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Fighters who surprised you that they won a world title?
Posted: 22 Jun 2007, 19:50
by stujones
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.
Posted: 22 Jun 2007, 20:13
by el_grande_mauro_mina
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!
Posted: 22 Jun 2007, 23:56
by E
steve robinson
Posted: 23 Jun 2007, 04:02
by Old bones Ian
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.
Posted: 23 Jun 2007, 04:17
by E
Luis Santana
Posted: 25 Jun 2007, 05:16
by boxingchat
Dennis Andries
Posted: 25 Jun 2007, 05:28
by Grant
boxingchat wrote:Dennis Andries
Didn't Andries hold the title two or three times?
Posted: 25 Jun 2007, 05:33
by Goz
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!
Posted: 25 Jun 2007, 05:46
by Scrap
How many picked Ali to beat Liston, after watching him beat Cooper Hads up
Posted: 25 Jun 2007, 06:06
by TerribleTerry
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.
Posted: 25 Jun 2007, 07:47
by boxingchat
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!
Re: Fighters who surprised you that they won a world title?
Posted: 25 Jun 2007, 08:04
by Autobarn
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.
Posted: 25 Jun 2007, 08:19
by stujones
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.
Posted: 25 Jun 2007, 08:39
by boxingchat
Herbie Hide
Posted: 25 Jun 2007, 08:42
by steve689
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.
Posted: 25 Jun 2007, 09:26
by Old bones Ian
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.
Posted: 25 Jun 2007, 09:42
by Captain Hook
To think....... Glen Catley was WBC champ!!
Posted: 25 Jun 2007, 10:11
by Chambers2
Carlos Maussa
Posted: 25 Jun 2007, 10:14
by chief
Buster Douglas...
Posted: 25 Jun 2007, 10:16
by stujones
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.
Posted: 25 Jun 2007, 10:27
by chief
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!)
Posted: 25 Jun 2007, 11:00
by Dirk Kelly
Sugar Boy Malinga or Vincenzo Nardiello??
Posted: 25 Jun 2007, 11:06
by stujones
dopey wrote:Sugar Boy Malinga or Vincenzo Nardiello??
Nardiello is a damn good call.
Posted: 26 Jun 2007, 00:18
by 1southpaw
auldly harrision
Posted: 26 Jun 2007, 08:20
by dr_devious
Oleg Maskaev
Nicolai Valuev
Shannon Briggs