Best replacements in history (seems relevant now)

What are the best fights, where one of the fighters was a substitute?

Obvious examples:

Louis Walcott I

Lewis Klitschko

Joshua Ruiz I

When was the substitution a blessing?

 

Do you mean Joshua-Ruiz 1?

 

Sanchez-Nelson. I believe Nelson was a late replacement.

Barry McGuigan vs Steve Cruz

Holyfield-Cooper.

 

Of course. My mind was on recent events.

 

Munguia against Sadam Ali, Bam vs Cuadras, and Ugas against Pacquaio.

 

Good thread.

Will say Vitali, two ATGs getting it on, and was a superb fight.

 

Willie Pastrano was a sub for a sub when he beat Harold Johnson.

He didn’t win but Holyfield vs Bert Cooper was definitely more fun and competitive than anyone would have expected from Holyfield-Damiani before Francesco pulled out like a week before with, iirc, a foot injury.

 

I was going to mention Sanchez-Nelson. Nelson was certainly a late replacement, unknown.

1.) Nelson was uncharacteristically clowning around. he never did that again.
2.) that was Sanchez' last fight. Legend's both. Top shelf.

 

I think Damiani would’ve given him a good fight.

 

Tim Tszyu vs. Fundora

 

Especially considering how Holyfield faired against Cooper.

 

Since Twitter became X, I guess the great theory about this has gained new ground.

 

Byrd vs Vitali deserves the mention

 

Taking it on 7 days notice not even seeing your opponent fight, going to his backyard and making him quit. You can't imagine a better replacement.

 

Was Jersey Joe Walcott a late replacement? Joe Louis signed to fight him in September, three months before the fight?

Three months isn't exactly two days.