Mercer L12 Ferguson that earned the Boogie Man a shot at the Indisputed HWT Title against Big Daddy and made Mercer career gone to the other side.
The first Ali/Norton fight where Norton out boxed and broke Ali's jaw on national TV's Wide World Of Sports :yep
That wasn't a tune up fight, it was a world title final eliminator(called after the arrest of Ibeabuchi who was supposed to be fighting Grant). I can't believe nobody has mentioned Lewis-Rahman yet, a supposed tune-up for the richest fight in history at the time (admittedly LL righted it pretty impressively second time around).
Ron Lyle vs Lynn Ball. Lyle was to fight Big John Tate for Tate's WBA title. Lyle gets Koed in 2, Weaver gets the shot at Tate, KOs him. Weaver's career takes off, Tate's in ruined, Lyle's is over. Ball goes on to have a couple of fights on CBS Sports Spectacular, eventually getting KOed by Marty Monroe. The Morrison vs Bentt and Alex Garcia vs Mike Dixon are excellant examples also. Garcia was to fight Lennox Lewis (in Lewis's first title reign). Dixon hits Garcia with a left hook to the temple in the 2nd (caught him just right as the shot did not look that hard). Garcia' career goes down the tubes and he misses out on a big payday verse Lewis. Dixon never does anything else in his career.
I was at that fight outdoors at the Riviera Las Vegas, Alex was clipped while in the corner and never recovered.. He later lost in a similar way in florida to Garing Lane. That fight in Vegas was blinding hot i remember, in 1993.. it was the hottest day of that year.. i got so badly burned that day.. So did Alex..
Iminent Danger ........ Snipes v Holmes, a tune up for the Cooney v Holmes fight.. Renaldo almost caused all kinds of trouble.......
Holmes got of the canvas twice in his career after being clocked by right hands... The Snipes fight and the second Shavers fight. Pretty amazing recuperative powers ole Larry had.