Judges' decisions that affected boxing history the most

The judges that gave Fenech his draw against Nelson killed his Prime and motivation.
In the other side, Roy Jones said that his robbery against Park Si Hun motivated him to become a better person and a better fighter, of course that he would have been a great one with a gold medal but if it works for him, that's great.
Tyronne Everett pretty much died because of his robbery loss against Escalera.

 

The conundrum of the Schmeling v Sharkey fights. And Schmeling wins the tile on a foul. (Sharkey won the first three rounds, but he was disqualified after he landed a low blow late in the fourth round. Schmeling became the first boxer to win the World Heavyweight Championship on a foul.)

Fantasy fight: Norton fights Schmeling, and both are declared Hvywt Champeens!

 

Schmeling deserved the win though in First Sharkey fight, the foul was brutal the blow was clearly low. Also outside of the 3rd a clear Sharkey round - the first two rounds were fairly competitive. I think it's wrong to assume Sharkey was on his way to winning the first bout.
The second bout was a Schmeling win that was taken from him (maybe retribution for the first fight, maybe to keep the belt in America) whatever the reason Schmeling who was champion, was the aggressor and landed the far more effective blows according to almost all in attendance.
That win would of established him as a solid champion in the wake of Tunney's retirement. He would of turned back Stribling and Sharkey. And it erases Carnera and Sharkey as champions. Interesting study of what could have been?

 

Great question. Ali vs. Norton 3 is correct. Norton would have gitten what he deserved, and Foreman, Lyle, and Shavers all would have perhaps beaten him. Ali did not dominate that decade...there was great stylistic parity in the division, but judges and refs gave it all to Ali. Spinks would've been a fringe contender...that's all.

 

Leonard-Duran I. The concept of the Fab Four depended on it. Otherwise, Duran would not be Fab Four, just a guy lost to them. Hearns would then be a guy who lost to the remaining two, which would make Hagler a guy who lost to the only guy left.

 

Another is if the ref counted out Douglas.

 

The second Schmeling-Sharkey fight immediately came to mind. Had Schmeling been awarded the decision, I believe he holds the title at least until he meets Max Baer. Schmeling potentially could have had successful defenses against Walker, Carnera, Loughran, and Uzcudun. I believe Baer will always be problematic for Schmeling, but if Baer had not been allowed to get away with the roughhousing, Schmeling may have at least lasted longer. Had he gotten past Baer successfully, Max may have been the defending champion in his first bout with Joe Louis. A couple of big 'what ifs' in there, but ones that could have turned Schmeling into the dominant heavyweight champion of the 1930s.

 

How do you say "knutt-shot in Japanese (see 9:00 min for details)

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Another example would be the Jimmy Ellis - Floyd Patterson WBA Heavyweight title fight in September, 1968. If Floyd had been awarded the decision he would have been the first 3-time heavy champ (even though the title was fragmented in 1968.) What would Floyd do with the title? Does he fight a unification bout with Frazier right away, or might he make a defense against Sonny Liston? If he fights Frazier, I believe Joe wins and history proceeds as in real time. A Liston fight presents some interesting scenarios - a loss to Sonny makes Liston champ again and Ali returns from exile..... a Patterson victory over Liston gives a big boost to Floyd's legacy, and does Floyd retire or become Ali's first fight back?

 

The WBA banned the now 45 year ? old Liston from the WBA Hvyweight Tourney at that time. Sonny just could not get a break.

 

That's right - Sonny was not invited to participate. No doubt the reasoning was that if he were in it, he might win it, and that would be totally unacceptable to the powers that be. And I've always suspected that the possibility of Floyd winning the title and bucking the system to defend against Liston worked against the possibility of a third Patterson reign.

 

great analysis & comment.

 

What about Louis v Walcott 1 ?
Just surmising , but if Walcott had beat Joe then Louis may have called it a day , at least for a while. Walcott would then have faced Charles in a totally different frame of mind and beat him .
But i n a rematch Charles defeats Walcott .But now He's been champion Walcott has no further ambitions so he call's it a day.
So Charles then beats Louis as so happened but with no Walcott looming its Ezzard facing the young Marciano .So there would be no Rocky v Walcott classic.. !

 

Everett definitely deserved that win over Escalera, but I think it's a bit over the top to say he died because of it. It was Ty's alternative lifestyle that caused his death, which likely would have happened with or without the title.