Fights where a fighter shows up levels above his usual

Morales-maidana... everyone thought maidana would behead morales

floyd vs baldomir. everyone thought the huge welterweight kingpin would steamroll through lil floyd but what a masterclass. or how about floyd vs hoya? everyone thought hoya who had been looking amazing for the last 3-4 years would easily destroy lil floyd because hoya got to pick the weight and gloves! Not true. Mayweather was a -700 favorite in that fight. Victor Ortiz actually had better odds in his fight against Mayweather.

among the fights this year - Frampton vs Cruz II.. Cruz showed he could be disciplined all 12 & he could box & move..

Probably had more to do with Linares face not holding up, but the Demarco fight came to mind.

MOTHER****ER! That's exactly the bout that jumped to my mind. That is one of those fights where you could literally tell that Ortiz was either going to leave that bout with his title or he was going to die. We all still give him hope based off that performance.

MOTHER****ER! That's exactly the bout that jumped to my mind. That is one of those fights where you could literally tell that Ortiz was either going to leave that bout with his title or he was going to die. Yea, its a great pick.

Victor Ortiz for ortiz v berto 1. He was possessed MOTHER****ER! That's exactly the bout that jumped to my mind. That is one of those fights where you could literally tell that Ortiz was either going to leave that bout with his title or he was going to die.

How about Erik Morales v Maidana. I know Morales was a great fighter once over so it might not fit with the thread, but he was basically a shopworn old fighter who had come back from retirement and nowhere near what he once was. He might have lost a MD to Maidana but his greatness come back at times in that fight. I thought he did the same thing to Garcia, and if I remember right I he was going to win the first Garcia fight until he got overconfident, caught and dropped. Had the fight won, that kd in rd 11 changed it all. Actually, Morales' efforts when against the young guns reminds me of Darnell Boone. This guy is 23-24(wins-loses) yet put a prospect or undefeated fighter infront of him and he seems to feels obligated to actually try, just to destroy their dreams. Boone feeds on other peoples hopes for a better life, by trying to crush that hope.

What about holyfield in the first fight with Tyson? He had health problems at the time and was a massive underdog. I think that was his career best performance against a very good and fit Tyson.

Brandon Rios in his 3rd with Alvarado. That was a different Rios. He was sharp as hell in that fight. I have no idea how he went from that, to the lump of nothing he was in the Bradley fight.

Does pacquiao-barrera qualify? Pac was a huge underdog there for a reason.

And that's essentially sums up Ortiz really. Nobody has ever doubted Victor's talent, it's only his desire to fight once he's hurt or under pressure that lets him down. Even in the second Berto fight, he was looking excellent until Berto caught him. On talent alone, he should still be a player in the Welterweight division but if you don't have the heart or the mentality then it counts for nothing really. I agree 100%. In terms of just talent, he's one of the most talented fighter's I've seen. He had all the physical tools to be a top 10 P4P fighter. He just checks out when the going gets tough

Herrera against Garcia comes to mind. Best all around performance of his career.

How about Erik Morales v Maidana. I know Morales was a great fighter once over so it might not fit with the thread, but he was basically a shopworn old fighter who had come back from retirement and nowhere near what he once was. He might have lost a MD to Maidana but his greatness come back at times in that fight.

Beat me to it. He even displayed heart in that fight And that's essentially sums up Ortiz really. Nobody has ever doubted Victor's talent, it's only his desire to fight once he's hurt or under pressure that lets him down. Even in the second Berto fight, he was looking excellent until Berto caught him. On talent alone, he should still be a player in the Welterweight division but if you don't have the heart or the mentality then it counts for nothing really.

Victor Ortiz for ortiz v berto 1. He was possessed Beat me to it. He even displayed heart in that fight

Victor Ortiz for ortiz v berto 1. He was possessed

Nate Campbell was more focused for the Juan Diaz fight than I had ever seen him before. Absolute tunnel vision throughout that entire training camp......... And they tried to rob him. I hate boxing.

Margarito against Cotto I. Old Man Duran against Iran Barkley

Nate Campbell was more focused for the Juan Diaz fight than I had ever seen him before. Absolute tunnel vision throughout that entire training camp.........