Good & Great Boxers Both Had A Nemesis!

There have been good and nice boxers who misplaced twice to the identical opponent referred to as a nemesis. Others would lose of their first match and go on to win their subsequent two matches towards the identical opponent.

Let’s begin with heavyweights Jack ‘Manassa Mauler’ Dempsey, 53-6-8 with 43 knockouts. In September of 1926, of their first assembly earlier than 120,557 on the Sesquicentennial Stadium in Philadelphia, PA, he misplaced to Gene ‘Combating Marine’ Tunney, 77-1-3, over ten rounds.

Subsequent, in July of 1927, Dempsey knocked out former champ Jack Sharkey, 27-6, in seven rounds. Sharkey claimed to have been hit low nevertheless it was disallowed.

Then got here Dempsey’s rematch at Soldier’s Subject in Chicago, IL, in September of 1927 with Tunney when he scored a knockdown within the seventh spherical. With a brand new ruling he was to go to a impartial nook however stood over Tunney some fifteen seconds.

Later referred to as “the lengthy depend!” Tunney gained the choice, and Dempsey by no means fought once more whereas Tunney completed his profession in his subsequent combat, stopping Tom ‘The Laborious Rock from Down Below’ Heeney, 32-8-5, from New Zealand, in eleven rounds. Dempsey labored the nook of Heeney.

That’s twice they fought and Tunney gained each matches over Dempsey.

In September of 1950 world featherweight champ Willie Pep, 152-2-1, misplaced his title to Sandy Saddler, 115-7-2, being stopped after seven rounds, at Yankee Stadium, New York.

It will be a 12 months for his or her rematch with Saddler once more profitable after 9 rounds. Pep would finish his profession at 229-11-1.

Although thought-about the best pound for pound boxer of all-time by many “Sugar” Ray Robinson, 143-6-2, misplaced his middleweight title to Paul Pender, 35-5-2, in January of 1960 on the Boston Backyard. In June of their rematch once more Pender gained. Robinson ended his profession with a file of 174-19-6 with 109 stoppages.

Muhammad ‘The Best’ Ali, 31-0, in his first assembly in March of 1971 with then champion ‘Smokin Joe Frazier, 26-0, at Madison Sq. Backyard, New York, getting dropped within the ultimate spherical and misplaced a call to Frazier.

In January of 1974 of their rematch, Ali gained by resolution at Madison Sq. Backyard, this for the NABF title.

Their third assembly was held in Manila, Philippines, dubbed ‘The Thrilla in Manila’ when Frazier couldn’t come out for the fifteenth and final spherical, shedding to Ali. Frazier’s coach, Eddie Futch, wouldn’t permit Frazier to come back out of the nook.

Ali at 41-1, had the same state of affairs with Ken Norton, 29-1, in March of 1973, by break up resolution. Ali suffered a damaged jaw he claimed occurred across the second spherical. I used to be in Philadelphia once I noticed Ali in a crowd. An outdated timer mentioned to him ‘the following time you combat Norton be a person not a boy!’ Ali shortly replied ‘did you name me Roy?’

Two weeks later, I went to Ali’s house in Cherry Hill, NJ, inviting myself into his house and asking his then-wife Belinda, “Can I discuss to the champ?” He was a gracious host whereas entertaining different boxing folks.

In September, Ali gained their rematch by resolution on the Inglewood Discussion board in California. It will be September of 1976 at Yankee Stadium, within the Bronx, of their third assembly with Ali taking the ultimate spherical and profitable the choice.