Guys who peaked in their first title winning effort

MOST championship level fighters peak somewhere during the midst of their reign, but others peak in their first title winning effort and never reach that level again in a win.

Six perfect examples I can think of:

Bowe in the first Holy fight

Hatton against Tszyu

Mel Taylor against McGirt

Michael Nunn against Frank Tate

Barry McGuigan against Pedroza

Ike Quartey against Espana

Others?

 

You could pick any guy that won a title and quickly lost it like a Charlie Magri or Don Jordan

 

Ya sarcastic Irish bastid. Go drink in Southie with ya Red Sox hat on

 

I'd shoot you dead for even suggesting that I have any association with that TRASH! How DARE you?!?!?

 

Sometimes I'd be inclined to include tyson on that list

 

quartey got better after the espana fight technique wise

 

Body punching clinic ... one of the best examples

Pity Marvin Johnson, he was good and he was game but he was neck-deep in the best light heavyweight division since the 40s (and the second best ever... from about 1975 to 1982 or so, just amazing how many great and really good fighters there were) and he just couldn't beat the best of the best

 

I don't think Mike applies, because while the Berbick was ARGUABLY his peak performance, he reached that same level in several other fights.

Most consider Spinks his apex performance. Some say it's Biggs, others say it's Thomas.

I've personally decided after much debate that the Holmes fight was ultimately Mike's apex.

 

Yeah, but his stamina didn't fade like it did in every other fight.

 

Esparragoza vs Stevie Cruz is another example I can think of.

Esparragoza would make several defenses after that, but never again had a performance like the Cruz fight.

 

How about cruz/Mcguigan then?

 

McGuigan lost to heat stroke, really

 

Save that global warming mick bullshit, conspiracy theorist

 

Fernando Vargas?

 

McGugian looked like absolute shit against Cabrera, which was the fight right before Cruz. Really struggled in that one. So the writing was on the wall.

I kinda think he just burnt out against Cruz.

McGugian had like a three fight prime.

It's fucking criminal that Barry is in the HOF but guys like DeJesus, Rodrigo Valdez, and Ernesto Marcel aren't in.

 

No. Nando's best performance was against Ike, and in that fight Nando was already the champion.

 

I'm gonna add Ruben Olivares. His apex performance was destroying Lionel Rose to win the bantam title.

 

I haven't seen that highlight reel before and without knowing about the fighters you'd swear mohammed was an upright head on a stick arm punching amateur heading for a devastating ko loss. I'd forgotten how lousy he sometimes looked. Amazing what he achieved.

 

Stinger's colleague George Foreman over Joe Frazier

 

Guy won belts on multiple occasions. Wasn't exactly an also ran.

 

Eddie MM should have won the title from Galindez. He was robbed in that fight.

 

Disagree... he blew it, IMO

Didn't press his advantage and allowed Galindez to rally

 

No shit, fuckface

He tended to win his belts against lesser holders and then lose them immediately against the best guys ... he was never perceived as the man at 175 even when he snagged a belt

Best win? Probably Mate Parlov. Also beat a fading Galindez. Both wins won him belts he immediately lost to guys expected to beat him. First time to Franklin/Saad (who'd already beat him in one of the most savage fights ever) and the second time to EMM (above) ... then he regrouped with some wins only to get plastered against Spinks in a fight where he was competing well like he always did

Hence, why I pity the guy. Always fought well, had some good wins but just couldn't beat the best of his great era

 

I need to rewatch. Been awhile, but from my recollection Eddie clearly outboxed him.

 

Maybe... I like his skillful domination of Chucho in the rubber match (Ruben's loss in fight number 2 was bullshit... it would go to the cards for a technical decision today... there was no protection from losing your title on a headbutt cut in those days)

 

He definitely did early on but you know how he could be so often... lazy and complacent

 

He reminded me a lot of Chunky in that respect...

 

It is ridiculous... the HOF is ridiculous

A big part of McGuigan's legacy and fame is because of how popular he was in Ulster during such a terrible period of The Troubles... he was a big favorite with both sides, a cultural phenomenon... any time an athlete is in that kind of position, everything they do gets magnified

 

Oh, you slaaag