Last Time a Substitute Opponent Won a World Title Fight?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Ruiz can do this on June 1st.

Any come to mind.

I believe Korobov would have been the most recent, if the scores weren't so controversial.

Garcia vs. Khan? Even though Garcia came into the bout with a title of his own.

Can anyone think of any times in the past.. Decades?

[chinarich]

I’m not a great boxing historian, but only Steve Robinson winning the WBO at a couple of days notice springs to mind. Not sure if that counts as the WBO wasn’t as well regarded then as it is now.

[oogiebe]

None off the top of my head, but interesting thread!!

[Onetimeonly]

I don't keep track of titles anymore. I remember navarette beating boza back in the day.

[oogiebe]

Wasn't Bonecrusher Smith a replacement when he sparked Tim Witherspoon?

[Ruthless-RKO]

I’m not a great boxing historian, but only Steve Robinson winning the WBO at a couple of days notice springs to mind. Not sure if that counts as the WBO wasn’t as well regarded then as it is now.

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Steve ... hn_Davison

- Robinson, considered just a journeyman, accepted the fight at 48 hours' notice after champion Ruben Dario Palacio, due to defend against Davison, failed an AIDS test.
- The WBO controversially sanctioned the contest for their vacant title and the rest, as they say, is history.

Wow, his previous fight was a loss. Made 7 defences, before he ran into Prince Naseem.

WBO wasn't really that legit around that time.

[walter5]

Munguia was just a substitute for Liam Smith against Sadam Ali for the WBO 154 lb title.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Wasn't Bonecrusher Smith a replacement when he sparked Tim Witherspoon?

Good shout.


* Witherspoon was scheduled to defend his title against Tony Tubbs, who withdrew citing a shoulder injury. Against the will of Witherspoon, Smith was substituted by Don King. Witherspoon did not want to fight Smith as he had been training exclusively for Tubbs, and he and Smith had just met a year and a half prior. Thus, Witherspoon threatened to pull out of the match and had been threatened by King with legal action in the week leading up to the fight.

* Smith entered 16.5 pounds lighter than in his previous bout just four months prior and had been training for a $35,000 fight against Mitch Green. Instead, he received a title shot and a $230,000 payday. Shortly before the bout, it was announced that Smith had signed over 50 percent of promotional contract to Carl King, Don's son.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Munguia was just a substitute for Liam Smith against Sadam Ali for the WBO 154 lb title.

Even with being a replacement, was he the favourite going into that?

[oogiebe]

Good shout.


* Witherspoon was scheduled to defend his title against Tony Tubbs, who withdrew citing a shoulder injury. Against the will of Witherspoon, Smith was substituted by Don King. Witherspoon did not want to fight Smith as he had been training exclusively for Tubbs, and he and Smith had just met a year and a half prior. Thus, Witherspoon threatened to pull out of the match and had been threatened by King with legal action in the week leading up to the fight.

* Smith entered 16.5 pounds lighter than in his previous bout just four months prior and had been training for a $35,000 fight against Mitch Green. Instead, he received a title shot and a $230,000 payday. Shortly before the bout, it was announced that Smith had signed over 50 percent of promotional contract to Carl King, Don's son.[/i]

Wow, the rotten apple doesn't fall far from the rotten tree.

[walter5]

Even with being a replacement, was he the favourite going into that?

Munguia was a slight underdog.

[Boxing Prospect]

Pacquiao vs Ledwaba springs to mind as an answer

[SenorPipino]

Munguia was just a substitute for Liam Smith against Sadam Ali for the WBO 154 lb title.

Good call!

[kbackup408]

you have to feel for sadam ali, he was set up with mungia

[Ruthless-RKO]

you have to feel for sadam ali, he was set up with mungia

I was looking forward to Ali vs. Smith.

Then Munguia didn’t look as good against the more natural 154’er Smith did he.

Munguia just looked good beating the smaller Ali.

Oh and he oversized Cook too.

[jamamb]

mung has looked progressively worse , and takes loads of shots. face defense at 22 isnt usually a route for longevity.

kid gains 21 pounds after the weigh in, wonder how hell do vs guys who arent so oversized

[Ruthless-RKO]

mung has looked progressively worse , and takes loads of shots. face defense at 22 isnt usually a route for longevity.

kid gains 21 pounds after the weigh in, wonder how hell do vs guys who arent so oversized

Yeh. When he moves up.

[kbackup408]

I was looking forward to Ali vs. Smith.

Then Munguia didn’t look as good against the more natural 154’er Smith did he.

Munguia just looked good beating the smaller Ali.

Oh and he oversized Cook too.

indeed but his size is back firing at 154 now - think he is really struggling to make weight definitely feels more sluggish - what do you reckon?

[Ruthless-RKO]

indeed but his size is back firing at 154 now - think he is really struggling to make weight definitely feels more sluggish - what do you reckon?

Well. The more fights he’s having the worse he’s looking.

[oogiebe]

Well. The more fights he’s having the worse he’s looking.

I think he reached a goal and just lost his drive.

[giacomino]

Surely not the last, but my favorite example came in 1999. Jose Lopez was scheduled to fight Alejandro Montiel for a flyweight belt. Isidro Garcia was a spectator at the fight card.. Montiel dropped out of the fight a few hours before the fight, and Garcia agreed to get into the ring vs Lopez, winning a 12-round decision. Lopez was a hell of a puncher and Garcia didn’t have the best of chins, but Lopez couldn’t dent him that night

[oogiebe]

Surely not the last, but my favorite example came in 1999. Jose Lopez was scheduled to fight Alejandro Montiel for a flyweight belt. Isidro Garcia was a spectator at the fight card.. Montiel dropped out of the fight a few hours before the fight, and Garcia agreed to get into the ring vs Lopez, winning a 12-round decision. Lopez was a hell of a puncher and Garcia didn’t have the best of chins, but Lopez couldn’t dent him that night

Winner for best story! Amazing! Hollywood!

[Onetimeonly]

you have to feel for sadam ali, he was set up with mungia

He got a nice break getting cotto and an injury.

[stevekrazy]

Gradovich beating Billy Dib the first time around

[Aftermath]

Steve Cruz was a last minute replacement when he beat Barry Mcguigan for the WBA featherweight title in the Fight of the Year according to Ring Magazine and every other boxing publication.