Losses on the Shield help rankings?

[DarkTerror88]

If a fighter loses a fight (when past prime/shot) but does very well in it does it add to their achievments for losing but giving hell all the way?

For example, lets say in June, Holyfield fought Wladmir Klitschko. June whatever 2011. 12 rounds. Holyfield does a great job on the inside and flash KDs Wlad but Wlad overall controls the fight a wee bit better. ITs a very close fight, but Wladmir wins, w/o controversy. Would this help your opinion of holyfield despite the L on his record?

Another example or two would be Frazier vs Ali in the Thrilla.
Or maybe Eddie Machen vs Sonny Liston? (kinda iffy on this one)
Duran vs Hagler another one?

[Scott9945]

If a fighter loses a fight (when past prime/shot) but does very well in it does it add to their achievments for losing but giving hell all the way?

For example, lets say in June, Holyfield fought Wladmir Klitschko. June whatever 2011. 12 rounds. Holyfield does a great job on the inside and flash KDs Wlad but Wlad overall controls the fight a wee bit better. ITs a very close fight, but Wladmir wins, w/o controversy. Would this help your opinion of holyfield despite the L on his record?

Another example or two would be Frazier vs Ali in the Thrilla.
Or maybe Eddie Machen vs Sonny Liston? (kinda iffy on this one)
Duran vs Hagler another one?

If Holyfield were to fight that well against Wladimir it would definitely add to his legacy.

I'm not sure how Liston-Machen applies here as they were the top two heavyweight contenders when they fought.

[BigStereotype]

Duran-Hagler definitely helps Duran's legacy. Everybody always says "old, fat, blown-up lightweight hung in there with a prime Hagler." Nobody ever says that he lost convincingly, even though he did. You have to take the context of a performance, even a losing one, into consideration when judging a legacy.

[Steak]

interesting topic.

personally I would say yes, I think it would add to their accomplishments, but many others would disagree...although likely for dumb reasons.

but Im someone that believes that a loss shouldnt really detract that much from your greatness however. I believe that a fighter that has 20 losses but beat 10 very good fighters is still better than one that beat 5 very good fighters and retired undefeated.

[SCtrojansbaby]

I don't really take it in to consideration unless the fighter is "reinventing" himself like say Foreman's or Vitali's comeback or Leonard at middleweight. But most cases a guy is clearly shot and has a "fluke close loss" I don't really take that in to consideration