Billy Conn vs Joe Louis - The Best Losing Performance?

Most definitely. Azumah's performance is just astonishing because of his lack of experience while Pintor did great considering that he was in there against the same man who had destroyed Zarate only a few years earlier.

 

Chris Finnegan vs Bob Foster?

 

It was a great effort by Finnegan but I feel Foster was in control all the way. However considering how dominant Foster had been and that Finnegan was expected to be finished inside 4 rounds, it should be seen as a great losing effort. As commentator Harry Carpenter said, Finnegan brought out the best in Foster by bringing out the best in himself. And to Finnegan's credit, Foster was never quite the same man after that win.

 

Michael Watson vs Chris Eubank II must surely qualify.

 

He was up, but not by much. Louis was doing a lot of effective work of his own. A fantastic performance by Conn, no doubt, but pretending it was some sort of schooling that led to a KO from nowhere is just wrong. We can't be 100% sure since the footage available cuts out part of every round - Round 4 or 5 I believe is literally only 10 seconds of action - but what is available, I think, bears that out.

 

Joe Frazier's effort in Manila deserves a mention. Remember he was considered washed-up at the time, and the rejuvenated Ali was expected to get him out of there fairly quickly and easily.

 

I don't know? I struggle with the Thrilla in Manila? (does anyone else out there??) - I just think they were both well past it - it was not what I would call a great fight because I prefer when the fighters are performing at their physical bests - the reason the thrilla was such a tussle is that they both just happened to be be shot to virtually similar degrees - and that allowed for it to still be a hard close fight - if one of the two had been slightly less washed up than the other then I think they would've stopped the other earlier and in free flowing action rather than being pulled out by a corner - one would've got stopped - they were both a stone over the prime weights and both looked a little sluggish to me - good fight but not GREAT - the first Louis-Conn fight both were at their peaks and in great shape and performing at their optimums and bringing the best out of each other and what makes Conns losing performance even more admiral for me is the physical disadvantages he was contending with also - (I also think Schmelings defeat of the young Louis ranks up there as one of the best performances/results by any fighter ever certainly at heavyweight but thats another issue I guess)

 

I agree with you on the overall quality of Ali and Frazier in Manila (the first Ali-Frazier fight is BY FAR the most significant of the series, IMO) ..... but still Frazier's was one hell of an effort to put forth and lose the fight.

Ezzard Charles against Rocky in the first fight was another great losing performance.

 

Pryor was throwing more but also missing alot Alexis hardly missed a shot at times and landed good combos.

 

True and Olivares was past his best....Ruben was a party animal