Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder takes its place alongside Arturo Gatti vs Micky Ward, Evander Holyfield vs Riddick Bowe and other fantastic boxing trilogies after epic Las Vegas heavyweight showdown

Wow. We hoped Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder would produce something special and they didn't disappoint.

It truly was the perfect fight to cap a memorable trilogy to go alongside the most dramatic, violent, memorable and viciously personal boxing rivalries from the past 50 years.

Even Fury, who retained his WBC belt in stunning fashion agreed.

"It was a great fight, it was worthy of any trilogy in the history of the sport," he said after knocking out Wilder. "He's a top fighter, he gave me a real run for my money. I always said I'm the best in the world and he's second best."

It will now take its place among boxing's great trilogies, but what are the others?

Here, talkSPORT looks. We must be strict on the rule of three, which rules out epic series like Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Marquez (one fight too many), Chris Eubank vs Nigel Benn (one fight too few) and Evander Holyfield vs John Ruiz (a rare case of a trilogy with three fights too many).

Now on with the countdown - where would Fury vs Wilder sit?

6. Arturo Gatti vs Micky Ward (2002-2003)

Real-life Rocky savagery at 140lb. Round nine of the first fight, where Gatti was on the verge of being stopped by Ward’s sickening body attack, but somehow fired back was astonishing. Legendary trainer Manny Steward was moved to call it the 'Round of the Century' as he watched in awe from the commentary booth.

Ward took that 10-round thriller via split decision, but ‘Thunder’ won the next two, climbing off the canvas in the rubber match.

The pair became close pals afterwards (Ward even trained Gatti in true Rocky Balboa-Apollo Creed style). When Gatti died at the age of just 37, Ward lovingly threw a final left hook at his rival’s coffin. If that isn’t friendship, we don’t know what is.

5. Sugar Ray Leonard vs Roberto Duran (1980-1989)

The first contest was an instant classic defined by a perfect pressure-fighting display. The snarling, black-bearded Duran was stepping up from lightweight to challenge flashy, unbeaten American Leonard at 147lb. But Duran goaded and taunted Leonard into fighting his fight and took a sensational 15-round decision.

The rematch was shocking for different reasons, as Leonard chose to box and humiliate a semi-trained Duran – winding up punches with one hand then popping him with the other – until the Panamanian shockingly quit on his stool (saying “No mas”). A third fight, nine years later, was a drab affair won by Leonard on points. But the first two are must-watch.

BETTING SPECIAL - GET FURY AT 30/1 OR WILDER AT 50/1 WITH WILLIAM HILL

4. Manny Pacquiao vs Erik Morales (2005-2006)

All the boxers who got mowed down by a prime Pacquaio can “thank” Morales for sparking the ‘Pac Man’ into life. Mexico’s ‘El Terrible’ was the underdog before their 130lb showdown but Morales stood his ground in the face of Pacquiao’s frenetic assault and fired back straight shots to take a breathtaking 12-round decision.

Freddie Roach used the defeat to rebuild Pacquaio into a more versatile, two-handed fighter, however. The rematch started off as a war, but Pacquaio eventually took over and finished a weight-drained Morales in the 10th. The third fight was a blowout (Pacquiao KO3), but it marked the coronation of the Filipino southpaw as a pound-for-pound superstar.

3. Riddick Bowe vs Evander Holyfield (1992-1995)

The ‘other’ great three-fight heavyweight rivalry. As with most trilogies, the first was the best: two unbeaten foes clashing over the world title in a see-saw battle of will and skill. The final three rounds saw the 30lb heavier Bowe rock and drop Holyfield, but the ‘Real Deal’ kept firing back before losing a decision.

A rematch, won by Holyfield, is best remembered for the bizarre ‘Fan Man’ interruption but was an action-packed affair as well. The third bout saw Holyfield inflict a first professional knockdown on Bowe, but the old warrior’s gas tank suddenly emptied when ‘Big Daddy’ stopped him in the eighth. Now let’s hope we see neither man in the ring again.

2. Marco Antonio Barerra vs Erik Morales (2000-2004)

The hatred. The genuine contempt – not invented by some grinning promoter to sell PPVs – was clear in the eyes of both Mexican gladiators and it fuelled this trilogy. A first, blistering, high-skill, high-stakes slugfest at 122lb was won by Morales via split decision but most believe underdog Barerra deserved the nod.

It was role-reversal second time around at 126lb as a more technical Barerra won a decision many thought Morales deserved. A perfect setup for a bruising finale at 130lb, won closely but decisively by Barerra. Alarmingly, the pair have reportedly made up and become friends in their retirement. Next you’ll be telling us Tom and Jerry are best mates.

1. Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier (1971-1975)

The definitive boxing trilogy. Ali-Frazier I was arguably the biggest sporting event of the 20th century as the undefeated Ali, returned from his boxing exile, fought the unbeaten ‘Smokin Joe’ for the world heavyweight championship he never lost in the ring.

Even without the social significance, it would have been a classic. Ali speared a marauding Frazier with his jab but Joe’s left hook was always a problem: particularly when he sent Ali crashing to the canvas in round 15 to seal his decision win.

Ali won a rematch (the only fight of the three that wasn’t for the world title) and, after KOing George Foreman to win back his crown, was heavily favoured before their final contest. Instead, the unrelenting violence of the ‘Thrilla in Manilla’ saw both men pushed to the brink of defeat before trainer Eddie Futch refused to let a half-blind Frazier go out for the 15th round. Both men left a piece of themselves in the ring that night in a trilogy which defined their lives.