BoxRec

dr_devious wrote:Razor Ruddock was heroic in his 2 losses against Mike Tyson, particularly second time around

He absorbed a lot of punishment but beyond that he looked like crap as a boxer.

I don't think I saw Hearns in his first loss to Leonard mentioned. I suppose you could add Hearns in his loss to Hagler. Also Leonard's loss to Duran, Leonard fought Duran's fight and yet made it a great, competitive fight. Duran's loss to Hagler was somewhat impressive, considering you had a top 3 all time Lightweight fighting a top 3 all time Middleweight. Nunn dominated Toney for much of their fight before the knock out. Not sure if we're counting bad decisions that should have been wins, but McCallum schooled Toney in my mind in his decision loss to him in their rematch. Not sure if I saw anyone name Holyfield in his losses to Bowe.

I did mention Holyfield's first loss, but you're probably right about the last fight as well. It was a pretty gutsy performance. It's interesting to see Holyfield have Bowe not only down off a single shot, but also visibly shaken. That same Bowe would go on just a year later to take an unending barrage of powershots from a bigger hitter in Golota (The second fight was especially savage) & while Bowe was down twice, he stood up to some immense shots.

Just goes to show that the perfect punch is out there...

i heard someone somewere say once that the first 6-7 rounds of DLH V Trinidad were probably the best of oscars career, i think that statement has some merit

The worst I ever felt about somebody losing was Kelvin Seabrooks defending his title against the far superior Orlando Canizales. Unbelievable will and heart in a fight everyone knew he was going to lose no matter what. Nobody else may remember that fight, but the beating Seabrooks took and the constant rallying he did to keep it close as long as he did have stayed with me almost 20 years. What an unbelievable competitor.

Heres a few that come to mind, not including robberies; too easy.

Ron Lyle against Foreman.

Mckinny against Barrera

Gonzalez against Carbajal in their first fight

Molina against DelaHoya

Jose Luis Ramirez against almost everyone he lost to.

Joe Frazier in Manila.

Morales had a lot of fights where the loser put on a great performance. Zaragoza, McCullough, Barrera (which goodnight mentioned), Espadas, Chi, Chavez, Hernandez, Pacquiao. Morales also did pretty well in his losses to Barrera x2 and his rematch with Pacquiao. I'm sure you could name lots of other fighters who were this way.

elmersalsa wrote:Billy Conn when he tried to take the heavyweight crown from Joe Louis. Was this one the best performance that ended in defeat?

obviously louis/conn is the epitome of the thread.a few more would be...
-mancini in his tko loss vs. arguello.
-arguello/pryor I
-Dempsey/Tunney II(the long count covers it for dempsey)
-Marciano/LaStarza(Roland lost by 1 point)
-Marciano/Walcott(Joe,just like conn,would win by ud had it been a 12 rounder)
-Holmes/Norton(ken lost by 1 point and gave prime holmes his toughest challenge)

Dave McAuley vs Fidel Bassa.

Michael Watson vs Chris Eubank.

pernell whitaker v jose luis ramirez 1

LaMotta-Dauthille 2. Dauthille won almost every round, maybe every round and lost by ko in the last thirteen seconds of a fight that would have won him the title.

How about the the first loss of Muhammad Ali? I think that was a gutsy and remarkable performance in defeat

nobudius wrote:One of my favorite performances by a fighter on the losing end is Eddie Cotton against Jose Torres. Terrfic showing from a grizzled vet trying to take the title away-Cotton also had some of the longest arms I've seen on film.

Another one is Ezzard Charles against Rocky in their first meeting.

Eddie Cotton beat Torres by a lopsided margin and won the title.

Worst decision I have ever seen except for the Jimmy Young-Ali robbery.

elmersalsa wrote:How about the the first loss of Muhammad Ali? I think that was a gutsy and remarkable performance in defeat

You mean against Doug Jones?

Jack Johnson against Jess Willard.

Fitzsimmons against Jeffries II.

Sharkey against Jeffries.

Corbett against Fitzsimmons.

Billy Graham against Gavilan--title fight.

Joey Archer vs Griffith--twice in title fights.

Bat Nelson-Wolgast.

Joe Thomas-Ketchel title fight

Walcott-Marciano I.

Charles-Marciano I.

Tombstone Smith-Virgil Akins.

Ketchel-Philadelphia Jack O'Brien I.

Graziano-Zale I.

granberry wrote:You mean against Doug Jones?

You mean Doug Jones in his losing performance against Clay, where Clay clearly out pointed Jones, despite the constant revisionist claims of the anti-Ali religion?