He was never the same

Louis after Schmeling I

 

Mugabi took a hellacious beating vs Hagler. His durability was never the same after. You have to go back and watch his earlier fights vs Fletcher and Green. He was a straight up killer. It's like watching 2 different people to see how he changed.

Antwun Echols. He's mentioned now as a litmus test for Bhops middleweight run. But this guy was an explosive puncher and tough as can be. He had limited defense and just came forward chin up in the air.

 

I was so impressed with Tim Witherspoon. Watching him nearly take the title from Holmes. I was sure this guy was the next big thing. His smooth cross-armed defense and power he was champ for sure. It never happened and he never looked the same like the Holmes night.

 

Hopkins did a complete number on Trinidad.

 

I think Moorer is one who was never the same after about the Cooper fight he grew a little wet footed and anxious in the ring when he realised he wasn't a big, strong or imposing man anymore which probably wasn't the best for someone who was not known for being a mental giant. However it did lead to long term success of course.

 

There is no need for that.Show some respect

 

Rocky Juarez was at one point a top 126 contender. He pushed Barrera to a Spilt decision and even got a rematch. He was a good puncher (always kinda plodding) and very durable. Most thought after Barrera he would be a mover and a shaker. He won only 5 fights in his next 9 years as a pro. He is barely ever mentioned in these forums.

 

Jeff Left Hook Lacy. Mostly seen as an opponent now in hindsight but he was the MAN at one point. He had that look, the shaved head, shredded abs, was an Olympian and was undefeated with a punch. Calzaghe beat him so badly, that plus a real bad shoulder injury and it was like watching a different fighter. Could never pull the trigger anymore and took lots of hits. After the Calzaghe loss he had 1 KO the rest of his career.

 

I boxed with an Aussie fighter Wild Will Tomlinson. He actually challenged Francisco Vargas for the WBC 130 lb title. Will was a top Aussie talent with 80 amateur fights and had been asked to help Gamboa in sparring. Will prided himself on giving a good tough fight to fans. Vs Vargas he got smashed, probably one of the worst beatings I've seen. Vargas couldn't miss with his punches. I remember after the fight he posted a pic from his bed, his face looked like he had been assaulted by a baseball bat. The type of beating that takes years off your life. Will always had a decent chin but after that he barely got a decision against medicore opposition and one fight after that got Koed by the first punch in round 1 in front of his hometown fans and then retires right there. He went from a WBC title challenge to quitting because he had no punch resistance in just over 1 year.

This is a quote from a paper when he formally retired in 2016:
“I got caught the other night and it was a case of my body not being able to absorb the punishment anymore. Three or four years ago that punch wouldn’t have caused me to blink.
“But as I’ve got older, it’s harder to make weight and it’s not a natural process to absorb that brutal punishment for ever. And my career was always going to end like that, if not that fight, then the next or the one after that.

 

These stand out to me ...

Tito wrecked Vargas
Tito wrecked David Reid
Tito wrecked Mayorga
Hagler wrecked Mugabi
Weaver wrecked Tate
Qwai wrecked Saad ( although Saad was clearly on the way down prior )
Paq wrecked Hatton
Hatton wrecked Tszyu
Pavlik wrecked Taylor
Pryor wrecked Arguello
Rosario wrecked Bramble
Rosario wrecked Camacho ( as a great fighter )
Holmes wrecked Cooney
Sanchez wrecked Lopez
Johnson wrecked Burns ( a classic )
Louis wrecked M. Baer
Cerdan wrecked Zale


Fun topic

 

Truth. However Kell was a WELTERWEIGHT that had the balls to step up and fight close to prime GGG when none of the middleweights seemed to be willing to do so. Props to Kell.

 

Donald Curry for sure .