by Rich Aspillaga: A lot of boxing analysts and fans have been using these terms “damaged goods” and “shot” fighters obviously referring to top tier fighters who were beaten in their last or few previous fights. More so, if the fighter were big names like De La Hoya and Roy Jones. The list continues and includes Antonio Tarver, Jermaine Taylor, Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Ricky Hatton. And now, recent stars Paul Williams and Kelly Pavlik could very well be in the list together with Shane Mosley, Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto.

The monicker “damaged goods” is now quickly or notoriously being used by fans and critics so the definition of such monicker is somewhat needing evaluation. The following fighters in the past could very well be called “damaged goods” today but they proved otherwise:

a) Muhammad Ali after being beaten by Joe Frazier in their first fight and followed by a jaw-breaking loss to Ken Norton rebounded to be a great champion again.
b) George Foreman after his loss to Ali in Zaire became Heavyweight champion at age 40 by beating Michael Moorer.
c) Joe Frazier after his devastating KO loss to Foreman gave the boxing world a grueling 15 round rematch with Ali in the fight of the century Thrilla in Manila.
d) Roberto Duran after his successive losses to Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns became Middleweight champ by knocking out Iran Barkley.
e) Thomas Hearns after his KO losses to Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler remained a top contender wreaking havoc to the other fighters in his era.
f) Floyd Patterson after being beaten by Ingemar Johansson regained his crown by totally beating his tormentor in their rematch.
g) Gabriel Flash Elorde after a devastating KO loss to lightweight king Carlos Ortiz beat the succeeding titleholder Ismael Laguna and knocked out welterweight top contender Percy Hales.
h) Mike Tyson after the Buster Douglas debacle sent top heavyweights to sleep when he came back.

These are only some of the Hall of Famers who came back from devastating losses that would be branded “damaged goods” today. Perhaps, it is an indication that judging a fighter coming out of a bad loss are not automatically “damaged goods”. It is what happens after that loss or losses that will matter. As what happened to the above boxing greats, history will be final judge.