Hey Classic Fellows. Just wondering who are some fighters who had world title shots/ or big step up opportunites and decimated in their big world title shot and suffered major setbacks to eventually comeback and pick up a title and be a very good fighter. Some examples i am thinking of include kelly seabrooks, had a few early losses, and the fighter who ko'd roger mayweather ( freddie [end;etpn)and built himself a good name. Even like Bernard Dunne (although this is a little example).
Johnny Nelson Bottled world title attempts against Carlos De Leon and James Warring before returning to stop Carl Thompson in 1999. Junior Witter Ran like a ***** against Zab Judah, before outpointing DeMarcus Corley six years later
Andrew Golota nearly got there too, with the draw with Byrd and the points loss to Ruiz, both controversial. Shannon Briggs? Didn't have a title shot but had the linear championship due to the dodgy win over Foreman, then loses a battle with Lewis, draws with Botha and loses to fighting-out-of-his-skin Sedreck Fields. He looked dead and buried, widely outpointed by McCline in 2002 as well, but finally got himself a WBO title belt in '07. Oh, of course - John Ruiz! Not a title shot but a step up against Tua on the HBO 'Night of the Young Heavyweights' card, blasted out in 19 seconds, two-time WBA champion. You'd have to omit the 'very good fighter' bit of course...
terry norris? is that a stupid answer? a dq. a sd and a destructive ko loss. and turns it around with a stunning 1 round demolition of mugabi, then cementing it with a one sided win over past prime but solid version of leonard. also vincent pettway had a ton of losses to obscure opponants then got his title shot against rosi and wham in the limelight. also his win over simon brown is immense. then falls apart. campas?
oh yeah which japanese fighter was it who fought for a title 3 times against a thai or indonesian fighter losing every time then on the 3rd time he beats him decicivly? anyone know who im talking about? edit: daisuke naito vs wonjonkam. fastest ko in flyweight title history then beats the man then ties with him in the 4th time out.... a 5th fight is gonna happen this year methinks.
Glen Johnson was dominated by Bernard Hopkins in his first title fight, and a real step up in class. He went on to do some good things and win titles @ 175. Jersey Joe Walcott suffered a lot of early defeats, and failed in his first 4 title fights (although the first loss to Louis is considered a robbery), but eventually won the title. Along the way he established a good resume.
Guts Ishimatsu lost both of his first two world title tries, to Ismael Laguna and Roberto Duran respectively, and had a record that might have not looked to great on paper, only to win a version of the lightweight title a couple years later.
Nate Campbell really got his **** together. Eventually. As always, Prince Charles Williams had a early career that mirrored Johnny Nelson's.
Glen Johnson is a good mention. He was outclassed in every department by Hopkins, had some unmotivated performances afterwards, was robbed a few times and then went onto win the IBF title from Clinton Woods, KO'd Roy Jones and beat Tarver, becoming the Ring Magazine Fighter of the year in 2004.
Yes, wasn't so long ago that all Nate was seen as a joke for the hands-down knockout loss, Kirkland Laing style. He's been able to come back.