Which are the greatest examples of this? I'll start with two classics: Duran w Barkley and McCallum w Watson. Your picks?
For recent ones Marquez w Pacquaio - even though Marquez isn't that much older. Schmeling w Louis is another of course. I seem to coming back to that one. Toney's has his fair share: Jirov, Riuz and Peters (because he ****ing won the first one) for example. And Hopkins of course... Had he beaten Kolavev (which he wasn't remotely close to tbf) that would probably have been the nr 1 in this regard.
I think Hopkins got the shock of his life (as i did because i picked Hopkins to win) in that first round when a) he felt Kovalevs power and b) realised Kovalev was more than just a slugger and c) he countered Hopkins counter right hand. In fact, Hopkins-Kovalev is kinda a good shout because despite losing, Hopkins experience and skills allowed him to make the full 12, any other fighter would have been sparked. Hopkins had no way of winning that fight except a one punch ko (something hes not known for) despite that he still lasted. Oh and Ali-Foreman is another good shout.