Most heroic in defeat

The courageous losing efforts of Zab Judah and Julio Diaz recently got me thinking.

What are some of the most heroic and unforgettable losing efforts in boxing, ones that made the loser a hero despite not getting the "W".

Here are some of my favorites:

Doug Dewitt vs. Tommy Hearns: This fight really made Dewitt infamous for being such a tough TOUGH son of a bitch. Smiling, taking Tommy's big right hand, coming back with his own shots and asking for more.

Doug Dewitt vs. Nigel Benn: Doug had to know he was up against it in this one too, but he absolutely floored Benn and went to war with him before being stopped.

Robin Reid vs. Jeff Lacy: The reaper man had to contend with being set up as a stepping stone for a hard punching up and comer, as well as the crooked/inept referee. The highlight for me was Reid being beaten and knocked down, his world crashing down around him. He smiled and winked at his corner then got up for more.

Gerry Penalosa vs. JuanMa Lopez: I once watched Penalosa live from ringside score a come from behind body shot KO against Jhonny Gonzalez. His fans in attendance were going nuts celebrating. One extremely jubliant pudgy Filipino, ran up and hugged Penalosa on his way backstage and was shouting that Penalosa was now a world champion in 3 weight classes I believe. Anyway, Lopez beat the living hell out of him, despite Penalosa having some success with the hook. Each round he would come back to his corner, calm, unshaken while Freddie Roach threatened to stop the fight if he didn't do something dramatic. Penalosa was cool as a cucumber and each round would just repeat "Okay Boss, Okay." :cool:

I saw an article related to your thread today. Corralles VS Mayweather, Corralles was getting demolished, getting knocked down 5 times. Each time he got up and kept trying, it took for his corner to step in to end the fight and he was very upset about that.

That was pretty damn heroic.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Onix

I saw an article related to your thread today. Corralles VS Mayweather, Corralles was getting demolished, getting knocked down 5 times. Each time he got up and kept trying, it took for his corner to step in to end the fight and he was very upset about that.

That was pretty damn heroic.

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Excellent example. I'd also say that Corrales against Clottey was heroic as well, Diego was outweighed and outmatched late in his career at 147 that night. He kept getting up and trying to KO Clottey.

lenny daws v ashley theophane

I give Josesito Lopez alot of credit for getting in there with Canelo. He did it for the payday, but he didn't have to keep getting up.

Dennis Andries got off the floor about 15 times against Tommy Hearns.

Most recently, Chris Arreola impressed the hell out of me. Chris was taking a real pounding but he kept coming, looking to win somehow. His face was starting to look like he fell into a meat grinder.
A lot of heart.

Most recently, Juanma Lopez in the Salido rematch..
It's weird because I was never a fan of Juanma until he lost the second time.. Sometimes, it's not all about winning or losing, but more about the type of character the fighter shows , win or lose..

Juanma came in with a plan to box and he did ok for the first few rounds. But then Salido started coming on and it started to look like the first fight.. Now many fighters at that moment would have panicked and got themselves knocked out even earlier but Juanma, being a true warrior that he is, decided to abandon his game plan cuz it wasn't working anyways. He said the hell with this boxing shit and resorted to what he knew best which was to brawl. At that moment I was like fuckin wow!! this Juanma guy is straight up gangster. All of a sudden, he wasn't getting cute no more. He went into the trenches fully knowing that's how he lost the first fight and dude just started swinging.. As a hardcore boxing fan, that was one of those moments that touched my heart and Juanma turned me into a fan forever.

JUanma!!!!

Rosario/Comacho/Holigan v JCC and taking a beating but not giving up.
Danny Williams v Vitali
Gatti v Ward
Holyfield v Bowe 1

Alexis Arguello both when he won and lost. A true class act and compassionate man. I still have trouble with him offing himself.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Master

Rosario/Comacho/Holigan v JCC and taking a beating but not giving up.
Danny Williams v Vitali
Gatti v Ward
Holyfield v Bowe 1

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Haugen you mean. And he was one tough lil son of a bitch.

Danny Williams showed amazing heart in a few of his fights, especially against that Potter fella when Williams threw out his shoulder dramatically.

I'd add Corrie Sanders loss to Vitali as also quite heroic in defeat. Both him and Williams underestimated Vitali, came in like fat slobs and took horrible beatings.

Kennedy McKinney scraping himself off the canvas numerous times vs Barrera. Its always one that comes first for me. Great night, great fighters and mutual courage. Robert Quiroga vs Borboa. This thread could run 30 pages ;D