Boxing: One Hit Wonders

Who are some of boxing's one hit wonders...??? Guys that had their one shining moment, their 15 minutes of fame, in one fight...???

 

Tommy Molinares
Former Colombian welterweight feasted on mostly no-hopers, and bottom feeders in his native Colombia. Of Molinares's 25 professional fights, only two have came out of the confines of his home territory. Molinares won a TKO victory over Fernando Martinez 8 months earlier in his only other fight on USA soil. Going into his fight with Marlon Sterling, Molinares was a significant underdog to the WBA Welterweight Champion. The fight ended in controversy, a disputed decision, Sterling leaving on a stretcher, and more questions than answers.

Moments before or maybe a mere nanosceond after, the bell ended for the Sixth round, Moliares caught Sterling with a right hand that sent the Champion to the canvas. Referee Joe Cortez ruled the punch legal and began a Ten Count. Sterling was counted out and Molinares was the NEW WBA Welterweight Champion, or was he...???

What transpired afterwards, involving the New Jersey Commission, the WBA and the fighters has been debated by boxing historians. Famed New Jersey Commisioner Larry Hazzard showed his support to Joe Cortez, then after a review of the HBO broadcast, at the request of Ross Greenburg, Hazzard re-examined his position and concluded the punch was infact after the bell had sounded. Hazzard would void the win on Molinares record, as well as Sterling's loss; the official fight was ruled a No Contest. The WBA though allotted the status of Champion to Molinares.

Molinares went on to have two more fights, both back in Colombia in the pro ranks, subsequentially lossing both by the way of KO before retiring.

 

John Tate
"Big" John Tate was a former Bronze Medalist, notable for being on the famed 1976 USA Olympic Boxing Team. Tate won his first nineteen professional fights before his first stern test, at the hands of fellow undefeated Gerrie Coetzee. 86,000 people packed the South African stadium to witness the WBA Heavyweight Champiosnhip match. This was Coetzee's coming out party, though he had previously KO'd Leon Spinks four months prior. Tate took over the fight in the later rounds, securing an unanimous decision of the hometown favorite.

Sadly, Tate did not live up to the hype, losing his nxt two fights to Mike Weaver & Trevor Berbick. Tate did manage to win fourteen consecutive fights after his back-to-back losses, before succumbing to a ten round unanimous decision loss in his last fight. Tate became a part time boxing trainer, helping the career of Tennessee heavyweights Shazzon Bradley and Keith McKnight.

Tate sadly suffered a stroke and was killed in a car crash at the age of 43.

 

Randy Turpin
In his first forty-four professional fights, Turpin feasted primarily on overmatched type of opponents. In his forty-fifth fight Turpin stood opposite of Sugar Ray Robinson, a man of 131 professional fights, with only 1 loss. Turpin came into the fight as a 4/1 underdog. The World Middleweight Title was on the line. Turpin out hustled Robinson, causing a cut on Robinson's eye. Referee Eugene Henderson was the sole judge for the match. At the conclusion of the 15 round match, Henderson raised Turpin's arm, signifying him as the victor.

Two months later Robinson and Turpin rematched, this time on US soil, where Robinson scored a tenth round technical knockout over Turpin. Turpin then went back to fighting second tier opponents, securing 25 wins in his last 31 fights.

In May 1966 Turpin attempted to murder his child before he committed suicide.

 

Michael Bentt
Bentt was a former amateur standout. Having the opportunity to represent Jamaica in the 1988, Bentt declined due to not wanting to relinquish his US citizenship.

Bentt had his professional debut in February 1989, a fight in which he lost via first round KO. Bentt than ran off ten straight wins, five within the scheduled time limit before his big break.

Bentt was brought in to be a tune-up for Tommy Morrison. Morrison was slated to face Lennox Lewis later that year. Morrison started strong, backing Bentt up to the ropes, but a well placed right hand halted Morrison's momentum. Bentt sent Morrison to the canvas three times, securing a first round TKO victory 10 seconds before th round would end. Bentt would capture the WBO Heavyweight Championship belt from Morrison.

Bentt went on to have one more professional fight, losing to Herbie Hide by KO in the seventh round of their schedule ten round affair.

 

Billy Backus
Backus, the nephew of Hall of Fame welterweight / middleweight Carmen Basillio. Not known for his power, Backus only secured 15 ko's in his first 29 victories, coupled with 10 losses and 4 draws, before his match with "Mantequilla" Jose Napoles. Napoles was more known of a power puncher, having already disposed of sturdy chinned Curtis Cokes twice within the scheduled time limit.
Backus took the fight to Napoles, causing a cut above Napoles' right eye. then in the fourth round, Napoles suffered a cut above his left eye, and referee Jack Milicich halted the fight. Backus would be awarded the WBA and the WBC Welterweight Titles.

After two lackluster wins over subpar competition by Backus, he and Napoles would rematch, this time Napoles re-acquired the two belts by eighth round KO.

Backus went 19-10-1 after his loss to Napoles, with half of his losses coming from knockouts.

Backus may never be as well known as his famous uncle, but he does have a boxing legacy that is cherished by millions; the International Boxing Hall of Fame, was originally a place to showcase the many contributions of Basillio and Backus to their hometown of Canastota.