Most impressive wins by young/green fighters

[My2Sense]

What were fights in which a young and green-ish fighter scored a shocking win over someone he probably shouldn't have even been in the ring with?

Leon Spinks over Ali is considered the definitive example.

I think one of the best examples is Sam Langford against Joe Gans. Gans was already established as an ATG lightweight champ, with a whole host of defenses to his credit. Simply put, no one was beating him at that time. Conversely, Langford was a fairly unknown, comparative novice only a year or two into his pro career. On paper, Gans should've outclassed him no problem, but instead Langford completely dominated him, and gave the boxing world a glimpse of what was to come from him.

Two other examples would be Ezzard Charles and Jimmy Bivins in their wins over Charley Burley. Burley was already established as a highly regarded top contender, while Charles and Bivins were barely even prospects. Bivins, in fact, was only in his first year as a pro and had only had a handful of fights. Each time, Burley was expected to be just too classy and experienced for them, but instead they were just too naturally gifted for him, and shut him down each time.

Ray Robinson was matched with Fritzie Zivic, ex-champion, top contender, and veteran of over 100 fights, about a year into his pro career. However, I think in this case, Robinson had already impressed enough people that he was probably favored to win.

Samart Payakaroon showed so much class as an amateur that he was put in with an ex-champ in his pro debut - and beat him. After only about 10 fights or so, he was put in with the experienced two-division champion Lupe Pintor, then danced circles around him before KOing him with one punch - something no one ever expected to see someone do to Pintor, least of all Payakaroon.

Holyfield being put in with Qawi after only a handful of fights looked to be suicidal.

While people might not think much of it now, putting a young Fernando Vargas in with 80-fight veteran Yori Boy Campas shocked a lot of people as well.


Other examples?

[Collins2000]

Two guys who didn't get the win but impressed after a only dozen fights and against the top fighter in the division:

Tim Witherspoon
Azumah Nelson

[BroughtonRulesRefuge]

Other examples?

- I'd put in for Joe Louis who was put in against Baer and Carnera when they weren't far removed from their titles and still had fearsome mankiller reps. Louis was just 21, ridiculously young for a heavy against that kind of comp. In that vein, a young Clay upsetting Liston's applecart cannot be overlooked as he was more rated on his big mouth than any class he'd shown in the ring going into that fight in spite of his Olympic credentials.

The Langford example is a good one, however, I have my doubts how comprehensively he outboxed Gans. Still, even hanging with Gans at that stage was a major feat for an experienced fighter.

The Mr. E. H. Field example is more putting a physically mature, more physically talented fighter with superior amateur development in against a smaller less talented vet bloated above his best weight. It helped that Qawi wasn't a big KO threat, which if he had been they might've waited a couple more years for that bout.

Leon was a shocking win over Ali, but truth be told it was more shocking that the judges actually gave Leon his points as everyone had grown accustomed to points going to Ali no matter how poorly he boxed which quite often at that point in time.

In the Charles/Bivins over Burley examples, they were larger framed fighters and Charles was fairly well experienced and announced having handled himself well in 2 fights with Overlin and a win over HOFer Yarosz. Bivins was still raw, but in less than 6 months later he's fighting at LH and at heavy within the year, an indication that he was probably being starved to make an artificially low weight. Charley may have dodged a bullet there.

Abe Attell was only 18 when he beat George Dixon who was the first fighter of any note whatsoever on Attell's record. Thing is he'd drawn with Dixon twice before, so was fairly well known, but still. Benitez 17 against Cervantes, but with 25 fights and 4-0, 3 KO in New York exposures, his talent level was known.

[Counter-puncher]

Two guys who didn't get the win but impressed after a only dozen fights and against the top fighter in the division:

Tim Witherspoon
Azumah Nelson

exactly what came to my mind too

[Flump]

Ossie Ocasio against Jimmy Young

[BrocktonBlockbuster49]

Im shocked no one mentioned harry wills wins over joe jeanette and sam langford in 1913-earl 1914. Wills beat the two top contenders who happened to be hall of famers with less than 15 pro fights under his belt.

