Has a fighter ever landed a more important punch...

[oliverfennell]

... than Audley Harrison's which KO'd Sprott?

Obviously there have been many one-punch KOs, many last-round KOs, and many from-behind KOs. Even previous examples of KOs when only having one good arm. Audley's finisher against Sprott was not only all of the above, but consider the ramifications of it.

At the start of that 12th round, Ian Darke said, with no exaggeration, that we might be watching the last meaningful round of Harrison's career. At 38, coupled with his previous losses, and considering who he was losing to, it absolutely did look that way.

Then, ONE punch later, Audley secured not only a win, not only a career extension, and not only the European title, but ultimately a shot at the world heavyweight title.

Think about it... has there EVER been a more important single punch?

From the verge of retirement to a shot at a world heavyweight title with ONE punch.

This isn't a post about whether or not Audley deserves the shot; we've been over that thoroughly already. Just wondered if anyone can think of a more/equally dramatic career turnaround with one punch. Not a fight turnaround, a career turnaround.

[SweetLikeSugar]

It was literally a million dollar punch.

[Counter-puncher]

great question, Oliver. I have thought about it and can't think of anything remotely close

[Newport Daz]

Probably not as important, but Julian Jackson's KO of Herrol Graham must come close. Seconds from being stopped, then WHAM - from being an also ran to new WBC champion.

[Dioufy]

Mosley against Mayorga. It took him from retirement to the verge of beating, and becoming the P4P#1.

[frankwarrenfan]

not quite up there with audley's effort but danny williams knocking out mike tyson springs to mind.

[oliverfennell]

Probably not as important, but Julian Jackson's KO of Herrol Graham must come close. Seconds from being stopped, then WHAM - from being an also ran to new WBC champion.

Yes, aesthetically just as dramatic, but considering Jackson was a defending world champion, the before-and-after ramifications of the punch were not nearly as huge as Harrison's.

[oliverfennell]

not quite up there with audley's effort but danny williams knocking out mike tyson springs to mind.

Well, that was twenty-six important punches, not one. But I get your point - it was a win that resulted in a title shot. But it wasn't as if Williams was on the verge of retirement if he lost.

[Deserter]

Not sure it's up there but Iran Barkley's KO of Hearns deserved a mention - he was cut and getting a beating before his 'hail Mary' got him the win, and he went on from there to marquee matches with the likes of Duran, Nunn, Benn and Toney.
There's a reasonable argument that if he'd carried on getting a steady beating from Hearns he'd have dropped off the radar subsequently and wouldn't have been involved in any more high profile fights.

[bigjack]

Probably not as important, but Julian Jackson's KO of Herrol Graham must come close. Seconds from being stopped, then WHAM - from being an also ran to new WBC champion.

Yes, aesthetically just as dramatic, but considering Jackson was a defending world champion, the before-and-after ramifications of the punch were not nearly as huge as Harrison's.

I'm sure the title was vacant at the time,may be wrong anyway i can't think of another situation when one punch meant so much.

[orbtastic]

Jackson was half blind too, detached retina.

The right hand that Castro landed against JDJ was incredible - One eye shut, the other half shut, cut over both eyes, mouth bleeding, nose bleeding/broken, cheekbone swollen and taking an incredible beating and looking like he was a surefire loser, ref even raises his hands to step in and stop it...boom, game over.

[reggaereggae]

Not sure it's up there but Iran Barkley's KO of Hearns deserved a mention - he was cut and getting a beating before his 'hail Mary' got him the win, and he went on from there to marquee matches with the likes of Duran, Nunn, Benn and Toney.
There's a reasonable argument that if he'd carried on getting a steady beating from Hearns he'd have dropped off the radar subsequently and wouldn't have been involved in any more high profile fights.

Thats a great pick. Barkley got a lot of money from figts that came from that win.

But I agree - Audley's shot is possibly the perfect example of career end -> million pounds. Imagine ifhe actually wins against Haye....SHUDDER..... the punch would be worth even more

[Bricks]

... than Audley Harrison's which KO'd Sprott?

Obviously there have been many one-punch KOs, many last-round KOs, and many from-behind KOs. Even previous examples of KOs when only having one good arm. Audley's finisher against Sprott was not only all of the above, but consider the ramifications of it.

At the start of that 12th round, Ian Darke said, with no exaggeration, that we might be watching the last meaningful round of Harrison's career. At 38, coupled with his previous losses, and considering who he was losing to, it absolutely did look that way.

