Fighters with every excuse to lose.....but didn't!

Rodrigo Valdez’s brother was shot and killed a couple of weeks before his first fight with Carlos Monzon so could have been what you were thinking of? Unfortunately for Valdez, that didn’t spur him on in his fight with Monzon.

But you’re absolutely right about Hearns’s brother - Henry Hearns shot and killed his girlfriend mere hours before Tommy was set to enter the ring against Leonard in their rematch. He then exceeded everyone’s expectations with his performance that night and got the very least of what he deserved - a winning draw.

As a footnote, Henry Hearns, who was tried and convicted of the murder in 1990 and sentenced to 25-50 years in prison, was released only last year (June 2021) after 31 years in jail.

 

I think Qawi was ill on the way to his bout with Eddie Davis. Somehow, he won the fight by knockout in phonebooth slugfest!

 

Larry Holmes claims that he beat Ken Norton with one arm ….I’ll never forget the look on Norton’s face when he said that ( on the 5 champs video )

 

Bobby Chacon's wife killed herself the day Chacon fought Salvador Ugalde. He had every reason to pull out but still chose to fight and ended up stopping the guy. He would still go on and fight Limon (4) and Boza Edwards (2) months later after his wife had died.

 

Holmes against mercer.
42 years old, yet he overcame the then avoided, undefeated opponent with sheer guile, experience and courage.
It may have been his truest test as a fading and sadly diminished legend rising to the occasion one last time.

 

Evander Holyfield against Mike Tyson I ​

He had heart problems for two years, was beating KO'ed by Bowe a year earlier, & had a mediocre showing against a fringe contender in his last fight before Tyson (Bobby Czyz I believe). Tyson, in his comeback looked like he hadn't missed a step & had gained back his invincibility - with many sports writers & commentators (Ferdie Pacheco in particular) were saying that Tyson was better than he was before.

I know Tyson fanatics make excuses saying Tyson was shot & past his prime to make an excuse as to why he lost but that's not what the boxing world & press were saying (I'm a Tyson fan, but not a fanatic). They were saying it was Holyfield who was the one who was shot & past his prime - and they were absolutely right. Tyson was still in very good, top level condition compared to Holyfield - who was seen as damaged goods. Holyfield was a 25-1 underdog (almost as big as Douglas). This should have been a cake walk for Tyson.

 

Monzon had something with his brother. Before Griffith, I think.

A small (16 foot) ring with soddy canvas in humid heat should have been really bad news for Ali's ageing legs, but he managed to turn it to his advantage.