The best boxing sagas - in pictures

Rocky Graziano, left, pivots from the force of a left hook to the head from challenger Tony Zale in their third meeting in Newark. Zale had won the first fight, with the undisputed middleweight title at stake, in September 1946 and Graziano the second the following year, both knocking out their opponent in the sixth round. They were memorably savage encounters – "This was no boxing match, it was a war," wrote Graziano of the second. "If there wasn't a referee one of us would have wound up dead." After this punch ended their final meeting, in Newark in June 1948, Graziano confessed he had recurring nightmares of fighting Zale again. Photograph: Associated Press

Jake LaMotta, left, knocks Sugar Ray Robinson through the ropes for a count of nine – Robinson was saved by the bell – in the eighth round of their bout in Detroit in February 1943, the second of six meetings. LaMotta was awarded the win, becoming the first person to beat Robinson, but the champion's revenge came in the first rematch just three weeks later. Photograph: AP

Sugar Ray Robinson winds up a haymaker during his third fight with Jake LaMotta, at Madison Square Garden in February 1945. Robinson won the ten-rounder by a unanimous decision. Photograph: NY Daily News via Getty Images

The fifth fight between Robinson and LaMotta, on 14 February 1951, is remembered as "the second St Valentine's Day Massacre". Jake LaMotta, having lost four pounds in the day before the fight to meet the 160lb limit, was not at his strongest and was battered by Robinson. He did, at least, retain his record of never having been knocked down. "I didn't go down, Ray," he said as he was led from the ring. "You didn't get me down." Photograph: Anonymous/Associated Press

The first meeting between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, in March 1971, was effectively decided by this left hook from Frazier. Ali was knocked down and the judges were convinced to award the fight to Frazier, who had looked second best in the fight's early stages. Photograph: Keystone/Getty Images

Muhammad Ali won his second fight against Joe Frazier at Madison Square Garden in January 1974, despite being warned 150 times by the referee about illegal holding of his opponent. "I still feel I won that fight," said Frazier, many years later. "If you look closely at the punches thrown and the ones that were landed. The referee was supposed to break us but he just let Ali keep holding on. It was a mug job." Photograph: Focus On Sport/Getty Images

The third and final meeting between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, in October 1975, is known as 'The Thrilla in Manila'. A brutal contest played out in sweltering conditions ended with Frazier being retired by his corner after the 14th round, with one remaining. "It was like death," said Ali later that day. "Closest thing to dyin' that I know of." Photograph: AP

Marco Barrera makes a left swing during the WBC/WBO Super Bantamwight Championship fight against Erik Morales in Las Vegas in February 2000. Morales won following an epic fight that split the opinion of the judges. Afterwards Morales said his opponent was "the biggest puncher I ever faced in the ring". Photograph: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

For his second fight against Erik Morales, left, in June 2002 Marco Antonio Barrera adopted a more technical approach, while Morales managed to land some heavy punches, knocking Barrera down in the seventh. But Barrera was still declared the winner by a unanimous decision. Photograph: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

Marco Antonio Barrera celebrates after defeating Erik Morales and winning the WBC World Super Featherweight Championship in November 2004. Morales won four of the last six rounds but Barrera's blistering start gave him a narrow points victory. Photograph: Al Bello/Getty Images

Arturo Gatti pummels Mickey Ward in the second round of their second meeting, in November 2002. Ward, winner of the first fight by a majority decision, fared less well and was knocked down in the third round. Afterwards Gatti said: "I used to wonder what would happen if I fought my twin. Now I know." Photograph: Al Bello/Getty Images

Arturo Gatti is knocked down by Micky Ward in round six of their third fight, in Atlantic City in June 2003. The bell rang before Gatti could be counted out and he recovered to win by a unanimous decision Photograph: Al Bello/Getty Images