Biggest upset per decade (choose one only)

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Jel, May 13, 2020.


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  1. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    What was the upset of each decade from the 1920s to the 2010s? You can only choose one per decade.

    Let's start off with a nice, easy one - 1990s: Douglas KO10 Tyson.

    There - that's that one out of the way (unless anyone disagrees?) Now the real thinking begins...
     
    Jel, May 13, 2020
    Jel, May 13, 2020
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  2. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    My choice for the 1970s:
    Billy Backus TKO Jose Napoles
     
    Jel, May 13, 2020
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  3. asero

    asero Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    does anybody know the Hearns-Barkley II odds?
     
    asero, May 13, 2020
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  4. asero

    asero Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Stracey KO6 Napoles
     
    asero, May 13, 2020
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  5. Xplosive

    Xplosive Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    80s is easy. Honeyghan over Curry.

    00s is also easy. Tarver over Jones.

    I think 70s is Ali over Foreman.

    Ali also scored the biggest upset of the 60s over Liston.

    Although, maybe the biggest upset of the 60s is Harada over Jofre.
     
    Last edited: May 13, 2020
    Xplosive, May 13, 2020
    Xplosive, May 13, 2020
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  6. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    No way. It was a big upset but where Napoles was in 1975 compared with where he was in 1970 is what makes the Backus loss the bigger upset.
     
    Jel, May 13, 2020
    Jel, May 13, 2020
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  7. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I’d argue Leon over Ali as the 1970s.
     
    Saintpat, May 13, 2020
    Saintpat, May 13, 2020
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  8. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

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    Good shout but Ali was 36 and clearly faded. It'd be top 5 though, I'd say.
     
    Jel, May 13, 2020
    Jel, May 13, 2020
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  9. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I guess it has a lot to do with whether we’re talking casuals and the general public vs. boxing insiders.

    Everyone knew Ali was older BUT he was fighting a novice who had drawn with Scott LeDoux and won a 6-4 decision over Alfio Righetti. He was known from the Olympics but this was seen going into it as Ali taking an easy touch before a fourth fight with Norton ... where people probably would have expected Ali to lose in his swan song.

    Leon was a 10-1 underdog.
     
    Saintpat, May 13, 2020
    Saintpat, May 13, 2020
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  10. Xplosive

    Xplosive Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    What Jel said.

    Ali was a washed up old man when he fought Spinks. His aura of invincibility was well gone.

    Foreman was at his peak and thought to be unstoppable. Many feared for Ali's life.

    Just in terms of its significance, Ali-Foreman is the quintessential upset of the 70s.
     
    Xplosive, May 13, 2020
    Xplosive, May 13, 2020
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  11. Xplosive

    Xplosive Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Although Tyson-Douglas is far and away the biggest upset of the 90s, a sleeper pick is Toney over Nunn.

    Toney was completely unheralded coming in, and Nunn was considered the third best fighter in the world behind Chavez and Whitaker.
     
    Xplosive, May 13, 2020
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  12. Xplosive

    Xplosive Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    There were actually a lot of big upsets in the 00s now that I think about it.

    Jones-Tarver was by the far the biggest, then second is Rachman over Lewis.

    Third is either Forrest over Mosley, Barrera over Hamed, or Pac over Barrera.
     
    Xplosive, May 13, 2020
    Xplosive, May 13, 2020
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  13. Amos-san

    Amos-san Member Full Member

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    60-s Clay over Liston
     
    Amos-san, May 13, 2020
    Amos-san, May 13, 2020
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  14. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft He Who Saw The Deep Full Member

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    I like this thread, and since I'm not overly familiar with odds and such, I'll put my own spin on it and just list some of my favourites.

    1940s: Pep vs Saddler II
    1950s: Charles vs Louis
    1960s: Scott vs Ortega I
    1970s: Pops vs Galíndez
    1980s: Watson vs Benn
    1990s: Benn vs McClellan
    2000s: González vs Michalczewski
     
    George Crowcroft, May 13, 2020
    George Crowcroft, May 13, 2020
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  15. Xplosive

    Xplosive Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Rossman over Galindez has to be top 5 in the 70s.
     
    Xplosive, May 13, 2020
    Xplosive, May 13, 2020
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