Losses that initially look bad, but look much more respectable later on

[boxing is alive]

What are some examples of losses where it looks bad at first because the opponent is a "bum" "subpar" etc, but that opponent goes on to have a much better career? For example, Robert Guerrero losing to Orlando Salido (yes, I know it was reversed to a NC, but it was a loss at the time), which looked bad at the time, but Orlando Salido went on to beat Juanma twice, thus making that loss for Guerrero look much more respectable. Same thing for Cotto vs Trout. Cotto was supposed to beat him, but if Trout goes on to have a great career, that loss doesn't look so bad in the long term.

[Tom Cruise]

What are some examples of losses where it looks bad at first because the opponent is a "bum" "subpar" etc, but that opponent goes on to have a much better career? For example, Robert Guerrero losing to Orlando Salido (yes, I know it was reversed to a NC, but it was a loss at the time), which looked bad at the time, but Orlando Salido went on to beat Juanma twice, thus making that loss for Guerrero look much more respectable. Same thing for Cotto vs Trout. Cotto was supposed to beat him, but if Trout goes on to have a great career, that loss doesn't look so bad in the long term.

Not a loss, but Lewis struggling hard against a quitting late replacement Eastern Euro Klitschko could have looked a lot worse if it wasnt for Vitali's HOF career after.

Junior Witter losing to big underdog Timothy Bradley as well.

Going back, Sonny Liston losing to a young brash Cassius Clay doesnt look so bad with hindight!

Theres probably loads, most hall of famers would have been an underdog at some point.

[Bermuda]

manny pacquiao demolishing barrera....pacquiao although was a rising star at 122 wasn't considered to be at the same level (both popularity and skill wise) as barrera who was #3 p4p at the time. so when pac stopped barrera it was a big upset....

[IMDAZED]

Marquez-Austin
Martinez-Margarito
Sorjaturong-Lopez
Nelson-Sanchez
Holyfield-Qawi, to a lesser extent

[gauze]

cintron vs molina
pascal vs froch

[-Huey-]

DLH vs Pacquiao

Oscar was "supposed" to win because of the size advantage. But nobody took his Part-Time boxer status, him weighing 147, and the fact that he's never looked good against southpaws into consideration. Oscar was not even a shell of his former self that night.

Oscar got beaten down and caught a lot of crap for the loss but what happened after that made that loss much more respectable. Pacquiao brutalized every prime, top Welterweight after that.

[Big_L]

kessler/ward. kessler was the favorite and got dominated in that fight. then ward unexpectly ran through the super six. kessler came back and beat froch.

[Cubanborn87]

cintron vs molina
pascal vs froch

lara vs molina then even though it was a well deserve draw by the cintron fight molina already was notorious