1. MUHAMMAD ALI vs JOE FRAZIER III

Trainer Eddie Futch pulled Joe out after 14 ferocious rounds of the 1975 Thrilla in Manila.

  1. JOEY MAXIM vs SUGAR RAY ROBINSON

Ray was well ahead in this 1952 bid for the world light-heavyweight title when exhaustion from the New York heat forced him to withdraw.

  1. MUHAMMAD ALI vs SONNY LISTON I

An ageing Liston blamed a damaged shoulder muscle for his surprising decision to stay on his stool after six rounds against the young Ali in 1964.

  1. VIC TOWEEL vs DANNY O’SULLIVAN

O’Sullivan suffered an amazing 14 knockdowns in this 1950 world bantamweight title bid, before pulling out after 10 rounds.

  1. JAKE LAMOTTA vs MARCEL CERDAN

Jake became world middle champion in 1949 when a useless shoulder forced Cerdan to quit after the 10th. 

  1. JOHNNY VAN RENSBURG vs WILLIE TOWEEL

A broken hand forced Toweel to pull out after nine rounds against bitter rival Van Rensburg in 1955.

  1. ROBERTO CASTANON vs DANIEL LONDAS

In 1982, Castanon won the European super-feather title when the towel came into the ring during round nine – although it subsequently emerged it had been flung by a fan!

  1. HOWARD WINSTONE vs TERRY SPINKS

Winstone became British feather king when Spinks withdrew exhausted after 10 one-sided rounds in 1961. 

  1. LARRY HOLMES vs MUHAMMAD ALI

In 1980, Ali’s ill-advised comeback saw him pummelled for 10 rounds, before finally withdrawing.

  1. RICKY HATTON vs KOSTYA TSZYU

Hatton became IBF 140lb champion when trainer Johnny Lewis kept Tszyu in his corner after 11 rounds in 2005.