Name a Performance That Caused You to Become a Fan of a Fighter You Didn't Like

I wanted the thread title to be, "Name a performance that caused you to become a fan of a fighter who you were previously indifferent to."

Unfortunately, that thread title was too long to fit.

Anyway, I'll start with a couple of examples: Wilder over Stiverne and Pavlik over Miranda.

I wasn't able to watch those two fights and not become a fan of both Wilder and Pavlik.

Anyone else have this happen? A single performance that caused you to change your opinion for the better about a certain fighter?

 

Mauricio Herrera.

He had this robberys against Provodnikov and Dallas Jr.
I thought, Alvarado would knock him out inside 3 rounds and was happy. But Herrera was showing a lot of heart and was ready for a war.

 

Manny Pacquiao for his fight with Miguel Cotto.

I freaking hated Pacquiao because I love Mayweather so much. I thought it was an insult when people said Pacquiao could beat him. Nobody could beat Mayweather! Especially not some Filipino midget!

Well, I turned on his Cotto performance just because I wanted to hate on him. After I watched it and him for the first time, I turned to my mom with wide-eyes and said, "Mom...this guy can beat Floyd."

Been a fan ever since!

 

I never actually became a "fan" of a fighter I didn't like before, but some I started to like overtime.

When I dislike a fighter it's usually because of his behavior, history and/or fighting style, most of wich usually don't change much or at all.

 

Eubank vs The Cat

 

I'l be honest here - not sure what fight it was but I was originally indifferent/didnt like Carl Froch, but the git grew on me, think he just came across as a d**k at first, but gave the man props - he comes to every fight willing to go to war and I came around to him.

 

Hopkins vs Trinidad. Trinidad was a beast. To see Hopkins literally take all of his qualities away and so methodically knock him out, was amazing.

A fight that made me a bhop fan till this day.

 

not so much like or become a fan but respect.
Calzaghe vs. Lacy, I though Joe would throw and be ahead on the cards until he got knocked out, but the knockout never came. Had no choice but to respect Joe's gangsta after that.

 

The fighters ive liked now, i've never disliked.

 

Maidana vs Broner. I hated Broner and to me Maidana was just another puncher. Seeing Broner being wheeled out to the ambulance was euphoric, been a huge fan of Maidana ever since.

 

Josesito Lopez when he KO'd Ortiz. Saw Josesito in the gym 2 years prior to this fight and was unimpressed vs all the hype I'd heard.

Carlos Monzon also after all Cosell's bad mouthing calling him a mediocre talent ( which might have been true but he'd just win) !

 

Pacquiao vs Morales II & III

My favorite fighter was Morales - seeing him wrecked twice in the same fashion that barrera was beat down in made me a fan of Manny and Freddie. Manny avenging the draw against Marquez pushed me to fanboy status after that.

 

Leonard's win over Hearns. I never liked Leonard but the Hearns fight made me a fan of his in the ring.

 

Froch's win over Taylor
Loma's win over Russell Jr.
Wilder's win over Stiverne
Calzaghe's win over Lacy
Rigo's win over Donaire

 

Froch Groves 2