BoxRec

One thing I always admire about a fighter is if they lose a fight and then go away lick their wounds, learn by their mistakes and comer back a better fighter,

Sometimes a loss can be a good thing for a fighter, do you agree?

One 'recent' example of this was with one of my favourite fighters Nigel Benn. Benn was riding high on a lot of hype and a undefeated KO filled record, but then ran into the then lesser known and less spectacular Michael Watson. Watson in a big grudge match weathered the initial storm and went on to out-think, outbox and stop the raging Dark Destroyer.

Benn went away, licked his wounds and came back a better fighter. He then a few years later ran into Chris Eubank, who in a hugely hyped grudge match out fought and stopped Benn in a savage battle at the NEC Birmingham.

Once again, Benn went away, learnt by his mistakes and became a much better fighter and went on to have an exciting career at Super-Middleweight, as we all know of course.

Any other examples?

How about Gene Tunney after his beating at the hands of Harry Greb? Or the great Joe Louis against Max Schmelling? Did these loses make them better fighters?

Ali's loss to Frazier, Duran's Loss to Leonard, Hagler's Loss to Monroe, Patterson's Losses to Liston.

Ok only the Hagler one fits perfectly but the others were cross roads fights where the fighters could have just quit for good but came back and stayed respectable to say the least.

Hopkins lost his first time out, and his loss to both Jones and Taylor did not seem to diminish him in any way. Tony's loss to Jones did not spell the end for him either.

I would say after Lennox Lewis lost both times he became a better fighter for it and avenged both losses. Wow this is a great question. I would really have to think. Maybe Sugar ray after the Duran loss. Maybe Klitschko learned something after he quit due to shoulder injury against Byrd. Tough.

louis against schmeling

Holyfield after Bowe (at least as a HW)
Winky after his early losses
Corrales after Mayweather (debatable)

Benny Leonard was stopped three times in his first couple years as a pro.

By Mickey Finnegan, Joe Shugrue, and Frankie Fleming

Lou Ambers lost to an older Tony Canzoneri in their title fight for the vacant lightweight title.

Later he went on to win it from Canzoneri.

After losing to Junior Jones twice, Marco Antonio Barrera, went on to have a War trilogy w/Eric Morales, school Prince Naseem, and made quite a career of himself.

Good topic.

Robinson after pretty much all of his pre-Pendar losses (Maxim being the exception I guess), Griffith after Paret II, Duran after DeJesus and Laing, Hearns after Leonard big time, I guess Whitaker after his BS loss to Ramirez, Douglas after Tucker some might say, R. Marquez after Garcia. I agree with those who said Ali after Frazier, Louis after Schmeling, Barrera after Jones (and Morales, and Pacquiao, I would add), Holyfield after Bowe (both I and III) and some others.

Some might say Foreman after Ali and Young, though it took him over a decade.. lol

Also, they were draws, but Hagler and Hopkins became better fighters after their draws with Antuofermo and Mercado.

It's not a popular thing to say these days but tatsing the bitterness of defeat should make anybody better at whatever they compete in. It's the sign of true greatness IMO.

Tyson after Douglas



(jockeing of course)

I think Tszyu become a better fighter after the loss to Phillips.

Dennis Andries after Hearns
Boom Boom Mancini after Arguello
Eusebio Pedroza after Olivares
Terry Norris after Jackson

azumah Nelson after Salvador Sanchez

Dave McCauley v Fidel Bassa

Terry Downes V Dick Tiger

Boza Edwards after Arguello

Tony Sibson after Lotte Mwale