say a good contender that fought for a Vacant Belt and went on to be good champion despite lacking some skills you would think a good champion would have..:bbb
Tommy Morrison: he was the underdog in his fight with George Foreman for the vacant WBO heavyweight belt. Before, he got KTFO and still punched by Merciless Ray for the same belt at the same weight. He did not have a chin of a true champ.
Sakio Bika just won the vacant WBC strap and might make a couple of defences before Ward wants his belt back. Brewster was unexpected, he was doubted alot after his defeats to Shufford and Etienne. He went on to beat a future dominant champion in Wlad. Defended against Meehan. TKO'd Golota in the first round who was fresh off his robbery losses to Byrd and Ruiz. Went to Olympic bronze medallist Krasniqi's back yard and destroyed him. Then lost a great fight to Liakhovich, who fought the fight of his life. Johnny Nelson started off as a journeyman and went on to defend the WBO title 13 times (Some controversial) with wins over. Carl Thompson, Dominguez and Sellers.
Recent few years (titlist): Orlando Salido- Gamboa fight should have shown otherwise but at that time I would have been stunned had you told me he would go on to knock out Juanma twice going into their first fight. Some people forget just how highly thought of Juanma was, and honestly despite all evidence since to the contrary it was deservedly so based on his resume and fight ending power. Moises Fuentes- this underdog beat top 105'er Raul Garcia and followed that up with a KO of faded Calderon and move up in weight to a draw in a war with Nietes. Very good stuff already from Fuentes, who once seemingly brought nothing to the table but a random title defense number for Garcia. Miguel Vazquez- put together an active and lengthy little title run showing consistency Recent few years (champion): Pongsaklek Wonjongkam- becoming lineal champ against Koki Kameda was a well deserved achievement for the Thai legend. And at that point in his career being the underdog in that fight he was a notable "unexpected champion." Bernard Hopkins- winning the lineal LHW title from Pascal as the oldest to ever do so. Incredible. Giovanni Segura- honestly he is borderline all time disappointment, but his claim as 108 lineal champ over Calderon in one of the best fights of the past decade and a half shouldn't be overlooked, as confirmed in his 3 round destruction of the future HOF'er in the lone title defense before moving up. All time best HW unexpected champion: Tommy Burns- connected the lineage from Jeffries to Johnson and did so with something like 11 title defenses. I think it is 4th all time for a HW. He really does have a better resume AS CHAMPION than many more celebrated champs after him had. Random shout from history: Khaosai Galaxy- some might say he is the opposite of this thread in that he never proved himself; I'd say he proved himself in a different way with all the title defenses in rapid succession.
Two years ago I doubt anyone had Juan Carlos Sanchez Jr. or Juan Francisco Estrada (who had just lost to Sanchez) pegged as future world champs. The former was a lanky southpaw who didn't seem to know how to box tall and had shaky whiskers. Estrada was beaten and dropped by him... There was no reason to project either to succeed beyond Mexican domestic level. Once those big opportunities came, however, they have both shined.
Thanks brah. I loved your list and I will be researching n those names you gave.. some of this good boxers go unknown most their career and they should be mentioned
cambell?? i dont think it was a good build up... after khan he exploded and went to the top of 140 list garcia wasnt really the guy people would want to fight because they wouldnt gain anything up until the khan fight. Now everyone wants a piece of him at 140. After defending a few times he looks like he has gotten solid as a champ
ricky burns is a major shout a two weight titalist who was considered too have lower ceilling than mitchell and murray, look now.
