So I was rewatching Barkley-Hearns 2 and I just can't get over how Iran managed to beat such a superior boxer as Hearns twice. The first fight is more understandable, as Iran was getting dominated and lit up until he hit a beautiful shot and Tommy was done. The second fight, though... its almost hypnotizing. It feels like Iran was moving so much slower and duller than Tommy, but then with break his timing and hit Tommy with hard shots. What are some other examples of fights like this, where the much more basic and unpolished fighter just has the style and tools to beat the "better" man? Salido vs Loma comes to mind. And tbf, in both examples the winner was using some dirty tactics. I'm not really looking for like Marciano vs Walcott or whoever vs Rahman where some heavyweight was losing a decision and hit with a beautiful one shot ko. Looking for stuff where the guy who is just rated lower in all categories just makes it a dogfight and wins a decision or gets a late stoppage in a fight he was winning.
Mayorga vs. Forrest is a good modern example. Forrest was a cut above Mayorga but lost twice, once by fast KO, the other on points.
Terry Norris lost to Luis Santana twice! Tyson losing to Douglas was a shock, but with hindsight we saw why; but even though he was a fraction of the fighter he was in his prime, I still cannot fathom out the defeat to McBride.
Steve Little over Michael Nunn. Nunn was the WBA super middle champion (before there were WBA "super" titles) making his 5th defense of his title and was 42-1 with his only loss in a dramatic come from behind KO courtesy of James Toney. Little was a pedestrian 21-13-2 5 KOs and won a 12 round decision.
You’re right, with him having no choice, but be Young his whole life he was never gonna fully develop
This'll no doubt be controversial, but - Wlad versus both Fury and Joshua? Or are we to exclude cases where the "better" fighter is simply well past their prime? (since that opens up the doors quite a bit)
To be fair Young was actually the better fighter at that stage. Pryor hadn't fought for 2 1/2 years because of drug abuse. Apparently he was fully addicted to crack by the end of 83 and barely fighting. He was a shell by the time he fought Bobby.