What Great Fighter, hurt you the most because he kept fighting way past his prime???

I want to say Leonard or Pazienza, but really I only had the chance to really enjoy them live after their prime - - so it would not be honest for me to say either of them.

For me, the most personal fight I have ever seen was between Jones and Calzaghe. Sure, Jones has some fight left in him, but I'd rather listen to him as a commentator now, and not wath him lose to a dude that certainly (and this is just obvious given what took place in the first round of the fight) would have never beaten him pre-Tarver 2. I only hope he comes back and again takes Hopkins (note was the fight that bore my affinity for Jones, even though I was very young).

Also, I know some people here may throw up when I say this (and it is probably the wrong time to say it), but I was hurt when De La Hoya lost against Pacquiao - - the De La Hoya that beat Chavez twice, an old but not ancient Whitaker, (in my opinion) Trinidad, Gatti, and, even with his diminishing technique, gave Mayweather a run for his money (pardon the pun). Surely Pacquiao deserves all the credit for that win, for it is boxing, but just as Valuev beat Holyfield (another fighter I need to shout out).

 

Leonard
Ali
Duran

 

He did peak with Kessler. That was his best performance (yes better than Lacy).

 

1. Roy Jones Jr.

 

Roy Jones- i don't even know why he is still fighting
Evander Holyfield- Stayed way too long

 

Great thread.

1. Marco Antonio Barrera

I naively thought he still had enough to beat a little punk like Amir Khan, I bought tickets to go see my hero fight in the flesh, but he was a no show. The hand-speed, the combination punching, and ring craft I had admired for so long was void of this fighter that turned up to take on Khan, and he proceeded to take a bit of a whipping. Father time will forever remain undefeated.

2. Riddick Bowe

A bit before my time, but I've got close to 30 fights of his on DVD and he's one of my favorite Heavyweights. Very skilled for a big man, strange to see such a big guy work so effectively on the inside, utilizing uppercuts and his shoulders to create a tiny bit of distance to work. Good jab, good right hand, and his performance against Holyfield in '92 was amazing. That said, watching him..today, punch drunk and fat, fighting absolute nobodies...is pointless...sad.

 

Chavez

 

I grew up watching Tyson, Gatti and RJJ. So it has to be them especially when RJJ was KO'ed by Tarver not 1 but 2x.