I nominate Johnny Nelson. The guy lost his first 3 professional fights and at the time of his last loss he was 25-12-1. In his next 21 fights he: 1.) had a record of 20-0-1 2.) won a world title at cruiserweight and defended it 14 times 3.) won fights in Germany and Italy 4.) retired as champion He may not have been a crowd-pleasing fighter but it's hard to argue with his accomplishments. This was a guy who was left on the scrap heap and he completely turned his career around.
I nominate Marco Antonio Barrera He was a P4P rated youngster by the time he ran into Junior Jones, who beat him twice. The first time by a stoppage, really. Marco was almost reduced to nearly man status after that, and Erik was a really really heavy favorite going into their first encounter. It was astonishing that he was fared so easily, but Marco hadn't really stepped up in world class since his losses to Jones. It was seen as the passing of the torch between the two Mexicans. Well, Erik won the fight, but would ultimately lose the war. Marco would go on to beat Hamed, win titles at 126 and 130, and overtake his arch rival in popularity. If anybody had told you Marco would be held in such high regard after his second loss to Jones, they would laugh at you.
Jim Braddock, we all know the story there, and recently Antonio Margarito (turned around in a bad direction though for him)
Jersey Joe Walcott mismanagement and being a part time fighter he had a very patchy record. Then got better management and concentrated 100% on boxing and won the heavyweight title at 37 cleaning up the division and is seen as a great.
i agree with johnny nelson as the pick. there cannot be another fighter with a worst record who ended up unbeaten in the last 10 years of his pro career fighting on the road and taking on all commers. steve robinson was a journeyman who got a late call as a substtute for a world title and ended up with about 7 defenses from memory before naz beat him. jim watt another brit came up the spit and sawdust route with no fuss , ended up beating the olympic champ howard davis who was a huge favoutite going in, then again sean o grady who was something like 70000000 wins -1 before he faced jim watt
James Toney. The man was all but forgotten after Jones, and came back to be one of the best as a heavyweight. HOF fighter.
glen johnson steve robinson buster drayton mike weaver freddie pendlton kelvin davis kelvin seabrooks manny augustus mickey ward ian napa
I've been trying to get Johnny Nelson on video or DVD and even YouTube - Zilch - he didn't even exist. Anyone tell me where I can get atleast one of his fights - when he was a champion. He was supposed to fight Maccarinelli, but his knee screw came of so went to the geriatrics on Skysports. Anyway please may any gentlemen reading this tell me where I can watch one of his fights? Thank you
Johnnys career started that way because of VERY poor management. He only took up boxing for self defence. He then ended up globe troting and being used as cannon fodder for some very good cruisers at the time.
Jonny Nelson I agree with he was one fight away from quitting the game and made a good career for himself after that
