Losing the 0 in style

Nobody wants to lose their 0. Most do though. What is the most impressive and valiant performance you've seen where somebody lost their 0? Ali against Frazier springs to mind. I still cant believe Ali got up from that hook.

Benn.

Holyfield-Bowe I was an absolutely magnificent losing effort. Absolutely no shame in losing his '0' in such circumstances for Evander.

Leonard-Duran, Jofre-Harada I, Froch-Kessler and the like all deserve special commendation, too. Generally decided by no more than a couple of points on the cards, and all against top opposition who were having the best nights of their illustrious careers.

For the sheer drama of it all, though, I think I'd have to say Dave McAuley's losing effort to Fidel Bassa (their first fight) takes first prize here. Without a shadow of a doubt the greatest Flyweight title fight I've seen, and the epitome of an 'ebb and flow' fight, even more so than the likes of Corrales-Castillo I, Hamed-Kelley and Moore-Durelle I.

Incredible bout and a truly heroic effort by the hitherto unbeaten McAuley.

Meldrick Taylor and Miguel Cotto

For comedy value, Khan and Enzo Mac.

Add another one:

Michael Katsidis

That war against Cassamayor was absolutely excellent.

88Chris05 wrote:Holyfield-Bowe I was an absolutely magnificent losing effort. Absolutely no shame in losing his '0' in such circumstances for Evander.

Leonard-Duran, Jofre-Harada I, Froch-Kessler and the like all deserve special commendation, too. Generally decided by no more than a couple of points on the cards, and all against top opposition who were having the best nights of their illustrious careers.

For the sheer drama of it all, though, I think I'd have to say Dave McAuley's losing effort to Fidel Bassa (their first fight) takes first prize here. Without a shadow of a doubt the greatest Flyweight title fight I've seen, and the epitome of an 'ebb and flow' fight, even more so than the likes of Corrales-Castillo I, Hamed-Kelley and Moore-Durelle I.

Incredible bout and a truly heroic effort by the hitherto unbeaten McAuley.

Some very good selections. Never seen the McAuley fight but you've definitely sold it. I may give it a watch.

Whitaker did well against Ramirez when he lost his 0

Fernando Vargas was another one

That fight against Trinidad he got up off the floor many times and even put Trinidad on the floor

Colin Jones against Milton McCrory still ranks as one of the best scraps i have ever seen a real seesaw battle with both men showing incredible heart and stamina. i know technically Jones had a previous DQ loss on his record but that was one of the most ridiculous pieces of Refereeing i have ever seen. I had a look at the Jones DQ again on you tube this morning and it looks even worse than it did at the time, Still cant believe Curtis Ramsey didn't get an Oscar nomination instead of a win.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m8TS60EFQM

Josef K. wrote:Whitaker did well against Ramirez when he lost his 0

I agree, just about the best losing effort I've ever seen, considering that in reality he actually won by a score of around 119-109!

Paperbag, you should definitely give McAuley-Bassa I a watch when you can, mate. It was interesting at the start, frantic in the middle and absolute carnage by the end. Probably the best fight to ever take place in a 'home nations' ring, or at the very least a serious contender.

hogey wrote:Colin Jones against Milton McCrory still ranks as one of the best scraps i have ever seen a real seesaw battle with both men showing incredible heart and stamina. i know technically Jones had a previous DQ loss on his record but that was one of the most ridiculous pieces of Refereeing i have ever seen. I had a look at the Jones DQ again on you tube this morning and it looks even worse than it did at the time, Still cant believe Curtis Ramsey didn't get an Oscar nomination instead of a win.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m8TS60EFQM

The guy took a knee and Jones punched him. That's a DQ.

It was a light cuff around the head, fair enough not legal but something that happens in hundreds of fights a year without DQ, the bloke just wanted an easy way out and then the Ref took it hook line and sinker.

Hatton-Mayweather... in fact both of his losses are to the two best of his generation.

Hardly RJJ-Griffin

I suppose I can't really let this thread pass without nominating the first bout between Marvin Johnson and Matthew Saad Muhammad, a truly titanic tussle.

