what is the biggest upset in boxing history?

Tyson-Douglas

it was a earthquake

 

Tyson-Douglas.

For the first time really in boxing history, it was an inconceivable result. EVERYBODY but Buster Douglas, his camp, his friends and his relatives treated it as a swift, foregone conclusion.

It turned the sport upside down when it went the other way.

 

Agreed, If you just remember how popular Tyson was and how he was regarded at that time, losing was simply not a possibility.

There were bookies that typically didn't take odds on Tyson fights on whether Tyson was going to win or lose, it was more so how long will it take Tyson to win. At the time he was regarded as possibly the greatest Heavyweight Scalp.

I was pretty young but I remember coming home from church and trying to get still photos from the night before because I couldn't convince the folks to order the fight. I think I went thru 3 new briefs on 3 different networks before I actually believed that Mike Tyson lost.

It was a shocker beyond belief more so because of how Tyson was regarded.

Lewis with Rahman,
Louis with Schmeling,
Ali with Spinks,

Dont compare;

Lewis after losing to McCall in 1994 was branded as chinny throughout most of his career, while he was consistently proving himself he was never given the distinction as being the best in the world until he beat both Holyfield and Tyson.

Louis was not yet champion and had lost what was one of his sternest tests. He would later mature into the greatest heavyweight champion in history and avenge the loss emphatically but he wasn't at the time a proven fighter at the height of his career.

Ali was a declining champion who was beaten by father time. A loss given his performance was indicative that age was starting to catch up to him.

 

:good closer odds though than I would of thought for a welterweight against a featherweight.

 

Same is true for Schmeling-Louis I.

 

Well, despite Ross´ standing among the Jewish he was not seen as something special during his time. He was seen as a workman-like fighter and the appreciation for him came only later. Sadly. Armstrong on the other hand was seen as something special. I guess that played into it.

 

No-one mentioned Braddock v Baer yet? wasn't that the biggest upset odds wise beofre Douglas over Tyson?

 

Not earth shattering I understand, because there were some persisting questions about Johnson, and Hart himself was heavily hyped at that window in time.

 

Calzaghe - Lacy.

Lacy was a mini-Tyson.

Calzaghe was some sheep shagging happy slapping hypejob.

Overcoming those odds and getting the W is pretty remarkable.

 

I get the distinct idea that bookmakers have offered progresivley longer odds for bouts as history has progressed.

For example, I cannot see Jack Dempsey or Joe Louis being installed as a 42/1 favourite over any fighter with two hands.

 

Georges Carpentier getting knocked out in 6 by Battling Siki

 

It massively upset a lot of yanks:yep

 

That is an issue that we are going to have to grasp one way or another.

While Tyson Douglas should indeed have been seen as a masive upset, the sheer scale of it was largley a product of fan ignorance.

 

For the non-Russians and unintelligent media, Bergeron/Valuev. Bergeron had been earmarked for all-time greatness and undefeated. Valuev had recently been on a Buddhist monastery trip where he had expressed his wish to only outbox his opponents without hurting them so much. Strangely, his attempt not to kayo Bergeron led to a huge bloodbath where Bergeron was beaten to a horrific pulp as SNV refused to put full mustard on even one of his shots. Bergeron saw the final bell...but he was so badly damaged that he ultimately would prove outright ruined. He was kayo'd in his next fight early in the second round by Guinn and never fought again...That's how bad of a beating he took from the sugar man. He went from ATG quality to shot. HUMONGOUS UPSET to non-believers.