Examples of very good heavyweights losing to opponents 30+lbs smaller?

Looking for names of big men who were talented, fit, and close to their primes.

Only Carnera and Willard come to mind as possible candidates. Any other top heavyweights lose to opponents that much smaller?

 

Bloated Bowe came close enough in the second fight against Holyfield, if anyone considers him to have been "fit" in that fight.

 

I am not entirely sure of your criteria for talented, though I understand fit, and close to their primes.

The obvious example would be Valuev, both times he lost, if he met your criteria for talented.

There was a good 35lbs between Chris Byrd and Vitally Klitschko.

 

Valuev was a circus act.

The Byrd Vitali result was a fluke injury.

 

Frazier-Mathis?
Tyson-Bruno 2?

 

Uh-oh. Call the thread police!!

 

Yes re: Frazier-Mathis. Bruno was just short of 30lbs heavier than Tyson.

 

Not that bloated as I scored the fight for Bowe.

 

When you accept Frazier Mathis as an example, you are literally opening the floodgates!

 

Fair point. I take it back.

 

it isn't that rare historically. I will just go back to the 1910's to 1950's era. You guys can do the more modern ones like Foreman losing to Holyfield.

Archie Moore-Nino Valdes (1953)-----180-210 (w)
Harold Johnson-Nino Valdes-----176-211 (w)
Bob Satterfield-Nino Valdes-----183-215 (w)
Bob Satterfield-Bob Baker-----181-214 (ko)
Lem Franklin-Abe Simon-----201-255 (ko)
Lem Franklin-Abe Simon-----197-250 (w)
Joe Louis-Abe Simon-----207-255 (ko)
Joe Louis-Abe Simon-----202-254 (ko)
Joe Louis-Buddy Baer-----206-250 (ko)
Joe Louis-Buddy Baer-----201-237 (w dq, really ko)
Gunnar Barlund-Buddy Baer-----200-243 (ko)
Joe Louis-Tony Galento-----201-233 (ko)
Al Gainer-Tony Galento-----169-220 (ko)
Al Delaney-Tony Galento-----179-235 (w)
Rocky Marciano-Joe Louis-----184-214 (ko)
Rocky Marciano-Johnny Shkor-----190-220 (ko)
Ezzard Charles-Joe Baksi-----178-211 (ko)
Ezzard Charles-Joe Louis------184-218 (w)
Jersey Joe Walcott-Joe Baksi-----188-218 (w)
Bob Pastor-Ray Impellitiere-----183-238 (ko)
Tommy Loughran-Ray Impellitiere-----188-254 (w)
Tommy Loughran-Ray Impellitiere-----186-256 (w)
Tommy Loughran-Vittorio Campolo-----184-232 (w)
Leroy Haynes-Primo Carnera-----201-265 (ko)
Leroy Haynes-Primo Carnera-----198-265 (ko)
Joe Louis-Primo Carnera-----196-260 (ko)
Max Baer-Primo Carnera-----209-263 (ko)
Larry Gains-Primo Carnera-----200-268 (w)
Jack Sharkey-Primo Carnera-----202-261 (w)
Jim Maloney-Primo Carnera-----195-260 (w)
Johnny Risko-George Godfrey-----191-235 (w)
Jack Sharkey-George Godfrey-----187-220 (w)
Jack Dillon--Frank Moran-----169-205 (w)
Gunboat Smith-Jess Willard-----180-230 (w)
Bearcat McMahon-Jess Willard-----175-230's (w) (only McMahon's weight given, but Willard must have been about 230 or so off all his other given weights)
Jack Dempsey-Jess Willard-----187-245 (ko)
Jack Dempsey-Carl Morris------185-220 (ko)

Weights are from fightsrec. I go by their weights here, but I'm certain there might be some in which 30 lbs. could be viewed as 29 lbs. because of fractions. I don't think a lb. or so matters much though.

All the losers were in The Ring Magazine top ten lists at one time or another, or in the case of the pre-1924 fighters, certainly would have been. I abjure guessing if they manage "talented, fit, and close to their prime" as that seems pretty subjective, but only that they were rated fighters at some point in their careers.

I don't think this is at all comprehensive, only fights which popped into mind as meeting this 30 lb. standard.

 

Not really. I’m interested in seeing as many examples as possible so that I can think about potential patterns and contributing factors.

 

You were a bad boy, and you got spanked!

 

I was going to mention Jack Sharkey vs Mickey Walker but they miss out by just 1 pound.

 

Vitali, George Godfrey, Foreman, Bowe, Bonecrusher Smith, Dereck Chisora, Wach, Samuel Peter, Luis Ortiz, Buddy Baer, Tony Galento, Oliver McCall, Buster Mathis, Chuvalo, Arthur De Kuh

That's all I'm gonna list for now.