Which fighter has come back from the most embarrising loss?

[cotto20]

Who is it?

[prime]

Duran, of course.

[cotto20]

Duran, of course.
Yeah no one could believe roberto quit

[john garfield]

Floyd Patterson leaving Ingo Johansson for dead with one left hook after being destroyed in their first match.

[cotto20]

Floyd Patterson leaving Ingo Johansson for dead with one left hook after being destroyed in their first match.
Patterson wasalways hot then cold

[prime]

A couple of honorable mentions:

George Foreman: he came roaring back TWICE! After being crushed by a feather-fisted, broken-down has-been, he goes life-and-death with a deadly puncher and comes out on top; AND, is shortly thereafter embarrassed into retirement by another feather-fisted slickster, to come back, 10 years later, as lovable Big George and reclaim the title!

Larry Holmes: he was asking for it and got it from young Mike Tyson, as devastatingly as it could get short of a death in the ring. It was pretty embarrassing to see him rant about in characteristic fashion, only to become visibly intimidated once in the ring, wince through 3 rounds of survival tactics and be crushed like a tin can. YET, four years later, he came back, again faced the peril of young lions, to this time tame them and thus cement a deserved place of historical greatness.

[cotto20]

A couple of honorable mentions:

George Foreman: he came roaring back TWICE! After being crushed by a feather-fisted, broken-down has-been, he goes life-and-death with a deadly puncher and comes out on top; AND, is shortly thereafter embarrassed into retirement by another feather-fisted slickster, to come back, 10 years later, as lovable Big George and reclaim the title!

Larry Holmes: he was asking for it and got it from young Mike Tyson, as devastatingly as it could get short of a death in the ring. It was pretty embarrassing to see him rant about in characteristic fashion, only to become visibly intimidated once in the ring, wince through 3 rounds of survival tactics and be crushed like a tin can. YET, four years later, he came back, again faced the peril of young lions, to this time tame them and thus cement a deserved place of historical greatness.
great post

[TheGreatA]

Nate Campbell

[Minotauro]

Frazier after being destroyed by Foreman still made a play for the belt and fought one his most memorable fights. Hearns after the first Barkley loss.

[kosaros]

David Haye. Beat up by a 40yr old Thompson, who has been vulnerable before, so he should have been a perfect match for Haye. After this loss, he came back to win the Euro title, and unify the Cruiserweight division and he could still further improve on this.

[PowerPuncher]

No Wladdy?

[BeeGee]

Lewis perhaps

[bxrfan]

No Wladdy?
Yeah, Klitschko deserves a mention, perhaps both of them.

[Dementia Pugulistica]

Lewis vs Rahman. It was supposed to be a keep busy fight. I think this is the most embarrassing because of the complete lack of talent that Rahman possessed. Lewis did what he was supposed to do to him the second time around.

[PbP Bacon]

Tyson's loss to Douglas could also be mentioned....

Not taking anything away from Douglas, but Tyon's defeat was still very embarrasing.

Considering all the legal troubles and general mess Tyson got into shortly after that loss, it could be argued that Tyson managed to make a comeback (well, sorf of)... at least until he was further embarrased by Holyfield :D

[Addie]

Barrera got dismantled for 12 lopsided rounds when he fought Manny Pacquiao, but somehow came back to take the rubber match against a very good version of Morales in '04. Astonishing. He had no business coming back from that, just shows you the character of Marco.

[cotto20]

Barrera got dismantled for 12 lopsided rounds when he fought Manny Pacquiao, but somehow came back to take the rubber match against a very good version of Morales in '04. Astonishing. He had no business coming back from that, just shows you the character of Marco.
barrera is a true all time great and mexican warrior, it made me sick watching khan beat him, khan would not av lasted 3 rounds with barrera in his prime

[Tin_Ribs]

Barrera got dismantled for 12 lopsided rounds when he fought Manny Pacquiao, but somehow came back to take the rubber match against a very good version of Morales in '04. Astonishing. He had no business coming back from that, just shows you the character of Marco.

