To begin a discussion of heart for a change: Can you provide examples of cases where a fighter has struggled through serious/permanent injury suffered in a fight to either win or continue (examples of the latter are more readily available, such as Doo Koo Kim and McClellan)? I recall that recently a Korean fighter (whose name I can't recall, forgive me) finished 12 rounds on his feet, even taking the final round if I remember correctly, to win a UD before dying shortly after from brain hemorrhage. By these criteria I mean to exclude general severe cuts or eyes closing during a fight from swelling.
While not related to boxing, a little known story from the early no-holds barred years of MMA should illustrate, and hopefully more examples can be found in boxing:
YUKI NAKAI - A Forgotten Legend
From Wikipedia (with my annotations):
In 1995, as the current Shooto welterweight champion, Nakai was selected by the Shooto Commission to represent Shooto in the Vale Tudo tournament Vale Tudo Japan 1995. His first opponent was Gerard Gordeau (you may recall him from UFC 1), a Dutch Savate fighter. Gordeau illegally eye-gouged Nakai during their fight, causing Nakai to lose vision in his right eye. Despite the eye injury, Nakai proceeded to defeat Gordeau by heel hook in the fourth round. The next fights, on the same night he came out with a bandage on his eye, ready to fight. In his second bout, Nakai defeated the American fighter Craig Pittman by armbar, and in the third and final bout, he lost to the Brazilian Jiu-jiteiro Rickson Gracie by rear naked choke at 6:22 of the first round.
Yuki Nakai became permanently blind in his right eye due to Gerard Gordeau's illegal tactics. For years he kept his blindness a secret to protect the reputation of Vale Tudo. The injury forced Nakai to retire from mixed martial arts competition (as he could no longer compete competitively), but impressed with Rickson Gracie's technique, he took up Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, where he currently holds a black belt (the first Japanese native to receive the distinction) and is the president of the Japanese Japanese Confederation of Jiu-Jitsu.
He is the current trainer of well-known fighter and Shooto champion Shinya Aoki.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuki_Nakai
Much respect to Williams, looked like sticking the jab multiple times gave him the confidence to continue fighting until an opportunity presented itself (or the round ended, as was more likely his intended immediate goal).
One of the greatest comebacks of alltime.
Good call on that. JDJ really didn't do anything wrong in that fight, it was just one of those shot in the dark punches which found its mark. Castro had one of the all-time great chins in the sport.
A torn rotator cuff doesnt look as visibly bad as a seperated shoulder, or a cut up/swollen eye, but its probably as much if not more pain.
Lacy did it for 10 rounds. If Vitali had to quit while up big, it must have hurt like hell.
The Danny Williams fight is incredible. Dwayne Wade was on the bench crying when he separated his shoulder. Mine used to pop in and out during football, and it can be excruciating.
i cant think of any fighters right now but i know alot of have won with broken ribs... and if you have ever had a broken rib it is painful to breathe with one let alone get it punched over and over.
What about that guy who dislocated his shoulder and went on to knock the guy out with one hand? That was pretty incredible
Danny Williams!
there is a vid somewhere. That tops it boxing wise from what i have seen
Just after Gatti-Rodriguez back in the day Kevin Kelley had a Vargas-Mosley 1 looking eye and knocked Derrick Gainer down twice then finished him in a damn gutty show.
Many a fighters carried on boxing with a broken hand to finish and win the fight.
From Ali all the way to Calzaghe.
Broken hands are fairly common, but your comment made me recall incidents of fighting through with a broken jaw - Ali and recently Abraham are two I can think of right off.