Boxers who have gained credibility despite losing the fight

tommy farr losing to joe louis

 

When Frazier lost to Ali in the third fight.
When Foreman lost to Holyfield.
When Conn lost to Louis the first time.
When Walcott lost to Marciano the first time.
When Firpo lost to Dempsey.
When Holyfield lost to Bowe the first time.
When Jones lost to the Korean in the Olympics.
When Walcott lost to Louis in the first fight.

 

Hearns against Hagler.

 

mugabi against hagler

 

36 year old veteran Jesse Burnett was flagrantly robbed of a win for S.T. Gordon's vacated NABF CW Title when Leon Spinks was bizarrely awarded the UD. Fortunately, justice prevailed for Burnett, and he did get an immediate shot at Gordon's newly acquired WBC CW belt in the WBC's final CW Title bout scheduled for the championship distance.

SRL deserves credit for getting into the trenches with Duran in Montreal, and proved a measure of toughness many doubted he had. His body was all black and blue after this one, his FOTC defeat.

 

Jun Sok Hwang,,,,,,,,,,,who the hell thought he'd go 15 Rounds with Donald Curry.

Karl Mildenberger,,,,,,,as most thought he didn't really earn a shot at the title, as his record was built up with many wins over 'journeyman fighters' or worn-out fighters, and he looked horrible in his previous 5 fights.

 

****, great answers so far

i'll say rosario after camacho (whose stock correspondingly went way down)

 

Duran against Hagler.

Some people even think he won, although i strongly disagree with that sentiment.

 

Ossie Ocassio,,,,,,,,The draw with Michael Dokes got him more respect than his
wins over Jimmy Young, and Title fght with Larry Holmes.

Eddie Davis (Light Heavyweight) versus Dwight Muhammad Qawi

Jose Luis Ramirez versus Alexis Arguello

 

Hwang was built like a tank, and proved to be competent on defense. (He scored his knockdown while on the ropes, getting Don moving in with a right hand that showed no signs of coming.) Like many South Koreans, he appears to have been extremely well conditioned, if somewhat deficient in certain boxing skills. (I don't remember him throwing any jabs, just extending his left in a defensive stiff arm.) I wouldn't mind seeing Hwang's later win over Cuevas. On paper at least, that one seems like it could have been a lot of fun.

 

Jun Sok Hwang, definitely had the best chin around back then.

Kind of like the George Chuvalo of the Welterweights.
I think against Pipino Cuevas, Hwang may have been knocked down early.
I guess that win would be considered a mid-level upset.

 

Three excellent calls.

Jaws clearly beat Dokes, who was rescued with a draw only through his connection with Don King.

Eddie showed what great conditioning and mental preparation could do for the ability to take a punch. Far and away the most competitive performance ever against Michael at 175. Eddie also deserves acknowledgment for previously getting off the deck in the opening moments to give Qawi some hell.

When Ramirez dropped Arguello, many wondered if Alexis could make the grade at 135. First Vilomar Fernandez had upset him, and now this. I know many who were then wondering if Arguello would be able to cope with the likes of the speedy Kenty and Howard Davis, Jr. Alexis showed up for Mancini-Ramirez candidly expressing his desire to see Jose win so Arguello could get a title defense rematch for redemption, but Boom Boom impressed and surprised everybody with his in and out movement en route to a 12 round shutout win.

 

Carl Williams against Holmes.
Seems like a lot of fighters gained credibility losing to Holmes.
Witherspoon's another one.

Walcott againsty Louis.

Tony Tucker against Tyson.

Azumah Nelson against Sanchez ?

 

Yep,,,,,,,Ossie 'Jaws' Ocassio, really deserved the decision against Don King owned
Micheal 'Dynamite' Dokes.

Remember when Dokes would walk around the ring, and throw red roses to the crowd
before and after the fight.
Some must have landed on the judges laps, with $1000 bills wrapped around the stems.

Then Ossie goes out in the rematch, and 'dives' in the 1st Round, thanks to a
$10,000 Bonus from Don King.

 

Young against Norton.