:twisted: Beat me to it. The first example that popped into my head, good call. His comeback from the Jones losses and evolution into master-boxer too.

Kostya Tszyu from the Phillips loss. Phillips utterly fustigated him when his (Tszyu's) star was rising, yet KT modified his style slightly and came back to unify all of the belts at 140.

[Bummy Davis]

Zab Judah in his fight with Tzsu the Im not hurt dance and Nate Campell getting KO'd by Robbie Peden

[ricardinho]

Marco Antonio Barrera after being beaten badly by Junior Jones shut down Hamed

[Adaptation]

Duran wins it for sure. He quit?

Lennox vs Rahman

George Foreman and Larry Holmes definitly deserves props for the late career comebacks. Wlad deserves some props too.

Not the best but sugar shane was nice to beat oscar after losing twice to Vernon...

[KOTF]

John Ruiz got KTFO by David Tua and yet ended up becoming a 2 time HW champion

[My2Sense]

Jack Dempsey against Jim Flynn
Mickey Walker against KO Phil Delmont

[TBooze]

Eusebio Pedroza did not do so bad after the Zamora blow out, despite also losing his next bout by KO as well!

[cotto20]

Jack Dempsey against Jim Flynn
Mickey Walker against KO Phil Delmont
wasnt that walkers first fight?

[Rock0052]

James Toney after Drake Thadzi deserves a mention, too. He didn't lose a fight for years after that.

[AlFrancis]

Pone Kingpetch came back after being ko'd by Hiroyuki Ebihara in one round to regain the title against Ebihara 3 months later.

[red cobra]

John Ruiz got KTFO by David Tua and yet ended up becoming a 2 time HW champion
Yes, the hated Ruiz deserves credit for coming back from this most devastating ko/domination that I've ever seen..to become a persistant, and again hated, title claiment.

[Seamus]

Liston getting beat and broken by Marty Marshall. Inexcusable in the modern age.

[Duodenum]

Duran sometimes seemed like Rasputin. Quit against SRL, schooled by Benitez, starched by Hearns (an experience Cuevas never recovered from), subdued by Laing, yet he'd probably still be boxing if not for an auto accident. It's also useful to remember that he avenged late career losses to Pat Lawlor and Jorge Castro, stunning reversals at the age he engineered those outcomes.

[80s champs]

Hearns after his loss to Hagler. Went on to win more titles,and still be part of the fab 4.

[My2Sense]

wasnt that walkers first fight?

No, but I believe it was Delmont's.

[bxrfan]

Hearns after his loss to Hagler. Went on to win more titles,and still be part of the fab 4.
Nothing embarrising about coming on the losing end of a great fight against a great fighter.

[EireFightFan]

Bernard Dunne certainly deserves a mention. I was at the fight against Martinez when he was humiliatingly sparked in around 80 seconds after swaggering his way into the ring as an out an out favourite.

He more then redeemed himself though earlier this year with his victory over Cordoba in a FOTY cantidate, where he was on the floor twice and in danger of being TKO'd before rallying to score an amazing KO victory when behind on all three judges scorecards. Any question marks over Dunnes heart were put to bed as well as the lingering embarassment of his loss to the Spaniard.

[AlFrancis]

23 year old Howard Winstone 34-0 LKOby 2 Leroy Jeffery
Winstone walked onto one here and was knocked down 3 times and cut up in this upset.

[la-califa]

Yeah no one could believe roberto quitYes you are right. But the first thing that came to mind when I read the post is that embarrassing loss to Kirklan Lainge!

[Russell]

Yes you are right. But the first thing that came to mind when I read the post is that embarrassing loss to Kirklan Lainge!

Not particularly embarassing. It was a 10 round fight I believe, and it was very close. I think I had it for Laing by a point.

