Fights that you thought would be boring/one sided but actually turned out to be a great fight

What are some fights that you didn't expect to be very exciting? Basically fights that you completely overlooked because you believed it would have either been a one-sided mismatch or a snoozefest based on styles, but in the end turns out to be a damn entertaining one.

AJ vs Klitschko is the first to come to mind. Really thought it was going to be a boring, showcase fight for Joshua but it ended up becoming a HW classic.

 

Good thread Flo, as per. I was of the mind that Joshua would lose that one actually. I thought Wlad had enough to jab his head off stop him. Although, I was like 2 weeks into boxing lol I was mostly copying my dad's opinion.

Donaire vs Inoue is definitely my pick. Absolute war in a fight I thought wouldn't go beyond 4.

 

Yep, that was another obvious one as well. Still can't get over just how much of a great fight that was considering how everyone doubted Donaire's chances. Almost brought tears to my eyes.

 

Donaire's awesome, man. Real bad dude. Underrate H2H at 118, the guy has a real equaliser in that left of his.

Couldn't be a nicer guy either

 

I thought JC Chavez would run over Frankie Randall in their first fight.

It turned out to be a great fight and the biggest upset since Douglas v. Tyson

 

Anthony Joshua versus Andy Ruiz I. I thought Joshua was going to cautiously outbox him to a decision like he did the second fight. Instead it turned out to be a war.

 

Cory Spinks vs Zab Judah 1 and 2

 

Weaver-Holmes I

Mike Weaver was a nobody that Holmes was obviously using as a stepping stone. Not only did he knock down Larry, but he had him practically out on his feet later in the fight. Granted, Holmes was (mysteriously or arrogantly) fighting with a bad cold but...

Mike went on to become a champ himself for a couple of years.

 

Mayweather-Maidana 1

I thought Maidana was tailor made to make Floyd look good despite his win over Broner. But Maidana gave Floyd fits and roughed him and bullied him along the ropes and didn't give Floyd time to mount any kind of effective counter attack. Mayweather did better the second half of the fight but I thought the decision was razor close and could have gone either way or been a draw. It was a good fight either way.

 

Erik Morales vs Marcos Maidana

I remembered when everyone scoffed at the idea of this fight and how Morales was just too shot to have a chance against a younger and dangerous puncher like Maidana. Not only did Morales prove everyone wrong but he turned back the clock, gave a performance of a lifetime and showed why he’s a great fighter, even though the decision didn’t go his way. That was definitely a great night of boxing.

 

I thought Anthony Mundine was going to get his head caved in by Sergey Rabchenko (who was european undefeated champion at the time).
Clottey was destroying Mundine in the fight before Rabchenko and thought there was no chance he was going to win..... He Pulled out a split decision and won the fight

 

Like lots of folks at the time, I thought Shavers had no chance against Ali.

Not known for his stamina and now he is fighting a guy with that in spades. And Earnie hardly had the best of footwork and dipped to throw anything. Could not see how the Ali jab and movement would have any difficulty with this opponent.

Problem was of course, this version of Ali was far removed from the guy facing Norton in yankee stadium even

 

Ken Norton vs Scott LeDoux turned out to be a helluva slugfest. Going in it appeared to be an easy tuneup for Kenny but after a few rounds it became apparent he had nothing left.

LeDoux battered him senseless late and maybe my memory fails me but I remember thinking the ninth or 10th was a 10-6 round if ever there was one.

 

Bump

 

What, no Juan Martin Coggi?