 10, 1993, in San Antonio, Texas. (12 Rounds). Going into the fight, Pernell Whitaker was the reigning Champion.

Whitaker was a southpaw with fast hands. His hit and move style was an absolute nightmare for Chavez. Whitaker’s hit and run tactics and slick defense frustrated Chavez because he could not cut off the ring. The judges scored (115-113 Whitaker) and 115-115 for the other two.

Pernell Whitaker was declared the consensus winner.

LENNOX LEWIS VS. EVANDER HOLYFIELD 1

 Lastly, we have Lennox Lewis vs Evander Holyfield 1 for the World Heavyweight Championship. The fight was on March 13, 1999, in New York, New York. (12 Rounds). Holyfield was the IBF-WBA Champion and Lewis was the WBC Champion at the time. 

Lennox Lewis used his superior height and long active jab to control and dictate the fight. The judges scored (115-115), (116-112 Lewis), and (115-113 Holyfield). Lennox Lewis was declared the consensus winner, but this decision was very controversial at the time.

I am your host Frank Reading and I am a middle-aged former boxing mega-fan from the 1980s-1990s. I have no allegiance or affiliation with any Boxing Organization Alliance or Federation.

I have a background in research and public speaking as well as boxing training and coaching. I hope you will enjoy the factual information provided on this program. My goal is to educated and inform the listener on the History of “The Sweet Science”

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