Most impressive performance by a losing boxer?

[witherspoon]

I mean one where the loser enhanced his reputation in his effort, as opposed to an A-level beating the shit out of another A-level only to be robbed by the judges.

In my eyes, having watched (highlighted youtube version, I admit) Joe Louis' first title defence, i would say Tommy Farr.

[hhaehre]

Ray Mancini going down to Arguello. Ray lost his perfect record but proved he was world class .

[Seamus]

Ray Mancini vs Livingstone Bramble in the second fight.

[theone]

Taylor against Chavez.

[Goodnight, Irene]

Conn's initial effort against Louis, & Arguello's first shot at Pryor come to mind. Both fought terrifically.

[Ron C]

Salvador Sanchez vs. Azumah Nelson

[Evander]

Evander Holyfield losing the 1st Riddick Bowe fight among others.

[Goodnight, Irene]

Salvador Sanchez vs. Azumah Nelson

Good one. How about Rafael Marquez in his last fight with Israel Vazquez? Both technically & courageously, Marquez was outstanding. A shame.

[allworld80]

Gatti in the first fight against Ward. That fight set the boxing world on fire at that moment, and made
Arturo a star even in the loss.

[p4p1]

Gatti in the first fight against Ward. That fight set the boxing world on fire at that moment, and made
Arturo a star even in the loss.

[jaclem2]

walcott got a lot of respect after his first marciano fight for his grand stand..and then lost it when he was thinking about his retirement plan as he sat on the canvas during the second one.

walcott also, of course, in the first joe louis fight....though there are so many who think he really won that one. either way it made him a great "new star" to much of the public.

many people have said that charles in marciano won was his greatest fight, but that aint so, because if it had been his greatest fight he wouujld have won.

[harrygreb]

mickey walker must be the most notable fighter here. his first bout with jack britton and his clear but fantastic defeat to greb. both times the boxing world saw a fighter obviously going places.

[Adamj1987]

youseff al hamidi vs JOhn murry - hamidi was robbed
Holyfield vs Valuev - valuev didnt punch
hearns in hearns leonard 1

[dr_devious]

I was very impressed with Tony Tucker in his losing efforts against Tyson and Lewis. He proved himself to be a very capable boxer, and very tough in both fights.

Likewise Razor Ruddock who enhanced his reputation in his two losing efforts against Tyson, very tough and very brave.

[Flump]

Ezzard Charles against Marciano the first time, he fought a great fight, just came up short, he was never given the respect he deserved during his lifetime, thankfully now that has changed.

Witherspoon v Holmes, Billy Hardy vs Orlando Canizales, Maurice Blocker vs Honeyghan, Pat Cowdell vs Sanchez.

[witherspoon]

Ezzard Charles against Marciano the first time, he fought a great fight, just came up short, he was never given the respect he deserved during his lifetime, thankfully now that has changed.

Witherspoon v Holmes, Billy Hardy vs Orlando Canizales, Maurice Blocker vs Honeyghan, Pat Cowdell vs Sanchez.

Ha, I was waiting for Witherspoon-Holmes to come up!
Great calls on Hardy and Blocker. I remember watching those fights.

[Goodnight, Irene]

Fernando Vargas gave an awful lot of himself against Felix Trinidad. Roberto Duran performed admirably against a lacklustre Marvin Hagler. Arturo Godoy in his first encounter with Joe Louis. By all accounts, Gene Tunney was outstanding in losing to Harry Greb. Kenny Norton against Larry Holmes, anyone?

[hhaehre]

Ezzard Charles against Marciano the first time, he fought a great fight, just came up short, he was never given the respect he deserved during his lifetime, thankfully now that has changed.

Witherspoon v Holmes, Billy Hardy vs Orlando Canizales, Maurice Blocker vs Honeyghan, Pat Cowdell vs Sanchez.

Ha, I was waiting for Witherspoon-Holmes to come up!
Great calls on Hardy and Blocker. I remember watching those fights.

I disagree on Holmes-Whiterspoon. I know this is somehow lauded as Tim's finest hour but he should have won the fight. Why didn't he ? Because he was out of shape, that's why. Not grossly out of shape but had he been in real shape, Marciano style shape, he would have pulled it out. It was all there for him but it was old man Holmes who finished the stronger.

Ps. Hardy beat Canizales the first time out but was screwed on the cards, in the second fight he put up a gallant stand but was never really in it.

[elmersalsa]

Taylor against Chavez.

I gotta agree with you on that one theone, Taylor was 2 seconds away from greatness.

The other one, Billy Conn vs Joe Louis I...He tried to mix it up with one of the greatest, probably the greatest KO puncher of all-time, and he paid the price. These two, are the greatest performances by a losing boxer.

[witherspoon]

I disagree on Holmes-Whiterspoon. I know this is somehow lauded as Tim's finest hour but he should have won the fight. Why didn't he ? Because he was out of shape, that's why. Not grossly out of shape but had he been in real shape, Marciano style shape, he would have pulled it out. It was all there for him but it was old man Holmes who finished the stronger.

What do you mean, IF he was in real shape.
If he was in shape he wouldn't be Witherspoon.

[Rocky Balboa]

I'm quite surprised Pat Cowdell's losing effort to Salvador Sanchez has not been mentioned until now!

Pat gave a very high account of himself. It was unlucky for him that he met an exceptional fighter in Sanchez.

[p4p1]

i always thought that george foremans performance against evander holyfield was impressive. because george was in his 40's and took everything evander could throw at him and still landed some good shots

[dajuggernaut]

Taylor against Chavez.

My first thought when I opened the thread.

[jaclem2]

..p4p1----great call!!! and one i never would have thought of but now that you have i am in total agreement. i saw that fight on closed circuit tv with a fight crowd and we all were cheering george on. seeing it in real time, as opposed to knowing it just from later perspective and knowing the outcome ...it was a suspensful fight as george was always in it and kept moving forward no matter ow many times he was being hit.

[bollox]

Has Herol Graham - Julian Jackson been mentioned? Despite the highlight KO split second by Jackson the rest of the fight was Graham's