What are some big wins that great fighters got early in their careers?

Ricky Burns beat Graham Earl in about his 8th fight.

 

This far in without Benitez?

 

LaBarba then went onto win the world flyweight title in his 11th pro bout against Frankie Genaro, 10 months into his pro career.

 

Ray Leonard beating future Jr Welter Contender Willie"Fireball"Rodriguez in his second fight.

 

Duran defeating future Wilfredo Gomez WBC SBW Title challenger Carlos Mendoza in the professional debut for both. (Mendoza gave a peak Gomez his toughest fight to that point, bloodying him up.)

 

That's great choice, and in his professional debut.Who would've thought, that 12 to 13 years later. Mendoza would 've had that title shot.

 

how about margarito beating martinez?

 

Michael Dokes beating a still-somewhat useable JImmy Young in his 14th or 15th pro fight.

 

When I saw you mention Fireball (who wobbled SRL with a good one), Duran-Mendoza immediately popped into my head. I'm sure somebody else (and probably several others) would have brought it up, but I just happened to be around when you submitted that post.

In Mendoza's last defeat prior to Gomez, he put Olivares on the deck, Ruben's last fight before Arguello. Carlos rebounded from Gomez by defeating Kid Meza. (An SD win in the Kid's adopted LA suggests Mendoza was very impressive here. Nobody else would beat Meza again until his own shot at Gomez.) Given just the rights breaks and timing, the Meza win suggest Mendoza, even at 30, easily could have lifted a title himself. Juan Antonio Lopez was a fine stoppage win in his career closing four fight knockout streak.

Because of Mendoza, I wonder just how good some of the other early opponents of Duran's were who extended him four rounds or more.

 

Spinks against Ali

 

Agreed Addie, it was most definitely a premature TKO, I always laugh when fools claim that Lewis "destroyed" Bowe.

 

???? Bowe looked horrible. He got floored by some polish no name in the bout before.