[la-califa]

Not particularly embarassing. It was a 10 round fight I believe, and it was very close. I think I had it for Laing by a point.Embarrassing because Duran is Miles above Laing. & appeared unmotivated & listless. Laing did deserve the nod. But Duran's effort was pathetic.

[COULDHAVEBEEN]

Gotta be Duran IMO. Later pushed Hagler all the way for 15. Beat Barkley etc.

[Bigcat]

Johnny Nelson lost a lot of his early pro matches and looked so inept that he had to be nursed along fighting rare bodies his people were sure he could just about beat..

10 years later he was dominating a good cruiserweight division and beating men like Thompson with ease.... Nelson was boxing world class heavyweights like Adilson Rodriguez and Henry Akinwande , giving away 30 pounds+ and still managing to make a fight of it.. (IMO beating Rodriguez) in a scandelous bout in Brazil...






mirageboxing.blogspot.com

[Bigcat]

Bonecrusher Smith lost badly to James Broad in his pro debut, but went on to become WBA Heavyweight champ............ in his 30's with a KO of a very capable Tim Witherspoon in 1986..





mirageboxing.blogspot.com

[Dempsey1238]

Lewis vs Rahman. It was supposed to be a keep busy fight. I think this is the most embarrassing because of the complete lack of talent that Rahman possessed. Lewis did what he was supposed to do to him the second time around.


Had Lewis did what he was SUPPOSE to do in the first match, there would have been no need for a rematch to fix a mistake of the first match. :-(

[HyperBone]

Terry Norris, embarrased by julian jackson, only to come back and become 3 time world champ

[ChrisPontius]

Duran sometimes seemed like Rasputin. Quit against SRL, schooled by Benitez, starched by Hearns (an experience Cuevas never recovered from), subdued by Laing, yet he'd probably still be boxing if not for an auto accident. It's also useful to remember that he avenged late career losses to Pat Lawlor and Jorge Castro, stunning reversals at the age he engineered those outcomes.

Has to be Duran...

Ruiz is another good mention..... Maskaev also mounted a good comeback after several bad losses. Both of them were knocked out by Tua, and both of them achieved more on paper.


Frank Bruno's losses were not so much embarrassing, but they were all pretty brutal, particularly the Tyson and Lewis ones, however he went on to beat McCall and finally win a belt.

Wladimir Klitschko suffered pretty embarrassing losses but has been the dominant heavyweight for years now.

[red cobra]

Emile Griffith after being ko'ed in 1 by Hurricane Carter.

[flamengo]

A couple of honorable mentions:

George Foreman: he came roaring back TWICE! After being crushed by a feather-fisted, broken-down has-been, he goes life-and-death with a deadly puncher and comes out on top; AND, is shortly thereafter embarrassed into retirement by another feather-fisted slickster, to come back, 10 years later, as lovable Big George and reclaim the title!

Larry Holmes: he was asking for it and got it from young Mike Tyson, as devastatingly as it could get short of a death in the ring. It was pretty embarrassing to see him rant about in characteristic fashion, only to become visibly intimidated once in the ring, wince through 3 rounds of survival tactics and be crushed like a tin can. YET, four years later, he came back, again faced the peril of young lions, to this time tame them and thus cement a deserved place of historical greatness.

Who is the first feather fisted Has-been you refer to??

[Addie]

Terry Norris, embarrased by julian jackson, only to come back and become 3 time world champ

Nice pick.

Devastating knockout. In hindsight, Jackson was the worst possible match-up for a Terry Norris.

[prime]

Who is the first feather fisted Has-been you refer to??

A guy seven full years removed from his peak, who had failed to regain the title 3 years prior, and gone 51 rounds with Joe Frazier and Ken Norton -men Foreman dispatched in 10 minutes combined- never as much as staggering either once.

This loss was more than a kayo defeat in the ring. It was perhaps the granddaddy of crushing losses for a champion, for it shattered George's self-image of invincibility, retiring him for a year and changing him forever.

:good

[Lacyace]

Nate Campbell -- Did some stupid showboating and it cost him. Went on to win 3 lightweight titles. Not bad.

