Bigger upset at the time, Lewis/McCall or Wlad/Sanders?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Bigcheese, Jan 10, 2024.

  1. Bigcheese

    Bigcheese Well-Known Member Full Member

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    How big was the McCall upset seen at the time? Was Lewis viewed as a future champ? I watched the Sanders fight live on TV and it seemed quite shocking as Wlad was getting a lot of hype. Neither Sanders or McCall were seen as serious threats.
     
  2. Rumsfeld

    Rumsfeld Moderator Staff Member

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    Lewis was the WBC champ when McCall stopped him.
     
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  3. Sks476

    Sks476 Active Member Full Member

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    Both massive upsets, I think Lewis losing was a bigger shock though.
     
  4. snake33

    snake33 Active Member Full Member

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    Lewis - but unlike Wlad he went for the rematch and won.
    I wish more boxers were like that.
     
  5. The Real Lance

    The Real Lance Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Wlad/Sanders was more an upset IMO. McCall was a respected and ranked HW. I don’t think Sanders was at the time.
     
  6. KO_King

    KO_King Horizontal Heavyweight Full Member

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    Both big upsets but I recall being more surprised by Lewis at the time (maybe as Wlad had already lost, surprisingly).
     
  7. Unique Way

    Unique Way Active Member Full Member

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    Wlad - Sanders was bigger upset than Lewis - McCall. Lewis - Rahman was bigger than both though. The result was absolutely shocking, and Rahman was a bigger underdog than Sanders vs Wlad or McCall vs Lewis
     
  8. alfonso

    alfonso Active Member Full Member

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    AJ should get far more credit for this. Went straight back after Ruiz, not his fault Ruiz wasn't in good shape
     
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  9. Wizbit1013

    Wizbit1013 Drama go, and don't come back Full Member

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    The McCall lose was kinda shocking

    In the UK nobody blinked an eye when Sanders smashed up Vlad
     
  10. ForemanJab

    ForemanJab Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Wlad losing to Sanders was a bigger upset. He had the whole HBO hype machine behind him and was touted as the next dominant HW champion. Lewis had struggled in a few fights before McCall and was viewed with a lot of skepticism by the boxing media, especially in America. In hindsight, the Lewis loss is worse because Corrie Sanders was a much more dangerous opponent than Oliver McCall.
     
  11. Redbeard7

    Redbeard7 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    McCall was a 5/1 underdog iirc, Sanders was 20/1. Lewis was seen as a hypejob with a thin record, Wlad was seen as the heir apparent. Sanders beating Wlad was Ring magazine's upset of the year 2003, Ring's 1994 upset of the year (the year McCall beat Lewis) was a fight between two featherweights that I've never heard of.
     
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2024
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  12. Bigcheese

    Bigcheese Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I'm not so sure he was. McCall has the better wins and fought better competition imo.
     
  13. Mickc

    Mickc Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Mcall had 5 losses on his record in 29 fights before the Lewis win and Sanders had 2 stoppage losses on his record in 40 fights before the Wlad win. I can’t really decide which was the bigger upset but Lewis at least did avenge his loss to Mcall as well as his loss to Rahman .
     
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  14. ILikeBoxingForRealz

    ILikeBoxingForRealz Active Member Full Member

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    Not sure about being ranked but Corrie had some decent wins leading up to Wlad. He beat Ross Puritty (whom beat Wlad), and Hasim Rahman. I don’t believe Wlad did his homework going in.
     
  15. heerko koois

    heerko koois Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Wlad/Sanders
     
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