Great fights before they were great

[cfang]

Was reading Pollack's v good jim jeffries book and one of Jim's first ever pro frights was against Hank Griffin who he Koed in 14 rounds. Jeffries would go on to be the world champ ofc and Griffin the 'coloured' champ and one of the world's best. Both unknown when they fought. Are there any other great examples people can think of where two great weirdly meet before either are famous? Incredible win for Jeffries btw that one when considering what a rookie he was at the time.

Another great example would be Terry Downes vs Dick Tiger. Fought in 1957 with Tiger winning in 5 before Terry had a title and Dick was a total unknown. Ofc both went on to claim the middle titles and Tiger to be one of the best fighers of the 60s.

Any other good examples?

[keithmoonhangover]

In his first fight, David Bey he beat some dude called Buster Douglas.

[cfang]

In his first fight, David Bey he beat some dude called Buster Douglas.

Great one!

[orbtastic]

Perhaps "great" is overused here but Tua/Ruiz fought each other when both regarded prospects and relative unknowns

Larios was 20-0 when 11-1 Vasquez iced him in a round and laid him flat on his back.

JL Castillo was 20-0 when he lost to Soto, who'd already failed against Duke McKenzie but their fortunes would differ wildly after their fight.

Bobby Chacon fought a number of names early on in his career - He beat Chucho Castillo but lost to Olivares in his first world title shot but would bounce back from that and beat future WBC feather champ, Danny Lopez. All within the space of about 12 months. Pretty crazy. Chacon would obviously become notorious for a series of brutal fights with Bazooka Limon and Boza Edwards.

[orbtastic]

In his first 20 fights, Matthew Saad Muhammad fought four future world champs.

[palooka]

In his first 20 fights, Matthew Saad Muhammad fought four future world champs.

he was pampered.

[Counter-puncher]

Castillo-Olivares--Lopez is a great call mate, crazy-good schedule.

[palooka]

Azumah Nelson gave a great account of himself v Salvador Sanchez.

[dempseyfire]

Was reading Pollack's v good jim jeffries book and one of Jim's first ever pro frights was against Hank Griffin who he Koed in 14 rounds. Jeffries would go on to be the world champ ofc and Griffin the 'coloured' champ and one of the world's best. Both unknown when they fought. Are there any other great examples people can think of where two great weirdly meet before either are famous? Incredible win for Jeffries btw that one when considering what a rookie he was at the time.

Another great example would be Terry Downes vs Dick Tiger. Fought in 1957 with Tiger winning in 5 before Terry had a title and Dick was a total unknown. Ofc both went on to claim the middle titles and Tiger to be one of the best fighers of the 60s.

Any other good examples?

Was Griffin really "unknown" though at that time? His record is certainly far from complete . . .

[elmersalsa]

The great Roberto Duran fought Ernesto "NATO" Marcel in Panama City. Both became world champions afterwards.

Antonio Cervantes fought Rodolfo "El Gato" Gonzalez before winning a world title

Ismael Laguna vs Vicente Saldivar
Sandy Saddler vs Joe Brown
Antonio Gomez vs Esteban DeJesus
Ken Buchanan vs Miguel Velasquez
Joey Giardello vs Gene Fullmer
Emile Griffith vs Luis Manuel Rodriguez I
Ken Overlin vs Ezzard Charles

Probably, this one is the most relevant of all:
Ezzard Charles vs Archie Moore I, II, III

[Counter-puncher]

Saldivar-Laguna is an excellent call.

[Bundana]

Jimmy McLarnin vs Jackie Fields (2 future HOFers, who met when both were only 17 years old!).

[scartissue]

I believe Robbie Sims knocked out Iran Barkley very early in their careers. Also - I don't know how good of fights they were but - Curtis Cokes and Manny Gonzalez fought each other a couple of times at the start of their careers.

[gregor]

Perhaps not that great... but I thought about Maskaev - Rahman (I).

Good fight, with Rahman landing outside the ring head first at the end (and the riot afterwards). At that time, Maskaev was a fighter with decent amateur career, doing well as a pro, but falling short against opponents around top10. And Rahman was a prospect with only one controversial loss.

Rahman went then to become HW champion (yes, lucky punch and only for a moment, but still a champion). And Maskaev, despite losing quickly against almost any top opponent (Johnson, Whitaker), also somehow managed to capture WBC title when he met again Rahman a couple years after their first match.

[cfang]

Jimmy McLarnin vs Jackie Fields (2 future HOFers, who met when both were only 17 years old!).

[Scypion]

The great Roberto Duran fought Ernesto "NATO" Marcel in Panama City. Both became world champions afterwards.

Antonio Cervantes fought Rodolfo "El Gato" Gonzalez before winning a world title

Ismael Laguna vs Vicente Saldivar
Sandy Saddler vs Joe Brown
Antonio Gomez vs Esteban DeJesus
Ken Buchanan vs Miguel Velasquez
Joey Giardello vs Gene Fullmer
Emile Griffith vs Luis Manuel Rodriguez I
Ken Overlin vs Ezzard Charles

Probably, this one is the most relevant of all:
Ezzard Charles vs Archie Moore I, II, III

Charles also beat Charley Burley twice, in Burley"s hometown.

[wouter]

Michael Carbajal fought Will Grigsby in his pro debut.

[cfang]

Some great shouts. How about monzon v briscoe in 1967?

[wouter]

Riddick Bowe made his debut against Lionel Butler, who turned out to be pretty good (for a while).

[Tinnie]

Jimmy McLarnin vs Jackie Fields (2 future HOFers, who met when both were only 17 years old!).

LaBarba also fought McLarnin 3 times in his first half dozen bouts and Newsboy Brown in his 8th... Fields fought Salas in his second.... some very good lower weight fighters about there... most of them did the rounds with each other

[wouter]

Marlon Starling and Simon Brown fought for the USBA title before both became champions.

[palooka]

Edwin Rosario beat Frankie Randall in London before both became world champions, Edwin numerous times.

[Counter-puncher]

really good thread, this.

[palooka]

Marlon Starling and Simon Brown fought for the USBA title before both became champions.

Don Curry beat Starling for the USBA and NABF belts in '82 - Marlon about 23 years old, Curry about 21 years old, both were exceptional boxers and very hard hitters even then.

[stevedoc]

roy jones vs Hopkins vacant IBF middle weight belt ,,,while a belt it was well before either was anywhere near their primes