Fights where the challenger was the favourite over the champion

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Showstopper97, Apr 16, 2021.


Page 1 of 2
  1. Showstopper97

    Showstopper97 The Icon Full Member

    2,694
    3,256
    Oct 7, 2020
    Most of the time, it's the champion that's favoured over the challenger, but sometimes the challenger can be the favourite. Sonny Liston was the favourite over Floyd Patterson going into the first fight, & Mike Tyson was the favourite over Trevor Berbick. Are there any other examples?
     
    Showstopper97, Apr 16, 2021
    Showstopper97, Apr 16, 2021
    #1
  2. quintonjacksonfan

    quintonjacksonfan Active Member Full Member

    1,334
    1,112
    Jul 21, 2004
    Leonard-Benitez
     
    quintonjacksonfan, Apr 16, 2021
    quintonjacksonfan, Apr 16, 2021
    #2
    Toney F*** U likes this.
  3. SheenLantern

    SheenLantern Active Member Full Member

    518
    900
    Jan 13, 2016
    Ali was the favourite against Leon and Holmes was the favourite against Michael.
     
    SheenLantern, Apr 16, 2021
    SheenLantern, Apr 16, 2021
    #3
    Toney F*** U likes this.
  4. Stiches Yarn

    Stiches Yarn Active Member Full Member

    1,219
    1,923
    Jan 2, 2021
    Sonny Liston was the favourite over muhammad Ali in the rematch.
     
    Stiches Yarn, Apr 16, 2021
    Stiches Yarn, Apr 16, 2021
    #4
  5. Stiches Yarn

    Stiches Yarn Active Member Full Member

    1,219
    1,923
    Jan 2, 2021
    In 1996, Mike Tyson was the favourite over the WBC champion Frank Bruno.
     
    Stiches Yarn, Apr 16, 2021
    Stiches Yarn, Apr 16, 2021
    #5
  6. Stiches Yarn

    Stiches Yarn Active Member Full Member

    1,219
    1,923
    Jan 2, 2021
    In 1995, Riddick Bowe was the favourite over the WBO champion Herbie hide.
     
    Stiches Yarn, Apr 16, 2021
    Stiches Yarn, Apr 16, 2021
    #6
    Toney F*** U and Kamikaze like this.
  7. Ken Ashcroft

    Ken Ashcroft Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,912
    5,195
    Dec 23, 2008
    Alexis Arguello was the 12-5 favourite when he challenged WBA Junior Welterweight Champion Aaron Pryor in 1982
    Don Curry was the 2-1 favourite when he challenged WBA Junior Middleweight Champion Mike McCallum in 1987.

    Both fights resulted in knockout losses for the betting favourite challengers.
     
    Ken Ashcroft, Apr 16, 2021
    Ken Ashcroft, Apr 16, 2021
    #7
    AwardedSteak863 likes this.
  8. ron davis

    ron davis Well-Known Member Full Member

    2,574
    2,263
    Sep 2, 2013
    Henry Armstrong was the favorite over Barney Ross.
     
    ron davis, Apr 16, 2021
    ron davis, Apr 16, 2021
    #8
    LoadedGlove likes this.
  9. JWSoats

    JWSoats Active Member Full Member

    1,457
    983
    Apr 26, 2011
    Max Baer was favored over Primo Carnera in 1934.

    Joe Louis was favored over James J. Braddock in 1937, and also over Ezzard Charles when he attempted a comeback in 1950.

    Ezzard Charles was favored over Jersey Joe in their fourth meeting in 1952 when Joe was champion.

    Rocky Marciano was favored over Jersey Joe Walcott in 1952. (Jersey Joe appeared in eight title fights and was the underdog in every one of them.)

    On an interesting side note, if we list Muhammad Ali's title bouts as challenger being against Liston (1964), Frazier (1971), Foreman (1974), Spinks (1978) and Holmes (1980), he was the favorite only once - against Spinks, as mentioned above.
     
    JWSoats, Apr 16, 2021
    JWSoats, Apr 16, 2021
    #9
  10. Bronze Tiger

    Bronze Tiger Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,341
    5,271
    Jun 23, 2018
    Oscar Delahoya vs Rafael Ruelas
     
    Bronze Tiger, Apr 16, 2021
    Bronze Tiger, Apr 16, 2021
    #10
  11. Bronze Tiger

    Bronze Tiger Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,341
    5,271
    Jun 23, 2018
    Evander Holyfield vs Buster Douglas
     
    Bronze Tiger, Apr 16, 2021
    Bronze Tiger, Apr 16, 2021
    #11
  12. Bronze Tiger

    Bronze Tiger Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,341
    5,271
    Jun 23, 2018
    Jeff Lacey vs Joe Calzaghe
     
    Bronze Tiger, Apr 16, 2021
    Bronze Tiger, Apr 16, 2021
    #12
    AwardedSteak863 and LoadedGlove like this.
  13. Kamikaze

    Kamikaze Bye for now! banned Full Member

    4,226
    4,537
    Oct 12, 2020
    Johnson vs Burns
     
    Kamikaze, Apr 16, 2021
    Kamikaze, Apr 16, 2021
    #13
  14. LoadedGlove

    LoadedGlove Boxing Addict Full Member

    3,527
    4,288
    Dec 6, 2019
    Dave "Boy" Green was favourite against Carlos Palamino. Just shows, the Bookies follow the money, not the talent.
     
    LoadedGlove, Apr 16, 2021
    LoadedGlove, Apr 16, 2021
    #14
  15. The Fighting Yoda

    The Fighting Yoda Active Member Full Member

    933
    1,521
    Jan 5, 2021
    Bob Foster vs. Dick Tiger (Foster was a 11-5 favorite, according to boxrec.)
     
    The Fighting Yoda, Apr 17, 2021
    The Fighting Yoda, Apr 17, 2021
    #15
Page 1 of 2