Aaron Pryor comes to mind. You can argue Muhammad Ali as well, depending on your opinion of where he stood at after his comeback. Duran would be a good mention if not for the single blemish against De Jesus, which he avenged twice regardless. Cesar Chavez? Salvador Sanchez?
Holmes never did. Neither did Jeffries. They were both past it by the time they were handed their first defeats.
Vicente Saldivar gets a mention, since he was past his prime, and coming off a layoff when he lost to Shibata, and even more removed from his prime when he lost to Jofre. His first loss was a DQ, and occurred very early in his career. Hopkins warrants mention, too.
when you say prime losses...is that unbeaten until they were past their prime?...or just during it ? i'd like to say hopkins too...did you not think jones beat him ??..and his first fight? good thread.
Pernell Whitaker of course, because the Ramirez "loss" was a joke. Monzon. Three early career losses before an 81-fight unbeaten streak that lasted till his retirement, never lost a fight as a world title contender or champion.