Elite Fighters That Struggled With Lesser Opposition

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Showstopper97, Oct 14, 2020.

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  1. Showstopper97

    Showstopper97 The Icon Full Member

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    Name some elite-level fighters who beat, but heavily struggled with lower-tier opposition.
    Examples can include them struggling throughout the fight, but manage to eventually get the knockout - or getting a gift decision, even though they should, could or would have lost if they weren't favoured/protected.
     
    Showstopper97, Oct 14, 2020
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  2. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

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    All of them. But a specific example that I like a lot is Erik Morales and when on his comeback he arguably beat Marcos Maidana. Obviously Morales isn't 'lower-tier' by anyone's standards, but after a few years out, yet another move up in weight and facing the new kid on the block, and he was destroyer.

    Morales showed that he was more than the boxer-brawler he was often painted as in his prime. He was one of the savviest boxers of the era. I love the lead uppercut he used off the ropes, and the defense he showed on the back-foot.
     
    George Crowcroft, Oct 14, 2020
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  3. Clinton

    Clinton Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Evander Holyfield
     
    Clinton, Oct 14, 2020
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  4. lloydturnip

    lloydturnip Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Sanchez v Cowdel. Pat give him a really hard fight much to SRL s surprise.
     
    lloydturnip, Oct 14, 2020
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  5. Bujia

    Bujia Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Canzoneri had more than his fair share of losses to subpar opponents when he was phoning it in.
     
    Bujia, Oct 14, 2020
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  6. HolDat

    HolDat Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Morales' movements always reminded me of RJJ's.
     
    HolDat, Oct 14, 2020
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  7. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    Larry Holmes comes to mind. I’ll give him a break for the Carl Williams fight for being in the twilight of his career, even though he arguably should have been on the losing end of that decision. But A 15 fight Tim Witherspoon a few years earlier along with Renaldo snipes and a few others are good examples where he could have looked better. He didn’t even always look that impressive when he was whaling on dudes like Lucien Rodriguez.
     
    mr. magoo, Oct 16, 2020
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  8. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Julio Cesar Chavez-David Kamau - I remember that night believing Chavez lost.
     
    Dubblechin, Oct 16, 2020
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  9. scartissue

    scartissue Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Jack Dempsey v Willie Meehan. Whatever it was, Willie had the Indian sign over Jack.
     
    scartissue, Oct 16, 2020
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  10. Noel857

    Noel857 I Am Duran Full Member

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    James Toney v David Tiberi
     
    Noel857, Oct 16, 2020
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  11. Amos-san

    Amos-san Member Full Member

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    Holmes and Toney very good examples
     
    Amos-san, Oct 16, 2020
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  12. HolDat

    HolDat Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Might be the worst fight from an ATG (in his prime) I've ever seen in my life.
     
    HolDat, Oct 16, 2020
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  13. Devon

    Devon Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Chris Eubank Sr
     
    Devon, Oct 16, 2020
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  14. Webbiano

    Webbiano Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Vernon Forest vs Ricardo Mayorga
    SRR vs Randy Turpin
     
    Webbiano, Oct 16, 2020
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  15. Toney F*** U

    Toney F*** U Boxing junkie Full Member

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    Shows how hard the sport is. Doesn’t matter how good you are, your gonna struggle no matter what
     
    Toney F*** U, Oct 16, 2020
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