Boxing has seen its fair share of bizarre and unconventional bouts over the years, and many of these have captured the public’s imagination for their strangeness rather than their sporting value. From world champions facing odd opponents to celebrities stepping into the ring, here are five memorable boxing oddities that stand out for their sheer eccentricity.
1. George Foreman vs. the Toronto Five (1975)
In a spectacle that was part boxing exhibition, part endurance challenge, George Foreman faced five different opponents in a single afternoon. The event took place in Toronto, where Foreman, trying to rebuild his reputation after his defeat to Muhammad Ali in the “Rumble in the Jungle,” fought Alonzo Johnson, Pedro Agosto, Mac Foster, Terry Daniels, and Boone Kirkman. Each bout was scheduled for three three-minute rounds, and Foreman won every one. Despite the crowd’s boos and the unorthodox nature of the event, Foreman saw it as a victory in more than just a physical sense. He reflected that it was a big boost for his career, showing that he could still dominate despite the odd setup. The fact that Foreman took on five men in one afternoon only added to the legendary status of this unusual event.
2. Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio ‘The Pelican’ Inoki (1976)
One of the strangest matchups in boxing history occurred in June 1976 when Muhammad Ali stepped into the ring with Antonio Inoki, a Japanese professional wrestler. This bout was framed as a fight for the title of “Toughest Man on the Planet,” but the reality was far from a traditional boxing contest. Inoki, who was much larger than Ali, spent most of the fight on the mat, kicking at Ali’s legs while Ali did his best to dodge and avoid the kicks. Ali’s six punches throughout the 15-round affair contrasted sharply with the bizarre spectacle of Inoki’s repeated attempts to land kicks from the floor. The fight ended in a draw, with neither fighter claiming a definitive victory, leaving fans and critics alike baffled by the lack of action and strategy.
3. Muhammad Ali vs. Lyle Alzado (1979)
In 1979, Ali took on Lyle Alzado, a former NFL star, in a boxing exhibition at Mile High Stadium in Colorado. Alzado, who had dabbled in boxing before his football career, wanted to prove himself outside of the NFL. Ali, at 37 years old, was far past his prime and not in top shape, but still taunted Alzado before the fight, claiming that although he wasn’t in the condition to fight a top heavyweight, he was ready to take on a football player. The exhibition was underwhelming, and despite a crowd of 15,000, there were tens of thousands of empty seats. Ali’s lackluster performance underscored the difference between a professional boxer and an amateur athlete trying his hand at the sport, and it became an anticlimactic moment in Ali’s storied career.
4. Shaquille O’Neal vs. Oscar De La Hoya (2009)
In 2009, basketball giant Shaquille O’Neal took on boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya as part of the TV show “Shaq Vs,” where O’Neal challenged various sports figures in different disciplines. In this event, O’Neal, who had no formal boxing training, squared off against the much smaller and more experienced De La Hoya. Despite the disparity in size and skill, the match was a relatively entertaining spectacle, lasting four two-minute rounds, plus a final one-minute round. De La Hoya, with his superior boxing technique, easily outboxed O’Neal to win by unanimous decision. O’Neal later claimed he held back during the fight out of friendship for De La Hoya, but the event was less about competitive sport and more about entertainment.
5. Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor (2017)
One of the most hyped and financially successful spectacles in recent years was the 2017 crossover fight between Floyd Mayweather, the undefeated boxing champion, and Conor McGregor, a UFC superstar with no professional boxing experience. The fight was more about spectacle than sport, with McGregor entering the ring as a massive underdog despite his global popularity. The event, dubbed a “superfight,” was designed as much for entertainment and profit as for competition. Mayweather, who had previously retired from boxing, came out of retirement for the showdown, earning a reported $100 million. Despite McGregor’s bravado and aggressive start, Mayweather dominated the later rounds, ultimately winning by TKO in the 10th. The fight, which ended McGregor’s boxing debut, marked the point where boxing and MMA truly collided on the world stage.
Each of these bouts, while certainly odd, has become part of the lore of the sport, remembered not for their technical prowess but for their unusual circumstances and the spectacle they created. Whether it was Foreman taking on five men, Ali fighting a wrestler in Tokyo, or Mayweather facing off against a UFC fighter, these events continue to be a fascinating chapter in the history of boxing.
