Has the New World heavyweight Champion ever been favourit

I have been thinking about this question just now.

I wonder what LIneal World heavyweight Championsip matches produced a new champion, where this was to be expected. Looking at the list i would say that the shortest priced challengers to win the world title would have to be:

1. Lennox Lewis vs Shannon Briggs.
2. Mike Tyson Vs Michael Spinks
3. Lennox Lewis vs Hasim Rahman
4. Joe Louis vs Jim Braddock ( 2.5 to 1)
5. Evander Holyfield vs Buster Douglas


I see these title changes having been the most foreseeable (among bookies at least). Are there any other fights i missed, where the title change was correctly expected? It is quite amazing really that a correct change has only ever been predicted by bookies about 5 times (and i dont even know if 4 of those are correct) in history.

 

I forgot about Ali-Spinks.

Bowe being the favourite over Holyfield surprises me. Was this definitely the case in their first fight? I guess the size factor must have played in the minds. Also the fact that Holy had won the title against the out of shape Douglas, rather than by beating Tyson, who was still considered king by bookies and mainstream, despite the Tokyo loss.

 

That means so far, (with confirmed odds we have)

1. Joe Louis - 2.5 to 1
2. Rocky Marciano - 1.8 to 1

Can anyone confirm the odds of others?

 

Thanks for those.

It is amazing (with hindsight) to think that Louis was only a 5 to 2 favourite over Jim Braddock.

In new confirmed order:
1. Ali vs Spinks 3 -1
2. Louis v Braddock 2.5 to 1
3. Marciano v Braddock 1.8 to 1
4. Liston v Patterson 1.4 to 1