Fights that would have derailed a fighter’s career significantly had they lost

Jim Braddock's life, let alone career, would have been very different had John Henry Lewis got the decision over him that the Brooklyn Times Union felt he deserved, describing the decision as "popular as a hangnail". No shot against Baer for the HW title & no defence against Louis, with no 10% (iirc) of Joe's future purses going to Jim.

 

naz kelley

 

Holmes vs Spinks 1 . Huge legacy changing fight for both fighters .

 

If foreman had lost to cooney.

 

Great answer

 

Not sure how significantly but what if Rocky hadn't managed to get suzy Q on to Jersey Joe s chin in the 13 th?
No unbeaten heavyweight champ to argue about on here for sure?

 

Toney against Tiberi
Holyfield against Cooper & Holmes
Lewis against Mercer

 

If Joe Frazier had visited the canvas one more time in that early round in his first Bonavena fight, the three-knockdown rule would have given Ringo a TKO victory over Joe. Joe likely would have gotten his career back on track but he would no longer be undefeated and would always have that "KO by" in his record.

 

I guess in general terms, any losses in earlier eras were less likely to derail a fighter’s career than they might do now - given shorter careers and/or less fights these days and the heavy accent on perfect records or at least minimal losses.

Back in the days of yore, with perhaps a 100+ fights total in a boxer’s future, a single loss was a lesser % of the whole and the fighter in question was always going to have a lot more opportunities to make amends and get back on track.

Having said that, even going back in time, as the far busier fighters entered the more advanced, latter stages of their careers, there were still, reasonably perceived, make or break crossroad fights.