Which Fighter's Legacy Would Change Most ,If They Retired Immediately After Their Greatest Win?

To some extent but Tyson was still imroving with Rooney in his corner he wasn't the finished article, he was the greatest 23 year old and under by 1988 though.

 

I would even say his career would be PERFECT. Cleaning out the whole division in a span of not even 2 years.

 

Roberto Duran is enormously rated regardless of the after, and some of it added to his legend, but if he retired post Leonard 1 I wonder if he'd be even higher? No Moore and Barkely, but no No Mas, Benitez, Laing etc. It's an interesting question.

 

Jones greatest win wasn't Ruiz, but let's say it was the top of the mountain for him winning a strap at heavyweight, then he was gone. His rating would be crazy.

 

No-one would know quite what to do with Buster Douglas. He'd already had some losses but speculation would run RIFE on what he could of or would have done if he kept fighting.

 

Joe Frazier retiring after beating Ali in FOTC would have made him be seen in higher regards as far as ATG HW goes since people wouldn't see him getting destroyed by Foreman right after.

Also Erik Morales retiring after beating Manny Pacquiao the first time would have been a great way to retire on top instead of seeing him lose more in the next coming years against Raheem, Pacquiao (x2), Diaz, Maidana, Garcia (x2).

Marvin Hagler retiring right after destroying Hearns in 1985 would have made his legacy even better as well since he would not have a blemish of losing to Sugar Ray Leonard.

 

Michael Spinks retiring post Holmes 1 would make a huge difference. So many modern fans seem to see the devastating Tyson loss as most of his legacy. The guys record was insane.

 

Yep, the first one I thought of was Jones after Ruiz. That would have been a record of 49-1 with 1 DQ loss, and winning belts at mutiple weights. It's a pity he did not read the warning v signs v Tarver 1 and get out.

 

SRL never fighting again after Hagler would have been a lot cleaner.

 

Two what ifs - if Fenech was officially awarded the first Nelson fight which many felt he clearly deserved and then retired after that fight well, say no more.