Thread: Fighters whose defining moment(s) were in defeat?

I was thinking about this at work today. Which fighters have been seen their reputations and status improved and build based on defeats?

The first ones that came to mind we Juan Manuel Marquez (Pacquiao x2) and Luis Collazo. Maybe Rocky Juarez? Edison Miranda (Abraham)?

Originally Posted by CFH

I was thinking about this at work today. Which fighters have been seen their reputations and status improved and build based on defeats?

The first ones that came to mind we Juan Manuel Marquez (Pacquiao x2) and Luis Collazo. Maybe Rocky Juarez? Edison Miranda (Abraham)?

Sergio Martinez (against Williams), Paulie Malignaggi (against Cotto) and definately Rogers Mtagwa (against JML).

Originally Posted by killersheep

Originally Posted by CFH

I was thinking about this at work today. Which fighters have been seen their reputations and status improved and build based on defeats?

The first ones that came to mind we Juan Manuel Marquez (Pacquiao x2) and Luis Collazo. Maybe Rocky Juarez? Edison Miranda (Abraham)?

Sergio Martinez (against Williams), Paulie Malignaggi (against Cotto) and definately Rogers Mtagwa (against JML).

Good call, can't believe I forgot to list Malignaggi. As for Martinez, I think he'll have some big wins in the future, but I don't think he'll beat Williams (again).

Vitali against Lennox.

Dennis Andries against Hearns, was totally dismantled then walked into Kronk and asked for help in becoming a better fighter.

Henry Cooper v Ali

Although 'Our 'Enry' won a bunch of domestic titles he is imortalised for landing one of 'Enry's Ammers' on Ali's whiskers and putting him down. Only to get sliced to bits a few minutes later....

Miguel Cotto, he gave us some of the most brutal fights in history, showing a lot of heart. Of his only 2 losses, the first is labeled as a match where he was cheated against, and now the second is also under speculation. An immense amount of heart bestowed in apparently, a very unlucky fighter.
EDIT: I should probably also add that I only became a huge Cotto fan AFTER his loss to Margario. Inspiring stuff.

Rudduck against Tyson.

Some of these we're before my time to I'm listing them as I see it now...

Taylot losing to JCC
Nelson losing to Sanchez
Andrade losing to Mikkel
Torres losing to Chionoi
Palomino losing to Benitez
Jones losing to Ali
Torres losing to Cotto
Collins losing to McCallum
Winky losing to Vasquez

Come on CutMeMick, Nelson and Winky were not defined by those defeats, they went on a defined themselves with brilliant victories.

Holyfield was defined by his first loss to Bowe. Prior to that fight he had a lot of detractors as a heavyweight, at least. He had a tough defense against a billion year old foreman, he ht the canvas against bert cooper, and went the distance with another billion yr old named larry holmes

So it wasn't until the Bowe loss that he earned respect as a heavyweight. Indeed, round 10 defines his career and character to this day.

Foreman to Ali
Tyson to Douglas
Holyfield to Bowe
Oscar to Tito
Gatti to Ward I
Judah to Tszyu
Tarver to Jones
Ruiz to Tua
Hearns to Leonard
Khan to Prescott

Jose Luis Castillo. Because he had Corrales beat, and lost it seconds later, in what I believe is the greatest fight of all time. I've honestly, never enjoyed a fight more.

Paulie vs Cotto. He surprised everyone with his grit.

Collazo against Hatton
and for me Wayne Alexander against Harry Simon.