Nemeses

[markusmod]

Vernon Forrest / Ricardo Mayorga

And that was Mayorga before his drinking prime.

[billeau2]

And that was Mayorga before his drinking prime.

Mayorga could fight, one of my personal favorites... aside from being the number two shiat talker of all time... toney Galento may be the best... Reporter asks about Joe Louis as an opponent for their upcoming fight, two ton toney puts on this quizzical look then says "neva hurd a da bum."

[Quercusalba]

Tony Zale was Rocky Graziano's nemesis. Graziano said he still had Zale nightmares years after their fights.

[markusmod]

Tony Zale was Rocky Graziano's nemesis. Graziano said he still had Zale nightmares years after their fights.

Good pick there.

[QueensburyRules]

- -Jerry Quarry has Ali and Joe as nemeses, esp Joe who KTFO him twice with Ali merely slicing him up twice.

Quarry was the first to destroy the KO machine of Mac Foster who took Ali a hard 15 rds as did Shavers who BTFO Ali for 15 rds but couldn't last 1 vs Quarry who also BTFO undefeated Lyle who managed to hang on for the distance.

[Willie Pep 229]

- -Jerry Quarry has Ali and Joe as nemeses, esp Joe who KTFO him twice with Ali merely slicing him up twice.

Quarry was the first to destroy the KO machine of Mac Foster who took Ali a hard 15 rds as did Shavers who BTFO Ali for 15 rds but couldn't last 1 vs Quarry who also BTFO undefeated Lyle who managed to hang on for the distance.

I am sure you're right but it seems to me a nemesis should have some sort of qualifier attached to it. I.e. Quarry simply wasn't in the same league with Frazier and Ali and we expected the loss. I guess that constitutes a nemesis in that they kept him from ever becoming HW Champion, but in a sense that makes everyone who can or has beaten you, your nemesis. That doesn't seem a correct usage; there's an absence uniqueness about it.

I guess those failures constitute a nemesis relationship but they don't stand out as special.

The Great Tommy Hearns unable to get by the mediocre Iran Barkley; Rocky Kansas losing to Benny Leonard three times, but then becoming LW Champion as soon as Leonard retires; Greb able to beat Tunney first time out but then subsequently failing four consecutive times.

There is something special attached to each of these relationships. Quarry it seems just came up short against two superior fighters.

But I guess to Quarry they would feel like a nemesis relationship. So never mind.

[GhostofDempsey]

Pacquiao's was Marquez

He beat Marquez twice, and was robbed of a win in the first fight because Burt Clements didn't score the third knockdown in round one. So technically, be beat him 3 out of 4. I won't even get into how juiced up JMM was for their 4th encounter.

[GhostofDempsey]

Holmes had Spinks

LaMotta had Robinson

Harold Johnson had Moore

Moore had Charles

Pep had Saddler

Montgomery had Angott

[Willie Pep 229]

Holmes had Spinks

LaMotta had Robinson

Harold Johnson had Moore

Moore had Charles

Pep had Saddler

Montgomery had Angott

Pep - Saddler is a good one - Pep supposedly complained that Saddler was positioned for the sole purpose of beating him (Saddler's weight cut).

I'm not saying it's true only that Pep made such a claim, which to me screams Pep felt like he had a nemesis in Sandy.

[Tatabanya]

Most obviously, Holyfield for Tyson.

A little less obviously, Golota for Bowe.

Another coming to mind is Paulie Ayala for Johnny Tapia.

EDIT: A-hem... Gene Tunney for Jack Dempsey...