Bravest Losing Performances

Taking account for amount of punishment taken, tactics deployed and what was said in the build up.

Always caught my heart Dokes' relationship with his manager and the speech he makes in the build up to the fight, and Dokes trying to turn his life around after drugs.

Quite a few spring to mind from Holyfield in this column.

Holyfield's loss to Bowe
Dokes' loss to Holyfield
Cooper's loss to Holyfield
Groves' loss to Froch - 1


That should get us started for now

Creed vs Drago

Margarito vs Manny Pacquiao. Say what you want about the cheating but he was as brave as they come.
I think Mike Tyson showed alot of bravery against Lewis
Frazier against Ali

Shannon Briggs taking one of the biggest beatings I've ever seen and yet still stand there trying to get something off against Vitali amounted to near on suicidal bravery.

Mickey ward vs Gatti and vise versa

Collins Jr v Luis Resto.

Macklin/Moore

Malinaggi vs Cotto
McCullough vs Morales

Coyle/Bruizella (*Spelling)
The last eastern European AJ fought, thought he'd stay down and kept getting up.
Chisora/Fury???
Chisora/Vit

Danny Williams against Vitali, whilst he never for one second looked like winning I have never seen anyone take their lumps quite like that. Bravery way above and beyond the call.

HILTON v Hines
TERRELL v Ali...
BURNS v Johnson
KIM v Mancini
LORA v Duarte
COCKELL v Marciano
COBB v Holmes..
CONN v Louis
MCGUIGAN v Cruz..
MANCINI v Arguello..

Frazier V Foreman

He got beat easily but he kept getting up and trying

Joe Frazier versus Muhammad Ali (3)
Joe Frazier versus George Foreman (1 and 2)
Gary Buckland versus John Murray
John Murray versus Brandon Rios
Randall Cobb versus Larry Holmes
Holyfield versus Bowe (3)
Shannon Briggs versus Lennox Lewis
Pernell Whitaker versus Felix Trinidad
Wayne McCullough versus Morales/Harrison
Fernando Vargas versus Felix Trinidad

hazharrison wrote:Joe Frazier versus Muhammad Ali (3)
Joe Frazier versus George Foreman (1 and 2)
Gary Buckland versus John Murray
John Murray versus Brandon Rios
Randall Cobb versus Larry Holmes
Holyfield versus Bowe (3)
Shannon Briggs versus Lennox Lewis
Pernell Whitaker versus Felix Trinidad
Wayne McCullough versus Morales/Harrison
Fernando Vargas versus Felix Trinidad

Would Holfield be the bravest Heavyweight or maybe Frazier? No quit in the pair of them.

Manny vs Cotto

Even Manny was looking at the ref to stop it

Watt vs Arguello
Mosley vs Forrest
Lebedev vs Jones

Duty281 wrote:Collins Jr v Luis Resto.

Disgusting comment.

Pinter's loss against Gomez what a beating.

One of the most courageous showings I've ever seen was Oh Kon Son standing up to an absolute hammering for seven rounds against Myung-Woo Yuh. Alright, he didn't go the distance but that was nothing to do with a lack of bravery or toughness - the referee just had the compassion to save him from himself after Son had risen from a knockdown, which wasn't the first of the fight. The amount of punishment he absorbed was incredible.

Truss has already mentioned them, but he's right in nominating Dok Koo Kim's effort against Mancini, tragic though it was. Mancini himself also showed immense bravery against Arguello and Bramble.

The third fight between Kid Gavlian and Johnny Bratton, too. Bratton must have wished that Gavilan was more of a knockout artist so he could have been put out of his misery earlier rather than having to soak up a full fifteen rounds of that onslaught. What a hammering. There's a point in that fight at the end of a round (can't remember which) when Gavilan actually has to steady a disorientated Bratton up, turn him back round in the right direction and lead him off towards his own corner. Bratton's handlers should have been ashamed of themselves for allowing him to take a full fifteen rounds of that kind of punishment but he was brave and hard to the point of outright stupidity. Stupidity which is also admirable, mind you!

Richard Hall against Roy Jones, as well. Disgusting refereeing (and corner, but it was Aaron Snowell so hardly a surprise) performance which could have seen him killed, but Hall was still trying as best he could to make a fight of it right until the end. A horrendous beat down.

Disgusting in what way?

It was one of the bravest efforts you'll ever see, so stop being an attention seeking arsewipe.

Hammersmith harrier wrote:Disgusting in what way?

It was one of the bravest efforts you'll ever see, so stop being an attention seeking arsewipe.

Considering the after effects of the fight I find it abhorent that we include this in this thread.

I rewatched Hall RJJ again recently, can't believe that fight wasn't over in the first, you did get the feeling that RJJ could have put his foot down and finished it well earlier aswell.

