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The 5 Most Unexpected Knockouts In Boxing History
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Dan Fitch /
03 November 2008 /
4 Comments
No matter how strong a favourite is in a boxing match, the underdog can always turn things around with just one punch.
Here are the top 5 most unexpected knockouts in boxing history.
5. Antonio Tarver v Roy Jones Jr
Roy Jones Jr is undoubtedly one of the most gifted boxers that ever lived.
Named "Fighter of the Decade" for the 1990s by the Boxing Writers Association of America, Jones became the first man in 106 years to win world titles at middleweight and heavyweight.
Having first won the heavyweight crown, Jones moved back down to light heavyweight to challenge for the title held by the little regarded Antonio Tarver. Jones won a close points decision, with many observers feeling that Tarver had done enough to win the fight.
Jones' lacklustre performance was put down to the amount of weight he'd lost in moving down divisions. When the inevitable rematch came around and both fighters were asked the perfunctory "Any questions?" by the referee, Tarver shocked the boxing world by replying "I have a question... You got any excuses tonight Roy?"
Tarver then went on to record a second round knockout. There were no excuses given on this occasion.
4. Hasim Rahman v Lennox Lewis
In 2001, the world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, like many before him, succumbed to the crime of not taking his opponent seriously enough.
Lewis was defending his title against Hasim Rahman, a fighter with defeats on his record to the likes of such uninspiring names as David Tua and Oleg Maskaev. Rahman was a 20/1 outsider with bookmakers going into the fight.
Prior to the fight, Lewis was criticised for prioritising his role in the movie Ocean's Eleven over his training schedule. These criticisms were proved valid when Rahman recorded a shock fifth round knockout.
A rematch was hastily arranged, in which a fully focused Lewis regained his belt with ease.
3. Iran Barkley v Thomas Hearns
Thomas 'The Hitman' Hearns is one of only four men to have held world titles in six different weights. In 1988 he defended his middleweight title against the tough, but unsophisticated Iran Barkley.
At the time the only two men to have beaten Hearns were fellow legends Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler. In contrast, Barkley had already lost four times and was considered not much more than a slugger.
Everything played out as expected in the first two rounds, with Hearns' superior reach causing real damage, badly cutting Barkley's face.
At the start of the third round, Barkley came out with the realisation that he had to knock out Hearns and fast. Barkley floored Hearns with one of his wild blows and though the champion made it back up to his feet, Barkley made the most of his chance, knocking the stunned Hearns through the ropes.
2. George Foreman v Joe Frazier
Joe Frazier was the Olympic heavyweight champion in 1964 and by 1970 was the world heavyweight champion. He successfully defended his title against Muhammad Ali in 1971 and boasted an unbeaten record of 29-0 by the time he faced George Foreman in 1973.
Foreman was also undefeated, but by this stage of his career had fought no one of any great repute. He was known as a big hitter, but Frazier had a reputation of dealing with bigger men with ease and boasted a fearsome KO record.
Smokin' Joe was everyone's favourite... apart that is from the legendary commentator Howard Cosell, who predicted an easy Foreman win. In the first round he was proved right, when Foreman knocked Frazier to the canvas and Cosell uttered the immortal line "Down goes Frazier, down goes Frazier, down goes Frazier".
Frazier went down another five times within those first two rounds, as Foreman became the new heavyweight champ.
1. Buster Douglas v Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson was the undefeated heavyweight champion of the world. The self proclaimed "Baddest Man on the Planet".
James 'Buster' Douglas was thirty years old and had already lost on four occasions, by the time he challenged Tyson for his heavyweight title in 1990. Only one Vegas bookmaker would give odds on the fight, making Douglas a 42/1 no-hoper.
Tyson's match against Douglas was meant to be a mere warm up before the title was defended against the then Cruiserweight king Evander Holyfield. But behind the scenes Tyson's personal life and training regime were in disarray.
Douglas dominated throughout the fight, using his superior reach to keep Tyson at bay and by the fifth round the champion's left eye was badly swollen.
'Iron Mike' fought back to floor Douglas in the eighth, but Douglas regained control of the fight in the ninth, before recording a tenth round KO.
It was the greatest shock in boxing history and though Tyson came back to regain his title, he could never win back the night he stopped being 'unbeatable'.
Wuensch-Media | 19 November 2008
Thanks for this video list. I enjoyed it very much!
daksh | 19 November 2008
an awesum compilation
MMALover | 21 November 2008
Nice list of historical KO. Too bad Foreman clip is down........
Starreporter | 20 December 2008
Very Nice Videos thanks or this! :)