Best performance of a boxer who loses/draws by robbery

Oscar De La Hoya vs Felix Trinidad: Oscar put on a boxing clinic, it wasn't even close for the first 9 rounds. He showed great handspeed, footwork and timing. That was the best Oscar De La Hoya imo (considering the opposition).

 

Billy Graham (welterweight)

Kid Gavilan vs. Billy Graham (3rd meeting)

1951-08-29 : Kid Gavilan 145¼ lbs beat Billy Graham 145 lbs by SD in round 15 of 15

• Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, USA
• Referee: Mark Conn 10-7
• Judge: Arthur Schwartz 9-6
• Judge: Frank Forbes 10-11

Regarded as one of the most controversial decisions of all time. The crowd violently protested the decision. Referee Conn, who had cast the deciding vote in favor of Gavilan, had to leave the ring under police protection. Among critics, opinions were divided sharply over who deserved the decision. Some had Graham a clear winner, while others thought the decision was close enough to go either way.

"The writer scored the battle, nine rounds to six, for Gavilan. The champion was entitled to the first four, eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh and the thirteenth. Graham won the fifth, sixth and seventh rounds, the twelfth and, in a closing burst of brillant [sic] boxing, the fourteenth and fifteenth. ...Graham's superior boxing skill carried him through the rounds he won. In these sessions he outboxed the champion. After taking a drubbing through the first four rounds, Graham stung Gavilan to aimless fury with his clever boxing and sharp hitting through the three succeeding rounds. Repeatedly Graham reached the jaw over this span with sharp right-hand drives. He made Gavilan miss awkwardly with long lefts and rights while getting under the fire with solid rights to the heart or left hooks to the head. With the eighth round the tide of battle turned Gavilan's way. He forced the fighting, swarmed all over Graham, charging in against Billy's best blows and raked the East Sider about the head with rights and lefts. In the twelfth Graham's punches were cleaner and sharper and he grazed the jaw several times with rights. Through the fourteenth and fifteenth rounds Graham, throwing all caution to the winds, reached the champion's jaw repeatedly with grazing rights and left hooks. He frequently beat Gavilan to a left jab to the face. However, the earlier lead accumulated by Gavilan could not be overcome by this closing rush of the challenger." (James P. Dawson, New York Times)

• Attendance: 8,137; Gate: $34,419;
• Gavilan received universal recognition as champion after this fight.
• Unofficial scorecards:
  • AP - 7-5-3 Graham
  • UP - 8-6-1 Graham
  • Ringside poll conducted by the UP of 15 boxing writers had 12 favoring Graham and 3 favoring Gavilan.

 

Fenech vs Nelson may be the worst decision I can remember.
Holmes Spinks II
Young vs Norton
G vs Canelo I & II
Mancini vs Camacho
Parker vs Hamsho I

 

SRL getting the draw against Hearns was an embarrassment for the sport. Hearns knocked him down twice and was the boss of that fight. Tommy is what the sport of boxing is all about. Activity, fighting everyone, and just wanting to be the best … Yet, the popular guy, the guy who manipulated the sport and the sport accepting it so the boxing money machine could roll on ….

 

Oscar vs Felix
People usually exaggerate and call certain fights a schooling. This fight was like one great a level above another great on that night.

 

Yeah, it’s a shame Rodriguez got the wrong end of poor judging in at least two of those fights. I personally felt he won all four and should be rated much higher than he currently is.

 

James Toney vs Samuel Peter 1

 

Chris, since that initial post of mine, I have watched and scored the third Griffith-Rodriguez fight. And I scored it 8-3-4 for Rodriguez. I'll be damned. There is no way i can see Griffith taking these.

 

I agree. The closest two were the first two. I could see an argument for having them 1-1 at that point (though I couldn’t score enough rounds for Griffith in either), the third and fourth fights were clearest.

 

Oh man, shockingly bad decision.

 

Loved all these choices, especially Parker-Hamsho I. I would also add in the first fight between Mario Martinez and Azumah Nelson. Highway robbery and Martinez was never better.

 

Some may disagree but I thought Axel Schulz handled Foreman and as fight progressed you could see his confidence grow.

 

There is no question

Roy Jones vs Park Si Hun

Jones dominated from start to finish. There is no debate.