14.11.07 – By Ted Sares:
Loved By Many, Hated By Few, Respected By All –Anonymous
Michael Katsidis
Many fighters are respected for the way they fight. Michael Katsidis, as just one of many examples, is a warrior and gets respect accordingly. So does Jamie Moore. But some gain it by losing. Some, like Paulie Malignaggi, even use the newly earned respect as a launching pad to a title. Five quickly come to mind.
Jameel “Big Time” McCline
“Big Time” is one who gained it by his fine showing against Samuel Peter. By almost icing the “Nigerian Nightmare” and giving him all that he could handle, he erased much of his reputation of being a feather-fisted heavyweight who folds every time he steps up. Not in this fight, however. The next time he enters the ring, he can swagger in. He has earned the swagger.
Paulie Malignaggi
Paulie’s loss against Miguel Cotto showed his grit, courage and willingness to fight through pain in a competitive way. This loss did more for his career than any of his previous victories. His subsequent dominating win over Lovemore N’dou earned him the IBF light welterweight title. But it was his loss to Cotto that earned him the respect he was looking for. Paulie put his money where his mouth was.
Jermaine Taylor
Heretofore, Jermaine Taylor has been everyone’s favorite dart board for his boring and lackluster fights and inability to deck or even hurt his opponents. Yet his loss to Kelly Pavlik earned him the respect he had been seeking in all of his wins. Not only did he hurt and floor the Youngstown bomber, he went out on his shield. Taylor gave it his all and for that, will be viewed differently and more positively in the future.
Michael Jones
When he lost to rugged Jamie Moore in a bid for the BBBofC British light middleweight title, he acquitted himself in the tradition of so many other gritty warriors from the UK. Moore was decked twice and Jones hit the canvas two times, once in the 5th and once in the 6th. It was a war in the mold of Macklin-Moore and Katsidis-Earl. Even though Jones came out a loser, he really had nothing to be ashamed of.
Jaidon Codrington
After he was rendered unconscious in a matter of seconds by a savage right hand in his fight with Allan Green, few gave him much of a chance to regain his status as a “chin checker.” However, he put together a 9-fight win streak that earned him a fight against experienced Sakio Bika for the Contenders Final. Though he was stopped by Bika, the manner in which he fought was scintillating and may well contribute to the fight being a contender for “Fight of the Year.” Yes, the “Don” lost, but did he really? I know I will pay to see him fight in the future. Jaidon Codrington earned my full respect twice: once for comeback after a devastating knockout loss and now for acquitting himself like a true warrior.
There are others who have followed this track. Can you name some?