Fighters who had a loss early but became unbeatable later on

[El Gitano]

How about Jose Luis Castillo, he was TKO'd 4 times before beating Stevie Johnson, Cesar Bazan, Floyd Mayweahter*, Juan Lazcano, Joel Casamayor, Julio Diaz and eventually Diego Corrales.



































*you know

[Slyboots]

Sergio Martinez also comes to mind.

[Outworn]

Sergio Martinez also comes to mind.

Yeah but no shame losing to Margarito. If you take away his other losses (Paul Williams who many felt was a robbery and Cotto, Martinez knee was done) that was his only legitimate L in his record. Even the draw against Cintron was a robbery. People said he should've lost against Murray but i think so.

I always think of Hopkins when it come to this question.

[Lomasexual]

Wlad was really, really dominant at his peak - after 3 bad losses.

[R_Walken]

Off the top of my head

Hopkins , Donaire , Salido all lost their first fight and had good to great runs

[maenyfresh]

Great thread.... you know what, this just shows you the ATG mind set that these fighters had to overcome early adversity and go and to be great. So then I find myself asking why do people pronounce death on a fighter/prospect who has lost? Fans immediately say that the fighter has been "exposed". I don't think we as fans should write fighters off so quickly just because of a loss especially if it's early on.

I respect recent fighters like Loma and Badou Jack who have also treated early losses as a learning curve and come back to do great things.

Now if the fans would just give fighter like Lublin amongst others (very young and inexperienced) a chance to learn from their losses, it would be great.

Another thing that has influenced this mind set of being undefeated is Floyd Mayweathers career, as people are trying to hold fighters to that criteria and even fighters themselves are trying to go throughout their careers undefeated.

[Kezzer]

Klitschko obviously got knocked down a few times before his decade of dominance. He took on everyone who would fight him and only ended later on against Fury & Joshua; with few arguments there was anyone else left he couldn't beat ( and many touting him to beat both in rematches)

[solo20]

azumah nelson