How about those guys who came in and messed up the best-laid plans, upended the favored son, beat guys that they just weren’t supposed to beat? And I don’t mean just one upset, but who picked off more than one favorite. Here are a few: Ossie Ocasio: Beat Jimmy Young twice in a row when Young was sitting on the verge of probably fighting Larry Holmes for the title after a failed (but controversial and competitive) shot at Ali and a disputed loss to Ken Norton that retroactively became a bout for the vacant title. And not much later (after himself losing by KO to Holmes), Ocasio holds Michael Dokes to a draw (before being stopped in one in the rematch) and then, down the road, upended cruiser contender Dwight Muhammad Qawi. Vilomar Fernandez: Took a surprising decision over Alexis Arguello in 1978, a couple of years after knocking off Ray Lampkin. Jose Luis Ramirez: Took out Edwin Rosario in four rounds in a rematch after he had lost a competitive decision, and nearly spoiled Arguello — knocking the Explosive Thin Man down in a split decision loss — earlier in his career. Not to mention a split verdict over Sweet Pea Whitaker (although few agreed with the decision). I consider JLR to be one of the most underrated fighters of his era — he was always the ‘opponent,’ never had the big-time promoter backing him to the hilt, rarely got the benefit of the doubt from judges, but fought the best and came out on top more often than most could against the guys on his resume. Who are the other spoilers who should be on this list?
Sammy Angott...(the ultimate spoiler?) spoils Willie Pep's party for sure by snapping Pep's incredible 62 bout winning streak in '43.
Omar Narvaez. Old champion in a weight for young men. Spoiled both prime Donaire and Tete (in one of the worst bouts I've ever seen) .
Orlando Salido. Beat Juan Manuel Lopez twice when Lopez was supposed to be hot stuff. And handed Lomachenko his only career defeat so far in his second pro bout.
How could I have forgotten 1970s welterweight Andy “The Hawk” Price, who at one point held victories over Pipino Cuevas and Carlos Palomino at a time when they held the two 147-pound straps. Then he got sparked by Ray Leonard in one round so never got a title shot.
1969-What would have happend to Sonny Liston's career had he not got knocked out by Leotis Martin? Or Jimmy Ellis title defenses that fell thru Bob Cleroux, Henry Cooper and Gregorio Peralta? of the same year. I still say Billy Joiner should have took Cleroux's place for winning the "warmup"
Liston would have either cashed out getting stopped by Frazier or Ellis or he would have continued to fight retreads. Ellis would have convincingly beaten Cleroux, Cooper, and Peralta. The Cleroux win was Joiner's first win in three years. Beating a comebacking Cleroux shouldnt qualify anyone for a title shot on its own.
Hey thats all great!!! Randy Neumann upsets Jerry Quarry, he gets the fight with Lyle in 1973. i'd rather seen Ellis take on Joiner , then nobody? (HOW BOUT A LISTON? BEFORE LEOTIS MARTIN?).
Some sections of the press were building Lou Nova into a worthy challenger for Jo Louis, until he took one last build up fight against Tony Galento! We eventually got Louis Nova, but expectations hand been managed down to a realistic level!
I’m not looking for one-time upsets. If so, let’s just go with Buster Douglas and the usual list of suspects. To be a spoiler, you need to have pulled off at least two derailing upsets. Speaking of which, Jesse Ferguson handed James Douglas his first loss in 1985 and came some eight years later bested a listless Ray Mercer to get a shot at Riddick Bowe.
Glen Johnson spoiled the party for three favorites (Woods, Jones, Tarver) back to back to back to go from oft-screwed gate-keeper to 2005 fighter of the year. He ruined plenty of nights before and after that: kayoing Allen Green, making Dawson look awful, outpointing Eric Harding etc. Sakio Bika was another spoiler with his dirty tactics and wild style. Contentious draws with Marcus Beyer and Dirrell, a kayo over prospect Jaidon Codrington, and butting and cuffing Joe Calzaghe and Andre Ward, giving the 168 lbs. co-GOATs two of the worst nights of their careers. Grady Brewer and Lovemore N'Dou probably qualify as well.
Jimmy Young, the master spoiler, lyle twice ali and Norton(in my mind anyways), Maybe shavers, Foreman, and others, not bad for a small heavy
