Gallery: 10 Kickass Fight Posters

Image via Complex Original

Money Mayweather takes on Victor Ortiz tonight at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight has been touted as a battle of two stars, the fight of the year, and as with every Mayweather fight there is significant buzz.

Posters have been used to build boxing hype for generations. Graphics help to play to the strengths of each combatent and to set both theme and tone for upcoming ring rumbles. And, witty taglines help accentuate the pre-fight storylines. In short, the boxing poster, even just as an idea, has become a design classic.

With Mayweather lighting up the Vegas strip tonight, we take a look at 10 Kickass Fight Posters.

Arturo Gatti vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Date: June 25, 2007, Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Result: Mayweather becomes a three division champ after punishing Gatti on way to WBC jr welterweight belt.

"Thunder" vs. "Lightning" ends with speed defeating power. The poster employs boxing's favored hype — contrast — brilliantly.

Julio Cesar Chavez vs. Jose Luis Ramirez

Date: October 29, 1988, Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Result: Chavez unifies the WBA and WBC lightweight championships in unanimous decision.

Viva Mexico! "The Bull Ring of the Fighters" There is no mistaking the theme here, and it's a Don King Production. Bold color and a pretty awesome arrangement of elements.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto

Date: November 14, 2009, MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Result: In one of the best fights of 2009, Pacquiao opened strong and methodically picked apart Cotto over 12 rounds.

The theme is clear and well articulated in this poster. Old school fight flare for two hard-nosed brawlers.

Mike Tyson vs. Michael Spinks

Date: June 27, 1988, Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Result: Tyson knocks out Spinks in 1:31. Ring Magazine calls it the round of the year.

Considering the speed of the fight, the pomp and circumstance of the poster has a certain power. Tyson was still just 21, Spinks a decade older, and the result showed "Once and For All" that (for the time) Tyson was the heavyweight not to mess with.

Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas Hearns

Date: April 15, 1985, Ceasers Palace, Las Vegas.

Result: Hagler wins "The War."

The drama of the poster matched that of the fight. This is, simply put, a classic.

Thomas Hearns vs. Roberto Duran

Date: June 15, 1984, Ceasers Palace, Las Vegas.

Result: Thomas Hearns wins by KO over the tough Roberto Duran.

Got to love the bold typography on this one. This one is simple and two the point. No drama outside the power of the lettering itself.

Roy Jones Jr. vs. Vinny Pazienza

Date: June 24, 1995, Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Result: Jones defeats the Pazmanian devil by TKO.

The "Devil vs. Mr. Jones" is a fun play on popular culture. Jones danced and entertained his way to a 6-round demolition of Pazienza in this one. And, again, the poster helped heighten drama for a fight that was essentially predetermined in result. Vinny, god bless him, didn't have a chance.

Joe Frazier vs. Cassius Clay

Date: March 8, 1971, MSG, New York City.

Result: Joe Frazier takes Muhammad Ali by unanimous decision in 15 rounds. Match called "Fight of the Century" by ring.

The amazing thing about this poster is that it isn't, strictly speaking, for the fight itself. Instead, it is to advertise where the match could be watched on closed circuit tv. Note, location has been left blank, so it is just a generic poster. Think about that when you decided to buy Money's fight tonight last minute on pay-per-view… older generations didn't have that luxury.

Joe Frazier vs. Muhammed Ali

Date: January 28, 1974, MSG, New York City.

Result: This time, Ali takes Fraiser in 12 rounds.

Again, this poster is for both fight and advertising cctv viewing. Here the location is specified, the Hartford Civic Center. Also, the triangular set up of the poster's central portion heightens the clash, that photo undeniable in showcasing the contrast of the two warriors.

Mike Tyson vs. Buster Douglas

Date: February 11, 1990, Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan.

Result: We all know what happens here.

Tyson, set up as a superhero on the poster, is defeated by David in Tokyo. Classic trope made better by the actual result.