Not talking about freak accidents, sudden KOs or fouls. Example: leonard trying to stand up to duran in montreal Oscar being agressive and knocking mayorga out like that
Leonard and Mayweather bullying bullies who had superior size and reach. Leonard was known for quick reflexes and being pretty in the ring aside from the Duran brawl but showed how adaptable he was by getting past Hearns jab using his gloves and great chin to storm forward and catch Hearns while fighting expertly in the pocket. Mayweather contradicted all the bull**** about Connor being a murderous puncher who could KO the runner (as MMA fans were calling him) and by the fourth round of this bout between Floyd and Conner he started to bull forward with a high guard even though McGregor looked so big compared to him and before the fight he and so-called experts thought Connor would be too big and powerful and was some unstoppable Bruce Lee type force never seen on the planet before and Floyd was going for the KO from the fourth round and from the start even though he had trouble getting inside he clearly just wanted to get at Connor far from running he only backed off to the ropes about three times the entire fight and forced Connor to use his energy in a kind of over mobile rope a dope type situation, which was another fight I will mention, Ali in Zaire no need to say too much depending on peoples age, absorbed punches on his arms and amazing chin to defy the odds. In all three cases slick boxers went for the knockout at a certain point and beat the other guy at his game, stand up to the bully and he will crumble, Ali only fought Foreman`s fight by standing in front of him and beating Foreman`s glove control, nobody even mentioned that before their famous bout, brilliant!
Bobby Czyz (who was in other ways very smart...I believe he was a member of Mensa) fought Mustapha Hamsho LEFTHANDED against the advice of his corner. Shocked everyone and he lost the fight.
After Bonecrusher Smith KOed WBA champion Tim Witherspoon in 1 round, a month after Mike Tyson annihilated Trevor Berbick to win the WBC title, we were all expecting a unification war between 2 of the biggest punchers in the world. Instead, as soon as Smith found out how much faster Tyson was and how hard it was to hit him cleanly, he became Bonehugger Smith instead and whatever strategy he had planned went out the window as he clearly just wanted to survive and go the distance.
Noted bruiser Chiguita Gonzalez turning speedy boxer and completely outfoxing/outboxing Michael Carbajal after getting KO'd in their previous encounter.
Frankie Randall fighting JC Chavez toe to toe for long stretches. Really, nobody had employed that tactic without coming out second best. After the fight, Sugar Ray Leonard was interviewed by one of the boxing mags. and expressed is surprise that Randall was able to pull that off.
Michael Spinks boxing Braxton, all but shelving the right hand, moving anti clockwise and relying on multi faceted left hand which was sometimes doubled and tripled up.
I remember thinking at the time that morrison was gonna come charging out like a bull and be spent in 5 or 6 rounds. Never expected what followed.
