Which fighters were never "the same" after being KO'd?

[Silencers]

Donald Curry.

[BennyST]

The robbery against Tszyu for Judah. Cost him a year of fighting time and was a bull**** 'ko'

You mean the one where he got knocked down about three times with one punch and both eyes were looking in different directions?

Apart from usual recent ones, I would also add in the great Aussie fighter Jeff Fenech. Though it was actually more a case of him having his fighting spirit destroyed by the corrupt judges and Don King for making his first fight with Azumah Nelson a draw in which he won a minimum of nine rounds. After that he was simply never the same and in the rematch against Nelson fought terribly and completely lacked the fire of the first fight and was knocked out. That was just the icing on the cake and ruined him utterly. He had a few more fights after that but never even came close to great fighter he was up to and including the first Nelson fight. Sad.

Vargas is probably one of the biggest examples, but, there are many prospects that get beaten and are never the same. Just look at Kid Diamond after getting the ****e beaten out of him by Campbell. Or, speaking of Tszyu, he fought a very highly touted prospect by the name of Jan Bergman who had great boxing skills along with incredible power. He had had a very successful amateur career with a ninety % KO ratio and was unbeaten in the pro's (also along with about a ninety % KO ratio) with many expecting big things from him until he met Tszyu and took a beating before being knocked out in the sixth round I think.

Or another was Michael Nunn. Was considered by many as the number one P4P guy at the time of the Toney fight. Had just come off a string of magnificent wins in his title reign and was fighting well throughout, though slowly getting taken apart, until his was stopped by a vicious left hook in the eleventh. After that he never really regained the magic he had previously. Also, another Toney victim, Vassily Jirov. Was another great amateur and a fantastic pro considered the best CW at the time of the Toney fight. He also never really did much after that fight sadly.

Though it wasn't a KO, it was everything but, Jeff Lacy is a ruined fighter and hasn't shown any of the combination punching or willingness to throw with confidence since being taken apart by Calzonie.

I wonder if Pavlik will become one of these guys in a few years after the Hopkins whipping? Let's hope not.

[BennyST]

Donald Curry.

Indeed. Curry was expected to be the next truly great fighter after the decline of the 'Fab Four'. Man, that guy had everything going for him. Speed, power, defense, combo's, smart etc etc blah blah. I don't think anyone expected Honeyghan to be able to do something like that. He never was able to do anything so spectacular after it either, much like Douglas after Tyson. It ruined one great fighter while he never amounted to anything from it.

[Sweet Pea 50]

Well maybe ALOT off the radar, but Michael Grant getting folded like a card table against Lennox Lewis. Sure he has had some wins afterwards, but he never got back to the top. And not a KO, but Trindad basically destroyed David Reid.

[Silencers]

Indeed. Curry was expected to be the next truly great fighter after the decline of the 'Fab Four'. Man, that guy had everything going for him. Speed, power, defense, combo's, smart etc etc blah blah. I don't think anyone expected Honeyghan to be able to do something like that. He never was able to do anything so spectacular after it either, much like Douglas after Tyson. It ruined one great fighter while he never amounted to anything from it.

I thought the Honeyghan fight put a dent in Curry but I think he could have recovered had he not run into McCallum right after it but it's hard to say which one affected him more, he was performing well against McCallum until getting caught by a perfect left hook while leaning back though, I thought he never looked quite the same after that.

Yeah, Curry had so much potential, his destruction of Milton McCrory was great, he really had everything going for him, such a shame, he was great to watch in his prime.

I expected more from Honeyghan after the Curry fight, that never happened.

[flipside]

bautista in recent years still waiting on ponce de leon's recovery from juanma too

[KostyaTszyu44]

The robbery against Tszyu for Judah. Cost him a year of fighting time and was a bull**** 'ko'

come on....judahs legs were jelly and he didnt know where he was for a minute or so good stoppage IMO...its pretty standard, if you get up and fall back over the ref stops it

[BLOODGOD]

Name some......... Daniel Santos, he became boring after getting KTFO by Kofi Jantuah.

He so boring when he disposed MARGO

[Flawless 2]

Tito
Cotto (hopefully)

[Ray*]

Wlad Kliscthko...most recent.