In your lifetime, which Brit winning a world title suprised you the most?

I agree about the froch-bute and Calzaghe-lacy, seems silly now but at the time, pretty shocking results.

 

McDonnell winning a version of the world title surprised me a tad.

 

Gavin Rees seems the obvious answer in recent times.

 

I remember that. I saw him lose his title by KO on the Khan Barrera undercard.

Funnily enough I had him ahead on points before he got decimated. Says a lot about the guy Burns beat to win his first world title that he was being outboxed by Nicky Cook.

 

Jamie McDonnell and Stuart Hall are both no more than domestic level. They are just lucky they are fighting in a terrible division!

 

Herbie Hide's wins weren't nearly as shocking as his losses.

 

I still can't believe his Renaissance post-Hearns. The fantastic camera angle of that first Hearns right hand that exploded, burned into my memory! Don't think I've ever seen it since the night.

 

He had another couple in him when he blew out Maynard and someone else who's name escapes me, as he first stepped up to Cruiserweight, but they were not quite the same as prime Motor City Cobra. Indeed as sweet as that one was against Dennis, Andries did get up and make a fight of it for another four rounds, that would not have happened in The Hitman's pomp.

 

Hall

 

I saw a lot of him,thought him a Euro level boxer,I would call him very good but not great ,that's a grossly over-used term imo.

 

Study Hall fo r sure. No doubt he's a decent pro and a good bloke, but world champion? That's obscene.

 

Jamie McDonnell is above British level that's harsh!

Darren barker was a bit of a surprise to me being honest I didn't see him beating geale at all!

 

I would have to say Hall- his age, background etc and the space of time in which he actually did it!! Smith would be right up there too though, especially considering the division he fights in and its current state!!

 

Amir Khan

He was struggling at commonwealth title level, getting dropped in almost every fight against hand picked non punching super feathers that had moved up. He'd been destroyed in 50 seconds. It looked like there was no way he could win a version of a world title at lightweight against the likes of Juan Diaz,etc.

But then clever Frank moves him up one division to face the weakest champ he could find, throws a load of money at the average Kotelnik to come to his backyard , and there you go!! shows you with the right promoter any half decent fighter can win a version of the world title..........:thumbsup