Ranking the Most Hyped Boxing and MMA Events of All Time

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Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki (June 26, 1976)

The mixed-rules bout between Inoki and Ali was hyped worldwide at the time, but its failure to live up to expectations has seen it fade over time. The pre-fight press conference with the two combatants saw Ali call Inoki “The Pelican” because of his pronounced chin and Inoki tell Ali to take care of his fist if it did hit his chin.

WWE Hall of Famer Freddie Blassie was on hand to lend his promotional muscle. Blassie shouted, with Ali in tow, “Funeral for Inoki! Extra! Extra! Read all about it!” Tens of thousands would go out to see the match on closed-circuit feeds, but fans did not get the donnybrook they were hoping for.

The fight laid the groundwork for MMA as we know it today, and MMA journalist Josh Gross detailed the fight and hype in the book Ali vs. Inoki. The fight’s legacy is less in the pre-fight hype and more in its influence decades later.

          

Mike Tyson vs. Michael Spinks (June 27, 1988)

“Once and for All” was the tagline for the bout in 1988. Both heavyweights had titles to their name and were undefeated. It harkened back to the days of Ali vs. Frazier. Eddie Futch, Spinks’ trainer, was also the trainer for Frazier.

Ninety-one seconds was all Tyson needed to become the undisputed heavyweight king. He plastered Spinks and continued a streak that set fear in the hearts of his opponents and the boxing world.

           

Mike Tyson vs. Lennox Lewis (June 8, 2002)

The build to the fight started in 2000 after Tyson knocked out Lou Savarese in 38 seconds. Jim Gray got the post-fight interview with Tyson in the ring where Tyson went on his now-infamous tirade directed at Lewis that closed with his saying: “My style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable, and I’m just ferocious. I want your heart! I want to eat his children! Praise be to Allah!”

It would be nearly two years before they finally met. Any Tyson fight was bound to be a spectacle, but his antics at the pre-fight press conference (caution: NSFW language) put the fight on another level.

The fight was already highly anticipated, but the outburst made the media rounds until the bell sounded for the first round. Sometimes it’s random moments that put the hype train on an accelerated track, and Tyson had a knack for doing just that.

            

UFC 202: McGregor vs. Diaz II (August 20, 2016)

The first fight at UFC 196 came together on short notice after then-lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos pulled out due to injury. The event still managed to grab a lot of attention in a short amount of time due to a short-notice press conference (h/t MMAFighting.com). Nate Diaz’s victory over McGregor made a rematch one of the most anticipated in MMA history.

The lead-up and performance of the event continued to show that McGregor was the bell cow of the UFC. Diaz and McGregor know how to talk trash, which made their pre-fight press events always worth watching. The interest behind this rivalry makes it one of MMA’s most hyped. 

             

UFC 205: McGregor vs. Alvarez (November 12, 2016)

UFC 205 was the first event for the UFC at Madison Square Garden. After New York legalized MMA, the UFC moved to put together a supercard with three title fights on the bill. None earned more press than the lightweight title fight between champion Eddie Alvarez and McGregor.

McGregor was seeking to become the first fighter in UFC to hold two belts at the same time. And he did.

It was a good event with history on the line.

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