Examples of World champions losing their titles in the first round

Al Singer won his title in the 1st rd and lost it the same way.

 

Young Corbett iii being KOd in 1 by Jimmy McLarnin for the welterweight title

Liston KO1 Patterson

Terry Norris KO1 Mugabi

 

Weaver v Dokes.

 

Luisito Espinosa flattening the brother of Khaosai Galaxy in a single round for the Bantamweight title Khaokor Galaxy.

 

Chad Dawson losing to Adonis (it gutted me)

 

Tim Witherspoon v James Smith

Smith KO’d an out of sorts, below par Witherspoon in one round and dramatically took Tim’s WBA HW title.

This deprived us of seeing the fight most of us really wanted to see…Tyson v Witherspoon.
Instead we were served up that grappling borefest of Tyson v Smith.

 

That wasn’t a high-demand fight at the time. Tim had a lot of listless efforts during that period.

If he couldn’t motivate himself for a fight that would get him in the Tyson sweepstakes when all he needed to do was beat a guy he’d already beaten, that’s on him.

 

Abner Mares vs. Jhonny Gonzalez

 

Didn't Tim admit to fixing fights and clearly dived against Nielsen? Don't get the fascination with him around here.

 

Pernell Whitaker KO1 Juan Nazario, this was a lightweight unification fight.

 

Tyson KO1 Seldon

 

Jaime Garza v Juan (Kid) Meza

 

The first ever was the elusive, unconventional, defensive specialist Pedlar Palmer losing his BW crown to the absolute terror that was Terry McGovern.