BoxRec

How about some examples of brave performances in the ring, beyond the call of duty. I'll start with

Don Cockell V Rocky Marciano

Danny Williams v Vitali Klitschko

After their fight Joe Louis called James J. Braddock the bravest man he had ever met. Good enough for me.

Mustafa Hamsho 1

The greatest comeback in the history of the sport, it defines the catagory. Archie Moore gets up and battles his way back from certain defeat at the hands of Durelle. Yeah I know I sound like a broken record. But it's nothing short of miraculous.

I think Jess Willard coming out for the second round against Jack Dempsey was remarkably brave.

Yes, Willard took a fearful battering, makes very unpleasant viewing.

Mickey Walker hanging in there with Max Schmeling is another one.
Supposedly Jack Kearns threw in the towel and told Walker "I guess this was one we just couldnt win."
To which Walker replied "speak for yourself Kearns , you tossed in the towel."

i always remember jesus chavez fighting for 10 rounds with only one arm against erik morales because of a torn rotator cuff. he was so busy with his left morales and the hbo announcers didn't notice until late in the fight.

there's so many throughout history, this is a great topic.

Primo Carnera getting off the canvas 11 times against Max Baer

BoxBuzz wrote:The greatest comeback in the history of the sport, it defines the catagory. Archie Moore gets up and battles his way back from certain defeat at the hands of Durelle. Yeah I know I sound like a broken record. But it's nothing short of miraculous.

tagjohnson wrote:After their fight Joe Louis called James J. Braddock the bravest man he had ever met. Good enough for me.

Who was #2 on that list of opponents Louis had beaten? The tie salesman who they had to drag into the ring to fight Louis?

Jeanette was apparently knocked down 27 times against McVey in a three hour fight for 49 rounds and came back to win by knockout. I love what Moore did against Durelle, but...

I Feel Fine wrote:

tagjohnson wrote:After their fight Joe Louis called James J. Braddock the bravest man he had ever met. Good enough for me.

Who was #2 on that list of opponents Louis had beaten? The tie salesman who they had to drag into the ring to fight Louis?

Jeanette was apparently knocked down 27 times against McVey in a three hour fight for 49 rounds and came back to win by knockout. I love what Moore did against Durelle, but...

Jeanette's performance was astounding. I wish it was able to be viewed. So my Archie statement sort of fits the category of fights that are viewable.

.....the tie salesman i feel fine refers to was king levinsky..who rumbled with some good heavyweights in hi s day but was so terrfied of joe louis that the promoter of the fight had to bring on this main event early because of the threat of rain.( it was a nice summer evening, no clouds in sight, but they were afraid the kingfish would bolt.) as it was , he did get into the ring, and the first time louis hit him he started walking sideways along the ropes, finally sitting on the middle rope and begging the referee "don't let him hit me again."

actually there was some valor in this, as he then had to go back to his dressing room and face his sister lena who was his mangager of whom he was also terrified.

Ali v Frazier 3 - TBH, both men showed courage beyond reasonable levels of expectation.

The heat, the pace, the tenacity & the emotion were all horrendous, yet these 2 guys almost killed each other in pursuit of victory.

Add in the fact that Frazier was partially sighted in one eye before the fight & that his good eye was closed at the end & he still wanted to fight on!

Some of the prima donas that infest boxing today should look at this fight & see what true courage & heart are in boxing.

Dempsey vs Firpo
Marciano vs Walcott I
Marciano vs Cockell
Ali vs Frazier II
Cuello vs Burnett
Zale vs Graziano I, II, III

bjermaine wrote:i always remember jesus chavez fighting for 10 rounds with only one arm against erik morales because of a torn rotator cuff. he was so busy with his left morales and the hbo announcers didn't notice until late in the fight.

there's so many throughout history, this is a great topic.

Hey, I love Erik Morales, but I freely admit he never was the brightest candle in the chandelier....

Though at the time I lived in London, I think some British announcer piped up somewhere in Round 5 or so.

Bravest again though was Morales, in his last stand against Pac. He was clearly a goner but kept hitting Pac with strafing lefts and rights

Tyrell Biggs v Jeff Sims