BoxRec

We have all over the years read about Boxing's Biggest Upsets.
but what about
The real "Rocky" stories ?
were a fringe contender (or perhaps even unranked)
was given a shot at a boxing title
and either (unexpectenctly)
had given The Champion a run for their money
or even came close to defeating them,perhaps having them on the ropes and them being saved by the bell,
but however the challenger coming up short ( just like Rocky in the original 1976 movie)
and then fading back into the ranks of Boxing oblivion.

Billy Conn vrs Joe Louis don't count, because Conn was the LH Champion of the World.

Does it have to be a title fight?

Pete Rademacher? He fought Floyd Patterson for the title in his pro debut and although he never came close to winning he wasn't given any chance but knocked Patterson down.

yes, it has to be for a Championship title
and maybe the fighter has to get past at least the fifth round.
or at least had to have the Champion knocked down ( with the audience re-acting to it out of shock)
before they got themselves blitzed out of the ring by the embarresed Champion .

Chris Eubank Snr against Dan Sherry and Dan Schommer

Dave Tiberi-James Toney.

Benn v Gent

Carmen Basilio vrs KD Gavlan for the welterweight title.
Basilio was a heavy underdog, and he was the first boxer to have knocked
down Gavilan.
It went to a controversial deicision.
( However Basilio did not fade into oblivion after that fight of course but would become a champion himself.

Caractacus wrote: ↑23 Mar 2022, 12:13
( However Basilio did not fade into oblivion after that fight of course but would become a champion himself.

So not an unknown, unranked or fringe contender then lol

But Basilio was reportedly a "Heavy Underdog"
BTW anyone know what the odds were going into that fight ?

answer-In September 1953, Carmen Basilio was a "4-1 underdog" going into the welter-weight Championship fight with Gavalin

Whitaker-Hurtado in '97.