Have to give a mention to Frankie Warren here for his performance against Buddy McGirt in their 1988 rematch for the IBF Light-Welterweight title. Warren was brave way beyond the call of duty in this one, and should really have been pulled out about three rounds before the referee finally called time on it in the twelfth. McGirt was hitting him with every shot in the book to both head and body, and he was hitting him hard, cleanly and with regularity, dropping him heavily in the eighth round and hurting him badly a few other times. Warren's left eye was already badly closed (and cut) by the third round, and the right was getting pretty gnarly by the latter rounds, too. But he never stopped coming or trying to throw, never went into his shell or held, never asked Lou Duva to pull him out when he easily could have without anyone blaming him (I'll say again - Duva should have taken that decision out of his hands). Great performance of skill by Buddy, but just as great a one of heart and toughness by Warren. Too brave for his own good, really.
