Really? This is what I read "This used to be a much more common thing back in the days when a loss here and there didn’t derail a career … or even stand as a major setback." My point is Liston wasn't derailed after his losses and continue to lose but instead went on a win streak.
Probably best to cull the rematch after losing title guys from the list but some people will post them and the world won’t end, haha.
Bob Fitzsimmons lost to Tom Sharkey due to a controversial DQ decision by referee Wyatt Earp. In his next fight, Fitz won the heavyweight championship against Corbett.
Dick Tiger 12/07/1963 loses to Joey Giardello in fight 3 then goes 2 years with no granted rematch. Tiger has wins over Rocky Rivero and Hurricane Carter. Then In 1965 Tiger beats Giardello and regains the title. JohnThomas1 Does this qualify?
The idea is that they lost a (non-title) fight and then in their very next fight won the world title. So there was no gap between then losing and their title win. It’s not about winning streaks after losing a fight. It’s also not about losing the title and then regaining it. See Sainpat’s first example: Pipino Cuevas lost a 10-round decision to Andy “Hawk” Price and six weeks later destroyed Angel Espada to become WBA welterweight champion. Makes sense?
Lightweight contender Jimmy Carter lost a ten round decision to Percy Bassett and won the world title in his very next fight against Ike Williams.
Embarrassed this didn't jump out at me straight away at it involved one of my faves - Edwin Rosario lost a disputed decision to Hector Camacho for the WBC lightweight title before rebounding immediately and wiping the floor with Livingstone Bramble for the WBA lightweight title.
Steve Robinson. Was a journeyman with a 13-9-1 record. Lost his previous fight eight weeks earlier before coming in on a day's notice to win the WBO Featherweight title. Steve put together seven successful defenses before losing to Prince Naseem Hamed. I always liked that guy.
A few that haven't been mentioned so far: Pancho Villa Petey Sarron Howard Winstone Tiger Flowers Battling Levinsky John Henry Lewis Bob Montgomery