What are some examples when the so-called B-side seized his opportunity, defeated the A-side in front of him, and went on to have a better career? One example is Maidana/Ortiz. By the time these two faced off, Kellerman already had his ball-sucking orders and it was written that Ortiz was a star. And in the first two rounds, it looked like it could be true, with Ortiz knocking Maidana Down three times. But Maidana came back, made Ortiz quit and went on to have a career that easily eclipsed Ortiz's.
Pac-Barrera is probably the best example. MAB at the time was a consensus top 3 P4P guy (ranked above Floyd by most). And he was the biggest Mexican star.
When Julio Cesar Chavez fought Azabache Martinez, it was actually Martinez who was the popular crowd favorite... Martinez had a good career and was a fine fighter but obviously Chavez wound up becoming CHAVEZ Pipino Cuevas was supposed to be an easy tune-up defense for Angel Espada in preparation for a showdown with Miguel Campanino... he was a relatively unknown teenager with a mediocre record and had recently lost a decision to Andy Price (who also had an earlier win over Carlos Palomino... two wins over long reigning champs and fuck-all to show for it!) ... Cuevas destroyed him and began a ferocious reign while Espada was never again anything other than another contender Salvador Sanchez vs Danny Lopez is another
When you look at Cuevas's record it's hard not to conclude Espada's people didn't do their homework 5 of his then 6 losses had occurred before his 16th birthday... he'd lost his debut as a 13 year old ... he'd won 8 of his previous 9 (the decision loss to Price, a far more seasoned professional fighter) and his record indicated rather obvious punching power
Sanchez-Gomez is another that comes to mind. Coming into that fight, Sanchez was hardly known as the legend he would become. Whereas Gomez, at the time, was considered by many the P4P #1.
Toney-Nunn was the first one that came to mind, with Toney being on the opposite side of the equation that he was with Jones.
How? Martinez lost and never really did much of note afterward Akins, who had a very weird career then lost the title to Don Jordan (who had an even weirder career) Akins and Jordan were both flung around like pinballs by the mob
Jordan was nuts and a pathological liar who was beaten nearly to death during a robbery when he was 61 which left him in a coma
Chuck Davey vs Kid Gavilan. Beat that one clogg!!! Davey was touted after careful managed wins over Graziano, Basilio and Ike Williams.
Gavilan was already considered one of the best in the world ... Davey was very popular and a decent fighter but he was very much the underdog in that fight ... Gavilan gave him a beating I can't tell if you're trolling here
Who? Gavilan? Can't see that, really... he'd already beaten Graham, Bratton, Gil Turner, Bobby Dykes, established his cred against Robinson... I'd say he was smack dab in the middle of his glory years
