When a fighter loses a non-controversial decision and their career isn't hurt

[Fox McCloud]

Lopez-Mtwaga.

The classic story of starting too late... Mtagwa straight ripped a hole into Lopez that night, but it started one round too late, and he couldn't finish the job in the 12th (no idea how... Lopez is one tough mother****er made entirely of heart).

[Clegg]

Mesi-Jirov is another one, I think. I only saw the fight years after it happened, but I'd think scoring 3 knockdows in the last two rounds would probably create more of an impression than clearly losing the rest of the fight.

Another one I'd throw in is Grant-Rhodes from the mid 90s. Ryan Rhodes was the youngest British champion for over 50 years, and came from the same gym as Hamed at the same time he was getting a lot of attention. With that in mind, Rhodes was seen as the next big thing, and put into a title fight with Otis Grant, even though he'd only just turned 21.

He ended up losing a competitive decision (7-5), but the impression it left people with was that a year or two down the line he'd be able to step up again and still develop into something special. Didn't happen though, as his chin let him down a few times in the years that followed.

[MANGLER]

Mesi-Jirov is another one, I think. I only saw the fight years after it happened, but I'd think scoring 3 knockdows in the last two rounds would probably create more of an impression than clearly losing the rest of the fight.

Another one I'd throw in is Grant-Rhodes from the mid 90s. Ryan Rhodes was the youngest British champion for over 50 years, and came from the same gym as Hamed at the same time he was getting a lot of attention. With that in mind, Rhodes was seen as the next big thing, and put into a title fight with Otis Grant, even though he'd only just turned 21.

He ended up losing a competitive decision (7-5), but the impression it left people with was that a year or two down the line he'd be able to step up again and still develop into something special. Didn't happen though, as his chin let him down a few times in the years that followed.

Good picks Clegg. Those fights took a ton outta Mesi and Rhodes. Mesi was brain damaged after that when everybody thought he'd be a HW star.

[Fox McCloud]

Mesi-Jirov is another one, I think. I only saw the fight years after it happened, but I'd think scoring 3 knockdows in the last two rounds would probably create more of an impression than clearly losing the rest of the fight.

Another one I'd throw in is Grant-Rhodes from the mid 90s. Ryan Rhodes was the youngest British champion for over 50 years, and came from the same gym as Hamed at the same time he was getting a lot of attention. With that in mind, Rhodes was seen as the next big thing, and put into a title fight with Otis Grant, even though he'd only just turned 21.

He ended up losing a competitive decision (7-5), but the impression it left people with was that a year or two down the line he'd be able to step up again and still develop into something special. Didn't happen though, as his chin let him down a few times in the years that followed.

No idea what happened in the Mesi-Jirov fight... who was who? Which one dominated and which one scored the late knockdowns?

Haha, poor Ryan Rhodes. Do you know where I recognize that name from? He was that guy who knocked Gary Lockett down, but ended up losing that fight. I heard that on HBO during Pavlik-Lockett.

[Clegg]

No idea what happened in the Mesi-Jirov fight... who was who? Which one dominated and which one scored the late knockdowns?

Haha, poor Ryan Rhodes. Do you know where I recognize that name from? He was that guy who knocked Gary Lockett down, but ended up losing that fight. I heard that on HBO during Pavlik-Lockett.

Mesi dominated the first 7-8 rounds from what I remember (it was a 10 rounder). He was quite a bit bigger and made it count, but late on he seemed to tire and Jirov stepped the aggression right up. At the final bell, it felt like if there was one more round, there would've been a KO for Jirov.

I never got to see Lockett-Rhodes (read about it though). He was pretty skillful, especially for a UK domestic-level guy, but he wasn't as skillful as he thought he was, so more than once he had his hands down and got caught and knocked out.

[pistol whip]

Well Marquez vs Mayweather wont hurt Marquez since Floyd was so much larger. He's still the best Lightweight and would beat 98% of the fighters from 140 to 135.

[oaba09]

Does Pacquiao-morales 1 count?....I agreed w/ the judges on that one......After that loss, manny seems to have improved by a mile.....IMO, that and the 1st fight w/ marquez taught manny a lot of things regarding the areas that he needs to improve on....

[Fox McCloud]

Does Pacquiao-morales 1 count?....I agreed w/ the judges on that one......After that loss, manny seems to have improved by a mile.....IMO, that and the 1st fight w/ marquez taught manny a lot of things regarding the areas that he needs to improve on....

Yeah, it can count.

I was around for this... I got into boxing in 2007, but the impression I would have taken from that fight (combined with Marquez I) was... damn... Manny really can't deal with a powerful aggressive fighter who comes in with a good jab... he was 0-2 (technically 0-1-1, but... other than that first round, the rest of the fight was definitely a Marquez type of fight)... I think the Morales losses was more because of Morales losing his ability to fight... he dropped from a bit past his prime to dead on his feet in the ring.

I'll say this, like I always do... I don't think it matters one bit. Morales may have been past his prime/shot against Pacquiao, but Pacquiao was green for those fights too. The Pacquaio of today would destroy Morales, Barrera and Marquez... he's definitely the best of the bunch... by far (the by far has only come to light since the David Diaz fight).

[oaba09]

Yeah, it can count.

I was around for this... I got into boxing in 2007, but the impression I would have taken from that fight (combined with Marquez I) was... damn... Manny really can't deal with a powerful aggressive fighter who comes in with a good jab... he was 0-2 (technically 0-1-1, but... other than that first round, the rest of the fight was definitely a Marquez type of fight)... I think the Morales losses was more because of Morales losing his ability to fight... he dropped from a bit past his prime to dead on his feet in the ring.

I'll say this, like I always do... I don't think it matters one bit. Morales may have been past his prime/shot against Pacquiao, but Pacquiao was green for those fights too. The Pacquaio of today would destroy Morales, Barrera and Marquez... he's definitely the best of the bunch... by far (the by far has only come to light since the David Diaz fight).

Yup...I just don't see prime morales or marquez beating the Pacquiao of today....He improved in almost every aspect.....IMO, that loss and the draw w/ marquez is a blessing in disguise......