[Seamus]

Little Dado took a 10rd decision from 31-0-1 Jackie Jurich in his 2nd fight and got a 10rd draw in his 3rd, with 70-11-7 Small Montana.

Jackie Paterson got a 5th round stoppage against Rinty Monaghan (28-1-4) in his 2nd bout.

[Goodnight, Irene]

I immediately thought of Payakaroon upon opening the thread. Cervantes a was a great fighter --- let no one understate what Benitez accomplished.

[Collins2000]

At the other end of the scale, who would have thought, apart from BRR, that Jack Johnson could have given peak Jack Dempsy such a hard fight up in Canada.

[observer1]

Mike Tyson, Youngest HW Champion worth a mentionl.

Not to mention he started when he was 18?

[hurlock]

wilfredo benitez

[jezzamundo]

Here's one out of left field:

Danny Green's 6th round KO over Eric Lucas. Sure, he was about 30 and had already fought for a world title, but he was still a very raw fighter, only having once before stepped in with world class opposition (a DQ loss), and stopped a good fighter reknowned for having an iron jaw.

[John Galt]

Holyfield turned pro against a good 9-1-2 Philadelphia fighter. Holyfield was never protected the way some fighters are.

[zojo]

How about a guy with no amateur matches who seemed to make a good career for himself.

I know McCline lost this past weekend, but here is a guy with no amateur fights, started his career at 2-2-1 and yet seems to make a decent career out of beating respectable and touted guys.

[I Feel Fine]

Saensak Muangsurin won the Jr. Welterweight title in his third pro fight by an TKO in eight. Went on to defend that title several times. I believe that gives him the record for winning a title with the least pro fights. Mr. Fenech also won a belt very early in his career, I think it was seven fights?

[Jaywheel]

Here's one out of left field:

Danny Green's 6th round KO over Eric Lucas. Sure, he was about 30 and had already fought for a world title, but he was still a very raw fighter, only having once before stepped in with world class opposition (a DQ loss), and stopped a good fighter reknowned for having an iron jaw.

Not so much. He for sure is Green...

[Jaywheel]

Vargas's wins over Winky Wright and Ike Quartey were impressive.

[BoxBuzz]

Was that really a win over Winky? Or just a very well contested fight? By the way either way it's impressive. And he did get the nod.

[Djanders]

At the other end of the scale, who would have thought, apart from BRR, that Jack Johnson could have given peak Jack Dempsy such a hard fight up in Canada.

[BrocktonBlockbuster49]

Sonny Liston's wins over Johnny Summerlin

[Collins2000]

Sonny Liston's wins over Johnny Summerlin

Someone said Louis was the favourite going into the Marciano bout.

You have posted lots about this fight.

What were the pre-fight odds?

[BrocktonBlockbuster49]

Hi Collins, Missed ya buddy. hows life?



Louis was a 7-5 favorite entering the Marciano bout. Also, Rex Layne was a 9-5 favorite going into this fight with Marciano. Rocky played the role of underdog early on.

[Collins2000]

Hi Collins, Missed ya buddy. hows life?



Louis was a 7-5 favorite entering the Marciano bout. Also, Rex Layne was a 9-5 favorite going into this fight with Marciano. Rocky played the role of underdog early on.

Thanks, Brocky.

Yeah, doing fine, mate. Keeping the numpties on their toes.

How about you?

[gb]

Kostya Tszyu beat Juan LaPorte in about in about his fourth fight. Ok, LaPorte had probably seen better days, but that's still pretty tough Matchmaking.

Rafael Marquez turned pro (lost in 8 rounds) against Victor Rabanales.

[Expug]

A young 18 year old Jimmy McClarnin beating the great Pancho Villa.
Although there were circumstances involved. Villa had an infected tooth/teeth that wound up costing him his life.