Name me some fighters who were matched hard early in there careers?

Davey Moore won the WBA Jr Middleweight in his 6th or 8th fight? Talented fighter met the challenges, but was fed to the wolves against Rejuvinated Roberto Duran.

 

Pete Radamacher's debut as a pro was against Floyd patterson for the title,his next fight was against no 1 contender Zora Folley.
I think that takes it!

 

Joey Maxim in his first year as a pro - after 11 fights - found himself as the #8 ranked light heavy in the world.

Scartissue

 

Those two were the first that came to my mind too.
I've actually heard people say "Jimmy Ellis wasn't much as a middleweight, lost 5 fights", totally ignoring the stage of his career and the men he was fighting, some he beat too, and the close decisions he lost.

 

George Chuvalo fought some tough ones early on.

 

No mention of Bob Foster yet?

A experienced Doug Jones and Mauro Mina, in his own backyard, were not soft touches.