Which moment/fight from your favorite fighter defined their career? His career-defining moment would be when he said 'no' to the Vietnam Draft and lost 3 years of his prime to stand up for what he believed to be right, and to stand up for black rights in America. Ali's fight, which is hard to pick since he has so many great options (Liston, any of the Frazier bouts, Spinks 2, etc) but I think the obvious answer is when he fought George Foreman, upsetting him to re-win the heavyweight championship. That would be his career-defining fight. Looking forward to these responses, should learn something new!
The great, BRUUUUTAL Bat Battalino vs The Fargo Express 12 rd stoppage war. Maybe, the greatest action fight ever fought. Billy's moment.
Archie Moore v Durelle....fight secured his legacy as a top p4p fighter and continued to make him a draw late into old age. Career defining moment was probably securing Maxim the (250k?) with the help of Argentinian dictator Juan Peron and getting himself a title fight one of which he wasn’t paid much because of Maxims large demand. He got that title and decided to keep it for a decade
Eder Jofre made history as the first Brazilian world champion when he won the Bantamweight title in 1960 and though he had a great reign and most generally rank him #1 all-time in his division it is the stunning accomplishment of winning the featherweight championship in 1973 against a formidable champ and stylistic nightmare in the much younger and bigger José Legra that puts Jofre right up there with the absolute gods of the game. Lineal championships 13 years apart and at 37 years old in that era in those divisions is unheard of.
When Evander Holyfield KO’d Michael Dokes in one of the best fights of the decade. I knew he was something special
Duran vs Barkley. Duran was still having his courage questioned by some folks because of the No Mas fight. I think the way he won that middleweight title from Barkley at that age, he re-earned a lot of respect from folks that he had lost in that 2nd fight with Ray. For the record, he always had my respect as truly one of the greatest fighter's of all time.
I think his career defining fight was against Esteban in the 3rd fight. He proved everything that day.
I could see that. Honestly he had so many it's hard to pick just one. Esteban, Leonard, Moore and Barkley. I went with the Barkley fight because the deck was so stacked against him. 37 years old, much smaller man that was fighting 25 pounds above his natural weight class. He had certainly proving his greatness well before that fight but what he did at that time was immortal. Guys really weren't winning belts that often in their late 30's at that point. Foreman vs Moorer and what BHOP did in his 40's hadn't happened yet. Outside of Jersey Joe winning the title at 37 and Archie's greatness, guys were pretty much done by the mid 30's and not beating men twice their size and nearly half their age. Duran = born to fight!
It's hard, since Charles has so many but I'll say stopping Moore is his best win. Although, I'd argue that his defining moment (or at least the one he's respected for most) is going 15 with Marciano whilst past prime. It's an amazing feat, and not something I'd see being replicated by another fighter his size. Meh, I'll pick Moore 3. For Pops it's pretty straightforward. Best fight is Saad 1, and his best moment was beating Galíndez. Saad has about 1000 moments and fights you can pick, but I'll say Pops 1, and his defining moment was rallying after the 8tg round vs Lopez. Hearns' was definitely Hagler and Duran. Duran is another with a bunch of them. I'd say the Barkley and Moore fights are my favourite, with Leonard 1 being his defining moment.
