Fighters whose best performances were in a loss

APerno
Super Lightweight
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Joined: 20 Jul 2016, 03:38

Re: Fighters whose best performances were in a loss

Post by APerno »

Bodyshot3 wrote: 22 Aug 2018, 15:32 Eubank Senior against Calzaghe.

Was never-ever a Eubank fan; he defeated my idol Benn and a very large part of his career was then spent dealing with 'gimmes' and often making properly heavy-weather of these winnable/cynical fights with the notable exception of meeting Mike Watson, Benn again and the quite handy Henry Wharton.

But very late in the day it's actually Eubank who is prepared to make SMW and get in with a prime Calzaghe who has good hands and can still hit hard at this juncture, has great speed and who Collins had side-stepped.

And Eubank gets cracked early and dropped with a right peach but finds a way to drag himelf back into the fight and gives Calzaghe 12 proper, hard and difficult championship rounds

Eubank was class that night and Calzaghe still rates him well above most of his other opponents.
Eubank showed much class; character. Well noted :TU:
Counter-puncher
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
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Re: Fighters whose best performances were in a loss

Post by Counter-puncher »

Nelson vs Sanchez
Caractacus
Middleweight
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Joined: 13 Jun 2014, 16:47

Re: Fighters whose best performances were in a loss

Post by Caractacus »

Rocky Balboa in his fight with Apollo Creed in Philadelphia back in 1976.
He really had Creed going and almost out when the bell saved him after the 15th round.
Thunder and Lightning
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
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Joined: 11 Jul 2006, 10:40

Re: Fighters whose best performances were in a loss

Post by Thunder and Lightning »

Castillo vs Mayweather 1
Caractacus
Middleweight
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Joined: 13 Jun 2014, 16:47

Re: Fighters whose best performances were in a loss

Post by Caractacus »

Billy Conn (Joe Louis)
Henry Cooper ( Cassius Clay)
Chuck Wepner ( Muhammad Ali)
bollocks
Super Lightweight
Posts: 1409
Joined: 18 Oct 2016, 04:54

Re: Fighters whose best performances were in a loss

Post by bollocks »

wouter wrote: 20 Aug 2018, 13:04
Quantrax wrote: 20 Aug 2018, 12:22 Herol Graham / Julian Jackson
Hmmmm.... that fight only lasted 4 rounds.
AndJackson could barely see out of one eye due to retina problems
bwu
Middleweight
Posts: 430
Joined: 10 Oct 2013, 20:08

Re: Fighters whose best performances were in a loss

Post by bwu »

Ron Lyle had some good wins, especially against Earnie Shavers and Jimmy Ellis. But I think he is better remembered for his losses to Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. Both were efforts to be proud of and I think the former was probably the finest of his career.
bwu
Middleweight
Posts: 430
Joined: 10 Oct 2013, 20:08

Re: Fighters whose best performances were in a loss

Post by bwu »

I almost forgot: Ray Mancini versus Alexis Arguello.
Duran1970
Lightweight
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Joined: 03 Jan 2018, 14:20

Re: Fighters whose best performances were in a loss

Post by Duran1970 »

:TU:
bwu wrote: 26 Aug 2018, 13:18 I almost forgot: Ray Mancini versus Alexis Arguello.
Good call...
Tony1244
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
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Joined: 03 Jun 2010, 21:31

Re: Fighters whose best performances were in a loss

Post by Tony1244 »

Moorer tried hard and did well against Holydeal in their 2nd fight.
Ambling Alp II
Super Middleweight
Posts: 15182
Joined: 04 Nov 2012, 18:31

Re: Fighters whose best performances were in a loss

Post by Ambling Alp II »

Bugner did fight pretty well against Frazier; gave him a tough fight.
Mancini against Arguello was another good one. I think Mancini surprised a lot of people in giving Arguello so much trouble.

It is hard sometimes to tell if a fighter's competitive loss to a great fighter was a better performance than an easy win over a much weaker opponent.
Sequitorian
Cruiserweight
Posts: 1766
Joined: 26 Feb 2011, 15:35

Re: Fighters whose best performances were in a loss

Post by Sequitorian »

One might argue that a fighter's best performances are always in a loss .... (theoretically) ...

... (assuming, of course, that they have any losses) ...

... after all ... you never hear a fighter say "Well ... I did my best" after a win ...
gregor
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
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Re: Fighters whose best performances were in a loss

Post by gregor »

Frans Botha... no matter which fights one consider to be his best loss and best win ;-)
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