Who Has Turned a Stumbling Block into a Stepping Stone?

This one is a little obvious, but he deserves credit for at least realizing he needs to really protect his chin.

pacquiao hit early stumbling blocks when he was draining himself, and lost twice by KO. he then went on to dismember barrera, and “drew” (i thought he won period) JMM in their first fight. the GOAT met with another stumbling block in erik morales when he lost for the first time in 6 years. obv pacman went on to demolish morales twice, and is now the P4P king, and GOAT

lost to Lamont Brewster and never looked back.

George Foreman. lost to Ali but grew as a man.

After losing to Watson in London (TKO6), Benn relocated to Miami and hooked up with new trainer Vic Andreeti who calmed him down and taught him to fight more rhythmically. Benn learnt to feel his way with the jab and to defend himself properly. Picked up some quality sparring too; Freddie Pendleton taught him to stay cool and pick his shots; pace himself. And Benn started to listen.

Four fights later Benn lifted the WBO MW title from Doug DeWitt then defended against Iran Barkley, stopping him in one round.

Good fanpost John.

Maybe it’s too early to tell, but I think Miguel Cotto turned his horrible loss to Pacquiao into a stepping stone. Cotto has always been a very stubborn man… that’s why he clashed so much with Evangelista and why he chose to go with Santiago after he fired Evangelista: he basically thought he could train himself. But after the Pacquiao fight he finally realized he needed someone experienced in his corner and brought in Steward and was able to get accomplish three great things for his career: 1) he rebounded from a very tough loss, 2) he was able to earn his 4th title in three divisions and 3) he was able to, finally, take a belt from a champion (regardless of whether Foreman was a great champion or not, he finally accomplished it). And I believe the Pac fight was that turning point. It may be a little bit late, but better late than never, I think.

Hagler after the Antuofermo robbery was definitely a far more aggressive , meaner fighter . He wasnt going to sit back and box against Minter . Holyfield changed his body and style post the third Bowe fight . Joe Louis and his trainer Jack Blackburn working on Joe’s susceptibility to being caught with the right hand counter thrown over his jab ( see the first Schmeling fight ) . The post comeback Foreman had a new body and a new , less aggressive , smarter style to go with it , George really shortened his punches up as an old man . Lennox Lewis was like a prototype for Wlad K , like Wlad he was kayoed taking chances( against McCall) and became a much more methodical – safety first type fighter .

He passed up a huge test with Sergio Martinez but has looked pretty good against lower tier competition.

learned the hard way in his first fight with Roberto Duran not to let your ego allow you abandon that which God has given you. In his case, natural strengths and ability to box.

Came back to outbox/fox Duran and force him to quit. Then went on, after falling behind, to notch his greatest triumph of all, against Tommy Hearns.

I though about this and wondered if Pavliks stumbling block actually dropped him to the floor. Hopkins could have been his stepping stone followed by greater things… no so.
    Also, what about Froch, let’s see if Kessler was his stumbling block. He’s currently still stumbling really and we don’t know how he’ll come back.

KO’d by Julian Jackson but bounced back to knockout John Mugabi in one round four fights later to win the WBC title. I know his strength trainer put him on a regimented weight training program prior to the Mugabi fight, one that Norris stuck with for the duration of his career. He could bench something like 300 lbs.

A prime Terry Norris was some fighter – had it all – and a shaky chin just to keep it interesting..

I was never high on him because he was often lackadaisical in the ring. Two things changed that, I think. First was when he lost to Orlando Salido (later changed to a NC), and the second was his wife getting cancer. Since then, he’s mostly fought with a renewed vigor and seems to have taken some major steps forward with his boxing and conditioning.

David Haye is another one. Knocked out by Carl Thompson, in part because he gassed out, he’s learned to pace himself a lot better and also takes protecting his chin a little more seriously.

Chris Eubank referred to his opponents as “a steeping stone who he must cross to reach his goal”. Stevie Collins ended up being his stumbling block.