Crossroad fights a roll of the dice

World-class boxing is littered with "crossroad" fights - risky bouts that can quickly expose prospects as suspects or turn champs into chumps.

In the worst-case scenario, getting blown out in a crossroad match instantly relegates the loser to the fistic scrapheap ... perhaps even permanent retirement.

Think Marcos Maidana, the former world welterweight champion who was 35-4 before getting pummeled in a 2014 rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr. He never fought again. Another example was hulking heavyweight Gerry Cooney, who was 25-0 until Larry Holmes made him kiss the canvas in 1982. Gentleman Gerry tried two brief comebacks before George Foreman sent him to permanent pasture in 1990.