Then, ONE punch later, Audley secured not only a win, not only a career extension, and not only the European title, but ultimately a shot at the world heavyweight title.

Think about it... has there EVER been a more important single punch?

From the verge of retirement to a shot at a world heavyweight title with ONE punch.

This isn't a post about whether or not Audley deserves the shot; we've been over that thoroughly already. Just wondered if anyone can think of a more/equally dramatic career turnaround with one punch. Not a fight turnaround, a career turnaround.

Yes good point, its a punch which stands to earn Audley at least £600,000 NET.

It will set him up to buy a good home in America and live off that.

Audley knows he's a fraudley.

It took that punch and his loudmouth and Haye's reluctance to fight anyone decent to set up this title fight in London. It was always going to sell to SKY even if is the worst bona fide HW title fight since Spinks-Tangstad.

[Captain Hook]

not quite up there with audley's effort but danny williams knocking out mike tyson springs to mind.

That was about 34 punches!

Between 'that' punch and a world title shot, well Audley should count his blessings it's been a massive turnaround

[levi billups]

The right hand that resulted in Julio Cesar Chavez' last gasp stoppage of Meldrick Taylor? The winner went on unbeaten for 20+ fights and 4 more years, the loser never really got over it.

[frankwarrenfan]

not quite up there with audley's effort but danny williams knocking out mike tyson springs to mind.

That was about 34 punches!

Between 'that' punch and a world title shot, well Audley should count his blessings it's been a massive turnaround

and it was the 34th punch that landed danny a world title shot he would never have had otherwise.

[T.M.K]

Great topic Mr Fennell - and great responses to people's replies.

Shannon Briggs' punch to win the WBO title is another good one - however I am struggling to think of anyone who has turned their career around with ONE punch as much as Audley did.

best wishes

"T.M.K"

[oliverfennell]

The right hand that resulted in Julio Cesar Chavez' last gasp stoppage of Meldrick Taylor? The winner went on unbeaten for 20+ fights and 4 more years, the loser never really got over it.

Chavez was hardly staring retirement in the eye if he lost, though, was he?

[sweetscience]

Cracking Question.... i cant think of any !

[oliverfennell]

Jersey Joe Walcott was well ahead against Rocky Marciano until Rock caught him in the 13th round of their first fight. Who knows how things might have changed for Marciano had he not pulled that punch out of the bag.

He would likely still have been a contender, and in any case the point is that was already in the context of a world title challenge.

What I'm getting at with the Harrison punch is where his career stood BEFORE the punch landed - losing what was generally considered a little-deserved Euro shot against a guy who was arguably even less deserving, and such a loss likely proving impossible to come back from - and what he has gained SINCE the punch landed.

The other examples people have given have all been good, but in each of those the "one punch winner" was already at the world title stage, and would not have dropped too far from that level if they had lost. Audley couldn't even have dreamed of a world title shot if he'd lost to Sprott - and not only that, but his entire career would have been officially or at least effectively over.

[forcefraser]

Jess Willard`s punch that knocked out Jack Johnson.

With the racial unrest and prejudice at that time, it was a massive thing for there to be a "white" champion again and it would be years before a black fighter was allowed to fight for the title again.

The fact that many feel the fight was thrown by Johnson adds more intrigue to the punch.

Jack Johnson in his prime was a fighting machine.

[stujones]

Corey Sanders vs Wladmir Klitchsko?

[oliverfennell]

Corey Sanders vs Wladmir Klitchsko?

1) Multiple punches
2) Already in a world title fight
3) Didn't have much to lose if he hadn't won

[stujones]

Corey Sanders vs Wladmir Klitchsko?

1) Multiple punches
2) Already in a world title fight
3) Didn't have much to lose if he hadn't won

True but what did Audley have to lose - no championship, nothing. He was considered finished - just like Sanders was.

Yeah it was a world title fight, but it did get him a fight for the Ring title after (somehow - I still have yet to work out how Vitali vs Sanders was for the ring championship).

But yeah it was multiple punches and it didn't have the same affect for Audley. Although its far from the punch alone thats getting him this shot. If the role were reverse - Sprott wouldn't be getting the shot.

[stujones]

Definately not as important, but one worth considering is Michael Brodie vs Neil Swainn. Would Mikie have had the same career path had he not won that fight (he was losing at the time).