Loses his first 3 fights, is 6-5 after 11, 25-11 -1 after a unsuccessful shot at a minor WBF heavyweight Title and ends up at 42-12-2. His last 14 fights being WBO Cruiserweight title fights (13-0-1). Surely one of the oddest champion records ever. I think I recall some lighter weight fighter from the 80s/90s who became a world champion but had something like 18 losses in his first 20 or so fights.
Possibly the most horrific to watch fighter ever. I think he used to over think in his fights. Made Ruiz look like Gatti.
I suspect you might mean Kelvin Seabrooks who was 18-12 and went on to win a title at Bantam or maybe Freddie Pendleton who was 17-15-3 at one time in his career.
Try Chop Chop Corley 2 time world champion,gave trouble to the likes of Judah,Mayweather and Cotto. 39-21-1
Corley was 25-1-1 when he won his first title, his defeats have come in a more 'classic' manner, later in his career.
If you didnt know who Chop Chop was you would have called him a bum just by looking at his record,its deceiving is what I meant. Johnny Nelson turned pro with ony 13 amateur fights and he lost 10 of them so he was pretty much learning on the job in the pro ranks so it doesnt surprise me he has quite a few losses on his record.And for all the people calling Nelson boring go to 36.39 of this fight and watch onwards. Nothing boring about a British fighter going over to Germany and retaining his world title in style like this,great ring entrance as well,Nelson was class when he wanted to be http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oQy616qIU4
Didn't he start out as a kick-boxer ? Lots of old-time fighters came up with a few losses in their first few fights. It just means they weren't given any favours early on, not like most modern prospects, whose opponents are carefully selected fighters who are either easy 'tomato cans' or fighters who seem a bit better but have styles to suit their own style.