BoxRec

The loser left the ring with more adulation, respect, & admiration than his conqueror? This could be an opinion piece --- where you felt the beaten fighter deserved more credit than the victor, or where it was a fact that the loser received more praise than the winner. Often times, this comes down to a fighter doing far better than expected en route to defeat.

Charles-Walcott II
Holyfield-Foreman
Holyfield-Holmes
Holyfield-Cooper
Louis-Conn I
Marciano-Charles I
Marciano-Walcott I

From the history books, Jeffries v. Corbett I and Jeffries v. Fitzsimmons II
Tunney v. Dempsey I. (Not so much his performance, but how he conducted himself in defeat - "Honey, I just forgot to duck" - endeared him to many fans.)

This used to happen all the time in England, we love a good loser who gives it a go, for example:

Ali - Cooper I
Foster - Finnegan
Ali - Dunn
Tyson - Bruno I
Nelson - McDonnell

Barrera-Morales I
Morales-Espadas Jr I
David Reid-Kirino Garcia
Eric Lucas-Fabrice Tiozzo
Castillo-Mayweather I