[GIF] Pascua upset ko over Humberto Gonzalez

Isn't it funny how often times challengers of a much typically level lower elevate their own game above and beyond what was considered normal for them, spurned on to perform better by having a great opponent to begin with?

It's funny how when you're a top man in your weight class you start to inhabit a vacuum of sorts where pressure mounts, as the price mounts on your head, as your defenses rack stack up tape becomes available and other fighters begin to decode your style. Larry Holmes went through this throughout the 80's, having men that typically under performed like Tim Witherspoon & Carl Williams giving the singular best performances of their entire careers even though both were relatively "green" while facing Holmes. They rose to the moment like they never again would.

I guess there are all sorts of Buster Douglas/Tyson moments in boxing where one fighters own exceptional abilities sharpen their opponents existing own ability, proving to be the top fighters downfall. Pretty interesting stuff.

 

Yeah, great post. Like you say there are examples innumerable throughout the history of the sport where a lesser fighter rose to the occasion against a more talented, longstanding champion. I was thinking the other day about Eloy Sanchez, the solid but unspectacular bantamweight contender of the late 50s/early 60s taking out the excellent champion Jose Becerra inside the distance and how I'd like to see it. Very surprising result in it's day similar to the dangerous journeyman Billy Peacock smashing up the prime Raton Macias in three rounds.

Gonzalez was the type of fighter always prone to upset though. A wide puncher with an increasing sense of over-regard for his own power and a dentable chin. Bound to spell trouble sooner or later.