Boxing is a tough sport. Very few remain unscathed after a fight. It's a game where two brave men trade leathers. Somebody is always bound to get hurt. Many suffer knock out losses and not many are able to bounce back. Specially when back in the day, boxers fought up to 49 plus rounds ask Joe Jeannette. Scary how dangerous the sport is but we all fuckin love it.
There had been countless of prospects with very promising future that had their careers cut short due to devastating losses. Defeats that affected fighters both physically and mentally. The fear of getting knocked out again simply takes away focus and more often than not, boxers who suffer KO losses are never the same. There are few though who used defeat though as a wake up call. Some reinvented their game. And to others, it only fueled the fire inside. So just what boxers suffered early KO losses and turned themselves to All Time legends?
Aight let's start with the man who most would have in their top 5 pound for pound greatest.This man was knocked out in his very first fight by someone named Al Lovino. Won the next one and lost the following two. Wait who is All Lovino? Who would have thought a fighter like this would have a good future? But boy he piled up wins. Not just wins, he held the Featherweight, Welterweight and Lightweight titles simultaneously. You guessed it right. We're talking about the great Homicide Hank Henry Armstrong.
Another legend who had an interesting start is this man we'll talk about. In only 17 fights, he has already suffered KO defeats four times. Just like Hank, his first fight didn't end good. He lost via TKO to Mickey Finnegan who nobody would know. Amazingly this Wizard would reinvent his game and turn himself as one of the greatest technician in the sport. He was born Benjamin Lainer but is known as Benny Leonard. Far from how he started, he is today seen as one of the best ever.
Now let's talk about this badass who went down as one of the greatest Jr Lightweights of All time. This is the legend who stopped Bobby Chacon, Ray Mancini, Rolando Navarette and Ruben Castillo to name some. Such a terrific puncher. You wouldn't believe he had been stopped twice in only 21 fights by virtually unknown Jorge Reyes and Omar Amaya. Talk about redemption. The man would not only regroup, he also made sure his name is up there in the Hall. Look it up and you'll see Alexis Arguello.
Started all the way down from 105 lbs. This legend paid big time when he couldn't make weight and fought visibly weak due to dehydration. In just only 28 fights and with only a Flyweight title in his waist, this man already suffered two KO losses. One of which he was stripped as he couldn't make weight like the first time he suffered his first defeat. Up to this point, nobody knew where the man was headed. Fast forward to present and he's an 8 division champ and 5-division lineal champ. Yup it's Manny Pacquiao.
Crazy to think how these men redeemed themselves. Who would have thought they would end up as great as they are seeing how they tasted painful losses early in their career. Gotta love them champs who keep coming back stronger. To think they have already visited the canvass, most would have ran all their matches but them? They've given us fights we will never forget. All mentioned beat and fought best of their era. So your thoughts? What other boxers could you add?
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