Few things in boxing are as intriguing as an orthodox fighter squaring off against a southpaw. The clash of stances often produces unusual rhythms, unexpected openings, and moments of brilliance. Because most fighters grow up sparring against orthodox opponents, facing a southpaw feels awkward and challenging. Throughout boxing history, many of the sport’s most iconic nights have come from orthodox vs southpaw matchups, producing rivalries, upsets, and unforgettable knockouts.
Here is a look back at some of the most famous orthodox vs southpaw fights that shaped boxing history.
1) Marvin Hagler (Southpaw) Vs Thomas Hearns (Orthodox) – 1985
Dubbed “The War,” this three-round firefight remains one of the most explosive bouts in history. Hagler, fighting as a southpaw, closed the distance immediately against the rangy orthodox puncher Hearns. Their clash was pure chaos, with Hearns landing his trademark right hand and Hagler responding with looping lefts and crushing pressure. Hagler’s southpaw power eventually overwhelmed Hearns, who was stopped in the third round. This fight is a perfect example of how southpaw aggression can neutralize orthodox precision.
2) Pernell Whitaker (Southpaw) Vs Julio César Chávez (Orthodox) – 1993
Whitaker, one of the slickest defensive fighters ever, gave a masterclass in how a southpaw can frustrate an aggressive orthodox opponent. Chávez, undefeated at the time, tried to pressure Whitaker as he always did, but Whitaker’s angles, counters, and elusive movement left the Mexican legend swinging at air. The fight was controversially scored a draw, but most observers believed Whitaker had won clearly. It remains one of the most debated decisions in boxing history and a showcase of southpaw defensive brilliance.
3) Manny Pacquiao (Southpaw) vs Oscar De La Hoya (Orthodox) – 2008
This was billed as a mismatch in size, but Pacquiao’s speed and southpaw stance dismantled the larger De La Hoya. From the opening bell, Pacquiao’s straight left hand landed repeatedly, and his footwork kept him outside De La Hoya’s power shots. By the later rounds, De La Hoya had no answers, and his corner stopped the fight after the eighth. The win turned Pacquiao into a global superstar and proved that the southpaw stance, when combined with speed, could overwhelm even established champions.
4) Manny Pacquiao (Southpaw) Vs Juan Manuel Márquez (Orthodox) – 2004 To 2012
This legendary four-fight rivalry showed both the brilliance and the frustration of orthodox vs southpaw battles. Pacquiao’s straight left dropped Márquez multiple times across their encounters, while Márquez’s precise right hand repeatedly found its mark against the southpaw stance. Their final meeting in 2012 ended with Márquez landing one of the most famous right-hand knockouts in history, flattening Pacquiao in the sixth round. These fights highlight how stance clashes can produce drama across multiple encounters.
5) Joe Calzaghe (Southpaw) Vs Jeff Lacy (Orthodox) – 2006
Calzaghe entered the fight as the underdog against the undefeated Jeff Lacy, who was seen as the next American superstar. Fighting as a southpaw, Calzaghe completely outclassed Lacy with speed, volume, and angles. His constant output overwhelmed Lacy, who could not adjust to the rhythm. The fight ended in a wide decision win for Calzaghe and marked one of the most dominant southpaw performances in modern boxing.
6) Zab Judah (Southpaw) Vs Cory Spinks (Orthodox) II- 2005
In their rematch, Zab Judah avenged his earlier loss to Cory Spinks by using his southpaw explosiveness to score a dramatic knockout. Judah’s straight left hand repeatedly split Spinks’s guard, and in the ninth round he finished the fight with a flurry. This fight showed the southpaw’s ability to generate power from unexpected angles and remains a highlight in Judah’s career.
7) Floyd Mayweather Jr. (Orthodox) Vs Manny Pacquiao (Southpaw) – 2015
Years in the making, this fight was billed as “The Fight of the Century.” Mayweather, a defensive genius in the orthodox stance, prepared meticulously for Pacquiao’s southpaw attack. He controlled distance with his jab, neutralized Pacquiao’s left hand, and landed sharp right crosses throughout. While the fight did not deliver fireworks, it remains one of the most significant orthodox vs southpaw matchups in history because of its global anticipation and technical importance.
8) Michael Moorer (Southpaw) Vs George Foreman (Orthodox) – 1994
Michael Moorer became the heavyweight champion by outboxing George Foreman for most of their fight. The southpaw Moorer used his jab and angles to keep Foreman at bay. However, in the tenth round, Foreman landed a massive straight right hand that knocked Moorer out cold, reclaiming the heavyweight title at age 45. This fight is remembered not only for Foreman’s comeback but also as a reminder that stance clashes can lead to sudden, dramatic finishes.
9) Vasyl Lomachenko (Southpaw) Vs Jorge Linares (Orthodox) – 2018
Lomachenko, one of the most technically skilled southpaws of his generation, faced the sharp orthodox boxer Jorge Linares. The fight was competitive, with Linares scoring a knockdown on Lomachenko with a right cross in the sixth round. However, Lomachenko adjusted, using angles and combinations to wear Linares down. In the tenth, he landed a perfect body shot that ended the fight. This matchup showcased the constant adjustments required when orthodox and southpaw styles collide.
10) Evander Holyfield (Orthodox) Vs Michael Moorer (Southpaw) – 1994
In another famous meeting between Moorer and an orthodox opponent, Evander Holyfield struggled with Moorer’s southpaw jab and angles. Moorer won a majority decision, making him the first southpaw heavyweight champion in history. The fight was close, but it marked a significant milestone, proving that southpaws could succeed even in the heavyweight division, where the stance had been less common.
Conclusion
Orthodox vs southpaw fights have shaped some of boxing’s most memorable moments. From Hagler and Hearns’s explosive war to Pacquiao’s rise over De La Hoya, these clashes have defined careers and created lasting legacies. The mirrored stances force fighters into battles of adjustment, where timing, footwork, and precision matter as much as power.
Boxing history shows that no stance holds permanent dominance. Sometimes the southpaw puzzle proves too difficult to solve, and sometimes orthodox timing and power prevail. What remains constant is the drama these fights deliver, ensuring that every time an orthodox fighter meets a southpaw, fans know they are in for something special.
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