Fighters who surprised you that they won a world title?

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 22 Jun 2007, 19:50

Well, I am sure that there a many who saw a young Lovemore N'dou in action that they thought he would never win a world title. Indeed, there was a big dissapointment on many boxing forums when it was announced that he was challenging Sharmba Mitchell for the IBF title a few years back. Even though, he is now a former champion and has still managed to lose more big ones than win... He can always tell his grandkids that he won one of the big 3.

However, the most surprising for me - although not that surprising to me when he actually won it was Alejandro Berrio. As I saw him give Steiglitz some fits in the first meeting, I did give him a real chance in fight 2. However, when I saw Eric Mitchell smash him in a round on the Hopkins vs Hakkar undercard - I think I would have bet a million on him never winning one of the big three.

Any other fighters come to mind?

Ah those Mitchell brothers, talk about unfulfilled talent. They both looked like champions in the making.

el_grande_mauro_mina · Post by **el_grande_mauro_mina** » 22 Jun 2007, 20:13

I didn't think Dave McAuley would have beaten Duke McKenzie
in a million years and of course Big frank though I was chuffed to
bits when he did!

E · Post by E » 22 Jun 2007, 23:56

steve robinson

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 23 Jun 2007, 04:02

Steve Little beating Michael Nunn, that was over here in England as well. Probably one of the biggest upsets ever on these shores.
Also sad that Little died in 2000, think it was cancer.

E · Post by E » 23 Jun 2007, 04:17

Luis Santana

boxingchat · Post by **boxingchat** » 25 Jun 2007, 05:16

Dennis Andries

Grant · Post by **Grant** » 25 Jun 2007, 05:28

boxingchat wrote:Dennis Andries

Didn't Andries hold the title two or three times?

Goz · Post by **Goz** » 25 Jun 2007, 05:33

Grant wrote:
boxingchat wrote:Dennis Andries
Didn't Andries hold the title two or three times?

Yes, I think Boxingchat probably means he was surprised the first time!

Scrap · Post by **Scrap** » 25 Jun 2007, 05:46

How many picked Ali to beat Liston, after watching him beat Cooper Hads up

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 25 Jun 2007, 06:06

Scrap wrote:How many picked Ali to beat Liston, after watching him beat Cooper Hads up

That is an excellent call.

It was before my time but looking back Liston was thought of as a stone cold killer.

Few gave the flighty and brash Clay a snowball in hell's chance.

boxingchat · Post by **boxingchat** » 25 Jun 2007, 07:47

Goz wrote:
Grant wrote:
boxingchat wrote:Dennis Andries
Didn't Andries hold the title two or three times?
Yes, I think Boxingchat probably means he was surprised the first time!

Obviously!

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 25 Jun 2007, 08:04

stujones wrote:Well, I am sure that there a many who saw a young Lovemore N'dou in action that they thought he would never win a world title. Indeed, there was a big dissapointment on many boxing forums when it was announced that he was challenging Sharmba Mitchell for the IBF title a few years back. Even though, he is now a former champion and has still managed to lose more big ones than win... He can always tell his grandkids that he won one of the big 3.

However, the most surprising for me - although not that surprising to me when he actually won it was Alejandro Berrio. As I saw him give Steiglitz some fits in the first meeting, I did give him a real chance in fight 2. However, when I saw Eric Mitchell smash him in a round on the Hopkins vs Hakkar undercard - I think I would have bet a million on him never winning one of the big three.

Any other fighters come to mind?

Ah those Mitchell brothers, talk about unfulfilled talent. They both looked like champions in the making.

Berrio and N'dou. Something common there. IBF. The IBF would rather have unknowns fighting for their titles than elite fighters.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 25 Jun 2007, 08:19

What I was looking for primarily is fighters you have SEEN in an early(ish) stage in their career and thought "he's got a snowball's chance of winning a world title" irrespective of who the champ really was.

Clay is a good call, but whilst I am sure the vast majority didn't give him a chance vs Liston.... I'm still certain many thought he would be a champion after Liston's days.

boxingchat · Post by **boxingchat** » 25 Jun 2007, 08:39

Herbie Hide

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 25 Jun 2007, 08:42

TerribleTerry wrote:
Scrap wrote:How many picked Ali to beat Liston, after watching him beat Cooper Hads up
That is an excellent call.

It was before my time but looking back Liston was thought of as a stone cold killer.

Few gave the flighty and brash Clay a snowball in hell's chance.

Liston was a stone cold killer with a solid enough chin too, which makes the Ali rematch and "phantom punch" all the more suspicious for my money.

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 25 Jun 2007, 09:26

stujones wrote:What I was looking for primarily is fighters you have SEEN in an early(ish) stage in their career and thought "he's got a snowball's chance of winning a world title" irrespective of who the champ really was.

Clay is a good call, but whilst I am sure the vast majority didn't give him a chance vs Liston.... I'm still certain many thought he would be a champion after Liston's days.

Thats why i picked Steve Little, watching his fights against the likes of Norris and John David Jackson, he looked a decent boxer without the skills or punch to make it to the top.
When he faced Michael Nunn he was a no-hoper, i can't think of anyone who thought he'd win. Nunn had only lost once in 43 fights, and had won most of his fight by a mile.
the fact is Little floored Nunn early on, then just outhustled him the rest of the way.

Captain Hook · Post by **Captain Hook** » 25 Jun 2007, 09:42

To think....... Glen Catley was WBC champ!!

Chambers2 · Post by **Chambers2** » 25 Jun 2007, 10:11

Carlos Maussa

chief · Post by **chief** » 25 Jun 2007, 10:14

Buster Douglas...

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 25 Jun 2007, 10:16

chief wrote:Buster Douglas...

Actually, thats a no from me.... I went for the upset and I based it on Tyson taking him too lightly/his problems - plus Douglas's performance against Tony Tucker. Horrible stoppage IMO and Douglas seemed to have the skills over Tucker.

I always thought that say if a Ray Mercer or Frank Bruno had upset Tyson, then Buster would have beaten them.

chief · Post by **chief** » 25 Jun 2007, 10:27

stujones wrote:
chief wrote:Buster Douglas...
Actually, thats a no from me.... I went for the upset and I based it on Tyson taking him too lightly/his problems - plus Douglas's performance against Tony Tucker. Horrible stoppage IMO and Douglas seemed to have the skills over Tucker.

I always thought that say if a Ray Mercer or Frank Bruno had upset Tyson, then Buster would have beaten them.

Well you would've been in a clear minority with that pick... Douglas was a 40-1 underdog - I'm struggling to think of another top level fight where the odds have been so great! Coming into the fight Tyson was still seen as invincible and Douglas really wasnt given a chance... And if we're talking "if's" then were it not for the long count, Tyson would've got the W in that one too...

BTW It's been years since I saw the Douglas vs Tucker fight but I seem to remember it being fairly close until the stoppage which I can't really comment on now (it was a long time ago!)

Dirk Kelly · Post by **Dirk Kelly** » 25 Jun 2007, 11:00

Sugar Boy Malinga or Vincenzo Nardiello??

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 25 Jun 2007, 11:06

dopey wrote:Sugar Boy Malinga or Vincenzo Nardiello??

Nardiello is a damn good call.

1southpaw · Post by **1southpaw** » 26 Jun 2007, 00:18

auldly harrision

dr_devious · Post by **dr_devious** » 26 Jun 2007, 08:20

Oleg Maskaev
Nicolai Valuev
Shannon Briggs

Fighters who surprised you that they won a world title?

Fighters who surprised you that they won a world title?

Re: Fighters who surprised you that they won a world title?