Didn't Merchant scream "THAT REFEREE SHOULD BE PISTOLWHIPPED"

Often wondered If it is sometimes braver to quit than take a career shortening walloping...

You have the crowd baying to see blood...Your cornerman telling you this and that and deep down you know you are being busted up and know he's got your number....But feel compelled to go on..

Rosario was brave against Chavez...By the 8th however he wasn't getting a complete one sided slap.....and he took three painful body battering rounds more !!

Braver perhaps to defy the corner and say I'm 24..............It's not my night....Rosario was a shell after that fight !!

Think some fighters though without doubt too brave for there own good also feel obliged to take more !!!..................Perhaps braver in some cases to say no..

ONETWOFOREVER wrote:

Hammersmith harrier wrote:Disgusting in what way?

It was one of the bravest efforts you'll ever see, so stop being an attention seeking arsewipe.

Considering the after effects of the fight I find it abhorent that we include this  in this thread.

Truss mentioned Kim v Mancini - why didn't you pull him on that?

ONETWOFOREVER wrote:

Hammersmith harrier wrote:Disgusting in what way?

It was one of the bravest efforts you'll ever see, so stop being an attention seeking arsewipe.

Considering the after effects of the fight I find it abhorent that we include this  in this thread.

OR you could stop being an attention seeking arsewipe and consider Watson/Eubank II as well

Thing is Truss that's why they're fighters, they know if they can dig deep and just find that one punch the previous rounds of batterings will all seem worth it.

Audley Harrison vs Sprott - fighting with a knackered arm yet didn't give in and found the mother and father of all punches (about the only good thing he ever did as a pro)

Williams vs Potter - dislocated his shoulder and yet somehow in the same round knocked him out with one arm.

Gatti vs whatshisface - Gatti took a big beating for 5 rounds (can't remember), one eye was grotesquely shut and then somehow drudged it out and stopped his guy.

Nice to know you'd take the easy way out of things with your mindset Truss

Duty281 wrote:

ONETWOFOREVER wrote:

Hammersmith harrier wrote:Disgusting in what way?

It was one of the bravest efforts you'll ever see, so stop being an attention seeking arsewipe.

Considering the after effects of the fight I find it abhorent that we include this  in this thread.

Truss mentioned Kim v Mancini - why didn't you pull him on that?

What a fight that was Duty.............Every time Mancini looked like getting on top.............This kid got stuck into him.....

The respected referee Richard Green hung himself because of guilt over that fight.............Did nothing wrong !!...........Certainly wasn't one sided at all..

Duty281 wrote:

ONETWOFOREVER wrote:

Hammersmith harrier wrote:Disgusting in what way?

It was one of the bravest efforts you'll ever see, so stop being an attention seeking arsewipe.

Considering the after effects of the fight I find it abhorent that we include this  in this thread.

Truss mentioned Kim v Mancini - why didn't you pull him on that?

Because they're the same person, Truss has let it slip in the past when signing off as Truss on his ONETWO account.

Remember Lescargo?

Coxy001 wrote:Thing is Truss that's why they're fighters, they know if they can dig deep and just find that one punch the previous rounds of batterings will all seem worth it.

Audley Harrison vs Sprott - fighting with a knackered arm yet didn't give in and found the mother and father of all punches (about the only good thing he ever did as a pro)

Williams vs Potter - dislocated his shoulder and yet somehow in the same round knocked him out with one arm.

Gatti vs whatshisface - Gatti took a big beating for 5 rounds (can't remember), one eye was grotesquely shut and then somehow drudged it out and stopped his guy.

Nice to know you'd take the easy way out of things with your mindset Truss

I know you're deliberately misrepresenting me...

Arguello- Pryor 2
Benn - Collins 2
Rossman - Galindez.......etc etc.

Nothing wrong in giving all you've got and keeping some more for another day.......................

AlexHuckerby wrote:Didn't Merchant scream "THAT REFEREE SHOULD BE PISTOLWHIPPED"

He sure did, Alex. Classic Merchant moment.

I suppose Leonard's tonking at the hands of Norris applies here as well. He'd shown plenty of times before that he had a big heart to go with all that style and flashiness but if anyone had any doubts he laid them to rest there. His trainer Correa actually having to come to the centre of the ring and lift him up to get him back to his corner at the end of one of the late rounds (might have been the eleventh) was one of the less glorious moments of Ray's career.

Got a helping hand from Norris, mind you, who clearly could have smashed him to smithereens towards the end but who decided, in his own words, that he didn't want to knock out and humiliate his idol.

