World champs who mastered their KO conquerers

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Jel, Aug 28, 2026 at 7:34 PM.

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  1. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    I was thinking about Pone Kingpetch getting flattened in one round by Hiro Ebihara and remembered that not only did he win the immediate rematch on points but it was the second time he achieved this after getting battered in his preceding fight with Fighting Harada and then turning the tables in the rematch.

    It showed remarkable will on Kingpetch’s part that he was able to not only recover from those potentially career-ending KOs but to get straight back on the horse each time and actually master the opponent, particularly when they are ATGs.

    It got me thinking about other examples at world championship level where a champion has experienced a potentially devastating KO defeat to come back and beat their conquerer and by outboxing them too.

    I’m sure there must be lots of examples so which ones, aside from the aforementioned, have impressed you the most?
     
    Jel, Aug 28, 2026 at 7:34 PM
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  2. Usyk is the best

    Usyk is the best Active Member Full Member

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    Lewis - Rahman never gets old, Lewis got flattened by Rahman but put on a masterclass in the immediate rematch.
     
    Usyk is the best, Aug 28, 2026 at 7:44 PM
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  3. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Floyd Patterson vs Ingo 2 and 3.

    Willie Pep avenged his KO4 defeat at the fists of Sandy Saddler in their rematch, then Sandy won the next two.
     
    Saintpat, Aug 28, 2026 at 8:30 PM
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  4. quintonjacksonfan

    quintonjacksonfan Active Member Full Member

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    Norris -Simon Brown
     
    quintonjacksonfan, Aug 28, 2026 at 9:18 PM
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  5. Boxed Ears

    Boxed Ears this my daddy's account (RIP daddy) Full Member

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    Áragorñ Arweñes vs Andúril Evenstáreo Éldarion.
     
    Boxed Ears, Aug 28, 2026 at 9:41 PM
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  6. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Joe Louis against Max Schmelling
     
    Flo_Raiden, Aug 28, 2026 at 10:00 PM
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  7. Fogger

    Fogger Father, grandfather and big sports fan. Full Member

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    Good call but I believe the OP meant guys who were champs when they lost. I could be wrong.
     
    Fogger, Aug 28, 2026 at 10:53 PM
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  8. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    Yep, indeed I did!
     
    Jel, Aug 28, 2026 at 10:57 PM
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  9. Fogger

    Fogger Father, grandfather and big sports fan. Full Member

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    Ruben Olivares was stopped by Chucho Castillo and then won the rematch which was actually the third fight of their trilogy.
    The same situation applies to Tony Zale and Rocky Graziano. Zale lost his belt via KO in their second belt and won it back by stoppage in their third meeting.
     
    Fogger, Aug 28, 2026 at 11:04 PM
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  10. Greg Price99

    Greg Price99 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Fighting Harada wasn't a world champion when Jose Medel KO'd him, but he was by the time he won their rematch.
     
    Greg Price99, Aug 28, 2026 at 11:33 PM
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  11. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    Not a reigning one, that’s true. Already a former one down at flyweight.
     
    Jel, Aug 28, 2026 at 11:46 PM
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  12. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    Good shout - I’d forgotten that one. Norris did the smart thing the second time around and used his superior boxing skills to get the win. He didn’t have the punch or the chin to take out Brown in a war.
     
    Jel, Aug 29, 2026 at 12:14 AM
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  13. META5

    META5 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    AJ beating whatever that was that turned up as Andy Ruiz in the rematch.
     
    META5, Aug 29, 2026 at 12:19 AM
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  14. Andre2000

    Andre2000 Active Member Full Member

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    Victor Galindez vs Mike Rossman. Victor lost by TKO and his title the first time around and then reclaimed the title in the rematch when Rossman retired in his corner.
     
    Andre2000, Aug 29, 2026 at 2:03 AM
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  15. Andre2000

    Andre2000 Active Member Full Member

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    The Blob?

    “Beware of the blob, it creeps
    And leaps and glides and slides
    Across the floor    …..”

    Only about 6’ tall in reality and carrying about 283 lbs.

    What an abomination.
     
    Andre2000, Aug 29, 2026 at 2:19 AM
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