Fighters who had a great showing in losing efforts

Hatton - Mayweather was the best Hatton has looked imo

 

Great picks. :good

Mancini against Arguello deserves a mention, imo.
And of course, Arguello v Pryor. (1st fight.)

 

Joe Bugner to Joe Frazier 1973

 

Recently Cotto-Mayweather
Johnston-Castillo 1
Katsidis against Marquez & Casamayor
Quarry against Frazier
Pacquiao-Morales 1
Tarver-Jones 1

 

Pat Cowdell - Salvador Sanchez 1981

 

Foreman vz Shultz

 

August 25, 1979

Kwang-Min Kim versus Antonio Cervantes,,,,,,,,,,WBA Light-Welterweight Cahmpionship

The 23 year-old Korean, Kwang-Min Kim was really a 135 lb. Lightweight,,,,,,,,

Kwang-Min Kim was a replacement fighter for WBC Light-Welterweight Champion,
Sang-Hyun Kim, who was supposed to fight Antonio Cervantes in a WBC/WBA Unification
bout for the Light-Welterweight Championship.

The 5' 6" Kim was 15-0-1 (4 KO's), and was the #3 WBA Lightweight and had not
competed in the 140 lb. Division.

The WBA sanctioned the bout, and positioned Kwang-Min Kim as the #9 WBA Light-Welterweight.

He hung with 'Kid Pambele' who was 85-10-3 for 15-Rounds, in Cervantes 5th Title Defense of his 'Second Reign'
of the WBA Light-Welterweight Championship.

The shorter and 'light-punching' Kim 5' 6' to Cervantes 5' 9" - Boxed, Darted and Jabbed,,,,,,,
in losing a close 15-Round Split-Decision to the WBA Champion at the ChangChung Gymnasium in Seoul, South Korea.

The aftermath, it was a Split-Decision,,,,,,,,,,
Scorecards;
147-144 (6-3-6 in Rounds) Antonio Cervantes
148-147 (3-2-10 in Rounds) Kwang-Min Kim
146-144 (6-4-5 in Rounds) Antonio Cervantes

 

When some one mentions a great loosing performance i always think of Duran vs Hagler.

 

Kevin Finnegan Vs Marvin Hagler, Kevin, going through one of his Trial horse periods, went to Marvins Boston Gardens Patch, and Gave the Hagler Home Crowd, and Resident Irish, a truely great Effort, after 8 rounds Finnegan was stopped by dreadful cuts, but was level on points, apperently had won the last two rounds...and was closing like a train, if it wasnt for the severe cuts perhaps Kevin could have joined the Worm and Boogaloo ? very surprisingly given the severity of the cuts, Kevin went back and did it all again a very short time afterwards, again stopped on cuts with Marvin still unable to put Kevin down, Perhaps Kevins Guiness fund was running low ??? Kevin Finnegan, Good Fighter, Tough Guy, Great Charector, Just like Brother Chris.

 

Best example I can think of was Kelvin Seabrooks trying to go out on a row of shields against Orlando Canizales. I have never seen that much heart in a certain losing battle from any other fighter. I love that he got to wear the belt and make two defenses before losing to OC.

 

James Kinchen against Hearns. Taylor vs. Chavez. Hearns vs. Leonard.

 

Joe Bugner's decision loss to Joe Frazier in 1973 comes to mind. Bugner, just 23 and relatively untested, made his reputation that night. He hurt Frazier a couple of times, arose to 10th round knockdown to take the fight to Frazier, and generally boxed well all night.

Bugner didn't do badly in his earlier 12 round points loss to Muhammad Ali, either.

These two fights -- despite being losing efforts -- established Bugner as a legitimate contender in the '70s.

 

It's true that Kevin Finnegan fought really well against Hagler both times. Finnegan was stopped each time only because of cuts. All the more impressive considering that Finnegan fought in Hagler's hometown.

Not to take anything away from Hagler, who won both fights justly.

 

Mike Weaver's 12 round TKO loss to Larry Holmes was a great losing effort. Weaver shook Holmes -- then a great champion in his prime -- several times.

I always regarded Weaver as the true "real life" Rocky Balboa. Weaver's career story resembles the Rocky plot line much more closely than did Chuck Wepner's (who was actual inspiration for the movie).

If you see it this way, then Weaver's loss to Holmes is like Balboa's first loss to Apollo Creed.

 

Robinson - Lamotta 6 (Valentines day massacre)