Real results you wouldn’t believe if they never happened and someone picked it in a fantasy matchup

Long title, I know.

But when we see people of ability in fantasy matchup, we often get ‘split decision for so-and-so’ (which means someone is literally picking one judge to go against two others, haha) or ‘close decision for so-and-so’ or maybe a late competitive KO with both guys on the canvas.

Which is fine. No harm in projecting it anyway you want.

But there have been real fights that have been early KOs for one guy or the other when top fighters have met in real life.Yet if they hadn’t ever fought and you or me predicted it would go that way, most people would scoff.

I think you can see what I’m getting at. I’ll provide a few examples and see what others have to add:

Iran Barkley KO 3 Thomas Hearns — the first fight, of course. Most people would probably pick Hearns (although in real life he lost to Iran twice), and if they didn’t they’d probably see it more as the Hit Man fading late and getting taken out.

Mike McCallum KO 5 Don Curry and KO 2 Julian Jackson -- McCallum wasn't known as a knockout artist but his resume includes two very impressive stoppage wins over top-tier guys you wouldn't probably expect.

Michael Nunn KO 1 Sumbu Kalumbay -- Sumbu was a terrific boxer who wasn't an easy out for anyone ... except Nunn, who did it with one shot. If they had never fought and someone said this would be the result they'd be laughed off the board.

Just goes to show you how unpredictable this sport can be. So what are some other real results that wouldn't pass the reality test if the guys had never fought and you proposed them as a fantasy matchup result?

 

Tyson Douglas being an obvious one.

I've always thought Ali Shavers fell in this category as well. Seeing as Ali was aging and showing signs of Parkinson's and Shavers' reputation, most would've been seriously concerned for Ali's safety at this point, at the prospect of such a fight.

Williams-Machen, which is a much lesser-known example. Considering their respective reputations, most probably assumed Machen would've wiped the floor with him as he did other punchers.

 

I imagine most people would probably pick Sonny Liston to stop Floyd Patterson, but not in one round (especially not twice) … and many would project how much trouble Floyd would give Sonny before Liston’s power hit home.

 

First one on everyone's has got to be Hector Camacho knocking out Ray Leonard.

If someone came around in 1983 and told me Camacho is gonna put Ray out I would have thought it a bad joke.

 

Man I clicked on the thread just to say Nunn vs Kalumbay. How could you do this to me?

No mas would be my second pick.

 

Ebihara vs Kingpetch 1 and 2. Ebihara knocking out Pone Kingpetch in one round? Doubt many could predict that. Kingpetch winning the rematch? Sure the scorecards were awful but its still the official result.

 

Duran beating Barkley.

After the KO Hearns gave Duran, and that Barkley just Ko'd Hearns . Almost no one would have seen the aging Duran making he final bell against him.

 

Tommy Morrison with his weak chin outpointing Foreman
Junior Jones beating Barrera twice and stopping him once well i count it as a stoppage
Vince Phillips stopping Tszyu
Sugar Ray Robinson losing to Turpin
Edwin Rosario destroying Bramble in 2 rounds

 

Andy Ruiz Jr. (AKA the fat kid from Pixar's "UP") using his T-rex arms to batter Joshua into submission.

 

Duran Leonard II that was surreal

 

Honeyghan v Curry

 

I did pick Barkley to KO Hearns, called the round and the punch, too. Originally I was talking trash to my friend that was a huge Hearns fan but I talked myself into it and the fight played out how I came to believe that it would.
To this day I cannot understand how Gomez beat Zarate.

 

Let's say Hearns V Duran never happened.
Even tho the chances are, at some point Tommy ko s Duran, I don't think anyone would predict him to stop him THAT fast.
Duran had proved he had a great chin, he was really only stopped twice I believe.
Even against a killer like Hearns, I'm sure no one's picking Ko 2!

 

Nunn v Kalambay!!! What the hell happened there???

 

Iran Barkley KO 10 Gerrie Coetzee