Great fighters who suffered a shut-out when prime or near-prime?

Sugar Ray Robinson lost close to every round against Ralph Tiger Jones

referee: Frank Sikora 99-94 | judge: Ed Hintz 100-88 | judge: Howard Walsh 98-89

Jones lost the last 5 bouts before he beat Sugar Ray.

In his very next bout, Jones was shutout by Bobo Olson

referee: Frank Gilmer 100-86 | judge: Franklin Spike McAdams 100-78 | judge: John Bray 99-87

 

Whitaker-Chavez/Nelson is up there.
Ali-Liston I barring near sabotage.

 

Tippy Larkin against Billy Graham

Scoring in rounds: 7-2-1, 8-2, 9-1; Attendance: 14,054
Larkin appeared to lose the 1st round, but then clearly outboxed Graham the rest of the way. New York Times

 

I definitely wouldn't call Robinson prime when he lost to Jones. He'd just come off a nearly 3 year lay-off prior to that fight and was nearly 34 years old at the time.

 

Trinidad vs. Winky Wright? Don't think Tito landed a punch.

 

It only went 6 rounds. And Liston won 2, possibly 3 of them.

 

You mean like Ali when he went against Frazier.

Robinson was out just over 2-1/2 years when he made his comeback, and Ali was out over 3-1/2 years. Robinson lost to Jones in January 1955 and before the end of the year, he was World Champion once again.

 

Ali was 29 and unbeaten when he fought Frazier, and probably qualifies as near-prime rather than prime.

Robinson was 33 and fair to say past his prime. Robinson had retired in 1952, aged 31, after a bad loss and 135 professional fights in 12 hard years of professional campaigning.

Ali had left boxing involuntarily and relatively fresh.
Also, they say heavyweights age better than welterweights.

 

I agree Robinson wasn't at his very best But he did go on to defeat Hall of Famers Fullmer, Basilio and Olson. Like Ali, he lost a step But was still one of the best.

Mayweather was off almost 2 years and he was 32-1/2 years old, although he only had 39 bouts, when he came back to shut out Marquez.

referee: Tony Weeks | judge: Burt A. Clements 120-107 | judge: Dave Moretti 119-108 | judge: William Lerch 118-109 ~

 

How about George Costner over Ike Williams on July 12, 1950 (10-0, 8-2, 8-2). This was Costner's last bout. He beat Kid Gavilan, Charley Cotton and Williams in his last 3 bouts after being KO'ed by Robinson.

 

tyson vs douglas

 

Little Red was 28 years old, and looked like he could be the man at 126 for a long time to come, and then Salvador Sanchez came along, and probably won 11 of the first 12 rounds on his way to stopping Danny in the 13th.

 

Toney VS Jones was pretty embarrassing. Sure Toney had the weight issues, but all the same Jones was just stylistically and athletically all wrong for Toney. Too mobile, too quick on his feet as well as his hands, and heavy handed. He just couldn't counter much of anything RJJ was layin on him.

 

Abe Attell against Jim Driscoll ?

 

Exvcellent choice Tito acted like he had never seen a jab before ,let alone blocked one.