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:

Coxy001 wrote:Thing is Truss that's why they're fighters, they know if they can dig deep and just find that one punch the previous rounds of batterings will all seem worth it.

Audley Harrison vs Sprott - fighting with a knackered arm yet didn't give in and found the mother and father of all punches (about the only good thing he ever did as a pro)

Williams vs Potter - dislocated his shoulder and yet somehow in the same round knocked him out with one arm.

Gatti vs whatshisface - Gatti took a big beating for 5 rounds (can't remember), one eye was grotesquely shut and then somehow drudged it out and stopped his guy.

Nice to know you'd take the easy way out of things with your mindset Truss

I know you're deliberately misrepresenting me...

Arguello- Pryor 2
Benn - Collins 2
Rossman - Galindez.......etc etc.

Nothing wrong in giving all you've got and keeping some more for another day.......................

Bit different to your usual "Benn took the money and ran/ripped off the fans" stance you usually take on that fight

Benn hadn't been touched..........

So it isn't at all..

DAVE667 wrote:

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:

Coxy001 wrote:Thing is Truss that's why they're fighters, they know if they can dig deep and just find that one punch the previous rounds of batterings will all seem worth it.

Audley Harrison vs Sprott - fighting with a knackered arm yet didn't give in and found the mother and father of all punches (about the only good thing he ever did as a pro)

Williams vs Potter - dislocated his shoulder and yet somehow in the same round knocked him out with one arm.

Gatti vs whatshisface - Gatti took a big beating for 5 rounds (can't remember), one eye was grotesquely shut and then somehow drudged it out and stopped his guy.

Nice to know you'd take the easy way out of things with your mindset Truss

I know you're deliberately misrepresenting me...

Arguello- Pryor 2
Benn - Collins 2
Rossman - Galindez.......etc etc.

Nothing wrong in giving all you've got and keeping some more for another day.......................

Bit different to your usual "Benn took the money and ran/ripped off the fans" stance you usually take on that fight

Exactly, too often guys get slated for throwing in the towel as they don't fancy it anymore. Tad bit contradictory Trussy

Pinter v Gomez

Coxy001 wrote:

DAVE667 wrote:

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:

Coxy001 wrote:Thing is Truss that's why they're fighters, they know if they can dig deep and just find that one punch the previous rounds of batterings will all seem worth it.

Audley Harrison vs Sprott - fighting with a knackered arm yet didn't give in and found the mother and father of all punches (about the only good thing he ever did as a pro)

Williams vs Potter - dislocated his shoulder and yet somehow in the same round knocked him out with one arm.

Gatti vs whatshisface - Gatti took a big beating for 5 rounds (can't remember), one eye was grotesquely shut and then somehow drudged it out and stopped his guy.

Nice to know you'd take the easy way out of things with your mindset Truss

I know you're deliberately misrepresenting me...

Arguello- Pryor 2
Benn - Collins 2
Rossman - Galindez.......etc etc.

Nothing wrong in giving all you've got and keeping some more for another day.......................

Bit different to your usual "Benn took the money and ran/ripped off the fans" stance you usually take on that fight

Exactly, too often guys get slated for throwing in the towel as they don't fancy it anymore. Tad bit contradictory Trussy

Let's leave it...........You don't interest me..

PINTER V GOMEZ!!!!!!!!!

Pintor.............

Hilton - Dewitt..................Fought most of the fight with one eye..

ONETWOFOREVER wrote:PINTER V GOMEZ!!!!!!!!!

If we at least acknowledge the fight, will you stop mentioning it in every post?

But yes, brilliant fight which turned it to a bit of a grizzly beating towards the end. Pintor's little nod after the fight got waved off kind of confirmed that he was glad to finally be put out of his misery, though. Like a respectful concession to Gomez.

Similar to Zaragoza (this was a pretty valiant and defiant effort against the odds as well, come to think of it) finally realising he couldn't quite hold Morales off anymore and staying down from that body shot before giving Morales a little wry smile and nod of the head as the ten count was completed.

88Chris05 wrote:

AlexHuckerby wrote:Didn't Merchant scream "THAT REFEREE SHOULD BE PISTOLWHIPPED"

He sure did, Alex. Classic Merchant moment.

I suppose Leonard's tonking at the hands of Norris applies here as well. He'd shown plenty of times before that he had a big heart to go with all that style and flashiness but if anyone had any doubts he laid them to rest there. His trainer Correa actually having to come to the centre of the ring and lift him up to get him back to his corner at the end of one of the late rounds (might have been the eleventh) was one of the less glorious moments of Ray's career.

Got a helping hand from Norris, mind you, who clearly could have smashed him to smithereens towards the end but who decided, in his own words, that he didn't want to knock out and humiliate his idol.

