Losing-End Greatest Performances

[Counter-puncher]

Azumah Nelson losing against Salvidor Sanchez

This is a clear winner for me, given Sal's greatness, Nelsons greenness, and the short notice.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Azumah Nelson losing against Salvidor Sanchez

This is a clear winner for me, given Sal's greatness, Nelsons greenness, and the short notice.

i think he would have won a rematch.

[Counter-puncher]

Yup I would have to wonder that

The slightly gay Sanchez fanboy in me would make the subjective caveat that he seemed tight at the weight and if the rematch was at 130 he'd still win, but very narrowly.

But still, yeah...

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I've always been of the opinion that Sanchez had reached his peak. Hell of a peak, but I don't think he was going to improve. Nelson got way better. I liked Pedroza's chances with Sal when the WBA/WBC spat prevented it. Shame we'll never know.

[Counter-puncher]

Maybe. Him at 130/135 would have been very interesting. Even if he had peaked I think he'd excel against even very good fighters who were good style matches for him.

[Counter-puncher]

Maybe. Him at 130/135 would have been very interesting. Even if he had peaked I think he'd excel against even very good fighters who were good style matches for him, I would include both arguello and Chavez among them.

[Ambling Alp II]

Some that I don't believe have been mentioned.

Randy Turpin vs Ray Robinson II
Ken Norton vs Larry Holmes
Cornelius Boza-Edwards vs Bobby Chacon II
Yaqi Lopez vs Mathew Saad-Muhammad
Dwight Qawi vs Evander Holyfield I
Oscar de la Hoya vs Shane Mosley I

[Seamus]

Sanchez had trouble making weight in his last 3 bouts. I suspect he felt great in the gym at 135 and that's what had him considering a fight with Arguello.

[Bodyshot3]

In terms of valiant, whole-hearted efforts and not giving an inch I'd go for....

Wayne McCullough taking it to Hamed despite being massively outgunned, slower and not really being a true featherweight. Hamed had been smashing-up nearly everyone for fun before that fight but Wayne was not going to fold and made it a hard night.

I liked Wayne a good deal and was glad he had a good career...I also think he took just a bit of swagger out of Naz's step; "not everyone is going to fold or be awed by your power mate, your going to do the full 12 even if I lose this fight."

I also finally warmed to Eubank when he got in the ring and went the distance with Calzaghe. I'd always been a Benn fan and wanted to see Nigel beat Chris...but near the end, Eubank eventually won me over by getting in with Joe at relatively short notice and not bailing-out even after having been floored and realising that Joe was a bit special. Chris saw it through to his credit and gave Joe some tough moments late on.

[elmersalsa]

Kennnedy McKinney fight with the great Marco Antonio Barrera. McKinney lost, but he showed a heart of a lion. Barrera never gave him a rematch.

Junior Jones beat Barrera twice later that year. Ironically and interestingly, McKinney beat Jones! Wow!

Also Lupe Pintor's effort against the great Wilfredo Gomez in '82 is a shout. What a fight!

[Keko]

Ken Norton vs Larry Holmes

[Cygnus475]

Shavers vs Holmes is probably one of shavers best performances despite being stopped. Hell of a performance.

Also witherspoon vs Holmes (although it's closer than some Holmes haters will admit. People act like witherspoon dominated every second of every round).

Holyfield's first fight with bowe, showed the heart of a champion and went out on his shield in a thrilling fight.

Jimmy young's unexpected cunning and ring savy against norton and ali.

Firpos crazy fight with Dempsey.

Hears vs leanard 2...terrible decision. Hears was as sharp as a razor and controlled the pace of the fight with 2 knockdowns but loses somehow. Actually, both fights were brilliant performances I would argue leanard needed the knockout to win the first fight.

Recently I guess Khan boxed better than he has in most fights agains canelo before getting caught by that sledgehammer right. I had him winning 4 rounds to 2, maybe even 5-1. Canelo looked like an amateur missing by FEET, not inches.

Maidana first mayweather fight is easily one of his top 5 best performances despite losing. Was simply battering the #1 p4p fighter before he made adjustments in the middle rounds.

Oh and vitali vs lewis, unfortunate about the cut because he could have definitely won that decision if lewis didn't figure something out.

[Keko]

John Mugabi vs Marvin Hagler

[Syntax Error]

Marvellous Marvin Hagler v Roberto Duran

[SaadOffTheDeck]

As much as I love Duran, and it was cool that he intimidated Marvin, his performance there is overblown to me. I thought he fought better against Sims.

[Harrymonk36]

Watson v Eubank 2. I actually thought Watson lost the first fight clearly, he was a different man here.
Eubank v Thompson. He was massively outweighed by a career Cruiser, but pushed him hard.
Mancini v Arguello is worth a mention too. Well beaten, but brave, and up against a legend.

[gilgamesh]

Barrera (vs Morales 1)
Morales (vs Barrera 2)
Morales (vs Barrera 3)

Tremendous efforts from the guy on the wrong end of the decision in all of those bouts.

Jose Luis Castillo (vs Floyd Mayweather 1)
Vitali Klitschko (vs Lennox Lewis)
Ruslan Provodnikov (vs Tim Bradley)


These are a few from my time as a fan that come to mind.

[gilgamesh]

Morales/maidana was amazing.

Yes indeed. Can't believe I forgot that one.

[gilgamesh]

John Mugabi vs Marvin Hagler

Both great shouts, this one and Norton vs Holmes

[gilgamesh]

Meldrick Taylor vs JC Chaves
Ali vs Frazier 1
Frazier vs Ali 3

[gilgamesh]

Any Gatti fight where he lost

I adore Arturo Gatti. He's the reason why I'm a boxing fan, but he got his ass handed to him pretty handily a few times. Mayweather and Baldomir come to mind. I never saw the Alfonso Gomez fight, but I figure it was similar.

[PredatorHayds]

Chuck Wepner?

[littlepug]

Even though the great Thomas Hearns lost the two biggest fights of his career in 80s, boy!, he gave two performances of the ages!

Has there been a fighter that has lost two great bouts of that magnitude in my lifetime? I don't know. It's hard to think of one.

suppose hatton did against the #1 and #2 p4p guys

[Ambling Alp II]

Duran, Frazier, and Norton did as well. I'm sure there are others if you think the "magnitude" was as great.

[Ambling Alp II]

There have been some good additions. Especially thought Young-Norton, Mugabi-Hagler, and Nelson-Sanchez were good.

Would also add Marvin Johnson-Mathew Franklin (Saad Muhammad) and Jirov-Toney.

Slightly before my time, but Fitzsimmons-Jeffries II has to be up there. Fitz was 39, outweighed by almost 50 pounds, and was winning before being knocked out.