As boxing fans can attest, there’s nothing quite like two prime fighters going to war and leaving it all in the ring. The heart, grit, and toughness athletes display are admirable and inspirational, living long in the memory. But, at what cost?
There comes a point in every fighter’s career when enough is enough. Unfortunately, as competitors, many wait until the writing is on the wall when they suffer at the hands of another fighter. Boxing is an unforgiving sport that shoots you out the door as quickly as you arrive.
10Sergey Kovalev vs. Andre Ward II (2017)
Kovalev Lost His “0” And Never Looked The Same
The first fight took place in June 2016, pitting two undefeated champions against one another.
After a grueling 12 rounds, Ward got the nod, but the decision was widely disputed.
The rematch was held a year later at the Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas.
Ward came into the bout looking to silence the doubters, fighting aggressively from the opening bell. Although the fight was close through seven rounds, Ward was more effective, particularly with his bodywork. In round eight, Ward landed several heavy right hands, visibly hurting Kovalev. He then went to the body, closing the show with vicious shots to the midsection.
Kovalev’s aura of invincibility was gone. Since then, he has lost three times, including a brutal TKO defeat to Eleider Alvarez and a devastating KO loss to Canelo Alvarez. Although Kovalev continues to fight, his reputation as one of the most feared light heavyweights is no longer there. His decline since losing to Ward is clear.
Related
David Benavidez To Fight Oleksandr Gvozdyk At Light Heavyweight As Canelo Alvarez Negotiation Stalls
David Benavidez announced a move up to light heavyweight after campaigning for Canelo Alvarez title unification fight at super middleweight.
9Ricky Hatton vs. Manny Pacquiao (2009)
Hatton Was Brutally Knockout Out
Hatton suffered his first career defeat to Floyd Mayweather in 2007, losing via 10th-round TKO.
After winning his next two, he was scheduled to defend his IBF and The Ring titles against Manny Pacquiao.
Pacquiao was the betting favorite but Hatton fans were hopeful after his TKO victory over Paulie Malignaggi in 2008.
From the opening bell, it was all Pacquiao. Hatton went down twice in the first round and struggled to find any momentum. In round two, Pacquiao landed a clean left hand on Hatton’s chin, putting him out cold in the middle of the ring.
Immediately after the fight, Hatton declared he would take a hiatus from boxing and didn’t have any intention of fighting. He attempted a comeback three years later but lost to Vyacheslav Senchenko, after which he immediately retired permanently.
Related
What To Expect From Manny Pacquiao’s Return To Boxing
Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao refuses to retire as he makes a return to boxing.
8Victor Ortiz vs. Marcos Maidana (2009)
Ortiz Was A Rising Star Whose Career Trajectory Was Immediately Altered
Victor Ortiz faced Marcos Maidana for the Interim WVA light welterweight belt in 2009.
He entered the bout on an eight-fight KO streak.
Many touted Ortiz as a future star in the division.
The opening rounds of this fight were chaos with both men getting knocked down. As the fight went on, Maidana continued his relentless, aggressive approach, and opened up a cut on Ortiz in the fifth. The ringside physician stopped the fight in the sixth round with Ortiz unwilling to continue. This led to criticism of Ortiz’s heart and championship grit.
Although he made a successful comeback, Ortiz struggled to regain consistency and showcased a lack of mental toughness in later fights. His career became sporadic, featuring long layoffs and multiple defeats. Within a few years, he no longer had a significant standing at the championship level.
Related
10 Best Welterweight Boxers Of All Time, Ranked By Skill
Honoring the best in the welterweight division, one of boxing’s glamour divisions.
7Antonio Margarito vs. Manny Pacquiao (2010)
Pacquiao Punished Margarito Over 12 Rounds
Margarito faced Pacquiao in 2010 for the vacant WBC light middleweight title at Cowboys Stadium, Texas.
He was considerably larger than his opponent, outweighing Pacquiao significantly, and a six-inch reach advantage.
Unfortunately for Margarito, this did not help him in the fight.
Pacquiao put on a dominant display, battering Margarito for 12 rounds, with the final scorecards reading, 120-108, 119-109, and 118-108. Margarito suffered tremendous damage throughout the fight and was taken to hospital immediately where it was discovered he had a broken orbital. His face was so badly swollen that his surgery had to be postponed for two days.
Related
Manny Pacquiao Sets Deadline for Conor McGregor Fight Amidst Speculation of Conor Benn Showdown
Manny Pacquiao wants to return to the ring against Conor McGregor but the clock is ticking.
6Kell Brook vs. Gennady Golovkin (2016)
Brook Went Up Two Weight Classes To Challenge Golovkin
Brook fought most of his career at welterweight, amassing a perfect 36-0 record.
He moved up to middleweight to take on Gennady Golovkin in 2016.
Brook had never previously fought at the weight.
