Upsetting the up and coming fighters of the present time, despite the age or freshness difference between fighters. Larry Holmes defiant and badass performance against Ray Mercer is a great example of this. Ray was tearing through the other up and comers of his time such as Damiani and Tommy Morrison. But all of a sudden he ran into a pear shaped 42 year old that wouldn't back down and that he couldn't budge. Brilliant stuff. Another good example is natural bantamweight Ruben Olivares twice stopping Bobby Chacon at feather, even though Chacon was much younger and fresher, the up and coming star and had stopped Danny Lopez in-between his two losses to Olivares. A pretty good example of the previous generation of fighter "standing tall" and pulling out a win. Also, Bernard Hopkin's basically had half a career of doing this.
Also, one of the most glaring omissions possible, Foreman against Moorer. His entire comeback, I suppose.
Bob Fitzsimmons defeating Tom Sharkey and Gus Ruhlin. Jersey Joe Walcott lifting the crown amidst the new generation. Harold Johnson defeating Doug Jones.
Yup. Another good example, albeit an easy one. Some other easy ones are Duran's latter day career, against the much larger and younger Davey Moore, and then again against the even bigger Iran Barkley. Would some of Azumah Nelson's later career performances qualify? I think so.
Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Juan Diaz Floyd Mayweather vs. Canelo Alvarez (too green for significance? idk, you be the judge)
Bob Fitzsimmons was 37 when he defeated Ruhlin 28, and Sharkey 26. Jersey Joe Walcott was 37 when he defeated Ezzard Charles 30. Harold Johnson was 35 when he defeated Doug Jones 25.
Bob Fitzsimmons. He basically beat the two best contenders of the next generation, about a month apart!
Next to Sam Langford and Greb (If even them) Fitz occupies this mystical place among boxings past in my mind because his accomplishments and abilities sound... mythical, almost. Impossible to imagine them actually happen, but supposedly, they did. Killing multiple men in the ring/Being one of the most vicious punchers of all time almost irregardless of size, and his longevity especially considering the era he fought in, and last but definitely not least, the middleweight/light heavyweight/heavyweight crown accomplishment. Then again, look at what Henry Armstrong did, and we have film of that...
Here's a great example of what I'm looking for (and a pretty damned good fight at that) This content is protected
Here's Olivares/Chacon I, for anyone that wants to see it. A masterful performance by Olivares. This content is protected