Are there any fighters who....

retired before having a career defining fight that would have added significantly to their legacy if they won?

I'm thinking of Pacquiao here. If he was to fight the winner of Cotto-Foreman or Margarito then retire he'll have missed out on a possible career defining fight with Mayweather.

Basically I'm asking were there any fighters who retired on the top of their game, missing out on a mega fight that the whole world was eager to see?

 

Tyson never fought Zuri Lawrence.

 

Calzaghe vs Dawson

Ottke vs Calzaghe

 

Yes, ***** Mayweather retired when the best guys at 147 were fighting each other.

 

^^^see the common fighter^^^

 

Pac - Marquez III

When Pac retires Marquez will always be remembered as the one Pac never clearly beat, but instead he decided to "move on"

 

riddick bowe should of fought lennox lewis and ray leonard should of fought aaron pryor

 

Originally Posted by realsoulja
Calzaghe vs Dawson

Ottke vs Calzaghe
^^^see the common fighter^^^

yeah but ottke retired rather than fight calzaghe joe didnt duck him he wanted that fight

 

It's not hate it's true :hi:

 

Decent examples, but I'm thinking more of something like when Leonard 1st retired without facing Hagler. I know he eventually did fight Hagler, but it was maybe a little late (Hagler would have been 33 at the time of the fight).

Maybe Hagler himself could be an example though. Would a rematch with Leonard, with Hagler winning, have significantly added to Hagler's great achievements?

 

Yeah but he fought Kessler for WBA and Lacy for IBF, both belt were left by Ottke. If he did fight and beat Ottke then Joe wouldn't have to fight Lacy and Kessler (who were undefeated), and people would say Joe ducked them. Fighting Ottke or not fighting him would be the same. His legacy is a little bit more credible and people like to speculate because he retired undefeated.
If Lacy or Kessler retired be4 facing Calzaghe, people would say he would beat JC. Remember how they were praised and favoured as the winner against JC. Now they are written of as overhyped/overrated...

 

and if Mayweather retires, his career defining fight is?

 

It's true there were significant fights left at welterweight when Mayweather retired in 2008, but would you say any of them were 'career defining'?

Names like Cotto, Williams and Margarito would have looked great on his record if they had occured before he retired, but I don't think any of those fights would have been mega fights at the time (08-09).

 

Pacquiao would be Mayweather's career defining bout...and vise versa.

 

Anyone think the Klitschko's may retire without having career defining bouts?...don't get me wrong, they've had some good wins, but career defining?