Golovkin briefly stunned Brook in the first round. Brook recovered quickly and enjoyed some success, landing clean combinations, helping him gain confidence. However, the power of Golovkin’s shots proved to be significant. Brook’s eye socket became badly damaged, leading to a fifth-round stoppage.
In Brook’s next bout, he suffered the second defeat of his career to Errol Spence Jr., fracturing his other eye socket. These back-to-back losses virtually ended Brook’s elite status in boxing, leading to his eventual retirement in 2022.
Related
10 Best British Boxers Of All Time, Ranked
These are the best British boxers ranked by their influence, greatness in the ring and achievements in the sport of boxing.
5Arturo Gatti vs. Floyd Mayweather (2005)
It Was The Beginning Of The End For Gatti
With 45 professional fights on his record, Gatti had endured a lot of punishment by the time he fought Floyd.
Mayweather was seeking a world title in a third weight class.
Gatti showcased his signature grit and toughness but was no match for Mayweather’s speed and precision counters.
Mayweather froze Gatti through five rounds, neutralizing any threat he posed. By the end of the sixth, Gatti’s corner had seen enough and threw in the towel. Gatti would go on to win his comeback fight, but after two subsequent stoppage losses, he put a legendary career to bed. He was later entered into the Hall of Fame.
Related
Floyd Mayweather: Age, Height, Wife, Record & More
Explore everything about Floyd Mayweather, including his age, height, wife, undefeated boxing record.
1
4Amir Khan vs. Canelo Alvarez (2016)
Khan Quickly Found Himself Outmatched
Khan stepped up two weight classes to challenge Canelo at middleweight.
This was an enormous fight, taking place in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Canelo came into the bout as the -500 favorite.
Khan started well, displaying superior speed and movement to evade Canelo’s big shots and land clean work of his own. Many fans had Khan ahead on the scorecards, with the official judges leaning toward Canelo. In the sixth round, Canelo landed a ferocious right hand during an exchange, rendering Khan unconscious immediately.
Khan went 3-2 after the defeat before officially retiring in 2022. The bout with Canelo marked the peak of his career. He never regained consistency at the highest level following the knockout.
Related
Amir Khan Regrets Costly Fallout Of Floyd Mayweather Fight
Amir Khan opened up about the decision that cost him the Floyd Mayweather fight.
3Mike Tyson vs. Kevin McBride (2005)
The Day “Iron Mike” Was No More
June 11th, 2005 will be remembered by boxing fans as the night Mike Tyson’s career officially crumbled.
Tyson fought a journeyman Irish heavyweight, Kevin McBride.
Mike Tyson looked physically and mentally diminished and a shadow of his former self.
After a lackluster performance through six rounds, Tyson was broken. He quit on the stool, handing a TKO victory to McBride. After the fight, Tyson claimed he no longer wanted to compete and that he only showed up for a payday. He retired after the loss until his 2024 comeback fight with Jake Paul.
Related
Mike Tyson’s Controversial Relationship With Don King, Explained
Exploring the Triumphs, Controversy, and Redemption in the Mike Tyson-Don King Saga
2Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Terry Norris (1991)
Leonard Proved He Didn’t Have It Anymore
Sugar Ray Leonard briefly retired in 1982 before making a stunning and successful comeback.
In 1991, Leonard dropped to 154 lbs to fight WBC light middleweight champion, Terry Norris.
Despite being in his mid-30s, Leonard was the betting favorite.
At Madison Square Garden, Sugar Ray Leonard was dominated over 12 rounds. He could not live with Norris’ superior speed and aggression. Norris marched forward from the first round to the last, bloodying Leonard. Although Leonard showed the heart of a champion, his decline was evident.
Following the defeat, Leonard retired again. Though he would make one last return in 1997, this beating marked the end of a legendary career.
Related
The Allegations Of Sugar Ray Leonard’s Abuse By An Olympic Coach, Explained
Sugar Ray Leonard displayed exceptional talent inside the ring. Now, in his autobiography, he displays bravery exposing a dark moment in his youth.
1Muhammad Ali vs. Larry Holmes (1980)
Ali Should Not Have Been Fighting
After announcing his retirement in 1979, Ali elected to return to the ring in pursuit of becoming a four-time heavyweight champion.
At the time, Ali had begun to show signs of Parkinson’s with vocal issues and hand trembling.
He was cleared to fight by the Mayo Clinic.
Holmes reportedly didn’t want to fight Ali as he knew he was no longer the fighter he used to be. Despite this, the fight went ahead. Holmes dished out a severe beating over ten rounds before Ali’s trainer, Angelo Dundee, threw in the towel. The fight is believed to have contributed to Ali’s worsening health issues.
Many pleaded for Ali to retire but he returned once more, losing a decision to Trevor Berbick. The fight with Holmes is regarded as one of the most tragic in boxing history, given the pain Ali endured after his retirement.
