Goyo Vargas and Rossman are great calls. Tae-Shik Kim knocked out the immensely talented Ibarra and seemed destined for big things but got edged by Mathebula and then had his swede knocked into orbit by Avelar. I'd say he qualifies, he was a sort of poor man's Chang. How about Zahir Raheem against Morales? He never looked that good again.
Corrie Sanders vs Wlad McCall vs Lewis (maybe more of a lucky shot) Billy Backus vs Napoles O'Grady vs Kenty Bramble vs Mancini ( maybe neither were really that terrific ) Ingo vs Patterson Jerry Martin vs James Scott
You guys can’t have Witherspoon lol. Yes he fought brilliant against Holmes but still went on to be a 2 x World heavyweight champion with wins over Page, Tubbs, Smith and Bruno. That’s too harsh on ‘not so’ Terrible Tim
Arnold Taylor - hadn't fought at bantamweight since 1969 - now fighting at feather - when he gets the call to fight Romeo Anaya for the 118 lb. title in 1973. In a real demolition job, Anaya decks Taylor 4 times when Taylor hauls off with a desperation right hand and KO's Anaya in the 14th round. Taylor loses his title in his first defense and slowly slipped back into oblivion.
Let's go more obscure.. Billy Backus beating Jose Napoles would be the most obvious Tom Bethea stopping Nino Benvenuti Donnie Meloncon kayoing world rated Gary Guiden Dino Del Cid kayoing world rated Oscar Albarado
Ok I mentioned Jake "The Snake" Rodriguez. He was a journeyman who got a shot at the IBF Championship against Charles Murray. Snake pulled the upset and was able to quit his day job working as a mechanic. He ended up losing his belt to KT.
@scartissue beat me to Arnold Taylor, the *******. Great shout. Pat Ford. Came from nowhere to arguably beat Sanchez but then got parked and ruined by Pedroza. Pascua vs Chiquita Gonzalez. Beaten by Cob Castro straight after and never beat another top fighter. I was thinking the likes of Manny Elias, Eloy Sanchez, Edmundo Esparza who beat Becerra, drew with Jofre and beat Harada respectively, but they were really all good contenders who beat decent but obscure names in a deep era. Clemente Sanchez vs Shibata. Beaten by Legra and achieved little of note before or after.
Those fights are all on YouTube mate. Kim was a whirlwind. Ibarra is brilliant too, a great talent but a bit flakey and not the most durable.
Danny Williams, against Tyson. He beat an old faded Tyson but I seem to recall by some he was given a decent chance against vit Klitc. In reality he never stood a chance.
Kim is a ****in beast in that Ibarra bout! What an overwhelming, well schooled pressure. Looks like he loved to load those left hooks.