Famous debut losses?

[HeadBodyBodyBody]

Joe Bugner
Juan Manuel Marquez
Bernard Hopkins

[Scott9945]

Joe Bugner
Juan Manuel Marquez
Bernard Hopkins

Henry Armstrong. He started out his career 1-3.

[BKM-2010]

Bernard Hopkins

Here's the story on that one:

Hopkins started fighting four-round preliminary bouts while working as a cook. In 1988 he lost his first professional fight as the result of mismanagement and weak preparation. Hopkins, a natural middleweight, had been stuffed with fast food to move up to the light heavyweight division. Unaccustomed to the extra pounds, he was sluggish and lost to Clinton Mitchell, a middling opponent. After the loss and the poor treatment by his manager, Hopkins was so discouraged with boxing that he did not fight again for almost a year and a half. When he returned to the ring, he had a new manager, Bouie Fisher, and a new focus on conditioning.

[NChristo]

Benny Leonard and Alexis Arguello

[BattlingNelson]

Jess Willard, Pete Rademacher.

[BKM-2010]

Just remembered Sonny Liston had a loss very early on. Jack Dempsey as well. Both in their first year or so.

[HeadBodyBodyBody]

How could I forget Our 'Enry??!

Ricardo Mayorga is another one

[Bundana]

Manuel Ortiz
Lew Jenkins
Eddie Perkins
Ted Kid Lewis
Miguel Canto
Pipino Cuevas

... just a few of the many, many world champs who lost their pro debut.

[BennyST]

Joe Bugner
Juan Manuel Marquez
Bernard Hopkins

Rafael Marquez too!

[AddiX]

Here's the story on that one:

I didn't know that background story.

Unfortunately this is pretty common. Boxing business is filled with hustler managers who will throw there fighter in with anyone just to get a payday.

Met far to many of these guys when I was in NYC. Saw one manager try to switch contracts on a fighter last minute, and had a lawyer there and all as a witness.