I predict Pavlik is going to come back from that embarrassing loss to old-man Hopkins and be successful.

[Arriba]

Obviously the top 3 were covered really (Lewis, Duran and Foreman in no order) so I'd like to throw out Wilfredo Gomez as one of the lower tier contenders for the crown. I mean he gets KO'd in epic fashion by Salvadore Sanchez and becomes the laughing stock of the PR vs Mexico rivalry. Then Gomez recovers to beat guys like Rocky Lockridge, Lupe Pintor and Kid Meza on his way to establishing himself as a HOF-er.

[HyperBone]

Obviously the top 3 were covered really (Lewis, Duran and Foreman in no order) so I'd like to throw out Wilfredo Gomez as one of the lower tier contenders for the crown. I mean he gets KO'd in epic fashion by Salvadore Sanchez and becomes the laughing stock of the PR vs Mexico rivalry. Then Gomez recovers to beat guys like Rocky Lockridge, Lupe Pintor and Kid Meza on his way to establishing himself as a HOF-er.

:good
that guy is badass

[scartissue]

When I think of embarassing, it's not just getting KO'd, but a little more to it to cause the embarassment. There are 3 that come to mind. 3) Roger Mayweather sauntering into the ring wearing sunglasses. Way too cool for his own good, gets clocked in the 1st round by Rocky Lockridge. 2) Unbeaten Anthony Hembrick comes into the ring doing a choreographed hip-hop dance routine with all his hangers-on in synch with him and the music. In the other corner is a stoic Booker T. Word who ignores the pageantry and again, clocks Hembrick in the very 1st round. Remember, no dance routines and no sunglasses if you don't want to leave in shame. 1) This has got to be a #1 on everyones list. I read about it years ago. Jose 'Toluco' Lopez was a hot fighter who liked to party a little too much. Favored to win, he shows up for a bout with Willie Parker with maybe a little too much partying and tequila under his belt and gets stopped in about 7 rounds. That's not the worst of it. When he gets up after being stopped after too many body shots, everyone gave him a wide berth after he sh*t himself. Although he whipped himself into great shape for the rematch and beat Parker handily, I'd say it was a stigma that he couldn't lose.

Scartissue

[mcvey]

Who is it?
Ingemar Johannson being thrown out in the Olympics,for not trying .Turning pro and winning the title.

[GPater11093]

Embarrassing because Duran is Miles above Laing. & appeared unmotivated & listless. Laing did deserve the nod. But Duran's effort was pathetic.

i would say the Simms loss was worse for Duran




also McCallum coming back from being shut out by Kalambay

[wansen]

Johnny Nelson lost a lot of his early pro matches and looked so inept that he had to be nursed along fighting rare bodies his people were sure he could just about beat..

10 years later he was dominating a good cruiserweight division and beating men like Thompson with ease.... Nelson was boxing world class heavyweights like Adilson Rodriguez and Henry Akinwande , giving away 30 pounds+ and still managing to make a fight of it.. (IMO beating Rodriguez) in a scandelous bout in Brazil... mirageboxing.blogspot.com

I'd forgotten (I'm ashamed to say) about Nelson. Good Post Bigcat. Is the quote in your avatar from Bramble?

[butler08]

louis after schmeling

[heehoo]

Roberto Duran came back big after being KO'd in two by Thomas Hearns.

[TBooze]

Roberto Duran came back big after being KO'd in two by Thomas Hearns.

He came back for one memorable night.... We had to take another four years of mediocrity first, for than one glorious evening.

[TBooze]

louis after schmeling

I can see where you are coming from, but.....

Although a huge upset, the way Louis took his licks, meant he had nothing to be embarrassed about in losing to Schmeling.

[Windigo]

Morrison for coming back and winning the WBO title by out boxing Foreman after suffering one of the worst knockouts in history from Ray Mercer.

[djanders]

Dempsey against Flynn.