I Can't Crack Him!!!

[elmersalsa]

an example of a fighter is favorite in the fight, but somehow, somewhat, that fighter cannot beat him convincgly like he wanted to. With no doubts.

One example would be: Joe Frazier vs Oscar Bonavena. Bonavena gave Frazier lots of problems, but somehow, Frazier won, but not like he wanted to. He did not win in a clear fashion.

another example would be: Emile Griffith vs Luis Manuel Rodriguez. Even though, Emile won 3 out 4 fights, it could have gone either way or 2-2. And Emile did not win convincingly enough.

What other examples you got?

[gilgamesh]

Jack Dempsey always was troubled by Willie Meehan. Beating him only once (4 round decision), losing to him twice and drawing with him twice.

[Rover]

Chavez/Randall (no, not counting the third fight when both were shot to pieces)
Pedroza/Lockridge

[Rover]

McCallum/Kalambay.

[Rover]

Chavez/Laporte.

[elmersalsa]

How about the recent bouts, like the great Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Marquez? Pacman sure could not crack him convincingly.
The other would be the great Muhammad Ali vs Ken Norton. To me, Norton won the 3 fights.

[HomicideHenry]

Marvin Camel and Mathew Saad Muhammad

[loaded_gloves]

Frazier won the second Bonavena fight clearly over 15 rds.

Lewis was built up as the first man to stop Ray Mercer. That went horribly wrong.

[gilgamesh]

In my opinion Floyd Mayweather never had an easy time with Jose Luis Castillo. Including the rematch.

He had a better performance than in the first fight, but he still had one of his toughest tests.

[gilgamesh]

Vernon Forrest vs Ricardo Mayorga is a strange one as well. Forrest clearly a better fighter than Mayorga, never could get the better of him. Some fans and Boxing writers would argue he deserved the 2nd bout, I thought it was close fight and I had no problem with Mayorga's getting the decision.

[keithmoonhangover]

Ali - Norton

[Flump]

Nigel Benn - Sugarboy Malinga
Alan Minter - Kevin Finnegan
Roberto Duran - Edwin Viruet (No doubt about the result, but Duran certainly wasn't satisfied)
Vicente Saldivar - Howard Winstone

[matko]

Ain't no 1 mentioned Hearns vs Barkley??

[gilgamesh]

Ain't no 1 mentioned Hearns vs Barkley??

I thought of it, but I figured I'd leave it for someone else to name. It definitely belongs in the discussion

[SaadOffTheDeck]

McCallum/Kalambay & then Toney/McCallum.

[elmersalsa]

How about Ruben Olivares vs Chucho Castillo. They fought 3 times and Chucho gave Ruben lots of trouble.

Also:
Ruben Olivares vs Rafael Herrera
Terry McGovern vs Young Corbett II
Eder Jofre vs Fighting Harada
Kid Gavilan vs Billy Graham
Roy Jones, Jr. vs Antonio Tarver
Jose "Mantequilla" Napoles vs Armando Muniz

[Rover]

DLH/Mosley (and I am well aware of the naughty things Shane was doing for the second fight).

[elmersalsa]

George Foreman vs Gregorio Peralta. They fought twice, and Big George definately could not crack him like he wanted to. The last fight, Foreman won by TKO in the 10th by a cut on Peralta's eye. This must be one of Foreman's must difficult wins.

[Nile4000]

Ray Leonard-Randy Shields
Greg Page-George Chaplin
Michael Dokes-George Chaplin
Thomas Hearns-Randy Shields
Salvador Sanchez-Patrick Ford
Mitch Green-Robert Evans
Michael Spinks-Eddie Davis.
Marvin Hagler-Roberto Duran
Milton McCrory-Colin Jones.
Howard Davis Jr.-Vilomar Fernandez

[Rover]

Ray Leonard-Randy Shields
Greg Page-George Chaplin
Michael Dokes-George Chaplin
Thomas Hearns-Randy Shields
Salvador Sanchez-Patrick Ford
Mitch Green-Robert Evans
Michael Spinks-Eddie Davis.
Marvin Hagler-Roberto Duran
Milton McCrory-Colin Jones.
Howard Davis Jr.-Vilomar Fernandez

Hearns/Shields? Hearns was well ahead when the fight was stopped after 12.

[dr_devious]

Carlos Monzon-Rodrigo Valdez
Carlos Monzon-Bennie Briscoe
Lennox Lewis-Ray Mercer
Manny Pac-Juan Manuel Marquez

[keithmoonhangover]

Eubank - Close
Holyfield - Ruiz
Rover - Fugmo

[Rover]

Eubank - Close
Holyfield - Ruiz
Rover - Fugmo

Stop your nonsense.

[Rover]

Carlos Monzon-Rodrigo Valdez
Carlos Monzon-Bennie Briscoe
Lennox Lewis-Ray Mercer
Manny Pac-Juan Manuel Marquez

I thought Monzon won the rematch with Briscoe beyond any doubt.

[keithmoonhangover]

Eubank - Close
Holyfield - Ruiz
Rover - Fugmo

Stop your nonsense.

Sorry fugmo, sorry, I mean, Rover.