Fights where a fighter shows up levels above his usual

[OnePunch]

Nate Campbell was more focused for the Juan Diaz fight than I had ever seen him before. Absolute tunnel vision throughout that entire training camp.........

[Sweet Jones]

Margarito against Cotto I.
Old Man Duran against Iran Barkley

[-PBP-]

Nate Campbell was more focused for the Juan Diaz fight than I had ever seen him before. Absolute tunnel vision throughout that entire training camp.........

And they tried to rob him. I hate boxing.

[Lopez_Boxing]

Victor Ortiz for ortiz v berto 1. He was possessed

[FrankieClutch]

Victor Ortiz for ortiz v berto 1. He was possessed

Beat me to it. He even displayed heart in that fight

[deathofaclown]

Beat me to it. He even displayed heart in that fight

And that's essentially sums up Ortiz really.

Nobody has ever doubted Victor's talent, it's only his desire to fight once he's hurt or under pressure that lets him down. Even in the second Berto fight, he was looking excellent until Berto caught him.

On talent alone, he should still be a player in the Welterweight division but if you don't have the heart or the mentality then it counts for nothing really.

[Cheek busting]

Crolla vs Barroso and Perez.

Even against Linares he was competitive. He was very much a domestic level fighter not even a top domestic level fighter.

Perfect example.

He was already supposedly on the "downside" of his career, after never being much more than a top contender at domestic level.

Then all the sudden he explodes on the world scene, outclassing Perez twice, and then stopping the DEMON-FACED KILLER Barroso.

Liners fight was competitive too. He took about 4 rounds IMO.

[Cheek busting]

Ricky Burns against Rocky Martinez.

Martinez was a killer at 130, stopping everybody. Was heralded as one of the next up and coming Ricans.

Burns was supposedly a domestic level challenger who only got in that position cause of shrewd maneuvering by Frank Warren.

[Cheek busting]

Pavlik vs Taylor to an extent...

Although Pavlik really was just that good. A prime hungry, sober Pavlik was a beast.

Even a fresh outta rehab Pavlik almost beat prime Sergio martinez. Prolly would have if he didn't get that cut.

[deathofaclown]

How about Erik Morales v Maidana.

I know Morales was a great fighter once over so it might not fit with the thread, but he was basically a shopworn old fighter who had come back from retirement and nowhere near what he once was. He might have lost a MD to Maidana but his greatness come back at times in that fight.