It was so bad, Leonard bought the rights and banished it to room 101!!

How about Merqui Sosa's 7th round draw with Prince Charles Williams - the pair took so many lumps out of each other, referee Ron Lipton rescued both fighters and called it a draw!

hazharrison wrote:

88Chris05 wrote:

AlexHuckerby wrote:Didn't Merchant scream "THAT REFEREE SHOULD BE PISTOLWHIPPED"

He sure did, Alex. Classic Merchant moment.

I suppose Leonard's tonking at the hands of Norris applies here as well. He'd shown plenty of times before that he had a big heart to go with all that style and flashiness but if anyone had any doubts he laid them to rest there. His trainer Correa actually having to come to the centre of the ring and lift him up to get him back to his corner at the end of one of the late rounds (might have been the eleventh) was one of the less glorious moments of Ray's career.

Got a helping hand from Norris, mind you, who clearly could have smashed him to smithereens towards the end but who decided, in his own words, that he didn't want to knock out and humiliate his idol.

It was so bad, Leonard bought the rights and banished it to room 101!!

How could anybody have any doubts after Hearns 1 and Duran 1..........

Norris with a chin would have been a nailed on great..................Beautiful way he put combinations together...........Poetry in motion.....

McKinney against Junior Jones was quite brave.

Took a real tonking looked totally out of it then Jones seemingly just gassed out after punching his face too much and McKinney turned it right around.

McKinney beat Jones............Brave winning performance...........I'll chuck in old Archie - Durelle then..

MCKinney beat Jones too in in the Olympic Seoul boxoffs...........in 1988...........

Poor old Jones had to watch McKinney win gold............

Had every right to hate the guy .....

hazharrison wrote:How about Merqui Sosa's 7th round draw with Prince Charles Williams - the pair took so many lumps out of each other, referee Ron Lipton rescued both fighters and called it a draw!

Pretty sure it was the doctor who stopped the fight.

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:Norris with a chin would have been a nailed on great..................Beautiful way he put combinations together...........Poetry in motion.....

....And if he hadn't been completely off his rocker, too. But yep, sensational talent and a fighter I watch a lot more than his record probably warrants simply because he was such a bad dude and smooth fighter on his day.

When he was on form (Brown II, Castro, Mugabi, Leonard) there weren't many better. When he was off form (Brown I, Santana I and II, Mullings) there were few worse.

As a side note, if we were talking about unheroic losses rather than heroic ones, Paul Vaden's no-show against Norris would have been a decent shout. Talked a good one before about how Norris had always been petrified of him and how Norris' wife had been running to him behind Terry's back, and then pulled a Haye-esque survival job for twelve rounds when the bell rang.

Agree with you apart from Brown 1 being off form...............Think he got caught and lost his legs...............

Santana stuff was a joke..........

Very arrogant was Terry...........The way he brushes Brown off after the second fight.........."As If to say f**k off for making me have to fight someone like you twice.."..Was naughty...

Waters was definitely an off night............But wow was he sharp against Taylor, Mugabi and Curry....

Very pleasing to the eye..His style !!

Coxy001 wrote:

hazharrison wrote:How about Merqui Sosa's 7th round draw with Prince Charles Williams - the pair took so many lumps out of each other, referee Ron Lipton rescued both fighters and called it a draw!

Pretty sure it was the doctor who stopped the fight.

That was the call, yeah. Lipton had seen enough and called in the ringside physician.

Brave or stupid. Shannon Briggs v Vitali.

Lacy against Calzaghe? Not a patch on most of these but thought he was brave to even keep trying after what must have been a debilitating experience, then theres gatti vs more or less anyone he lost to.

ShahenshahG wrote:Lacy against Calzaghe? Not a patch on most of these but thought he was brave to even keep trying after what must have been a debilitating experience, then theres gatti vs more or less anyone he lost to.

lacy showed heart but it was clear after round 3 that he was not going to come close to winning.

If ever a fight curtailed a promising career it was that 1.

Thought Norris fought a pretty daft fight against Brown first time out personally, Truss. Appreciate that he was landing plenty of his shots on Brown, but he was hurt a couple of times, arguably saved by the bell at least once as well - but still stayed in the pocket having those wild exchanges and showing no regard for defence. He was asking for big trouble and sure enough he got it.

He showed great attacking skills in the rematch as well of course, but was obviously a lot more careful that time, using his footwork and body movement as well which resulted in Brown looking completely clueless. If Norris had boxed like that and used the full array of his talents more consistently we might be classing him as a great these days, even with his slightly tender chin. But his arrogance and macho-man attitude cost him some bad fights, the first Brown fight being a decent example. Same thing against Mullings as well, which cost him that planned super-fight against De la Hoya.