Famous Boxing Tetralogies

SI Staff | Dec 6, 2012

Famous Boxing Tetralogies

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After losing two contested decisions to Manny Pacquiao and settling for a draw in their first fight, Juan Manuel Marquez scored a dramatic knockout victory when they faced off for a fourth time on Dec. 8 at the MGM Grand, putting an end (perhaps) to one of boxing's classic four-fight series. Here's a look at eight other notable fistic tetraologies.

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This entertaining series between Mexican super bantamweights took place between 2007 and 2010, with each fighter claiming two wins apiece. The second and third installments were named Fight of the Year by <italics>Ring Magazine</italics> in 2007 and 2008, respectively.

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The benchmark in the underappreciated rivalry between Mexican and Mexican-American fighters, Chacon and Limon fought four times at featherweight and junior lightweight. Limon won the first on points, the second was a technical draw, with Chacon winning the third by split decision. The fourth -- and best -- was settled when Chacon scored a last-gasp knockdown in the 15th round that gave him the fight on points.

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The aging Robinson had lost the middleweight title to Fullmer in 1957, then won it back in dramatic fashion that <italics>Sports Illustrated</italics>'s Marin Kane called "the perfect punch" -- perhaps the finest one-punch finish in boxing history. In 1960, they fought a third time, with Fullmer retaining the WBA middleweight title on a 15-round draw. The fourth fight happened one year later, with Fullmer retaining his NBA middleweight title by unanimous decision in Robinson's final title bout.

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Pep and Saddler waged a classic four-fight rivalry for the featherweight title between 1948 and 1951, with Saddler winning three. The matchups grew incresingly hostile, with the fourth descending into such a foul-filled melee that both fighters were suspended from the sport.

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Ketchel, known as "The Michigan Assassin," defended his middleweight title with a points win over Billy Papke. Papke stopped him in the rematch to win the title, with Ketchel winning it back on a knockout in an immediate rematch. They later fought a fourth time, with Ketchel winning a slugfest to defend his title once more.

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Montgomery and Jack fought four evenly matched bouts in 1943 and 1944, three for the lightweight title, with each going the full distance. Both won two apiece.

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LaMotta and Zivic fought four times in a six-month stretch between 1943 and 1944. Three ended in disputed split decisions, with LaMotta emerging from the series with a 3-1 record.

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Griffith handed Rodriguez his first career loss in 36 fights when they first met in a non-title fight in 1960. Rodriguez then outpointed Griffith for the welterweight title in 1963, with Griffith winning it back on points just three months later. The series closed in 1964, with Griffith retaining the belt on a split decision.