Five iconic boxing ringwalks, including Wladimir Klitschko and Mike Tyson

The ringwalk is one of several ways in which boxers express themselves.

While some opt to simply walk to the ring while a song of their choice plays, others go for incredibly elaborate displays. The latter kind of boxing ringwalks become memorable, especially if they are followed by impressive performances. Many have opted for such ringwalks as a means of putting on a statement before entering the ring.

Read on to see which five boxing ringwalks made it on Big Fight Weekend’s list.

Five iconic boxing ringwalks, including Wladimir Klitschko and Mike Tyson

Mike Tyson (against Michael Spinks)

Mike Tyson’s ringwalk against Michael Spinks may not have been as elaborate as the others on this list, but it become iconic for how intimidating it was. Taking place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ, in 1988, he walked to the ring with no music playing, just a humming sound and metal clanging. The then undisputed heavyweight world champion meant business.

The fight lasted exactly 91 seconds. Spinks first went down from a right hook to the body. He was then knocked down from a right hand upstairs shortly after getting up. Spinks was unable to beat the referee’s count, giving Tyson the knockout victory.

Wladimir Klitschko (against David Haye)

Wladimir Klitschko went all out for his 2011 ringwalk against David Haye at the then Imtech Arena in Hamburg, Germany. There was a light show, fireworks, and even appearances from boxing icons George Foreman and Vitali Klitschko. When the reigning IBF and WBO heavyweight champion eventually made his way to the ring, it was to the tune of “Can’t Stop” by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

Klitschko wound up winning wide on the scorecards (118-108, 117-109, and 116-110), helping him to add the WBA title to his collection. He spent most of the fight behind the jab and avoiding exchanges. Klitschko was deducted a point in the seventh for pushing his opponent down. Haye was ruled knocked down in round 11, but it was clear that he just fell down after trying to get close. Klitschko was rocked by an overhand right in the final round, but recovered and stayed on his feet until the final bell.

Naseem Hamed (against Kevin Kelley)

This was Naseem Hamed’s first time boxing in the United States and it proved to be a memorable one. His entrance to the ring for this 1987 Madison Square Garden bout began with him dancing behind a screen to Will Smith’s “Men in Black.” It then switched to Red Rat’s “Shelly Ann” as he walked on a runway with confetti falling on him. Hamed then entered the ring by somersaulting over the ropes.

The fight itself was quite chaotic. Kevin Kelly scored a knockdown in the opening round with a right hook to the head. The second saw Hamed’s gloves touch the canvas after being hit with a left hook upstairs. Despite this, the Brit was able to knock down Kelley with a straight right hand to the head with over a minute to go in the second round. After a cautious third round, the fight came to an entertaining end in the fourth.

Round four saw Kelley get dropped by two left hooks. However, Hamed received a count not long after when his glove touched the canvas following a right hook. In the final minute of the round, Kelley was dropped by a left hook. He got up, but not before the referee counted to 10. As a result, Hamed won the fight via knockout and retained the WBO featherweight championship.

Frank Bruno (against Oliver McCall)

Frank Bruno’s fourth attempt at a world title took place at Wembley Stadium in London, England, in 1995. His ringwalk included a light show and fireworks before he crossed a bridge en route to the ring. His opponent, Oliver McCall, had won the WBC heavyweight world title nearly a year prior against Lennox Lewis.

Bruno wound up becoming only the third British-born boxer to win a heavyweight world title via unanimous decision. Scores for the bout were 117-111 (x2) and 115-113. Bruno was dominant in the first half of the contest with his opponent not landing much of significance until round five. McCall’s gameplan appeared to hinge on letting the Brit tire before going for the stoppage. While Bruno was hurt in the last two rounds and exhausted, he used his appearance to stay on his feet and make it to the final bell.

Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez (against Avni Yıldırım)

This fight saw Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez put his WBA and WBC super middleweight world titles at stake at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL. His ringwalk was essentially a J Balvin mini-concert. The Colombian singer is one of the best-selling Latin artists and here he was walking Canelo to the ring. Fireworks were also prominent during the ringwalk.

With regards to the fight itself, Avni Yıldırım looked as though he would rather be doing something else other than boxing. The Turk was clearly getting outboxed and got knocked down in round three from a one-two upstairs. Though Yıldırım got up and made it out the round, he did not come out for the fourth, giving Canelo the stoppage win.