No idea what the official scores were going in to that twelfth and final round, but I had 'Pops' ahead of 'Miracle Matthew' by a good three points or so. Not as heralded as the aforementioned Taylor-Chavez thriller, but the two fights share a key parallel; much like Taylor-Chavez, this fight was an example of how one man can be putting rounds in the bag, but still emerge from them in worse shape and more demoralised than his opponent. Typically of Saad, he finished quicker than a whippet gets out of the blocks to hand Johnson his first defeat with just a minute or so left of the final round.

Superb and utterly brutal fight, and a truly valiant losing effort from Johnson. Then again, most of his losing efforts were.

Not quite at the dizzying heights of Taylor/Chavez but Jermain Taylors first loss against Pavlik was a good one.

Sugar Floyd Louis wrote:Hatton-Mayweather... in fact both of his losses are to the two best of his generation.

Hardly? Fair enough he lost to the best of his generation but it wasn't exactly tooth and nail stuff. He was outclassed.

I think Tyson's 1st loss deserves a mention. One of the biggest shocks in modern heavyweight boxing. It showed that he was a over rated hype job that was on his way to being beaten by ANYONE half decent.

Isn't that right Truss??..........................Truss??

paperbag_puncher wrote:

Sugar Floyd Louis wrote:Hatton-Mayweather... in fact both of his losses are to the two best of his generation.

Hardly? Fair enough he lost to the best of his generation but it wasn't exactly tooth and nail stuff. He was outclassed.

Couldn't have given it any more though.

I'm not a Tyson fan Mate................

Not sure If he was unbeaten (think he was) but Ray boom boom Mancini losing to Alexis arguello was an incredible performance...

Like watching Rocky 1..................

for me a must in any list..

AlexHuckerby wrote:

paperbag_puncher wrote:

Sugar Floyd Louis wrote:Hatton-Mayweather... in fact both of his losses are to the two best of his generation.

Hardly? Fair enough he lost to the best of his generation but it wasn't exactly tooth and nail stuff. He was outclassed.

Couldn't have given it any more though.

He didn't lose in a close fought contest or ever look like winning so I wouldn't put it with some of the examples from above.

Cotto losing to Marg was a good performance

Not in the same league as many that have been mentioned but more recently Degale against Groves. to lose by a point, a draw would probably been fairer

paperbag_puncher wrote:

AlexHuckerby wrote:

paperbag_puncher wrote:

Sugar Floyd Louis wrote:Hatton-Mayweather... in fact both of his losses are to the two best of his generation.

Hardly? Fair enough he lost to the best of his generation but it wasn't exactly tooth and nail stuff. He was outclassed.

Couldn't have given it any more though.

He didn't lose in a close fought contest or ever look like winning so I wouldn't put it with some of the examples from above.

Agreed.

How come when Gamboa hit Salido when he was down he was deducted 2 points?

Referees have different leniancy levels I guess.

Tunney hanging in there against Greb when the final rounds, by all acounts, were a total blood bath. A great display of heart and it also happened to be against one of the very best of all time.

Bruno against Bonecrusher. Big Frank cruising to victory then bizarrely tries to seal the deal with a KO, gets tagged and Bonecrusher throws the kitchen sink at Frank (who ironically is about as mobile as a Fridge Freezer by this point). Way to pi$$ it all away Frankie Boy?

Degale being comprehensively out fought and out thought by Groves. Worth it for the laugh.

Was Derry Matthews' loss to Choi his first defeat cos that would be another good shout.

What about Graham vs Jackson?

Tommy Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonards fought a fantastic fight which Leonard won and beat Hearns for the very first time. as I remember he was way behind on the judges scorecards and needed a knock out in the last round to win!

Other fights I can think of would be Ali beating Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle, Steve Collins beating Chris Eubank for the first time in a great fight and Tysons famous loss to Buster Douglas who nobody gave a prayer!

azania wrote:Benn.

Not quite with you ther Az, care to elaborate on how gassing and getting KO'd by a jab is losing your unbeaten record in style?
I can understand people nominating close bouts, or one in which the loser showed huge bravery, but din't see how that applies in this case.

azania wrote:Benn.

Not quite with you ther Az, care to elaborate on how gassing and getting KO'd by a jab is losing your unbeaten record in style?
I can understand people nominating close bouts, or one in which the loser showed huge bravery, but din't see how that applies in this case.